USA > Iowa > Clayton County > History of Clayton County, Iowa : from the earliest historical times down to the present : including a genealogical and biographical record of many representative families, prepared from data obtained from original sources of information, Volume I > Part 31
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place, but for some reason, no preparations were made, and while the old settlers had a good visit and a ball game, the day was not a distinct success. A stronger effort was made for the reunion of 1887, which was held at Littleport. The newspaper account says it was a complete success and that there was an exciting game of baseball between Elk- ader and Littleport, which the latter won by 21 to 20. The gathering at Strawberry Point in 1888, was a large one, Mr. Newberry delivered an address, there were talks by F. C. Madison, Alex Blake, P. D. Raw- son, Edward Dickens and Judge Murdock. There was also a poem by Mrs True. Daniel Greene was elected president, and Ernest Hofer, secretary. The old settlers reunion for 1889, was held at Volga on June 13. There was good music, both by the band and choir. The oration was delivered by B. W. Newberry of Strawberry Point, and Hon. S. Murdock gave reminiscences of the courts. At Edgewood in 1890 there was also a good crowd. A call was made for those who had lived in the county fifty years and George Gifford, Sam Peck, Michael Uriell and Edward Dickens responded. The address was made by Mr. Keeling of Volga and Judge Murdock presided. Interest seems to have waned at this time for there is no record of the reunion of 1891 and in July, 1892, Samuel Murdock writes to the press that he had not called a meeting of the old settlers on account of the wet season, but in September the reunion was held in a grove north of Elkader. The Register says: "The number in attendance was not as large as usual, a painful evidence of the fact that the men who first crossed the great Father of Waters are fast passing to their reward beyond another deep, dark tide." Mayor Hagensick welcomed the pioneers and Judge Murdock responded. Other speakers to tell of the pioneer days were Ned Dickens, Michael Uriell and S. H. F. Schoulte. Resolutions of sympathy were passed on account of the protracted ill- ness of Samuel Peck. The officers elected were P. P. Olmstead presi- dent and T. H. Studebaker, of McGregor, secretary. Meeting of 1893 was held at McGregor, but without special incident. From this time until 1901 no mention of an old settlers' reunion is found in the Elk- ader papers from which one is lead to suppose that they were discon- tinued. Judge Murdock, who for many years was the central figure of these reunions, died in 1897 and there seems to have been no one to push the plans for these gatherings until they were taken up by the people of Strawberry Point. In truth the old settlers picnic was being largely replaced by the gatherings of the veterans.
Soldiers Reunions-There were many regimental reunions and the state had set the example by holding a state encampment and in June, 1882, a movement was started at Elkader to organize the soldiers and sailors of the county. This was the first step toward the organization of the Grand Army Post. Memorial day services were held in Elkader, May 30, 1880, at which time the graves of ten soldiers were decorated. This became more and more an annual observance and it was generally observed each year throughout the county. It was not until June, 1883, that the Grand Army Post was organized at Elkader. H. Kar- berg, of Dubuque, was the mustering officer and the post was named Boardman Post, in honor of Captain Elisha Boardman and there were nineteen charter members. By 1884, other posts had been organized,
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for on Memorial Day, of that year, members of the Grand Army were present from Elkport and Strawberry Point, as well as from Elkader. In 1885, there was a reunion of the Twenty-seventh Iowa and in 1886 a reunion of Company D, of the Twenty-first Iowa, at which time the old war flag was carried. In 1885, it is stated that there were 429 soldiers of the Civil War in the county, seven veterans of the Mexican war, five of the Blackhawk war and one of the war of 1812, this latter being Thomas Alvey of Highland township, then 99 years old. It was not until September, 1886, twenty-five years after the opening of the war that the first county encampment of Clayton county veterans was held at Elkader. Great preparations were made for this event. The camp ground was selected, tents erected, a stand built and decorated and supplies enough for 500 were procured. On the first day there was a dress parade, with drum corps from McGregor and Strawberry Point. The camp fire was addressed by T. M. Davidson, G. H. Otis, Dr. Scott and Robert Quigley. During the night the soldiers foraged and had a general good time. The music of the drum and fife awakened them on the morning of the second day, rations were served and at 9 o'clock there was guard mount. John Everall delivered the address of welcome to which Gilbert Cooley responded. Judge Murdock also spoke and the circumstances of Captain Boardman's bravery were related. The third day was devoted to breaking camp. The com- missary department was under the management of F. D. Bayless, Anton Kramer and James Corlett, and hundreds of meals were served. One hundred and seventy-six veterans registered at this first reunion. On the following September, 1887, the second reunion was held. T. M. Davidson welcomed the soldiers and G. H. Otis responded. A splendid dinner was served. There were three drum corps present and military discipline was observed to an extent. The third reunion, in September, 1888, was favored by fair weather and there was a large attendance. The address of welcome was delivered by D. D. Murphy and General Milo Sherman, Colonel J. K. Sweeney, of Osage, and Judge C. T. Granger were honored guests. There was a sham battle of Lookout Mountain, which was not only good fun for the old soldiers but a rare treat for the vast crowd of spectators. G. H. Otis was elected president of the association and J. M. Leach secretary.
Quite the grandest affair was held in August, 1889. Tents were erected to accommodate 2,000. Besides the Clayton county veterans, soldiers were present from Postville, Waukon and Decorah. Presi- dent Otis was in charge and an address of welcome was delivered by Senator F. D. Bayless. On the second day there was a fine program, including a parade, speeches by George Cooley, John Stahl, D. D. Murphy, and Colonel J. K. Sweeney and the great sham battle of Missionary Ridge, followed by a spirited camp fire. The officers elected were T. M. Davidson, president, and J. M. Leach, secretary. A resolution was offered at this encampment endorsing Gilbert Cooley for postmaster at Strawberry Point and asking that the appointment of H. H. Scofield be annulled. This resolution had no effect, however, and Mr. Scofield received the appointment. The reunion of 1890 was another grand success. J. E. Corlett gave the address of welcome, which was responded to by John Everall. In the evening, J. E. Webb,
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of Elkader was a speaker. On the second day there were addresses by H. H. Clark and Thomas Updegraff, a parade and many amusements and a grand camp fire, at night. It was decided to hold the next encampment at McGregor. G. H. Otis was elected president and J. M. Leach secretary.
Agricultural Fairs-The county fair continued at National during all this period with varying fortune and with added features from time to time, reflecting the popular amusement craze, walking matches, base ball games being succeeded by bicycle races. The weather man seemed to have a personal grudge against National and while other fairs might enjoy sunshine there was hardly one of these twenty years during which the National fair did not hit upon a rainy season. There were many financial difficulties, largely on account of the weather and in spite of state and county aid, it was not often that the management was able to pay premiums in full. Several attempts were made, chiefly on the part of Monona, to change the location, but these were unsuccessful. In 1881, Strawberry Point entered the lists with a fair which had a record of success. It was as fortunate in weather conditions as National was unfortunate. At the fair held in Strawberry Point, in September, 1881, the enterprising Press issued a daily paper. The complaint was made by Elkader papers that too many grafting games had been allowed, but this was immediately denied by the management. In 1883, the dates of the two fairs con- flicted and there was a lively interchange of correspondence between the secretaries. Both fairs persisted in holding their dates and both had successful exhibitions.
Norman Hamilton was secretary of the National fair for several years, but in 1884, he committed suicide, by hanging, and A. O. Kenyon was appointed to fill the vacancy. In 1885, the Elkader Journal ran a daily at the National fair and Strawberry Point countered with a baby show. One great handicap of the National fair was lack of water supply and the McGregor Times complains that there was but one well, to furnish water for a crowd of between 5,000 and 6,000 together with their horses, and that men had to stand in line by the hour. It was sought to remedy this by drilling a deep well, but the drill broke and it was some years before an adequate water supply was obtained. By 1890, Strawberry Point had attained the distinction of a Roman chariot race. In 1894, John G. Hemple became secretary of the National fair, and at the annual meeting, resolutions were passed concerning the death of Gregor McGregor. In 1895, the fair was able to pay its premiums in full, and in 1896, the premiums were also paid and the floral exhibit and balloon ascension were the features; but in 1898 the county fair was able to pay but 60 per cent.
Elkader Fair-In 1895, a movement was inaugurated for a fair at Elkader. An option was taken on seventy-three acres owned by John Friend and a company was proposed with shares at $100 each. It was not until 1898, however, that this took form and the Elkader Fair Association was incorporated with a capital of $5,000. The fair grounds were leased with option to buy and Joseph Lamm was presi- dent and Dr. J. D. Bronson secretary. In May, a grading bee was
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held and drilling was successful and a flowing well was struck. The first fair at Elkader was held in September, 1899, and the news- papers were enthusiastic as to its success. The attendance was 6,000 and the total receipts over $5,000, so that all premiums were paid in full. This gave the Elkader fair a splendid start for the new century.
Aside from the celebrations of Memorial Day and the Fourth of July, other great holidays during this period were the annual gather- ings of the A. O. U. W. Lodge. This order had lodges in nearly every town of the county and their annual meetings were large affairs with parades, bands, addresses and sports. This was, at that time, the most popular and the largest order in the county. The soldiers reunions continued, but with interruptions, each succeeding year find- ing it more difficult to get the veterans together. In 1894, Company D of the Twenty-first Iowa held a reunion at Strawberry Point, but only fourteen of the company were in attendance. The county reunion at Elkader in this year was a success, however. D. D. Murphy delivered the address of welcome and George H. Otis replied. The president of the organization was F. D. Bayless and J. H. Hill was secretary. In 1895, the veterans met at Camp Lincoln at Elkader with John Ever- all as president and George Cooley, secretary. It was at this reunion that the veterans acknowledged for the first time that "the boys are growing old." They refused, however, to take second place and declined an invitation to have their reunion held in connection with the fair. In 1896, 175 veterans attended the reunion at Strawberry Point. D. G. Griffith was president and T. M. Davidson secretary. In 1898, no reunion was held as no grounds were obtainable. There was, however, a soldiers' day in connection with the chautauqua at McGregor. There is no record of a reunion being held in the next two years. An added feature in the social life of the county was the establishment of the Methodist Assembly Chautauqua at McGregor Heights. Lansing and Decorah competed with McGregor for the location of this assembly, but the beautiful location at McGregor won. A pavillion was erected in May, 1898, and cottages were built. This gave a great impetus to gatherings of all kinds at McGregor and 5,000 people, 400 of them from Elkader attended the celebration on the following Fourth of July. In August, the Methodists held their first camp meeting at McGregor Heights and the grounds were formally dedicated.
Industrial Progress-Before 1880, the creamery movement gained ground in Clayton county and these soon became established, not only in the towns but throughout the country. Strawberry Point became a great center for the butter industry and was known as the "Cream City." This industry gave a great impetus to Strawberry Point and in the summer of 1881 the improvements in that city amounted to $13,000 and the lumber sales for the three months, preceding August, amounted to 150,000 feet. The establishment of the creameries and the profits to the farmers encouraged the breeding of good stock, especially of milch cattle. In 1895, the Strawberry Point Press was able to give the following very favorable statement of the creamery business of the county : "We doubt if any other county in the nation can equal Clayton. Not only in the quantity of butter shipped, but in other
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respects, Clayton county takes the lead. Previous to 1876, Iowa did not stand very high as a butter producing state, either in quantity or in quality of the product. In that year Iowa leaped right to the front by being awarded the gold medal at the World's Fair at Philadelphia for the best butter on exhibition, all states and nations competing. That medal published to the world the possibilities of Iowa as a dairy state. It gave Iowa a reputation which is worth millions of dollars to the state. That butter was made in Clayton county. At that time Clayton county was not very extensively engaged in the dairy business, but a county that is capable of producing the best butter that is made in the nation is sure to come to the front. It has now arrived there, shipping more than half a million pounds more butter than any other county in the state. The two largest separator creameries in the state are located in Clayton county, the Luana and the Strawberry Point creameries. The make of butter of these two creameries the past year (1894) was 851,491 pounds.
In 1896, it is boasted that Strawberry Point has the largest creamery in Iowa, the Dubuque Telegraph making an extensive write-up of the institution and giving some interesting statistics. It states that the milk receipts for the year ending February 1, 1896, were 10,731,428 'pounds, that the large stand pipe of the Dubuque water company has a capacity of 400,000 gallons and that it would take three and one-third such stand pipes to hold this amount of milk. It would take 536 cars to carry the milk or a solid train three miles, 112 rods long. The butter produced was 462,191 pounds, requiring 7,612 tubs filling twenty-five cars. The receipts were nearly $100,000 of which the men employed on milk routes received over $10,000. This was a co-operative creamery with a capital of $9,000. The Dubuque paper adds: "This creamery is probably the largest separator creamery in the world. At least none other in the country shows such a volume of business." In later years the large creamery trusts crowded the local creameries to the wall. The invention of the hand separator made it possible for the farmers to sell the butter fat, retaining the skimmed milk on the farm. While the milk product of Clayton county is still one of its main industries the per cent of butter manufactured in the county is very small compared to what it was at the beginning of the present century.
The Criminal Record-While Clayton has always been above the average in its respect for law and order, it would be impossible for any commonwealth to exist without crime. It forms an unpleasant chapter in any history, and concerning the ordinary crimes which occur in every community, it is necessary to state only that the per cent of criminality is as low in this county as its per cent of literacy is high. There were, however, some few cases which were notorious, and which must be mentioned. Rechfus murder-one of the first of these, after 1880, was the murder of Gustavus Rechfus, who was shot while sitting in his own home at his farm at Pleasant Ridge. The Elkader Register stated that Mr. Rechfus was seated in his dining room, and after eating his supper was reading his paper and sitting near the table on which the light was standing. His brother, Henry, and his brother's wife, were in the room when a shot was fired, which killed him instantly.
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The brother reported the crime and an inquest was held and $1,500 reward was offered. Several arrests on suspicion were made at the time. Rechfus was a man of considerable wealth, had loaned money to many, and was not an easy man with his creditors. The theory first held was that some hard pressed creditor had committed the crime. Sheriff Place, Judge Murdock and R. E. Price investigated the murder and found no clue, but they were unanimous in declaring that Henry Rechfus, who was accused of the crime by many, was not guilty. In May George Ellinger was arrested for the murder, but released under bond pending examination. It was reported that Ellinger was in debt to Rechfus and had been hard pressed by him. At the preliminary hearing Ellinger was released, but Judge Murdock and others continued to follow up the case, and detectives were employed. One of them, H. C. Frese, announced in July that he had not given up the case and believed the murderer lived within five miles of the Rechfus place. It was not until July, 1882, that the case against Ellinger was dismissed for lack of evidence, and in 1883, Henry Rechfus was arrested for the crime. There was a lengthy trial in which the best legal talent of the county was employed; Henry was acquitted and the crime was never punished.
Perhaps one of the most unique attempts at crime found on the criminal calendar of any county occurred at Millville, in August, 1881. A man by the name of Lathrop fought with John James and it was charged that Lathrop attempted to force the fangs of a rattlesnake (the head of which he held in his hand) into the neck of James. A brutal murder occurred at Guttenberg, in 1883, when in a fight a man by the name of Kampmeyer killed a man named Frasier with a spade. While the details of the murder were bloody, it was proven that the Frasier brothers hunted Kampmeyer up and assaulted him, and that he acted in self-defense. In November, 1883, Michael Penneton, of High- land township, killed his twin brother, John, by stabbing him in the breast with a butcher knife, and then striking him on the head with a club. The brothers were bachelors and lived together. John contem- plated matrimony, and this so enraged his brother that they quarreled bitterly and the tragedy ensued. At the grave, Michael, who had been permitted to attend the funeral in charge of an officer, gave way to his grief and there was a most heart-rending scene.
In July, 1884, Ed Steele was killed mysteriously at a picnic near Edgewood. Alonzo Sherman was arrested, but was released, and later Eli Kewley and Pat Roach were arrested for the crime at Fort Dodge. Hearing of the return of the prisoners a mob gathered at Elkport. The sheriff learned of this, however, and placed his prisoners in jail at Manchester. Roach was released but Kewley was held for man- slaughter.
Elkins Murder-Perhaps the most sensational crime in the history of the county occurred on Bear Creek, four miles southeast of Little- port, when Wesley Elkins, a boy under twelve years of age, killed his father, John Elkins, and his step-mother, in July, 1889. The crime was reported to the neighbors by the Elkins boy, who appeared, carrying the baby in his arms and declaring that some unknown man had entered the house that night and killed his father and mother. The verdict
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of the coroner's jury was that they had come to their death at the hands of some unknown person. The crime was so infamous that the governor offered a reward. A week later, Wesley Elkins was arrested and held as a witness because of his statement that he was about to leave the county. His stories were found to be conflicting and, on August 1, he made a confession of the crime, as follows :
"My name is John Wesley Elkins, and I was 12 years old on the 12th day of July. I had wanted to leave home and be at liberty to do for myself for a long time. I once ran away but father brought me home. Two or three days before the 10th of July I began planning to kill my parents, and when I came from milking on that night I went to the old granary and got the club which was found, and placed it on a chair in my room. About 3 o'clock in the morning I got up and went out of doors and looked all around, but saw no one. I then went into the bed room where father and mother slept and saw they were asleep. I went back to my room and took the rifle from the wall where father always hung it, and went back to their room and put the muzzle within about two feet of father's face and fired. I ran back to my room and threw the gun on my bed and grabbed the club which was on a chair near the door, ran back to their door and saw mother had jumped out of bed upon the floor and was stooped over as if to light a lamp, when I struck her on the back of the head with the club; she kind of sprawled backwards upon the bed, and I struck her several times more until I was sure she was dead, and then father kind of groaned and I struck him once or twice to be sure he was dead. After I was sure they were dead I lit the lamp and took it to my room and then went back and took the baby from their bed, and took off its bloody clothes and dressed it and quieted it. Then I started to load the rifle, but after getting the powder into the gun I could not find the balls and other things, and thought I was fooling around there too long, and went to the back door and knocked the powder out of the gun by the doorstep, and took the club and threw it out into the weeds. I then went and hitched up the old horses and took the baby and drove down by Potters and they stopped me."
Elkins was tried, in January, 1890, and upon his confession was found guilty, but owing to his extreme youth he was sentenced to life imprisonment and capital punishment was not inflicted. A few years later it was reported that Elkins was a very dangerous prisoner with a homicidal tendency, and that he was the terror of the penitentiary. It was stated, however, that warden Madden took a great interest in his case and later it was reported that he had become a model prisoner. In 1898 an attempt was made to secure his pardon. This was opposed by the Elkader Register, which reprinted the confession as given above. This effort was unavailing, but other efforts were made which, though opposed in a strong speech by H. C. Bishop, the then senator from this county, were finally successful and Elkins has for many years been at liberty. He graduated with honors from the University of Minnesota, secured a position with a railway company and is now occupying a place of importance and trust, his career fully justifying his pardon.
Another crime which stirred the county in 1889 was the killing of George Cornell, an engineer on the river division of the Milwaukee
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railroad, by J. J. Grinnell of McGregor. Grinnell was the court reporter of the county, and was well known and well liked. Cornell and Grin- nell's wife maintained illicit relations for some time, and this became so open and flagrant as to become notorious. Grinnell finally became convinced of his wife's unfaithfulness and shot and killed Cornell at the lunch room at McGregor. Grinnell was arrested but released on bail and public sentiment was entirely in his favor. At the trial it was urged that grief had driven Grinnell temporarily insane, and this plea, together with the unwritten law, served to acquit him. In November, 1895, the county was shocked by a double tragedy, when Hans Allen killed Will Cross at the home of a Mrs. Minchk, at McGregor. Allen shot Cross, inflicted a flesh wound upon Mrs. Minchk's little girl and then shot himself in the heart.
In 1896 Sheriff Benton received great credit for the capture of George Luscher, who killed August Heiden, Jr., in Cox Creek on June 9, 1895. Luscher escaped at the time, was traced to Missouri and captured nine months after the commission of the crime. This com- pletes the list of the sensational crimes during this period of twenty years, and shows that the county was not criminally inclined.
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