USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > History of Chickasaw and Howard Counties, Iowa > Part 39
USA > Iowa > Howard County > History of Chickasaw and Howard Counties, Iowa > Part 39
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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
ALBION TOWNSHIP.
This was known as Osborne township until 1860, when its name was changed to tlie present one of Albion. It occupies congressional township 100, range 11, west, bordering the Minnesota line. Along its northern boundary runs the clear rock bottomed and spring made waters of the Upper Iowa river. There is an abundance of timber along the banks of the river, and extending some distance back. Bass, elm, maple, and ash being the predominating species, but some pines are to be met with. As has been most beautifully aid: "However, the crowning beauty of all this section, is the
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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.
handsome groves that are universally found on the highest points of land, and in this respect Albion township can bear the palm."
The streams are all of the purest quality-liquid diamonds, so to speak-owing their origin solely to the springs gushing from their homes in the limestone, and within the cool waters the trout and bass still linger lovingly. Some of the first pioneers in the civilization of Howard county settled within what is now the boundaries of this township, The first whose name we have is Daniel Crowell, who located therein as early as the spring of 1853. Almost at the same time Andrew Nelson located his claim on section 10, and erected the family cabin, and in 1854 he was fol- lowed by C. S. Thurber. But for this year the incomers were like angels' visits -- few and far between-but in 1855 the great tide of immigration, which came to our state, caused quite a ripple thither- ward, and the beautiful prairies and lovely valleys of Howard county began to be thickly dotted with smiling farms, and smoke arose from the many cabins that were sprinkled over the verdant bosom of mother earth.
Among those who in the spring of that year took up their abode among us, we find: Oliver Arnold, Thos. Osborn, H. D. Lapham, W. D. Darrow, but these are but a few of the many whose names are borne by the recollections of those who remain. In 1856 a still larger wave of immigration flowed this way, and every suc- ceeding year until the bloody days of the civil war, when it slacked up for some time, only to begin again in these later days.
This township was part of the precinct of Vernon Springs, until 1857, when in the spring of this year it withdrew itself, and com- pleted a separate organization. There was cast at this election :some forty-cight votes, and Josiah Kelly was elected town clerk, with James Nichols and James Oakley, justices of the peace.
The first church organization in the township was Baptist in denomination, and was effected in the spring months of 1856, with Rev. T. H. Miner as pastor.
The Methodist church society was formed the same year, under the energy and faithful efforts of the Rev. Wm. Lease.
In the month of March the Church of Christ was organized, mainly owing to the efforts of Rev. Wm. Phillips; the society numbered at its start some twenty members.
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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.
One of the early settlers says: "The character of the early settlers of Osborne may be drawn from the fact of their thus early organizing religious societies."
The first school in the precinct seems to have been opened in the latter part of the year 1856, and was taught by Dr. Lewis Reynolds; the school was small, but the increase was rapid so that in 1859 the scholars in the township numbered some one hundred and forty.
At the same time there was over eighty legal voters in the same territory, and many who were not yet admitted to the privileges of franchise.
In 1855, at Arnoldsville, was established the first postoffice, but it was of short duration, when it was removed to Osborne; A. Allen being the postmaster.
The statement is made by H. D. Noble, that, "In 1858, Osborne like all other places had its theme of excitement. In that year the gold fever broke out; but happily very few 'found the color', except in the faces of bilious, cadaverous, tired and jaundiced diggers. Hence its short life and speedy cure. The only gold in this section of the country will be found not by digging to pipe- clay, or bedrock, but in the rich loam that lies on the surface- the golden grain that feeds the world."
It is said that the first death that occurred in this vicinity, was that of Robert Gilchrist, who froze to death during the winter of 1854-5.
"Quarries of limestone and sandstone, and on the Iowa river quarries of rock straight as the mason's hammer could dress them, and smoother, too, cre found."
With the exception of the postoffice village at Florenceville, in the extreme northern portion of the township, there is no town nor village, no fine farm broken to make a poor straggling village, but the whole section is given over to a constant succession of smiling farms and grazing grounds, covered with emerald verdure.
NEW OREGON TOWNSHIP.
We are indebted for the following history of New Oregon town- ship, to a paper written by H. D. Noble, one of the old settlers, and published in the Cresco Times, July 6, 1876.
"New Oregon was one of the first locations chosen by the pioneers, who first made Howard county their home. 'Oregon
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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.
Grove' was known far and near, and was a landmark to all western hunters and rovers in northern Iowa and southern Minnesota. The precincts of New Oregon consists of the north half of town- ship ninety-seven and township ninety-eight range eleven.
The first settlement was made in 1851, by Hiram Johnson. In 1858, Wm. Cottrell, H. Shuttleworth, and Wm. Brown fir t made claims in and about Oregon Grove. S. M. Cole, George Schofield, J. F. Mitchell, and others soon followed, and in 1855 a sufficient population had gathered to effect a permanent organization. Paris was included in the precinct as then formed. Daniel Mills was elected the first justice of the peace, and Samuel Coyl township clerk.
"Uncle" George Schofield built the first house in what has since grown to be the village of New Oregon. In the same year C. M. Munson opened a store near by, which was followed by others until the business part of town, in 1859, consisted of six stores, one wagon shop, plow shop, one harness maker, a tin shop, two tailor shops, three shoe shops, two blacksmith shops, a steam saw- mill, etc.
This village is on both sides of the Turkey river, and in the north edge of Oregon Grove.
At the same time it did not lack for professional ability, tor it had within its jurisdiction one doctor J. J. Clemmer, and three lawyers, C. E. Berry, F. H. Jewett, and W. R. Mead.
Here was taught the first school in the county. In 1854 it was opened for scholars, and Miss Harriet Cole was the presiding genius, and with smiling face lured the youth to flowery paths of knowledge. Daniel Mills taught the first village school, which was established during the winter of 1856-7.
The Congregational church was organized at the hamlet of New Oregon, in 1856, and Rev. J. W. Windsor was installed as pastor.
The church, at first, was weak and feeble, as all such societies are in a new country, and their services were held as circumstances permitted. The following lines were written about the church of early days, and breathe the very essence of true poetry. One of Howard county's gifted daughters is the author, but by her request we suppress the name, which modesty will not allow her to have given it to the world.
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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.
THE OLD LOG CHURCH. On olden walls, in memory's hall, With roses 'round it clinging: A picture rare, of antique air, The old log church is swinging.
Of timbers rough, and gnarled and tough, It stands in rustic beauty ; A monument to good intent And loyal, Christian duty.
The forest trees, kissed by the breeze Of early autumn weather, Stand grimly by, and seem to sigh And bend their boughs togetlier.
Down by the mill, and up the hill, And through the hazel thicket, And o'er the mead brown pathways lead Up to the rustic wicket. ,
And by these ways, on holy days, The village folks collected, And humbly heard the sacred word And worshipped unaffected.
Sweet fancy's art and poet's heart Can see the old time preacher And village sage now turn the page, As minister or teacher.
For in the church, with dreaded birch, On week days he presided, In awful mien, a tutor seen, "Twixt lore and licks divided.
But where it stood, in dappled wood, A village sprang to life; And jolly noise of barefoot boys Is lost in business strife.
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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.
With years now flown, the children grown, Are launched on life's mad billows; The pretty maid is matron staid, The master's 'neath the willows.
A Methodist Episcopal church was also formed during the year 1858, of which Rev. Waterbury was the initial pastor. The organization of a Roman Catholic church was attained in the course of the same year.
The natural location of the precinct of New Oregon is unsur- passed. Through its center, from northwest to southeast, runs the Turkey river, and emptying into this stream are spring streams that are found in all this section of Iowa. A fine body of timber, including all the varieties of our prolific west, borders the river, and furnishes to all the region round about timber for fuel, fences, and buildings.
The hard maple, elm white oak, and basswood form the bulk of this grove. Underlying this section is fine quarry limestone, fit for all purposes of building.
Through the southern part of the township (97), runs the Little Turkey river, fringed with groves and watering a beautiful prairie of moist stock-growing land."
After the building of the Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad, and the consequent springing into being of the town of Cresco, the buisiness of New Oregon experienced the same fate that thousands of other thriving villages that have dotted these broad lands of ours, sank into comparative oblivion, the grass growing on the streets and all business at a stand still. People still reside there, for it is in the paradise of the county, but the stillness that reigns there makes one feel sadly that the tired and weary struggler had laid down and rested from life's weary battle, and that it is no longer sought to buffet the waves of adverse fortune.
CHESTER AND OAKDALE TOWNSHIPS.
These were united in one township until October 11, 1859, under the name of Iowa River Precinct, when they were separated and placed as now. The history of the two is so commingled that it seems impossible at this day to seperate them, and hence we leave them like two lovers in fond embrace. For the facts in regard to
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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.
them we acknowledge ourselves under obligations to L. E. Smith, of the Cresco Times, who has kindly placed at our disposal many papers in regard to the same.
Chester precinct occupies the congressional township 100, range 13, and Oakdale 100, range 14, and are the most western of the' northern tier. The Iowa river meanders along through the northern sections, the pure, limpid stream shimmering in the sun, . and adding beauty to the landscape already charmde with the emerald velvety verdure of the nativegrass, and the golden amber of the ripening grain, while groves of trees interspersed break up what might prove to monotonous a view, where earth and sky alone are seen.
Henry Brown, in May 1853, made the first settlement in the township now known as Oakdale, and for nearly a year he had the unbroken solitude to himself, for there were no settlers but him until 1854.
During the summer of that year Robt. Jerod, Josiah Laws, O. M. Thayer, and M. Gates laid the foundation for the settlement that now graces this vicinity. They were, shortly, followed by A. W. Kingsley, Norman Freeman, C. M. Sawyer, and others.
Settlers having gathered in a sufficient number to justify the measure, withdrew the precinct from Jamestown, to which it had originally been attached, and organized as a separate township, holding an election for that purpose in April, 1857. which resulted in the election of John Adams and W. Y. Wells for justices of the peace, and C. M. Sawyer, town clerk. At this election forty-nine votes were polled.
The first regular district school was taught by Salinda Burknap, in the fall of 1857, although there still lingers a trace of a tradition that in the previous winter a school was taught, but of this there seems to be no certainty, nor is the name of the teacher remem- bered.
Within the boundaries of the two townships there is but one village, viz: Chester; the land being occupied with fine farms, and capital grazing grounds. All along the northern part of the town- ships fine timber abounds, and pure water from the many springs that gush from the lap of the earth.
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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.
CHESTER,
the only village, is still but a small place, being too near towns having a larger growth, and whose proximity overshadow it. It was laid out, in March, 1858, by A. Eaton, and in 1859 already contained six dwellings, a tavern, and a school house.
The first postoffice was also started here, being established in January, 1858, with A. Eaton as postmaster.
There was a Methodist Episcopal church organized in March, 1858, with seven members; Rev. Norton, of Spring Valley, Minn., supplying the pulpit and attending to the spiritual wants of the little flock.
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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.
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CHAPTER XI.
REMINISCENCES, ANECDOTES, AND INCIDENTS OF FRONTIER LIFE, GIVEN BY EARLY SETTLERS.
TAKING IT COOLLY.
The last night of 1855, a party of four men crossed the Missis- sippi, at Dubuque, and found a new years ball in progress, at the Key City house, (where numbers of people found a resting place, on their way to northern Iowa). At Dubuque they hired a teams- ter to take them to Howard county.
As they approached Burr Oak Springs, that first Sunday in Jan- uary 1856, the cold and wind increased, while the falling snow so whitened the track before them, that it could only be distinguished by the withered grass which bordered it. They urged their driver to halt without avail, he was confident that he could make his way after dark without difficulty. A little further, on where the prairie fires had left no grasss to mark the roadsides, they were as effect- ually lost a few rods from the track, as though they had been miles away. Seeking the road they went as far apart as their voices should be heard, but after repeated efforts failed to find it.
They then lost no time in making preperations to spend the night in such a manner as, if possible, to secure their lives. They cleared the covered wagon box of trunks and luggage, tacked down the cover securely, and without being able to stand upright, exercised, two at a time as if for wages. The teamster alone lay down, wrapping his feet in the contents of his carpet sack, and he alone was frost-bitten. By force of kicking they had to rouse
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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.
him from danger. Had they trusted to wraps, bedclothing and buffalo robes-with which they were well supplied- and lain down to sleep, they would have paid the penalty with their lives.
"The mercury must have stood forty degrees below zero" said Dr. Fellows, who related this story of himself, his two brothers- and R. Kerr, they afterwards learned, that a number of persons- perished from exposure the same night.
The two succeeding days were so cold, that but few people left their houses. All that these young men had that night, in the way of nourishment, was a few small cakes and a bottle of bra- ndy, the latter supplied the stimulus, that helped preserve them.
The early settlers met and organized a "squatter government," agreeing among themselves, that certain persons should act as officers. The "justice of the peace" named, was a lad of about nineteen years of age, Samuel Coyl, by name. A party, charged with larceny, was brought before "Sam" one day for trial. His honor, listened, with all the gravity of a deacon, to the evidence, which fully proved, that the accused, had broken open a compan- ion's trunk, and purloined, therefrom, the sum of forty dol- lars.
But "Sam" fully understood his want of jurisdiction,and proceed- ed to render the verdict, as follows: "Guilty-guilty as hell, and the court knows it from the evidence-but they can't prove it- Scoot-scoot, or judge Lynch will hold court here to-morrow.',
The culprit disapeared forth with.
The county of Howard, was settled from every land, and every clime, but very few, if any experienced business men, came among the early settlers. As might be expected, therefore, many mis- takes were made in the "forms and ceremonies," and occasionally in the records. One young officer-young in years and young in office-when he carried a record from, one to a succeeding page, instead of noting the number of the future page, made this note, at the bottom of the first page, "see page ahead a little."
"It is told, that Howard county, from its organization, never elected, on a party vote, a democratic officer, yet the party kept up its annual county conventions for twenty years .. At one of these conventions, only two persons were present. They were both of the legal profession. One was a large and the other was a small
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man, and the larger acted as president, and the other as secretary of the "assembly." They put drink in their stomachs and a full county ticket in the political field. The secretary, in finishing his report, said that "the attendance at the convention was large and respectable." The president protested and said: It is true, Mr. secretary, we seem to be many, but do you not notice that on the ayes and noes, that but two of us answer." The secretary replied: "Mr. president, if there is but two of us here, I insist that the report is correct, for are you not large and am not I respectable."
The following lines were written by a gentleman now residing in the county, and who was one of its earliest settlers; he has followed many trades and professions, and has been a leading farmer for the last quarter of a century. We insert it smply as a specimen of the culture that may be found in these climes, for it is, by long odds, the superior of the usual mediocre poetry-so. called-that floats through the columns of the press of the day. It is said of the author, that although many of the poor, have been indebted to him for considerable amounts of money, yet he has never collected one cent by execution, or sale of property on. mortgage. Such men are few and far between, but the fates have rewarded him and enabled him, through labor and business tact, to achieve a comfortable competence.
The anagram "Live on no evil" is probably the best in the English language. Spelled backward or forward it reads the same. Its. sentiment expresses the essence of the ten commandments:
LIVE ON NO EVIL. "Live on no evil," reads the same As forth and back we trace the line; It is the voice of God to man, Proclamied from Sinai's height devine,
"Live on no evil," church or state, But God-like rule with love, not hate. 1
"Live on no evil," landlord bold, But so divide the loaf and sheaf That tenant's children filled with glee, Shall bless the hand that gives relief. "Live on no evil," church or state,
But God-like rule with love, not hate.
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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.
"Live on no evil," merchant grand, That shoddy cloth that brings you gain, In rags hangs from the wearer's back, The cold bites in and gives him pain. "Live on no evil," church or state, But God-like, rule with love, not hate.
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"Live on no evil," railroad kings, Nor scorn our rights with haughty brow, Those pondrous engines on those roads, Must in the wake of mercy go. "Live on no evil," church or state, But God-Like, rule, with love, not hate.
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"Live on no evil," money lords, Your fiercest grasp shall prove your woe, In life's last grasp with deep regrets, And hellish moans you'll cry out, oh! "Live on no evil," church or state, But God-like, rule with love, not hate.
"Live on no evil," man of soul, But right the wrong with all thy might.
When conscience all our acts control, We all may speak from Sinai's height. "Live on no evil," church or state, But God-like, rule with love, not hate, -[M. B. Doolittle.
One of the members of the board of supervisors of the county, wishing the board to do its full duty under the law, presented the following resolution, which was adopted and placed on the minutes, instructing the township assessors as to what was their duty:
"Resolved, That the assessors assess every thing that wears a yoke as an ox, and everything that gives milk a as cow."
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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.
CHAPTER XII.
WAR RECORD; ACTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF HOWARD COUNTY; THIRD IOWA INFANTRY; NINTH IOWA INFANTRY; THIRTY- EIGHTH IOWA INFANTRY; THIRD IOWA BATTERY OF LIGHT ARTIL- LERY; ROSTER OF VOLUNTEERS.
The people of the northern states may well be proud of the record they made in the dark and bloody days of the great civil war. When the war was pressed on the country, the people of this peaceful Northland were pursuing the even tenor of their way, doing whatsoever their hands found to do-making farms or cultivating those already made-erecting houses and homes, build- ing shops and factories, and the whole country was alive with industry, and the future was rosy with promise. The county was just recovering itself from the financial panic of 1857, and the failure of the crops of 1858-9. The future looked bright and promising, and the industrious and patriotic sons and daughters of the free states were bouyant with hope, and looking forward to new plans for the ensurement of comfort and competence in their declining years, and they little heeded the muttering and threaten- ings of the wayward children of the slave states of the sunny south.
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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.
Like the true sons and decendents of sires, whose sturdy arm had withstood Britannia's mighty power in the infant days of our noble republic, they gave no heed to the whisperings of fear, or dreamed that one could be so base as to stand back when their country called them, bnt all flocked to the front to meet dire treason face to face, and smite it as it stood.
April 12, 1861, Major Robert Anderson, the commandant at Fort 1
Sumter, in Charleston harbor, South Carolina, was fired upon by the hot headed rebels then in arms.
Although the blackest treason, men looked upon it as the sense- less bravado of the would-be agitator, as the empty vaporing of a. few senseless fools, whose sectional bias and hatred of free institu- tion had enraged and intoxicated them.
When a day later the telegraph wires bore to a startled north the stirring news, that Major Anderson had been compelled to surrender, to what had been at first regarded as a druuken mob; then the people looked and saw behind the curtain the dark spirit of treason stalk forth throughout the land. The patriotism that was bred in them leaped up and burned a steady flame upon the altar of their country.
Thus startled, as it were, from their bright dreams of the future, from undertakings half completed, and realized that, that mob had behind it a dark purpose; a deep, dark, well organized plan to disrupt this great Union, destroy the government, and to erect upon the ruins the oligarchy of slavery, and a slave-holding aristocracy.
But it was "reckoning without their host," for immediately upon the receipt of the news of the surrender of Fort Sumpter, President Lincoln, who but a few short weeks before had taken the oath of office as chief executive of the nation's will, issued a proclamation, calling for 75,000 men, volunteers for three months. Scarcely had the ink dried upon the pen, scarcely had the wires stopped vibrat- ing with the message, as it sped along through all the northern states, then the call was filled. Men were counted out by thous- ands and money poured with lavish hand into the lap of the nation. The people who loved their land and government, could not give enough. Patriotism vibrated and pulsed and thrilled through every heart. The merchant left his counter, the farmer his plow, the bench gave up the judge, and even the college and
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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.
school furnished their porportion of the nation's defenders. All lines of party were swept away, and but one thought seemed to animate each breast-save the Union.
Not with insolence was the insolent flinging of the gauntlet met, but with the calm, determined mien of heroes, whose patriotism and love of country overpowered every other consideration.
But seventy-five thousand men were not enough to subdue the rebellion-nor were ten times that number. The war went on and call followed call, until it seemed that all the able-bodied men were in the front, fighting the battles of their country. But to every call, men and money were freely offered, readily and freely given, and the people determined to crush out the foul treason and sub- due the rebellion.
Such were the impulses, motives, and actions of the patriots of the "Northland," among whom Howard's sons bore a conspicuous part.
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