USA > Iowa > Scott County > Davenport > History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa, Volume I > Part 25
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1835 .- The first permanent claimants to land in this township were Giles M. and Haswell H. Pinneo, who made their claims in the autumn of 1835 and moved on to them as permanent settlers in the spring of 1836. George W. Harlan had made some claims on speculation even before this, but made no real settle- ment. Giles M. Pinneo settled where he now lives and Haswell H. took his claim where a part of the city of Princeton now stands. Many of the old settlers will remember his neat hewed log cabin and the comforts it often afforded to those who came beneath its roof. He died many years since much respected by all who knew him.
In the spring of 1836 Thomas Hubbard, Sen., who had been living on the opposite side of the river from the time of the Black Hawk war, moved over and settled on what is now a part of the city of Princeton. Mr. Hubbard was from Kentucky, had served in the Black Hawk war, and seemed to have had much of the old Kentucky hatred for Indians. While settled upon the Illinois side of the river he had frequent attacks from them, which were repelled in true pioneer spirit. The Indians were in the habit of stealing from him such few articles of "animal civilization" as he was able to get around him, such as fowls, hogs and cattle. He had procured some bees from the forest, which at that time were plenty, when one day on his return to his cabin he found they had been robbed by the Indians. He was soon upon their trail with his rifle, and came up with them as they were leaving the shore in their canoes. He fired upon them, when the fire was returned from the canoes, Hubbard taking to a tree for shelter. Several shots were fired and one Indian was killed. Many other skirmishes were often related by the old man of his exploits with the redskins. In his old age he became superstitious and somewhat shattered in mind. He returned, I believe, to Kentucky and died there some years since.
Some time in the year 1837, Daniel Hire settled about four miles from the Mississippi river upon the Wabespinecon bottom near where he now lives. Ben- jamin F. Pike came up from Rockingham in the spring of 1838 and brought with him a small stock of goods, which was the first store of any kind ever opened in the township. The same year Jesse R. James and Samuel Sturdivant settled near Lost Grove, and that winter John B. Doty. Esq., settled about two miles
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from the Mississippi, where he now lives. The first frame house built in the township was by Daniel Hire in 1837.
In the spring of 1838 Benjamin Doolittle established the first public ferry across the Wabesipinecon on the road from Davenport to Camanche. Jonas Barber built a mill this year propelled by steam, which was the first of any kind built in the township. There was a distillery also built the same year by Jacob Rose. The immigrants of this year were Abijah Goodrich and family, Avery D Pinneo, Gideon Averill, Wm. Palmer, Franklin Rowe, Sterling Parkhurst and Matthias L. Pinneo.
From the year 1840 settlement was slow in the township for ten years, but has gradually filled up, so that at present there are about 260 voters. The first deaths in the township were Mrs. Mary Sweet and Mrs. Lucy Goodrich. The first children born were Henry Hire, Thomas Doty and Albert Pinneo.
In the first settlement of Princeton township, like other places at that day, the pioneer families underwent many privations. Supplies of every kind except wild meat had to be obtained from Fort Armstrong on Rock island. These were taken up by water over the rapids in Indian canoes. It was but little they were able to purchase and all that was expected in those days were the bare necessaries of life. A story is told of Mr. Pinneo making a journey to Davenport after it be- came settled and a store had been established with a lot of beans in order to ex- change them for goods to make clothing for his family. It was bitter cold weather and on the way he had an attack of the ague. He exchanged his beans with much difficulty at twenty-five cents per bushel, heaping measure, and took thin five cent calico at the rate of twenty-five to thirty-seven and a half cents per yard. These were the beginnings of some of those who settled in this township. But. brighter days have dawned on many of the old settlers who are now enjoying the fruits of early toil.
Princeton City was laid off (a part of it) in 1852 and recorded. Other por- tions were laid off, but never recorded. Additions have been made since.
The first postoffice was established in 1841 and Haswell H. Pinneo appointed postmaster. The first store was opened in 1840 by B. F. Pike, as before stated. The next one was opened by a company known as "Lawyer Hammond & Co." In 1848 Col. W. F. Breckinridge, from Pennsylvania, opened a store in the city, calling the place at that time "Pinnacle Point." There is a Presbyterian and a Methodist church organized in the city.
The city of Princeton was incorporated, January, 1857, and in the month of March following the first charter election was held. Samuel Porter was elected the first mayor and resigned in May. At a special election held soon after Wil- liam Shew was elected mayor to fill the vacancy. At this time, the city contained about 250 inhabitants, one store, kept by Walker & Armstrong, two public houses and fifteen dwellings, one smith shop, one steam saw mill, by John Forsyth, one church and forty-six dwellings.
In the month of March, 1858, William H. Thompson was elected mayor. This year the population was about 500. The improvements were greater in the youth- ful city of Princeton than at any other point on the Mississippi river for the num- ber of inhabitants. This year there was built one steam saw mill by Isaac Sher- man, from Cleveland, Ohio, at a cost of $8,000, capable of cutting 30,000 feet of
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lumber per day, two steam grist mills (first class) one by Mckinstry & Hubbard at a cost of $12,000, one by Herbert & Fishback at a cost of $9,000 but before it was completed the firm failed. D. D. McCoy built a large house and opened a fancy dry goods store. This season there were sixty-two dwellings built, among which was the dwelling of Dr. G. S. Bell, which cost about $5,000.
In March, 1859, Thomas Galt, M. D., was elected mayor. This year the popu- lation had reached 1,000, but owing to the hard times there was not so much im- provement as the year previous. Walker & Patterson built a steam planing mill with all the improved machinery for making sash, doors and blinds, which was a great benefit to the place and surrounding country, besides being remunerative to its enterprising projectors. F. G. Welch this year built a fancy store three stories high, but Mr. Welch did not live to enjoy his enterprising undertaking. Mr. R. Bennett also built a large store and opened a good stock of dry goods and groceries and with the assistance of Abl. Kurney started a tin shop. This year there was another church built and thirty-two dwellings. Dr. Galt built a residence for himself which is the finest building in the place. It is of brick, thirty-six feet by forty feet, two stories and a half high and finished in the latest style, an honor to the enterprising doctor of which he is eminently deserving. At this time there were fifteen carpenters, six blacksmiths, four shoemakers, two tailors, one tinker, seven stores, one drug store, two churches, two public houses, one livery stable, two steam saw mills, two steam grist mills, one steam planing mill, two carriage shops, four blacksmith shops, two public schools, two private schools, one lawyer.
Princeton now bids fair to outrival some of her more successful neighbors. By the 4th of July, 1860, there will be a direct communication with Chicago by railroad. The iron for the Sterling & Rock Island road is contracted for and a portion of it will be delivered by rail this winter. The balance will be delivered as soon as the ice leaves the river, as it comes by the way of New Orleans. The road when finished will be thirty-six miles nearer Chicago than by the Chicago & Rock Island road; fifty-six miles nearer Chicago from this place than by way of Davenport. There has also been $27,500 of stock taken and secured by the citizens of Princeton by bond and mortgage of the Sterling & Rock Island road. There is a great opening for manufacturers by water power. There is a chance of securing a water power of seventeen and one-half feet fall with the outlay of $30,000. By tapping the Wabesipinecon river about four miles above this place the water can be brought into this city at any desired point with the above amount of fall-the survey has been made by scientific engineers and the result as stated is therefore unquestionable.
The changes that have taken place in this township since its first settlement have been as great as any other portion of Scott county. It has much very fine agricultural lands with abundance of timber and rock, and contains some of the best farms in the county. We prophesy that at no very distant day the city of Princeton will be one of the most flourishing towns upon the Mississippi river. It has the material in and around it and its enterprising inhabitants will allow no opportunity to pass unimproved that will tend to advance the interests of their thriving and beautiful city.
LONG GROVE
CHRISTIAN CHURCH, LONG GROVE
THE WILLARD BARROWS HISTORY.
CHAPTER VIII.
WINFIELD OR LONG GROVE TOWNSHIP.
This grove of timber of considerable extent lies between Walnut or Pease's grove and Allen's grove. It is about twelve miles from Davenport and five miles from the Wabesipinecon river. There are some of the best farms around this grove of any in the county or the state. The face of the country is gently roll- ing,' the soil of the richest quality and the beautifully cultivated fields sloping away from the grove on every side present one of the most interesting agricul- tural scenes in the western country.
The settlement was begun in the autumn of 1837 by John C. and William, Quinn, Joseph and James Quinn, George Daly, Alphonso Warren, and Aaron Norris with their families from Ohio. The Quinns first settled on the banks of the Wabesipinecon river, established a ferry, and subsequently laid out a town called Point Pleasant. The following year, 1838, Charles Elder and family from Pensylvania, Elihu Alvord from New York, H. H. Pease from Indiana, Alexander and James Brownlie from Scotland, with families settled in the grove, and the little band of hardy pioneers began their life in earnest upon the new and fertile soil of Iowa.
Nowhere in all the west do I remember of having witnessed such a begin- ning as was exhibited in this little colony. There seemed to be more of the faith of the Puritan fathers among the emigrants than any that I had ever witnessed. All seemed to feel an entire dependence upon one another and on the ruling hand of Providence. One common interest seemed to cement them all and a spirit of brotherly love prevailed throughout the settlement. In the spring of 1839 sev- eral other families arrived and the want of Christian fellowship and teachings was so apparent that Alexander and James Brownlie commenced a Sabbath school in their own log cabin which has been kept up to the present time. All attended, parents and children. The New Testament was the only book taught except the spelling book and the plain interpretation and meaning of the lessons read was impressed upon the minds of all. Many now live who can testify to the blessed influences and early impressions gathered at this primitive Sabbath school. A part of the Sabbath was devoted to regular preaching. Christian wor- ship was maintained by James Brownlie assisted by his brother Alexander, John Quinn and others. From these feeble efforts the germ planted in faith has sprung up a Christian church at Long Grove that has been maintained with growing in-
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terest to the present day ; and every Sabbath as its consecrated hours roll round finds the people of this rich, thriving moral and Christian neighborhood sitting under the teachings of those who at an early day spake to them of Christ the Saviour.
There is in this township between the high ridge of land upon which Long Grove is situated and the Wabesipinecon river a strip of land some two miles wide of sandy soil and although not as rich and fertile as other prairie, yet it has been settled up within a few years by an Irish colony mostly from Canada, of the Roman Catholic faith. They have a small church erected and service performed at stated seasons by a priest from Davenport. There are but few farms along the immediate banks of the Wabesipinecon, it being subject to annual overflow and generally skirted with timber.
In a letter from Alexander Brownlie, Esq., who had kindly furnished me with many interesting facts connected with the early history of the settlement at Long Grove, he says : "In 1838 flour was worth at the Grove $1I per barrel, corn meal, $1 per bushel, and pork 15 cents per pound; seed wheat, $1 and potatoes, 50 cents ; that it required four bushels of wheat to get a pound of tea. A good cat was worth a pound of tea. To show the value of a cat in those days," says Mr. Brownlie, "I traveled from Long Grove to the residence of a Mr. Ridgway some distance above Davenport (about fourteen miles) to obtain a cat which was given me by special favor ; Mrs. Ridgeway having first folded the precious animal to her bosom, shed tears at parting, and kissed the little domestic comfort before she could part with such an important treasure."
Mills were scarce in Iowa at that day and many families lived on hominy and cornmeal ground in the coffee mill. The nearest mill was at Pleasant Valley and another at the mouth of Pine creek, Muscatine county.
In 1840 George Daily built a small grist mill on the little creek north of Walnut grove. It was the product of his own labor, except stones, which were cut out of a prairie boulder and finished up for running by Alexander Brownlie, who was a stone mason. Mr. Daily, who was an honest, hardworking man, ground for many years all the grain for the neighborhood, and made very good flour, although it took him some time to do it upon his rude and primitive mill. He was called "the honest miller." The old mill has gone to decay and the builder re- moved to other parts.
Elihu Alvord, Esq., was from the state of New York. He is still living with his children near Davenport and although the oldest pioneer in the county, now eighty-three years of age, he enjoys uncommonly good health, is full of life and vivacity and is happy in his old age to behold the change from the days of his first settlement to the present times.
It was about the last of August, 1838, that Alexander and James Brownlie built their cabins of logs and boards in the east end of the grove in a cluster of large trees that sheltered them from the bleak prairie winds. They afterward sawed lumber by hand with a whip saw, rolling the logs upon platform and one standing beneath. In this way they not only supplied themselves with lumber but furnished much for their neighbors. Lumber then was worth some $40 in Davenport and not as good as that produced by the Brownlies, and what now could be had for $10 per thousand. We can well remember the solid comfort one found
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in their first cabin. It was the only place for a long time between Davenport and Point Pleasant on the Wabesipinecon that the traveler could find feed for his horse or food for himself, and he never was turned away cold or hungry, nor had he ever any reason to complain of high charges or want of attention. The trav- eler was ever welcome and although no designs or pretensions were made to keep a public house, yet none knew better or were more willing to add to the comforts of all than Mrs. Brownlie. The first stage road and for some time the only road to DeWitt from Davenport passed through this grove. The Messrs. Quinn at a later day opened farms on the prairie west of the Grove, where most of them still reside. James Quinn was elected the present year (1859) to the house of representatives on the republican ticket, and is a man competent and well worthy to fill the honorable station to which he has been elected.
The Brownlies still hold their original possessions with their lands under the best of cultivation. The old log cabins have given place to beautiful dwellings surrounded by choice fruit trees and gardens and the Messrs. Brownlie are considered among the neatest, most judicious and prosperous farmers in Scott county. Hugh M. Thompson also settled in this grove at a later day, and is said to be not only a good farmer but scientific in his opera- tions and pays great attention to improvements in agriculture and the breeding of good stock. There are many others in and around this grove, both of the new and old settlers, well deserving of notice, and who have done much toward the progress of agriculture in that settlement. In the early days of this colony there seemed to have been planted as a basis good sound moral and reli- gious principles, and they have been maintained to the present time.
In those days men were expected to be honest and were honest. "No one thought then of locking doors," says Mr. Brownlie. The postoffice was at Point Pleasant and John Quinn, postmaster. He was often from home and the office left open for all to wait on themselves. The whole neighborhood would take their letters to mail, and leaving them would get their mail matter, leaving the postage on the letter box or accounting afterward for the same, none desiring to cheat the postmaster. Everybody was poor alike and needed friends and was always friendly. There was none of that grasping, selfish disposition exhibited in many of the early settlements of our country and consequently but little quarrel- ing about claims or anything else. There was room for all and the Long Grove settlement was a pattern of excellence in its early struggle, and nobly did it suc- ceed. It stands today among the most enterprising moral and religious communi- ties in our county or in our state.
A span of horses and wagon in those days were hired at $5 per day. The Brownlies owned the first wagon and the first fanning mill in or about the settle- ment which was used in common by the whole community for many years. "In the autumn of 1838," says Mr. Brownlie, "when the first snow fell, our oxen strayed away and early the next morning I started on their track following them across the uninhabited priarie toward the Mississippi river, and came up with them in Pleasant Valley about dark, without any money with me or acquaintance in that neighborhood. I applied for shelter and food of a true pioneer who has often fed the hungry and made glad the heart of the distressed emigrant by his cheerful and lively disposition and above all his free and generous heart."
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It was the rude shanty of Capt. Isaac Hawley, then just settled and who still lives to enjoy the heartfelt gratitude of many of the pioneers of Scott county who have so often shared his generous and kindly greeting. The captain not only gave him the hospitalities of the night but supplied him unsolicited with money he might need on his return. How sweet are the remembrances of such acts of kindness as we look back upon the scenes of our early life in the west!
The Long Grove settlement has now become large and populous. The little log church erected in the days of weakness and poverty still stands upon the beautiful rise of ground on the east side of the grove, and is used for a school house while just beside it stands their new and elegant church building erected the present season. Long may they enjoy the rewards of their early toil, they so richly deserve.
- 1902 -
SAVINGS
BANK
. ..
BLUE GRASS SAVINGS BANK
CAMPBELL'S HOTEL. BLUE GRASS
THE WILLARD BARROWS HISTORY.
CHAPTER IX.
BLUE GRASS TOWNSHIP.
Blue Grass, or "Blue Grass Point," as it was first called by the white settlers, received its name from a point of timber land that extended into the prairie near the Muscatine county line. It was a great camping place of the Indians in their travels from the trading post on Rock island to their hunting grounds upon the Cedar, Iowa and Des Moines rivers. It is a noted fact that wherever the Indian has been in the habit of camping, blue grass was sure to follow, hence the name of "Blue Grass," was early given to this point from the abundance of that kind of grass found there.
This township or precinct consists of but one regular township of land (town- ship 78, north, range 2, east) six miles square, but the town or village of Blue Grass is situated directly on the southern boundary of the township and the settlement of this place belongs as much to Buffalo township as to Blue Grass, when strictly bounded by township lines ; but we speak of the early and present settlement without regard to lines. The village is located in the southwest corner of the township in the State road leading from Davenport to Muscatine, it being ten miles from the former and eighteen miles from the latter place, and about four miles from the Mississippi river. The township is nearly all prairie, but its southern boundary running along its entire length near the timber of Buffalo township, has been supplied with ample material for farming and building purposes.
The settlement first began at this point, we believe, in 1836, by a Mr. Sprague, Mr. Sry and perhaps one or two more; but in 1837 James E. Burnside, James Wilkinson, Samuel and Francis Little and one or two more, made claims upon the prairie. In 1838 Asa Foster, George and Charles Metteer, Alexander and Horace Dunlap made claims and some improvements. In 1839 Mr. Berringer owned the claims now in the possession of Robert Humphrey. The same year Franklin Easley opened the farm now owned by William McGarvey. Mr. Henry Schutt made a farm east of Picayune grove, formerly called Grant's grove, a small cluster of beautiful oaks now on the Telegraph road where Judge Grant in 1839 opened a model farm and raised some of the finest blooded stock in the state.
Among others who settled in and around Blue Grass before 1841 were Peter and Robert Wilson, A. W. Campbell, Robert Burnsides, Rufus Catlin, John P. Cooper, John D. Richey, John and Joseph P. Robison, David Gabbert, Daniel
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Berryman, Morris Baker and sons, George C. Havill, of whom many are still residents there, and among the most enterprising of the inhabitants. These were the pioneers, who made the first beginning in and around this beautiful section of country. With what satisfaction and pleasure, must these early settlers now look upon this township of land where the wolf and the deer were the only objects that could be seen a few years ago, all covered over with cultivated farms and dotted with farm houses, many of which are large and beautiful! The progress of the settlement, like others in the county, was slow and discouraging from 1840 until about 1851 or 1852.
In the summer of 1853 when the M. & M. railroad line was located, the land in this township became valuable, and was sought after with a perfect mania. It was but a year or two before it was almost one solid row of farms from Blue Grass to Walcott, which is located on the railroad in the northwest corner of the township, and is the first station out from Davenport on that road. It is a vil- lage of small dimensions, has a church, a hotel, store, etc., and good farms and farming country around it. Among the many beautiful farms that one passes in going from Walcott to Blue Grass is that of E. Steinhilber. This farm con- tains a section of land (640 acres,) all under good cultivation with public and private roads running through it. Orchards and gardens planted with tenant houses scattered through it, while near the center is the proprietor's large edifice built of brick and tastefully adorned. From the observatory of this building one of the richest scenes is presented that the eye can rest upon. In every direction the cultivated fields lie spread out before the observer, and in summer while the waving grain is ripening for the harvest, nothing can exceed the beauty of the scene.
In addition to the abundance of timber with which this settlement is supplied. there is an immense coal deposit that crops out in many places near Blue Grass. Although the existence of coal was early known, it was never dug to any extent until the settlement of the vast prairie north and northwest of Blue Grass. The average thickness of the vein is thirty inches, where it is worked in the ravines and hillsides. The principal mines now opened are those of James E. Burn- sides, one mile from the village, Joseph Mounts and George C. Havill. In dig- ging that of Mr. Burnsides no labor is required by sinking shafts, but simply removing the earth from the top of the bed to the depth of some four feet in a ravine when the deposit is exposed, and about 300 bushels per day taken out. This bank was opened in 1855 or '56. Mr. Mounts' coal bank is but a short dis- tance from that of Mr. Burnsides, and the coal is obtained by drifting into a side hill. This bank was opened in 1853 and 1854, and is worked on a smaller scale. About ninety bushels per day are dug. That of Mr. Havill was opened the same year as the latter, and is worked in like manner, yielding 150 bushels per day.
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