USA > Iowa > Clay County > History of Clay County, Iowa, from its earliest settlement to 1909 > Part 8
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The soil of this township is of a superior quality and produces every kind of cereal. The main body of the land is a little inclined to be level, with the exception of that part that lies along the Little Sioux river. This is somewhat rough and hilly, but a greater portion of it is either utilized for grazing or producing purposes. The farmers are chiefly in good circumstances, and a large proportion of them own good farms. Having a good market at the town of Peterson, they are able to realize fair prices for their marketable products.
There are excellent schools in all parts of the township, and they are suffi- cient to accommodate all of their patrons. It is blessed with good citizens, and has consequently prospered through these many years. In point of wealth, population and natural advantages it stands second in the county, and as the future years come and go it will keep pace with the moving and improving northwest, accumulating wealth, increasing its numbers and establishing a repu- tation for vast possessions and great prominence.
LONE TREE.
Lone tree is that portion of the territory of Clay county embraced in township 96, north range 38 west, and is composed of thirty-six full sections. It was duly constituted a township on the 15th day of October, 1877. And although having an organization of over thirty-one years, it has only the past. years come into note. The land composing this township is in the main very good, and is excellent plow, grazing and hay land. While not so high and rolling as some other townships, it yet has some very excellent advantages which render its soil valuable. The Ocheydan, with its winding channel and a number of small tributaries, courses its way through the township, thus giving an abundant supply of water. Then there are numerous small lakes scattered over the entire township, so there is little need of wells to satisfy the thirst of the stock. Yet it cannot be called a swampy or wet township, for in many
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parts the land lies well above the level. Some most excellent farms are found in this township, well cultivated, supplied with excellent buildings and pro- ducing abundantly.
The first settlement made in this township was by J. W. and S. B. Crist, who came here in May, 1870. The former remained some six years, and then moved west and was followed by the latter in 1879. They located on section 2, on what is known as the "Lone Tree farm." It was so named because at one time it was the only farm which contained a tree, and hence the name. This tree was a large elm and could be seen from a great distance before the present cultivated groves were grown. It therefore stood out in bold relief on the broad and unbroken prairie, and from this tree the township received its name.
The Crist brothers were shortly followed by James Johnson, who located on the western side of the township. Then came H. Wetmore, Wm. F. Shaffer and David Arledge. Then there was a cessation for a time, which was even- tually broken by the arrival of a number of families. After the planting of Everly there was a large influx and the entire township put on a busy, stirring air. Since that date Lone Tree has gradually forged ahead and has been rapidly populated and its soil greatly enhanced in commercial value. The Chicago and Milwaukee railroad spans the township, and has been a potent agency in increasing and developing what resources it possesses. The farming community is composed of excellent farmers who are industriously tilling the soil, building themselves substantial dwellings, and surrounding themselves with all the necessary comforts of life. They have a fair start in the stock line, and by prudence and care they are destined to become a wealthy community. A number of speculators own considerable land in this township, but even these are constantly giving way to the sturdy farmers who have come to make homes. All in all, Lone Tree is possessed of good soil, excellent drainage, splendid water, good grazing and hay land, abundant crops and an enterprising and intelligent class of citizens. In 1901 the Gowrie and Northwestern railroad was completed. It enters Lone Tree township at its southeastern border and leaves the township about midway of its western border line.
DOUGLAS TOWNSHIP.
Douglas is that congressional township No. 94 north, and 37 west. It is doubtful if there is another township in Clay county so rich in material resources and with as little waste land as this. The south line just misses the breaks and rough land along the Little Sioux river, while Willow creek traverses it five miles and drains all the north half and affords abundant watering places for stock.
Settled by an industrious and enterprising class of people, having nine schoolhouses and three churches, it is no wonder it is rich in all the material resources that go to make up a prosperous people, containing between six and seven hundred inhabitants, and hardly a dwelling in the township but that is surrounded by beautiful groves. The west half is settled largely by Welsh people, who are as a rule the best of citizens; industrious, economical and
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naturally religious, they are a valuable adjunct to any community in which their lot is cast.
Douglas township formerly embraced what is now Herdland, Garfield, Logan, Gillett Grove and Lincoln townships. Of the earlier settlers, William Crozier was perhaps the first permanent settler in the congressional township, he coming in the summer of 1858, and John Kindlespyer settling the same season on section 32, now Herdland township. Two years previous Ezra Wilcox had located a claim on section 20, (now) Herdland township, and George Gillett located on section 23, (now) Gillett's Grove township. Both settlements were made in magnificent groves on the Sioux river, which now bear their names. There were others at this time that took up claims but lacked fortitude and endurance to stay on them. The earliest permanent settlers, with the excep- tion of those mentioned above, were O. C. Poots, David Christy, Thomas Pucket and Paxton Morriss, who, with their families, came in the summer of 1863, and at once erected for themselves the primitive log house, there being plenty of timber for that purpose along the river. The first schoolhouse in the township was built in the year 1863, on section 32, (now) Herdland township, on the farm of D. D. Christy. It was called the White schoolhouse and was the polling place for the township.
S. W. Dubois, Stephen Dubois, Joseph Watts and son Hiram, Samuel and J. L. Crozier came in June, 1864. All these had families except S. W. Dubois. Peter Dubois, Erastus Treman, Ellis and Ashley George, John Phineas and Jesse Pickering and parents came in the fall of the same year. At that time the nearest railroad station was at Iowa Falls, the Illinois Central having been built to that place that year.
It was indeed a great undertaking for those early poineers' to carve out for themselves and families a home. With Fort Dodge the nearest trading point, a distance of seventy miles from the Sioux river, the roads many times were almost impassable. Corn was worth at Fort Dodge from $1.50 to $2 per bushel ; wheat, about $2.60, and a common cow would sell readily at $50. What little grain there was that could be spared was readily taken by the newcomers for bread and seed.
The summer of 1866 brought another grist of settlers: J. J. Duroe, Ephraim Sands, O. G. and J. C. Tabor, all of whom brought their families and took up claims. The Dubois and Sands people moved in the Samuel Crozier house until they could build houses for themselves.
After the first settlers had taken all of the desirable claims along the river, the adventurous newcomers had to push out on the prairie, and as the majority were poor, but of that class who overcome all obstacles, the most of our prairie settlers turned architects and built sod houses or dugouts, which, although dirty, were as a rule warm, and as the material cost nothing, the prairies were soon dotted with sod houses. Strange that when men suffer such privations as do all pioneers to a new country they should move on as soon as the country fairly gets under way of settlement ; but such is the history of all new countries, and ours is no exception.
The first caucus ever held in the township was held by the side of a hay stack, near the old Kenyon place, on section 34, (now) Gillett's Grove town-
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ship. Thomas Pucket was nominated supervisor for the new township. This was in the fall of 1864.
The first township officers were: F. E. Bigsby, clerk; S. W. Dubois, Stephen Dubois and J. L. Crozier, trustees ; Samuel Crozier and George Crozier, constables ; for road supervisor, district No. 1, which comprised the whole town- ship. S. T. Collins.
The first official records in the township were of an election held at the White schoolhouse October 9. 1866, of which E. D. Wright for secretary of state had forty-four votes, and S. G. Vananda had one, the vote running the same all the way through for state officers, there being forty-four Republicans and one Democrat. For county officers there were forty-three votes cast for clerk of the courts, of which William Y. Crozier had thirty seven and B. B. Crego had six. For recorder, P. M. Moore had thirty-seven and C. Kirchner. Jr., six. The township officers elected were: Ellis George, clerk; Thomas Pucket and John Watts, justices of the peace; James Halstead and John Pickering, con- stables : J. L. Crozier, S. T. Collins and Thomas Pucket, trustees; John Watts. assessor ; Richard D. Miller, road supervisor.
At this time the land which had all been subject to homestead and pre- emption was taken out of the market until the St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad Company could make their selection, which was every alternate section for ten miles on each side of their proposed line, as near as practicable on the 43d parallel, about four miles north of the township lines. When the Milwaukee road finally built the road through Spencer, many of the oldest homesteaders thought they were unjustly deprived of one-half of their homestead rights, by taking the road so far north and throwing the township outside of the railroad limits. However, every available claim was taken before the year 1868, and men seemed as anxious to file on eighty as one hundred and sixty acres. There was little stock raised at that time, and corn was nearly a failure, owing. perhaps, to the newness of the land. Wheat vieldled from twenty-five to forty bushels per acre. What corn there was raised was of the early Yankee varieties, and the blackbirds were so troublesome that much of the corn was eaten by these pests. Gradually people began to experiment with other varieties, until today corn is the best crop. Stock raising also began to receive more attention, until now the farmer who has not all the stock he can handle is an exception. One need not go outside of the township to get thoroughbred stock of all kinds. Previous to the year 1879 almost all of the grain was hauled to Storm Lake, a distance of twenty-five miles, and during those years the streets of Storm Lake were many times lined with teams waiting to unload grain. Now stock raising and dairying have taken its place, and the inhabitants are largely indebted to the change for the progress they have made. The surroundings are all favorable for the production of stock and dairy products. With a climate admirably adapted to this business, with a soil in which grass grows with great luxuriance, and which with even slovenly and slipshod methods of culti- vation produces all kinds of feed in marvelous abundance; with land so cheap that the yearly products of a single cow will pay for an acre of land in the most favorable locality; with water at every man's door ; with all kinds of grain feed so cheap and abundant that it can be sent four thousand miles and then
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fed with a profit; with transportation so rapid, we can lay down our product in a fresh condition in almost every market in the world, what more could be asked for than what the township already possesses ?
LAKE TOWNSHIP.
Originally Lake was a part of Bridgewater and was set off as a congres- sional township in 1882. It derives its name from the number of lakes within its borders. It was early settled by an excellent class of citizens, who have been energetic and frugal, and tilled its soil to good advantage. It possesses some excellent farm and hay land, and is also a fine stock township. Among its first settlers were J. A. Anthony, who was subsequently followed in years by D. M. Green, Capener, Cutshall, J. G. Duncan and a host of others. Among its very first settlers was a German, who built a small cabin and lived there along in 1866 and 1867. In and around these lakes for many years was the constant habitation of Indians during the hunting and fishing seasons. There were a 'number of Indian relics found near these lakes, showing that it was a common rendezvous for wandering tribes. Mr. Anthony gives a description of a fort which he found in good condition upon his settlement on Lost Island lake. The game was plentiful at times, and the protection from storms and excessive heat very fair, and consequently the Indians found it a very comfortable place. The citizens of the township, some years since, were very confident that the Rock Island at no distant day would extend its branch northward from Ruthven and thus supply them with better railroad facilities. When this is accomplished there can be no doubt but what Lost Island and its surrounding lakes will be utilized for a summer resort, besides the land will greatly increase in market- able value.
John A. Anthony was born in Delaware county, New York, August 13th. 1818, and remained a resident of that county for eleven years, when he moved to Broome county, where he lived for a great many years. In 1869 he came to Palo Alto county, just across the line from Clay county, and located near the north end of Lost Island lake. He had seen these broad prairies when there was not a house within the range of his vision. He had seen it slowly and grad- ually rise from a vast and uninhabitable plain to a thriving and well populated township and county. When he first settled on the edge of this beautiful lake it was a perilous undertaking, as it was and had been a common camping ground for. roving bands of Indians. But fortunately he remained undisturbed, and the few Indians that visited at this pleasant spot left him unmolested. During the first year of his residence, at times there was a feeling of loneliness at being separated so far from civilization, but his anxiety to improve his possessions and secure a comfortable home in time drove away these sad and desponding feelings. Then there was plenty of diversion. Game at that time was plentiful. fish in abundance, and many other amusements to turn the mind from the channel of sad or regretful thoughts. Mr. Anthony has given a most minute description of an old fort located about one and a half miles east of where he resided, which was in a good state of preservation when he arrived at the lake. He stated that a rifle pit was thrown up to a considerable height, and port holes were plainly to be seen. There were many evidences to indicate that
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it had been in use at some previous period, from the scattered pieces found in and around it. His conclusions were that at some time a roving tribe of Indians, probably belonging to the Sioux, who were the more intelligent, had come to Lost Island Lake to spend the winter, and as there was a scarcity of timber and also a number of other hostile bands traveling through that section, it was decided to erect this fortress as a protection against the severe storms that prevailed, as well as a place of safety should some of their enemies attempt to attack them. This fort remained in existence for a number of years, and was quite a curiosity. Lost Island Lake is a large body of water, part of which is in Clay county. Its banks are gravelly, and it is surrounded by a plentiful supply of shade trees. This township is noted for its consolidated school, a description of which is given in another part of this work.
RIVERTON TOWNSHIP.
This township was organized July 7. 1874, by being set off from Spencer, to which is was formerly attached. The first settlement made in Riverton was by John and Stephen Calkins, "Father" Solomon Wells and his son Frank Wells, and Rev. R. A. Coates. Then came B. P. Hough and Wales Lamberton, all of whom settled on section 12 in this township. A year or two later Charles and James Carver settled two miles further west. John Calkins became one of the prominent men of the county. He was associated with J. II. Hale in laying off the town of Spencer, and was county supervisor for several years. His wife was especially active in church, Sunday school and educational work. The first religious service in this part of the county was held at her home. "Father" Wells was known for his religious enthusiasm. R. A. Coats, then a young man fresh from the army, was of fine intellect and active in many ways ; he readily found an entry to the hearts of all who knew him.
When the board of supervisors set off Riverton, it authorized and em- powered Major Cheney to call an election and swear in the judges of the election. Officers were duly elected, and the township was properly equipped and prepared to manage its own affairs as a township. Riverton has from that date borne an honorable part in the county's history. Its inhabitants have always been among Clay county's best citizens, and have had the reputation of being enterprising, honorable and prosperous. The township is most fortunately located, being watered by the Little Sioux and Ocheydan rivers and traversed by the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad. It borders Spencer on the west, in fact a part of the town of Spencer lies within the congressional town- ship of Riverton. A visitor to this place cannot but be impressed with the general evidences of thrift, the pleasant and comfortable location of its farmers. There are quite a large number of farmers who give particular attention to stock raising. They have all classes and varieties of breeds. It is no disparage- ment to other townships to say that the land is of a most excellent character. and annually yields a large reward to its owners. The general condition of the soil and the favorable location of the township render it among the most favor- able in the county. The township is therefore a prominent factor in point of wealth, resources, educational facilities, social advantages and political influences. Spencer and Everly are both easy of access, and the farmers of this township are therefore conveniently situated to take advantage of either market.
LOG CABIN STILL STANDING, FOUR MILES EAST OF SPENCER IN SIOUX TOWNSHIP. BUILT BY EVAN JONES IN 1867
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
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ASTOR. TILD . N F
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
SUMMIT TOWNSHIP.
It was during the year 1872 that this township was created. Previous to that date it had been a part of Spencer, but it settled so rapidly that it was deemed advisable to give it the authority to govern itself in regard to local affairs. It belongs to the northern tier of townships, and with the exception of the townships containing towns, it is the wealthiest in the county. The soil is a rich loam and is well adapted for producing either grain or grass. It is none too high nor too low, but a happy medium between the two extremes, and is therefore able to withstand either the extreme droughts or rainy seasons. It is just sufficiently rolling to carry off a heavy fall of rain and yet to retain enough moisture during the dry times to grow good crops. The Little Sioux river courses its way in a diagonal direction through the township, while smaller channels coming from different directions empty into this common reser- voir. The land is therefore rich and productive, and the amount of grain raised is simply immense. For grazing purposes few if any townships surpass or excel it, and for that reason it is the center of stock raising in the county. It goes without question that there is double the amount of stock owned by the farmers and dealers in Summit township than any other in the county. Some firms * handle in the course of a year from two thousand to five thousand head. Its. farmers are permanent, prosperous and pushing, and nearly every citizen is in well-to-do circumstances. Probably the first settlement made in that township consisted of such men, and their families, as Thomas Berry, Peter Nelson, G. W. Clark, Joseph O'Brien and others, who located in 1869. These were the begin- ners. During the next year there came James Anderson, Charles Justus, Mr. Emerson, Ole Berg, Martin Rassmussen, Frank Miller, James Peterson, Nels Sorrenson. The next year brought as settlers James Goodwin, W. H. Webb, Charles Tennant, I. B. Titus and quite a large number of others. Everything has tended towards prosperity in that township, with the exception of the grass- hopper raids, which gave it a very bad setback. But with this single exception prosperity has attended its citizens. They have good citizens, energetic farmers, good local government, excellent school houses, taught by proficient instructors, and everything required to make living there pleasant and profitable.
FREEMAN TOWNSHIP.
This township is one of the more recently organized ones, having formerly been a part of old Bridgewater, which was divided, and out of this division grew three townships. It contains among its inhabitants some of the first settlers in the north part of the county. Among its citizens will be found some of the best, most prosperous farmers and business men in the county. It is, in point of wealth, among the first, and is constantly gaining. The little town of Dickens was started in 1886, and although still small, is gradually growing and gaining and now contains several stores, warehouses, a hotel, a school and church edifices. It also has representatives of a majority of the trades, and is destined to become a town of importance as a trading point. Its exhibit in the line of trade is quite flattering, and is annually increasing. It is located about equidistant from Spencer and Ruthven, and furnishes the people between CLAY 5.
*
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
these two points a trading place. Its citizens are possessed of the usual amount of western enterprise, and with favorable crops will gradually spread in size and increase in the number of business houses. The land in this township is not dissimilar in fertility and general location to that in other parts of the county. The cultivation of the farms and the general appearance of the buildings indicate that its farmers are prosperous and diligent. Among some of its older settlers are such men as J. B. Wilson, R. J. Archer, George Bassett, the Culvers, Thomas Hagarth, R. E. Leach, Kinderdines, Monks, Broons, Reuben Somers and a host of others, who transformed the place from a bleak prairie to a finely settled township.
Lost Island Lake, one the most beautiful lakes in the county, extends into this township, and is bountifully supplied with many different kinds of fish. Its banks are lined with a sprinkling of timber, which adds to its beauty and attract- iveness. The Chicago and Milwaukee railroad traverses the township near its center. Elm Lake also partly lies within its borders.
TOWN OF DICKENS.
Dickens is a very pretty little town of about three hundred inhabitants. The town was platted in the carly '80's. The first merchant in the town was John Lawler. James E. Mills ran the first elevator, which was built by A. A. Flint, and Clarence Fish was the first blacksmith. The Dickinson brothers had a hay barn, built about the same time. The town has three elevators. They are run by J. E. Mills, J. J. Lawler and A. A. Flint. It has a volunteer fire department, which has a chemical engine and ample hose for fire protection. Dickens is not an incorporated town.
The Dickens Review is the latest paper to enter the county. Allen C. Flint is its editor. It was established October 21, 1908. In politics it is Republican. It is a seven-column folio, issued every Wednesday. This is the fourth paper to be started in the little town of Dickens. Its predecessors have all vanished. The first newspaper in Dickens was the Dickens Tribune, established by Henry . Merritt in 1891. It then passed to C. A. Robison, who ran it one year. Robison sold the paper to R. A. and A. C. Somers, who merged it into the Dickens Senate about 1900. The Senate lasted until 1906, when it died a natural death, after going into the hands of Haven Flint. James E. Mills, one of the carly settlers of the county, established the Dickens Leader in 1889, and placed it in charge of John Easterbrook, who continued the paper a few months and then left the plant and the village with the subscription book under his arm. Mr. Mills then removed the plant to his home, where he and his wife set up the type and gave the people of that vicinity the news for about five years. The plant was then sold to H. Flint, who took it to Greenville, where he issued a few copies of the Greenville Times, when it was sold and taken away.
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