USA > Iowa > Clay County > History of Clay County, Iowa, from its earliest settlement to 1909 > Part 7
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When the horrible and blood-curdling tale of the Spirit Lake butchery became known to the settlers, many of them being so thoroughly alarmed, they
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
left their claims entirely or sought refuge at the homes of friends. This tribe was under the leadership of a chief known as Ink-pah-du-tah, and whose crimes are the most atrocious in the annals of Iowa Indian history. This had the effect to materially check settlement throughout the northwest.
The Indians kept up their onward march of death and destruction until they reached Jackson, Minnesota. In the meantime companies well armed were hurriedly organized and sent to this point, where they met and attacked the Indians and succeeded in defeating them. The battle was a sharp one, but finally the Indians were sent flying westward until they were driven out of the state and also out of Minnesota. The Indians being exterminated from Clay county and peace and safety being restored, the settlers were given a chance to repair their property and to proceed with their work of developing the resources and the cultivation of the soil. From that date Clay county was no more troubled with the Indians.
THE COURTIIOUSE HISTORY.
AAfter the election of 1858, Clay county was equipped with a full quota of officers. She had neither a courthouse nor a public building of any description, and as a result the officers made their homes public buildings, and whatever public meetings were required to be held were held at the most convenient house. This was not all. Clay was duly organized and officered, but she was without a county seat. Judge Hubbard, then the presiding judge of the Fourth judicial district, comprehending the condition of affairs, in open court appointed a com- mission, consisting of three, who were supposed to be disinterested parties, to locate a county seat. They selected the site previously mentioned and named it Spencer, in honor of United States Senator Spencer, of Alabama, who had been one of the United States surveying party which surveyed Clay county and established the boundary lines. The committee made its report to Charles C. Smeltzer, then county judge. Whereupon he entered upon the court docket the following order :
"I, Charles C. Smeltzer, county judge of said (Clay) county, and the official head thereof, do hereby order that said town of Spencer, named in their report as the county seat of Clay county, Iowa, be and is from this time hence 'till changed, according to law, the seat of justice of said county."
For several months the court records are dated "Spencer, Clay county, Iowa," but that was finally dropped, and the former form of "Office of the County Judge" was substituted, showing that the judge while in spirit was at Spencer, in person he was many miles away.
A petition was in time drawn up and circulated among the settlers and generally signed, and on the 14th day of May, 1860, was presented to Judge Smeltzer. The petitioners prayed that an election might be called to test the county seat question, and that they should be given the privilege to select the site. The prayer was granted, and on the 27th day of June, 1860, after due notice having been given, the voters of the county, of which there were ten, decided to locate the county seat at what is now known as Peterson. At this election Judge Smeltzer was authorized to cause to be erected a courthouse building at the new county seat, at an expense of six thousand dollars. Bids and plans were Immediately advertised for, and on the 15th day of September, 1860, the contract
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
was let to C. H. Brockschink. Work was at once commenced, and in due course of time was completed, and Clay county had a courthouse. Mr. Brockschink afterwards presented a claim for fifteen hundred dollars for extra work done, and was allowed nine hundred dollars. Additions were subsequently made to the building to accommodate the officers, and it is claimed that these additions cost the county quite an extravagant sum of money. It is not infrequent to hear the earlier settlers speak of the "Forty-thousand dollar court house."
During the interim of 1860 and 1870 the northern part of the county received a large immigration, and in time became more numerously inhabited than the southwestern part. Its voting population in 1870, combined with the eastern section, was, therefore, numerically greater than the southern part.
The location of the county seat in the extreme southwestern corner was very inconvenient for those living in the northern part. As the years passed by, a feeling of dissatisfaction grew up with the location, and the more the subject was agitated the greater the displeasure of the northern and eastern people became. A petition was drawn up and circulated among the voters, and received many signatures. The petition set forth that Peterson, the county seat, was inconvenient of access, that it was not sufficiently centrally located, and the people demanded that the seat of government should be placed where it would accommodate the many, and not a chosen few. The petition was presented to the Board of Supervisors, which body ordered an election to be held. The result was that the county seat was relocated, and Spencer chosen as the place. The principal argument against the removal, previous to the election, was that Spencer was not provided with a building sufficient to accommodate the county officials. This argument was immediately met, by the people of Spencer setting to work and erecting a building that would meet these requirements. It was no easy task in those days to erect a building. The lumber must be hauled a distance of forty or fifty miles, and the amount of money required to purchase a thousand feet of lumber in those days would buy three thousand now. But, undaunted, the attempt was made. A stock company was at once organized, shares were sold, and the entire community in and around Spencer became interested. Those who were unable to buy a share and pay the money, gave a day's labor. "Where there's a will there's a way," is an old saying, and in short time the building was completed and ready for occupancy. The structure was afterwards sold to the county for one thousand three hundred and thirty-three dollars, payment being made in county warrants, at that time away below par. Even at that price it would seem today that it was an extravagant figure, but it cost the stock com- pany a greater sum. We insert the proposition made by the company to the Board of Supervisors, not for the intrinsic worth, but as an incident of the earlier times. It is as follows :
"We hereby propose to the board of supervisors, of Clay county, Iowa, to sell them the courthouse and lot owned by the Spencer Courthouse Company, for one thousand three hundred and thirty-three dollars, in county warrants.
(Signed).
J. B. EDMUNDS, Secretary. C. D. MARCELLUS, President."
This building was occupied until 1882, when it became inadequate for the wants of county purposes, and its dimensions too limited. The board of super-
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
visors then leased of A. W. Miller, the basement and several of the rooms in the second story of the Clay county bank, using the second story of the courthouse for court purposes.
At the April meeting of the board of supervisors in 1884, it was decided to build a new courthouse. A number of liberal-spirited citizens purchased the block on which the present courthouse now stands, and donated it to the county. The contract was let to H. H. Wade for four thousand four hundred and thirty- five dollars, and a brick building was constructed. It was two stories high, and contained seven rooms, besides the court room. It was supplied with four large vaults, and was in every way sufficient to meet the demands of the times.
There were many who regarded the building as lacking in architectural beauty and finish, and criticised the board of supervisors for not constructing one on a more pretentious scale. At the time it was built the people of the county were opposed to making an appropriation for a courthouse, and as the law would not permit the board of supervisors to expend a greater sum than five thousand dollars, they were from necessity compelled to keep within that limit. Such briefly are the facts connected with the various changes made in the courthouse buildings up to 1900.
CREATION OF TOWNSHIPS.
The first action relating to townships was taken December 3d. 1859. when it was ordered by County Judge C. C. Smeltzer, "that the whole of Clay county be divided into, or recognized as one civil township, to be known as Clay."
On the 15th day of October, 1860, Douglas township was created, embracing nearly one-half of the county.
On September 19. 1861. a township was created, and named Sioux, which included the four western congressional townships in the county, except four sections. This township was afterward merged into others.
In September, 1866, the boundaries were all changed, and the north half of the county was named Spencer township.
Douglas township was divided in January, 1867, and Lincoln was set off.
September 5. 1870, Bridgewater township was set off, comprising territory taken from Spencer. It has since been included with other townships.
Summit was set off September 2, 1872, embracing the same territory as at the present.
Gillett's Grove township was set off September 2, 1873.
Ilerdland came into existence at the same time.
Riverton was set off from Spencer July 7, 1874.
October 15. 1877. Lone Tree township was set off.
Peterson was set off, and its organization was authorized September 3, 1878. Lake and Freeman townships were set off and organized June 7. 1882. Logan was created June 3. 1882.
Meadow came into existence in June. 1882.
Waterford was set off September 1, 1884.
SIOUX TOWNSHIP.
All that part of Spencer township outside the incorporated city of Spencer and the territory embraced in the city limits of Spencer was cut off, and made a separate township and designated at Sioux Township April 2, 1894.
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
Among the early settlers in this township were John F. Calkins, Byron Hough, S. Calkins; Harvey Mars, and their families; a German by the name of Kail, James Mars, Romain Hough, Solomon Wells, Rev. D. N. Coats and his son, R. A. Coats. There also came John Martin, F. M. Wells, Homer and Anson Calkins and John W. Marsten. John Marsten located on section I and owned the land on which the original town of Spencer now stands. The settlement grew rapidly and soon a town began to assume proportions on the west side of the township, which is now known as the city of Spencer.
GILLETT'S GROVE.
Gillett's Grove township was organized in 1873, being taken from Lincoln township, and is composed of congressional township number 95, range 36. Its chief physical features are the rolling prairies and the Little Sioux river. The former has a deep rich soil, which annually yields a heavy growth of native grasses and of all cultivated crops, when the soil is subdued from its native state. The river extends the entire distance across the township from north to south through the eastern tier of sections. Its valley is about one-half mile wide , between the base of bluffs, which are nearly fifty feet high, receding most too abruptly to be easily cultivated, though entirely covered with grass where there is no timber, and is cut through in many places by the smaller watercourses, which affects the drainage of the prairies. The principal ones are Lexington creek from the west, named after the town of New Lexington, a town staked out upon the east half of section 22, and the west half of section 23, some time before the Indian outbreak of 1857. Elk creek from the east, deriving its name from the lake of the same name, which it drains, and Lime creek from the south- east, called so from a lime-kiln on its banks, operated in the early days by Asa and Isaac Johnson. In this township, along the river bottom and the bluffs, and in the ravines, was one of the largest bodies of native timber in the country. The kinds of wood were burr oak, black walnut, elm, tin-tight bark, hickory, ash and soft maple. In the best body of this timber the Gillett's built their houses and began improvements for a home in 1856, previous to the Indian depredations, but afterwards were driven away. A depression less than two feet, which was the cellar, marked the place where the log house stood, and where were scattered about pieces of glass, dishes, crockery and nails. The house was burned after Gillett and his family had made their escape. From the Grove and the timber skirting the river, the surrounding settlers were supplied with fuel and building materials for a distance of twelve miles. In the summer of 1872, P. M. Moore erected a saw mill on the river at the lower end of the Grove, where most of the timber suitable for lumber was sawed. The mill was afterward converted into a feed mill.
When the township was organized, the settlement consisted of A. W. Green, E. C. Green, S. Gray, E. Reed, D. C. Palmer, J. Garreston, S. E. Beven, A. F. McConnell, John Stephens, Stephen Wilson, R. Taber, John McPherson, William Wilson, W. W. Moore, P. M. Moore, A. A. Mills, John Mills, Jasper Messenger, J. P. Evans, and their families. Also D. C. Palmer, Aaron Bates, Oscar Hodgin, E. H. Crandall, D. H. King and John O. Evans.
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
When W. W. and P. M. Moore settled at Gillett's Grove, in the summer of 1866, the nearest postoffice was Peterson, twenty miles away. The nearest flour mill was Estherville, thirty-five miles. The best trading place-Fort Dodge- seventy-five miles. The nearest railroad-Iowa Falls-was one hundred and twenty miles. There were no bridges across the river, or any of the sloughs or mud holes, hence a journey for supplies or any business was attended with many troubles and difficulties. Early in the spring and fall, it was difficult to cross these sloughs when they were filled with water and the ground was very wet and soft. The journey was no less dangerous or unpleasant in the winter time, owing to the distance between the places of shelter and the deep snows. The only cheering points along the route to Fort Dodge were the stopping places, which were few and quite a distance apart. There was one place on this long journey where not a house or a tree could be seen for forty miles, and when the ground was covered with snow, but a faint trace would be left to guide the traveler towards his destination. As soon as it could be done a mail route was established, and secured an office at Gillett's Grove. P. M. Moore was appointed postmaster in 1867. A few years afterwards he resigned and his father, W. W. Moore, was appointed.
In 1871 an office was established on the same route on section 30, named Greenville, of which .A. W. Green was appointed postmaster. The citizens of this township were mostly from Wisconsin, Illinois and other parts of this state. They are intelligent and enterprising, mostly church members, belonging princi- pally to the Methodist. Congregational, Baptist and Friends denominations. The last named have a good church at Greenville. The township has settled up more slowly than other parts of the county, owing to the fact that much of the land has been owned by non-residents, having purchased it from the government in 1857. But there has been a gradual improvement from year to year, the opening of new farm, and the planting of artificial groves, which grow rapidly, and are seen in every direction. Some of the earliest planted have grown more than fifty feet high. The people are engaged in farming and raising cattle, horses and hogs. Very few men who have been industrious and persevering have failed to do well. The early settler drove a team of oxen and lived in a sod house. This was made by first selecting a piece of ground covered with a tough sod, and plowing it with a breaking plow, then cutting the sods thus turned over in lengths about two feet long. These pieces were then laid into a wall, after the manner of laying brick, until the wall was chout two feet thick on the bottom, a foot and one-half thick at the top, and about six feet high. Then a strong post was set in the center, extending about six feet more or less, above the walls, according to the size of the house. Upon the top of this post one end of the other poles or rafters were laid and the other ends of the walls at the proper intervals. Then willow brush was laid across these rafters, then hay upon the willows, and upon the hay sods were tightly laid, and afterwards the whole was plastered over with clay mortar, and with some hay thinly spread upon the ground inside of the house it was ready for occupancy. A house thus con- structed, although rude, furnished shelter and comfort for its occupants, and the earlier inhabitants appreciated their sod shanties, as the pelting storms beat down upon their roofs.
NORTH SCHOOL, SPENCER
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR. LENOX TILD+ N FOUNDA , IONS
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
Although cheap, they were comfortable, and in fact were all that could be had during the first years of settlement of this country. . Many of the children, now men and women, remember the happy days they spent in the sod house. But now they are driving fine horses, living in painted frame and brick houses, and feeding their stock in commodious barns, under the shelter of nice, large trees they planted for wind breakers and protection from storms. The storms in the winter upon the shelterless prairies were sorely felt by the people-more in the early settlement than at the present time, because of the greater distance between places. In the winter of 1876 and 1878 a man named Parish came to Gillett's Grove to see his daughter, who was working for a family. He started from Okoboji Lake in the morning, intending to walk to the Grove, expecting to reach there before evening. Darkness, however, overtook him, and instead of reaching the Grove, he passed by it. - After wandering around several hours he found an empty house, which was only about a mile from the place he wished to reach. He entered it, but did not have the means to light a fire, and therefore spent the night as best he could. He walked, jumped, lay down, and in fact did everything to keep from freezing. When day came he began his journey, but was unable to find a house until noon. When he came to W. W. Moore's it was found that his feet were so badly frozen that they had to be amputated.
In the winter of 1869 a young man named Con started for Spirit Lake early one morning, taking a lunch, expecting to walk there that day. Soon after he started it began to snow, and within an hour it was snowing and drifting so furiously that it was impossible for him to proceed farther. He could neither proceed nor return, as he became so bewildered, and did not know which direc- tion to take. He therefore walked back and forth all one day and one night. At one time he attempted to crawl or dig into a snow drift and let the snow cover him. But he became chilly and returned to his path, which, as the snow piled upon it, became so high that he would fall off, and had to make another. In the morning it cleared away, and he made his way to the river, where he discovered a wood cutter's shanty and found something to eat. He succeeded in reaching the lakes, never once laying down his axe, which he carried while battling with the furious storm. Upon arriving at the lakes he found friends and was carefully cared for, but the heroic struggles of that bitter cold and stormy day and night were far too great for his physical strength, and within a few short weeks his remains were deposited in their last resting place.
Another man, named Laughlin, was hunting deer on a fine, clear winter day, and after securing one, hung it up in a tree in the grove and started home. A place was found where he broke through the ice on the river and evidently wet his feet. Farther on his gun was found leaning against a tree. He never reached home. Early in the evening a terrible storm came on, and he must have been overtaken by it. His remains were found in the spring, where the high water had washed them ashore, about a mile farther down, and about two miles from his home.
In June of 1881 a hurricane swept across this township from the northwest. It broke down about one hundred native trees in Moore's grove. It partially unroofed P. M. Moore's barn, moved Simon Brailer's house from its foundation,
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
nearly demolished Mr. Newton's house, and tore David Brailer's house all to pieces, which was only finished the day before. The neighbors came and replaced the house, which stood there for a great many years. Many other small build- ings were more or less injured or destroyed. One tornado in the summer of 1886 passed over from the south to nearly north, touching lightly, but hurting nothing until farther on. One hail storm crossed the northwest corner of the township and almost entirely destroyed the crops where it struck. The corn- stalks were completely stripped, and the small grain almost all knocked off. Gardens were destroyed and the grass laid low.
PETERSON TOWNSHIP.
Although the civil township bearing this name dates its birth and name from 1871, yet it was the first settled portion of Clay county. The name is prominently connected, and its history so intimately interwoven with that of the county's that the latter would be largely shorn of its fifty odd years of excellent record of pioneer life and the sturdy integrity it has borne, as well as stripped of much that makes it one of the most interesting counties of north- west Iowa, were Peterson omitted. The history of this township, therefore, forms a leading feature in the annals of the county, and deserves more than a mere passing notice. Peterson township is located in the southwestern part of the county and is settled by sturdy and solid yeomen, who are active and progressive. The first settlement was made in the spring of 1856, by J. A. Kirchner, John Kirchner and AAmbrose S. Mead. The Kirchners came from Albany. New York, and Mead from the castern part of the state. After selecting their claims along the banks of the Little Sioux river, on sections 32, 33 and 34, they at once set to work to build houses, and when they had com- pleted them, commenced to till the soil. During the years 1856 and 1857 John J. Bicknell, C. Kirchner, Chas. Oldfield and families arrived, and added to the number who had cast their fortunes in Clay. In 1857 Charles C. Smeltzer, J. W. Brockschink, H. E. W. Smeltzer and others came, thus making valuable acquisi- tions to the pioneers, to whom it was a great pleasure to extend a greeting to every newcomer. Later there arrived Harry Gardner, R. B. Crego and others. By this time, with those who settled farther east, there was a sufficient number to organize the county and establish a seat of government. This was accom- plished, and the place where the little band of advanced western pioneers lived was formally constituted a town and made the capital of the county. A majority of the citizens of the county had settled in and around where the town of Peterson now stands, and the six or eight houses composed the town. The reason for putting up their log houses in such close proximity was for two very good reasons. In the first place there prevailed a feeling of lonesomeness at being separated from any place inhabited by white settlers and a desire to be as near each other as practicable, and thus share with each other what comforts and pleasures there were for them in social intercourse. There was another and very important reason. The Indians had made one or two invasions on their quiet homes, and it was deemed expedient for their mutual protection to be within hailing distance of each other should the savages again make a raid upon them. The houses were therefore built within only a short distance of
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
each other, so that, should any unforseen event occur, other houses would be within easy access. These houses were also constructed not alone for warmth and comfort, but for protection as well, should the settlement receive an attack from the wily and stealthy redskins. In the course of time the settlement grew and became more extended, and as the frightful Indians were held under subjection by the United States government, there was little cause for fear of molestation, and the newcomers took claims more remote from the primitive or original settlers. This township was abundantly supplied with timber, con- sisting of walnut, oak, basswood, ash and eln; and, as the Little Sioux river furnished excellent water power. J. A. Kirchner conceived the idea of utilizing both by building a saw mill. In this move he was greatly encouraged by his neighbors, and at once went east and purchased the necessary machinery to operate it. Men were employed and set to work, and in as brief a time as this faraway place could accomplish it the sound of falling trees and the busy whir of the big saw could be heard all day long. For miles and miles farmers and newly acquired landowners could be seen busily wending their way to the mill, drawing with their teams heavy timbers to be sawed and made ready for build- ing purposes. Log cabins soon gave place to more pretentious and commodious frame dwellings, and the settlement put on an entirely different appearance.
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