USA > Iowa > Crawford County > History of Crawford County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 6
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In the summer of 1853 the several townships embraced within the county were surveyed and "run off" into sections. The Homestead Law, which was then being agitated in Congress, encouraged the settlers to hope for its passage in time for them to secure a quarter section of land by actual settlement; but in this they were doomed to disappointment. As a class we were only possessed of moderate means, and as for cash, we had none-the saving of even the minimum price of $1.25 per acre was to us quite an object, but of this we will speak more fully hereafter.
Late this fall Uncle Edmund Howorth and his sons Edmund and Daniel located at Three-Bee Tree grove.
Crawford county being attached to Shelby county for revenue and judicial purposes, the county court of Shelby ordered that Crawford county be organized into a civil township, granting to the citizens the privilege of having it to suit themselves. The organizing officer was Andrew Foutz, who, by the way, could neither read nor write, but by the assistance of the citizens the proper notices were posted and on the first Monday in April, A. D., 1854, was held at the house
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY
of Thos. Dobson the first election for township officers. On motion of Benja- min Dobson, the township was named Milford. At this election Benj. Dobson, Franklin Prentice and Calvin Horr were chosen trustees; Thos. Dobson, Justice of the Peace and assessor ; A. R. Hunt, Justice of the Peace and township clerk, father of N. L. and C. J. Hunt; F. Prentice and C. Horr, constables. Whole number of votes cast, five. This, you will say, was a small beginning, but it was a beginning, nevertheless, and destined to grow, and out of which has sprung all the other township organizations.
About the Ist of May, John A. Dunham and Ambrose Richardson settled at Dunham's grove. In June, Rufus Richardson and D. J. Fowler, and in Sep- tember, Clark Winans and B. F. Wicks, settled at Mason's grove; W. H. Jordan and J. R. Rudd at Lost grove; R. D. Butterworth at Oak grove; Judge John R. Bassett, John Gilbreath and Moses and Daniel Riddle at Coon grove. Mathias Didra, the first German settler in the county, located at Buck grove. These are believed to have been all that came during the year.
R. D. Butterworth relates among other incidents that he lived in a pen all winter that was covered with poles and hay, that he hunted deer and his wife hunted turkeys and prairie chickens and used to bring home a good many of them. On one occasion she and Judge Butler were shooting at a mark, which the Judge always missed and she always hit. The Judge wanted to trade for her gun, saying it was of no account. She said, "Look here, Judge, that gun just suits me ; you could hit the mark if you wanted to."-He laughed and went home.
The first Monday in August there was another election held in Milford township. At this election we determined to vote, at least, for those we pre- ferred in office in Shelby county. We understood that the law gave us no right to vote for county officers, but it gave these officers a right to tax us for county revenue, and, as a Western phrase has it, we were "getting on our ear" about it, believing with our forefathers that taxation without representation was not right. We thought that the county officials, in courtesy to their foster children, might be induced to count our vote; but they stood on their dignity and said the law was against us. Who were we, that we could resist? The situation being excepted we settled down to await further developments.
E. W. Fowler and family arrived in November, closing up the emigration for this year. This winter was most delightful, very little snow falling-not more than two or three inches at any one time. The consequence was that there were not as many deer killed as usual for want of a good tracking snow.
During the winter of 1854-55 we frequently talked over what we thought in our situation burdensome to us-that of being attached to another county and having to go there to do county business without a voice in the choice of county officers. The conclusion was that we would circulate a petition among our citizens, addressed to the Hon. Mansel Wicks, Judge of Shelby county, praying to be set off separate and apart, and requesting him to order an elec- tion for county officers ; said election to take place on the first Monday in April, 1855. This election was held at the house of Nicholas Friend at what is known as Friend's Grove, on a branch of Coon Creek. We now felt that we were cut loose and fairly out at sea. The object now being to steer clear of breakers, we
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were all inexperienced seamen and almost without chart or compass, and with nothing to keep our reckoning on, you may well think we were almost in a fix, but, nothing daunted, we set about our work, studied law a little through the summer at intervals, till the first Monday in August when the regular elec- tion was held and when John R. Bassett was elected County Judge and B. F. Wicks, Treasurer and Recorder, the Judge holding his office at Coon Grove . and the Clerk and Treasurer and Recorder at Mason's Grove. We passed from one to the other on foot and almost over the ground where Denison now stands. Somebody may ask why we went on foot. We reply, for the best of reasons. That was our only mode of travel except with ox teams. Horses we had none. The only horse at Mason's Grove was Sam, owned by B. Dobson, then young, and may be considered the pioneer horse of Crawford county, doing service both in riding and driving at different times for almost the entire neighborhood. He carried in after years, the first mail into Crawford county, attended the first delegate convention ever convened for the nomination of District Judge, at Ashton in Monona county, and in fact if his history were written it would fill a volume. He is now known to all the old settlers as Old Sam, and is still owned and cared for by his old master who, notwithstanding his age-almost 27 years-would not part with him at any price. But to return to the condi- tion in which the first county officers were placed. Without casting any reflec- tions on any that have since been candidates for office in the county, we con- clude that under the circumstances in which we were placed, but few of them would have consented to have been a candidate, especially as the pay was only fifty dollars a year and no money to pay with. Well, it is all over now; we lived through it, and the remembrance of it brings to mind many social enjoy- ments. Besides settling up our business we had a good social visit with Judge Bassett and his amiable wife and daughter, now Mrs. Newton Richards.
Among the arrivals this year we note John Vore who settled at North Grove, S. E. Dow where he now lives, since Dowville, S. J. Comfort nearly opposite across the river, I. B. Goodrich settled at S. B. Greek's, afterward removing to where he now lives. John Purdy, S. S. Sisley, James Slater and his son Solomon and Joseph Brogden also came to Mason's Grove. In June Benjamin Dobson started his sawmill, and thence forward lumber for building purposes was to be had in abundance for first supply.
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CRAWFORD COUNTY FARM SCENE
9 7
"SAM," ONE OF THE FIRST HORSES TO CARRY MAIL IN THE COUNTY
CHAPTER IX.
REMINISCENCES OF THOMAS DOBSON-Concluded.
"Through brawn and bone I drave the stone, And slew him upon the brink."
In the spring of 1857 several incidents occurred which are worthy of notice. Several families of emigrants from Maine, Rhode Island, and other States ar- rived and settled in Denison and vicinity. The citizens of Denison were greatly surprised one balmy morning in early spring by a large buffalo bull coming up into town while most of the inhabitants were at breakfast. Knives and forks were instantly dropped; many had never seen a buffalo; excitement ran high; men, women and children rushed into the streets; some thought to corrall him, but he appeared not to know their object, passing right up to the lines while they gave way to his royal majesty. He passed through wire fences without stop- ping, scarcely realizing their presence. After receiving several shots from shot- guns and small rifles with no effect further than to enrage and exasperate him. a young man, by the name of John Appleman gave him a death shot. As he crossed the divide between town and the Burnt Woods John Purdy, F. Reynolds, Mr. Perkins and a number of others were there, and arrived in time to see him die. He was an immense beast, sixteen years old as per horn marks. Just how much he weighed we do not recollect; he was quite thin in flesh, but suffice it to say that almost every individual in the county had a share. A party endeav- ored to preserve and stuff the hide but the head was so large they failed, and Mr. Swain, an experienced tanner, cured the hide, and it was divided, giving halter straps to almost every man in the county.
The next thing of note was the great rains and floods. Mr. A. S. Wright who kept a strict calendar assured us that it rained forty-one days out of forty- three, the effect of which was terrible. The Boyers were spread out from bluff to bluff. Early one morning Swain and Reynolds arose to see their mill almost covered with water, their logs washed away, and a man by the name of Benja- min Galland on top of the mill shouting for help. His wagon was washed down stream and was recovered with much exertion. Among the newcomers this spring were Samuel Swain and wife, father and mother of J. B. Swain. They reported meeting on the wide prairie between Carrollton and Dunham's Grove a wild looking man by the name of Harper who had just made a trip from Dallas
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY -
county to Crawford county with a load of flour. He had sold flour and team and was returning on foot. This man related to Father Swain a dreadful story of a narrow escape from a band of Indians. Said he was taken several miles north of the road, robbed of all his money, and then given a chance to escape by running the gauntlet, they forming themselves into two parallel lines after having laid their guns down at the end which lay toward the homeward stretch. He says : "I started, they caught at me, tried to throw me down, struck at me with their knives and tomahawks, but I outrun them; then every Indian sprang to his gun and fired, but they missed their aim and I escaped." This report gave the aged couple great alarm, especially the old lady who was very nervous and could only imagine herself brought to these western wilds to be made into mince meat by the murderous Red Skins. They had designed coming out on the head of the Nishnabotany River that night, but they now determined to push through to Dunham's Grove. The calves were loaded into the already filled . wagon, the lash applied to the already wearied stock, a sharp lookout was kept as the shades of evening closed around them while yet many miles lay between them and their desired haven. With many a sigh they thought of the poor man whom they had met, and again their thoughts would revert to themselves that peradventure in the darkness the horrible red skins were close upon them, and again the lash was applied afresh and the poor animals urged forward. What made the matter the more serious to the old folks was, their son, J. B. Swain, had lived close neighbor to Harper in Dallas county and had always taken him to be a man of his word. Yet thoughts of unbelief would enter the minds of this aged couple when they in their calmer moments weighed the circumstances as related by Harper. They were brought up in the mountains of Tennessee and in an early day emigrated to Indiana, and were somewhat acquainted with Indian character. They recollected among other things that he carried an over- coat. It was a warm day, and certainly if he had been exposed to such a trial as running the gauntlet the overcoat would have been left behind. Yet the man seemed so scared and fatigued, as it appeared from his looks, that deep sym- pathy took place, and hastening forward they reached the settlement about midnight unharmed.
News that a man had been robbed by the Indians soon sped over the county. -A party of about twenty or thirty men assembled and started to visit the sec- tion of country where the robbery was said to have been committed, and camped for the night under a bluff in a small grove about half way between Vail and West Side. So little was their faith in the story that they did not even put out a picket guard. Beds of old grass were gathered and most of the party retired to rest, while others related pioneer incidents of border life and Indian cruelty. By early dawn all were astir, a cold lunch partaken of, and about noon the party reached' the point described by Harper as the place where he surrendered to the Indians. They found his track where he left the road, but no others .- Several pioneers were in the company, among whom Jesse Mason was the most persevering. After all the rest gave up the chase he went several miles ahead to satisfy himself, and on his return, when asked his opinion of the man who told this atrocious story, he came very near saying naughty words but finally abreviated them-"D-n rascal," is all we remem-
FORT PURDY-BUILT IN 1856
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY
ber of him saying. All the rest of the company thought as much, and some expressed themselves in still stronger terms. It was well that Harper was out of reach, for we are sure he would have realized what he thought he made others believe. The party was hungry and tired. They had started with some provision but many fell into ranks destitute, and as the Commissary was very generous, all were invited to partake as long as a crumb of bread or leg of veni- son was to be had. The provision wagon was soon overloaded with the weak and "petered" ones, as they one by one gave out. Most of the company were on foot. They all reached Chapman's alive, and had Harper heard the denun- ciations, he certainly' would have "gone west;" but we are informed that he went to Adel, took an oath that a certain tribe of Indians had robbed him, and was paid three hundred dollars by the government for the damage done, with- out any evidence from our county.
Close upon the heels of this came another Indian scare. Reports reached Judge Moorehead, of Ida grove, that a band of Indians had burned Smith- land, on the Little Sioux, in Woodbury county, had driven off the inhabitants, some of whom they had tomahawked, taken captive some of the women and children, and were moving on Mapleton, thence up the valley, and would soon reach Ida grove. The Judge thinking discretion the better part of valor, he, with some others, hastily loaded their families into wagons and started in the night for Mason's Grove, arriving before daylight at Benjamin Dobson's. A council of citizens was called to deliberate; but excitement ran too high for cool deliberation. It was finally decided to post pickets out west and north and thus prevent a surprise. These soon repaired to their posts. That even- ing, April 29, 1857, quite a number of the neighbors "forted up" at B. Dob- son's, others at Purdy's. But morning came and all were still wearing their scalps. Judge Moorehead concluded to take some of the neighbors out in the direction of Ida grove and if the coast was clear to go all the way over. Ac- cordingly John Purdy, Thos. Dobson, and, I think, several others, whose names are not now recollected, started, keeping a sharp lookout, thinking they might get into trouble out about the soldiers. Seeing nothing they proceeded on to the Judge's residence in safety, and found two or three families of Bohemians quietly domiciled in the house. They were on their way to Sioux City, totally ignorant of any danger. The party went a short distance down the Maple from Ida grove. We met Wagoner (brother of our W. J. Wagoner) who was carrying the mail, traveling on foot, I think, from Smithland or Mapleton to Sac City; from him we learned that there had been some slight difficulty be- tween some of the citizens of Smithland and the Indians .- Threats were made and the behavior of the Indians excited suspicion of danger, and these were soon exaggerated into actual deeds of outrage. Our party now made its way homeward, arriving about nightfall. After two almost sleepless nights, both we and our families enjoyed a good night's rest. In the morning our Maple friends bade us adieu and peacefully departed for their homes.
In closing these extracts from the writings of Thomas Dobson we are im- pelled to add portions of an address delivered by him at the 4th of July celebra- tion in 1876, the great Centennial Fourth. In this address Mr. Dobson con-
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densed and epitomized much of the foregoing information and adds the fol- lowing valuable comparative statistics :
The number of inhabitants in the county in 1856, all told, was 235, of which 131 were males and 104 females. Whole number of voters, 63; number of acres of improved land, 458; number of farmers, 43; carpenters, 3; black- smiths, 1; millers, I ; physicians, I.
At this early day the population of Crawford county was chiefly composed and made up from the western and middle states-Ohio, 38; Indiana, 2; Penn- sylvania, 12; Iowa, 48; New York, 23; Maine, I; New Hampshire, 3; Ver- mont, 3; Massachusetts, 3; Virginia, 2; Kentucky, 5; Illinois, 47; Michigan, 5; North Carolina, I; Tennessee, 4; Missouri, 4; Maryland, 4; New Jersey, 3; England, 12; Ireland, 5; Scotland, I; Germany, 2; Canada, 2; Wisconsin, 5; representing nineteen states and four nationalities.
The number of bushels of spring wheat harvested in 1856 was 878; bushels of corn harvested, 11,135; bushels of potatoes harvested, 1,080. The number of cattle sold in 1856 was 152; value, $4,052.00; number of hogs sold, 181; value, $1,037.00.
The increase in population in our county for the next four years was very slow. One very marked feature in the settlement of Crawford county was that almost all that came in and made settlement remained. All the old settlers that came are here yet, except those removed by death. Some few have gone away but have almost invariably returned in a short time.
The population of the county in 1868 had increased to 1,640 and the num- ber of voters to 348.
The number of acres of land in cultivation in Crawford in 1868 was 8,953 acres-Forest culture and the setting out of timber seems to have received con- siderable attention, 241 acres being planted to timber.
I also find that this year (1868) Crawford county raised 15,622 bushels of wheat; 96,542 bushels of corn; 9,661 bushels of oats, and 13,472 bushels of potatoes. This unprecedented increase in the amount of farm products was due to the existence of the Northwestern railroad, which reached Denison in October, 1866. Previous to this time grain had only been raised for home consumption and what cattle and hogs we had to sell were driven long distances to market. From about the year 1867 the several branches of industry in the county received a fresh impetus; the tide of immigration, which hitherto had been slow, now began to pour in upon us, not only from the different states of the United States but from Europe-mostly from Ireland, England, Scotland, Germany, Sweden, France, and Norway, each sending large colonies and those too that have proven by their residence among us to be a sober and industrious class of citizens.
On the Ist of January, 1775, Crawford county contained 1,224 dwelling houses and 1,240 families, with 6,038 inhabitants; of this number 1,904 were born in Iowa and 2,674 born in the United States outside of Iowa; and the number born in foreign countries who had emigrated to and settled in this county, was 1,389. Of the entire population there was at this date 2,122 under 21 years of age. As a proof that our population was mostly an agricultural class we had in cultivation, January 1, 1875, 58,058 acres; of this amount 24,-
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY
000 acres was in spring wheat; 17,157 in corn; 72 in rye; 1,900 in oats; 584 in barley; and 50 in buckwheat, with almost an untold quantity of potatoes, garden vegetables, etc. In addition to this we had 433 acres of timber planted and 19,915 rods of hedge. We had 1,072 bearing apple trees, from which we gathered in 1874, 178 bushels of apples and the number of fruit trees set and not in bearing was at this date 22,029. Total value of farm products, $483,337; and the total valuation of horses, cattle and hogs and sheep is set down at $179,516.00; and value of dairy products, $32,575.00. Number of horses in the county, 3,472 ; mules, 208; milch cows, 3,511; that is one to every two per- sons in the county. Number of cattle sold for slaughter in 1874 was 2,240; hogs, 8,595 ; about 4,367 sheep on hand and about 1,000 were sent to market from Otter Creek and Goodrich townships alone during the years 1874 and 1875. Besides loss by dogs and wolves is set down at 100. We are almost ashamed to note that the census returns gives the number of dogs in the county as being 1,070-for all practical purposes we could easily dispense with 999 of these worthless curs.
To recapitulate: Population of Crawford county in 1856, 235; 1865, 574; 1867, 1,100; 1869, 1,640; 1873, 3,777; 1875, 6,038.
Who says Crawford county is not a live county when we state that in 1874 there were 255 births and of the 6,000 inhabitants at this date 4,578 were born in the United States; 126 in British America; 109 in England and Wales; 135 in Ireland ; 34 in Scotland; 186 in Germany; 5 in Bohemia and Holland; and 89 in Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Number of foreigners not naturalized, 149; number of voters, 1,254; number of militia, 852.
And now at the close of my brief historical sketch allow me to congratulate you upon the prosperous condition of our county. Twenty-six years ago this summer one solitary family spent the 4th of July all alone nestled up yonder in Dunham's Grove (Cornelius Dunham accompanied by Franklin Prentice and wife). What think you were their emotions? What their aspirations? Did they expect in the short space of twenty-six years to see the then vast domain of country with its hills and valleys clad in living green, elk and deer singly and by dozens skipping and bounding away at the approach of the stealthy hunter or falling before the aim of his trusty rifle, give way for the vast assem- blage of patriotic citizens that have met here today in common with the patriotic citizens of our glorious republic to celebrate the One Hundredth Anniversary of our National Existence-the Great Centennial.
CHAPTER X.
REMINISCENCES OF B. F. WICKS.
"From west and east to the bounteous feast The clan came trooping in."
It is recorded that in the first county election there was a tie vote for dis- trict clerk between Thomas Dobson and B. F. Wicks, and that the tie was de- cided by drawing lots. We may rest assured that the contest was a friendly one and that there were no hard feelings as to which should occupy the magnifi- cent position, paying less than fifty dollars a year. Just as Mr. Dobson was representative of the emigration that came to us from the west, Mr. Wicks was representative of the on-coming settlers from the east. How they met and mingled, how prejudices were broken down and how they became one great, happy family, is a pleasant story and filled with food for thought for all of us. It is pleasant to note that Mr. Wicks still lives with his good wife, enjoy- ing peace and plenty, in honorable retirement after many strenuous years. Although he now lives at Independence, Missouri, his kindly face is well known to all of us, and we are glad indeed to include here his reminiscences as to his coming to the county, and the illuminating pictures that he gives us of the mode of life, the hardships, and the pleasures of the days of first settlement. By request Mr. Wicks has contributed his reminiscences, as follows :
I was born December 14, 1823, in Chautauqua county, New York, and lived there until I was married to Miss Christiana Klock, December 25, 1852. The next year we concluded to leave home and kindred and go west, which we did, landing in Sheffield, Illinois, April 1, 1853.
We lived in Illinois one year, but as we wished a home of our own and the homestead land was all taken up in this country, we concluded to go farther west. I bought an ox team and a wagon, and August 1, 1854, we packed and started, in company with Clark Winans, Sr., and family, headed for Nebraska or some other place in the west. We traveled until we reached a town called Panora, in Iowa, where we stopped to rest ourselves and teams. At this place we met a man named Ambrose Richardson, who had just come from the Boyer valley, in Crawford county. He inquired where we were going and we told him to Nebraska. He spoke very highly of Crawford county and advised us to turn and go there. After he had gone we concluded that each of us men
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