USA > Iowa > Dickinson County > History of Dickinson County, Iowa, together with an account of the Spirit Lake massacre, and the Indian troubles on the northwestern frontier > Part 23
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"The wind howled so that it was impossible to hear each other talk at all, and it required the utmost care and skill on the part of all to keep near each other. They formed in single file, with Barr in the rear, walking with their heads down, and before they were aware of the difficulties in the way of keep- ing together, Barr had fallen behind. How long he kept up with them or how far he traveled, they never knew. They only knew he perished in that fearful storm and his remains were never found. The balance of the party pressed on and reached the Rock several miles below the camp they left the morning before. Here they found timber and succeeded in getting a fire. The wind had abated somewhat, so as to make surrounding objects discernible. Two of the party had been there before and thought they knew the coun- try pretty well. They knew there was another camp near where they were, but whether it was up or down the river. they did not know. Osborn insisted that it was down the river, while Tompkins was just as certain that it was up the river. and declared that he would not go down the river until he was more sure on this point. Accordingly he started out to look around and satisfy himself. Up to this time none of the party were frozen. They had stood their night tramp through the storm without suffering anything more serious than fatigue.
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"Osborn was so sure that the camp they were seeking was down the river that he and Long started at once in that direc- tion. They were right in their surmise, and struck the camp inside of an hour. After two or three hours the Quaker wan- dered into camp in a sad plight. Both of his feet were so bad- ly frozen that eventually they had to be amputated. After remaining in camp here a couple of days, they brought him up to our camp at the forks of the Rock, where everything was done for him that could be done. It was about two weeks before he could be taken to Spirit Lake where the amputation was performed."
Uncle Tompkins, as he was familiarly called, was well known to all of the old settlers and was a special favorite with many of the summer tourists of the earlier days. .111- other victim of this same storm was a trapper familiarly known among the boys as "Uncle Joe." He was trapping at one of the camps out west and had come for provisions.
Hon. D. A. W. Perkins, in his history of Osceola County, relates several incidents of the storm of January, 1873. one or two of which are of local interest. Mr. Wheeler, a brother- in-law of Orson Rice, had lived in the town of Spirit Lake for a year or two and during the summer of 1872, took up a claim near the state line in Osceola County, south of Round Lake. "There was then a postoffice on the Spirit Lake and Wor- thington route, about a mile south of where the town of Round Lake now is. It was kept by William Mosier. Mr. Wheeler was at the postoffice in Mosier's house when the storm came. Wheeler started for home, and unable to find his house, he wandered with the storm and at last, exhausted and benumbed with cold, lay down and died. He got nearly to West Okobo- ji Lake in Dickinson County. He was found after the storm cleared up by Mr. Tuttle, whose home was not far from where Wheeler perished."
Another incident related by Mr. Perkins is of a Mr. Hamil-
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ton, a resident of Osceola County, who started that morning to go to Milford to mill.
One more incident in this connection must suffice, although many might be given. The following description of the wed- ding trip of Mr. and Mrs. A. D. Arthur has been in print be- fore, but it was published anonymously and fictitious names used and for that reason was regarded by many as a fancy sketch with some grains of truth in it. But the article is truc in all its details. The intimate friends of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur have often heard them relate the story of their roman- tic wedding trip. They were married in February, 186-, and started at once on a visit to Mr. Arthur's old home in Wisconsin. The article referred to was written by Mrs. H. H. Kitts, Mrs. Arthur's younger sister, formerly of Lake Park, and was published with the "reminiscences of the early days" in the Lake Park News, and is in part as follows :
"A single horse and cutter took them well on their way the first day. They stopped that night at the home of an acquain- tance, starting out bright and early the next morning, anxious to reach the river at La Crosse before it broke up, if possible. Early in the forenoon the sun clouded over and soon the snow began to fall again very thickly, and the track, which was not plain, owing to the frequent storms and little travel, was entirely obliterated, and they could only judge by the direc- tion which way to go. The snow continued falling through the day, but towards sunset cleared away, and at dusk they found they were not on their road, but near a small grove, with no sight of any habitation. They knew of no other way of doing but to get into the shelter of the grove and pass the night there, which they did, as they had plenty of robes and blankets and a. bountiful lunch provided for them by their kind hostess of the previous night. The weather grew quite warm during the night, and when the morning dawned bright and clear, they could see a large grove which should have been their stopping place for the night, had they not lost their way.
"The sun very soon commenced so soften the crust on the snow and their horse could not be prevailed upon to go but
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a few steps, as its legs were ent by the sharp crust, and being without its noonday, night and morning feed made it stubborn, and go it either could not or would not. After consulting together for a time, the only thing to be done was for Mr. Arthur to go on foot to the grove, where he knew there were some settlers, and procure help. Imagine if you can the young wife watching her husband as far as she could see him, toiling along, breaking through crust and sinking in the snow over his boot tops at every step, and knowing that the best he could do it must be several hours she would be left alone, no human being in sight, no living thing but the horse near her.
"The hours dragged wearily on, and at last the sun went down and no one in sight. The timid girl remembers vet the ter- rors of that day and night. Exe and car were strained alike to catch some sight or sound of human aid until her senses were gone, when the hungry horse would look at her and give a pitiful neigh when she would get out of the sleigh, go to its head and putting her arms around its neck, let her feelings find vent in tears, until getting too weak and chilled to stand, she would climb back into the sleigh, wrap herself in the robes and through exhaustion lose herself in a few moments of unconscious sleep. At last, as the moon rose higher, making objects as visible as in the daylight, she thought she heard voices, and looked away off and saw ontlined against the sky the forms of three persons, who seemed to her terrified sight to be clothed in blankets, and supposed them to be Indians who had perhaps murdered her husband and that she would soon share the same fate.
"She watched them as they drew near, and could distinguish voices, but they talked in an unknown tongue, which verified her fearful suspicions, and with a thought of the loved ones at home who would mourn her tragic death, she covered her- self completely in the robes and waited for the final moment. Soon a hand was laid on her shoulder and a gruff but kindly voice said in broken speech, "Hello! You asleep ?" She threw aside the robes and looked into the faces of three white men who could none of them, except one, speak a word of English. She was too weak and frightened to speak, but reached out her hand, which they took in kindly clasp, and the one who could speak so as to be understood told her of her husband's arrival at his house late in the afternoon, nearly exhausted. He told them where and how he had left his wife and begged them to
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go back with him for her. They promised speedy assistance, but the first man was obliged to go to his nearest neighbor, about a mile away, for snowshoes, as that was their only way of getting over the deep snow. They persuaded him to remove his boots, which were full of snow, and take a cup of coffee while they were getting things ready, which he did, begging them to be as speedy as possible, as he feared his wife would die of fright.
"After taking off his boots his limbs began to swell at a rapid rate, and when at last the men returned with the neigh- bor who had proffered his assistance, Mr. Arthur found him- self unable to move his limbs without great pain, and to put his boots on was simply an impossibility. The Norwegians assured him they could find his wife and bring her to the honse much quicker than if he were with them, as in his ex- hausted state he could not keep up with them. He bade them make haste, promising them a liberal reward when they had brought his wife safely to him. When they had found her and convinced her of her husband's safety, they drew the cut- ter farther into the shelter of the grove, built a huge fire and spread the robes on the snow around it, seated themselves near and ate a lunch, proffering her a share, which she was obliged to decline, as she was too weak and chilled to feel any desire for food. The reaction from the terrible strain proved too much for the slender frame and weak nerves, and a half hour of unconsciousness followed. ยก When at last her senses returned she found herself lying on the robes close to the fire, with the kind and anxious faces of the three perplexed men around her, one clasping her hands, and another bathing her temples with water, and still another holding a cup of steaming coffee to her lips, which she was soon able to swallow.
"It revived her greatly and after a few moments she was able to sit up and thank them for their kindness. They waited for a time that she might get thoroughly warmed and rested, and then prepared to start for their home, knowing well the anxiety of the waiting ones there. Many efforts were made to induce the horse to lead, but he would not stir, and they found they must leave him. They placed Mrs. Arthur back in the sleigh, wrapping her warmly in the robes, and started back, two of them drawing the eutter by hand. At times when it would break through the drifts, they would lift her carefully out and on to where the crust was harder,
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A ROMANTIC WEDDING TRIP
and then pull the sleigh through to solid crust again, then re- place her and make another start.
"At four o'clock in the morning they struck their own traveled road and hurried along home. * * * After two or three hours' sleep, they breakfasted and prepared to resume their journey, which they found they must do with a sled drawn by oxen, as that was the only mode of conveyance available. The horse was left on the prairie for ten days, the Norwegians tak- ing out hay and grain each day until the snow had thawed enough that he was willing to follow them home, where they kept him until called for.
"The remainder of the trip was made first in the ox sled, next in a sleigh drawn by a mule a peddler had been driving, which would persist in stopping at every house on the road for a short time, then a team of horses was procured, which took them to the river just as it was on the point of breaking up. making it unsafe for travel. Mrs. Arthur was drawn over on a handsled and at that point, La Crosse, they took the train and were soon at the end of their journey, and, I ven- ture to say, there are but few young couples living who have tried as many different modes of locomotion as they did ou that never-to-be-forgotten bridal trip."
FT. DODGE POINT.
CHLAPTER XXV.
THE SETTLEMENT AT LAKEVILLE IN 1866-THE FIRST AFTER THE CLOSE OF THE WAR-THE WET SUMMER-HIGH PRICES FOR PROVISIONS-THE FIRST SETTLERS IN THE OTHER TOWNS-THE FIEL QUESTION-BURNING ILVY-BURNING CORN -THE SOD SHANTY.
FTER the close of the war the tide of emigration turned this way but slowly. Some few who enlisted from this county returned to their places in the summer and fall of 1865. It will be remembered that of those enlisting from this county a majority served in the Sioux City Cavalry. They were discharged in December, 1864, after having served about three years and four months. Some of them came back at once, especially those whose families were here. Others who had sent their families away temporarily to places of greater safety came back the following year.
There was no new emigration of any account until the spring of 1866 and but little then. About that time a party consisting of Joshua A. Pratt, George W. Pratt, Joseph A. Green, A. Price and some others came in and made the first settlement at Lakeville. Another party, consisting of James Heldridge, George Wallace, F. C. and Israel Doolittle, came in a little later and took claims on the prairie. They bought a timber lot in the Okoboji Grove, built small cabins and win- tered in the grove, then moved to their claims the following spring. E. J. Davis and Jerry Knowlton came in the same sumuner as the others and took claims in the same neighbor- hood. A. D. Imman, Wallace Smith and a few others also came that same season.
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DICKINSON COUNTY - IOWA
This fact is mentioned here, not as being more important than other accessions to the population of the county that came in shortly after, but it is of interest from the fact that it was the first after the collapse of emigration at the breaking out of the Civil War. The summer of 1866 was a very wet one, resembling that of 1858, only worse if anything. There had been but little raised here the year before, and there was a general scarcity throughout the entire north part of the state, which, together with the impassable condition of the roads, sent grain and provisions up to a fabulous figure.
As yet there were no bridges. The streams were swimming deep and the sloughs were full of water and the roads were absolutely impassable. Mankato and Fort Dodge were the nearest points where supplies could be obtained. Flour re- tailed as high as thirteen dollars per hundred. Prices reached the highest point in the spring of 1867. At that time corn sold as high as two dollars per bushel as far down as in Poca- hontas County, and oats at a dollar and a half. Other prices were equally exorbitant. Of course this condition of affairs blocked emigration, or at least postponed it for a year or two. Still there were a few with the necessary staying qualities to grapple with the difficulties of making a settlement, even under these adverse circumstances.
In addition to those whose names have already been given as coming in the summer and fall of 1866, were John and James Skirving, Joseph Austin, W. S. Beers, John and Miles Strong and a few others in the south part of the county. In the north part of the county there came about this time L. W. Waugh, K. C. Lowell, George C. Bellows, O. Crandall, Cur- tis Crandall, A. A. Mosher, Lauriston Mead, A. D. Arcy, Wil- liam and John Uptagraft, Chauncey and Nelson Read and a few others. About the same time, or perhaps a little earlier, Rev. Seymour Snyder filed a claim embracing the famous
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HOMESTEADS AND PREEMPTIONS
mineral spring on the west side of West Okoboji, which was the first claim taken on that side of the lake. Shortly after Rev. W. A. Richards settled near the north end of the lake.
The terms "Homestead Law" and "Preemption Law" have been used to some extent in these pages and it is possible their meaning is not as well known now as they were in pioneer days. Under the preemption law, a man, by sending to the local land office, which for this region was in Sioux City, one dollar and a notice stating that on a certain date he had en- tered upon and improved a certain traet of government land and that he claimed the same as a preemption right, was en- titled to one year in which to prove up and make payment for the same on land that had been offered for sale in the open market, and on land that had not been so offered, his right was good until it was proclaimed for sale. The price was one dollar and a quarter per acre, although many procured sol- diers' land warrants or college serip at prices ranging from seventy-five cents to a dollar an acre.
Under the homestead law, a man was required to pay an advance fee of ten dollars and file with the Register of the Land Office his affidavit that at a certain date he entered upon and claimed a certain tract of land under the provisions of the homestead act, giving the date. A person had six months in which to get to living on his homestead, and after five years' continous residence, could prove up and perfect his title and the land was his.
Of course there were a great many details to both the home- stead and preemption laws that have not been given. The first settlers, those living around the lakes and groves, took their land under the preemption law, as the homestead law had not then been passed; those coming later, under the homestead law, although when the latter went into effect a great many changed from preemption to homestead. The only oppor-
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DICKINSON COUNTY - IOWA
tunity there has ever been for buying government land by pri- vate entry in this county was about this time.
The manner of bringing land into market was for the Presi- dent to direet the Commissioner of the General Land Office to issue a proclamation offering the land in certain townships for sale to the highest bidder for cash. This auction sale was kept open a certain number of days and while it lasted no land could be bought in any other manner than by bidding for it. After the close of the public sale the land was subject to entry at the standard price of one dollar and a quarter per acre.
All of the land in this county except Center Grove and Spirit Lake townships, had been proclaimed for sale some time during Johnson's administration, and after the close of the publie sale, was kept open for sale by private entry until 1869 or 1870, when it was withdrawn to allow the railroads whose grants extended into the county to file their plats and have the land to which they were entitled by the terms of the grant certified to them. The two roads receiving grants of land in this county were the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail- road, then known as the McGregor & Sioux City, and the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha, then known as the St. Paul & Sioux City.
Under the terms of their grant they were entitled to all of the odd numbered sections for a distance of ten miles on each side of their surveyed line, but inasmuch as through the east part of the state and as far west as the Des Moines River the land had been entered up previous to this time, the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Company were granted as indemnity lands the odd numbered sections on an additional strip of an- other ten miles on each side of the line, which in effect gave them nearly all of the odd numbered sections in this county. At the time the land was withdrawn from private entry but few
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RAILROAD LANDS
entries had been made. The Davidson ranch of twenty-four hundred acres, southwest of Milford, was entered in 1868, and Doctor Lewis of Mankato entered several sections west of the Sioux about the same time. A few minor entries were made by other parties, but the total amount of land that was entered by private parties up to that time as an investment was but little more than half a township.
The lowa Agricultural College located a few sections of its grant in this county, while Ringgold County located the in- demnity land which she received in lieu of her swamp land here. Thus it will be seen that taking out the railroad land, the college land, the school land, the indemnity land and the land sold at private entry, it left less than one-third of the public domain of the county subject to preemption and home- stead by settlers. As was before stated, the land was with- drawn from sale to allow the railroad companies to file their plats and make their selections, and was never restored, thus leaving the balance, whatever it was, subject to settlement un- der the homestead law.
It will be impossible henceforth to give many details of events in the order of their occurrences as they would become too volum- inous and uninteresting. There are but few events in the later settlement of the country that can claim particular notice as be- ing more important than others occurring at the same time, or as being more than an everyday occurrence in any locality. Even if it were desirable, there is neither time nor space to mention the settlers by name, to give the date of their settle. ment, the numbers of land claimed and other things which are sometimes given in works of this kind. Such details soon become monotonous and have but little interest for the gon- eral reader.
It was not until 1868 and 1869 that persons in search of a location would consent to settle on the prairie away from the
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lakes and groves, and from that time until the vacant prairie was all taken up the settlement was quite rapid. Homesteads were taken in all parts of the county and a general revival of life and activity was the result. During the summers of 1869 and 1870 quite a large colony came from the neighbor- hood of Ossian, in Wineshick County. This was brought about largely through the active efforts of A. L. Sawyer, C. HI. Ayers and a few others. Prominently among the arrivals of that period were A. M. Johnson, W. W. Stowe, William Vreeland, L. J. and L. W. Vreeland, James and John Robb, H. C. and E. Freeman, T. Pegdon, C. E. West, R. C. and John Johnson, A. G. and C. E. Sawyer, L. E. Holcomb, Wiley Lambert, Sammel Allen and numerous others. Most of the Winneshick emigration settled in the northeast portion of the county. Many of them left again at the time of the grass- hopper raid two or three years later. They had been here just long enough to spend everything they had in opening new places and not long enough to realize anything from them.
Simultaneously with this movement from Winneshick County was another and similar one from Mitchell County. The leaders in this enterprise were James and John Kilpat- rick, R. B. and Clark Nicol, G. S. Needham, Leonard and Ellis Smith, James H. Beebe, Benjamin Peck, Samuel Walker, Richard and Sammuel Campbell, D. C. Moore and some tif- teen or twenty more from Mitchell County, together with a large number from other places. Prominent among these were G. Anderson, J. Sid, W. H. Anderson, R. K. Stetson, Samuel Bartlett, Robert Middleton and his sons, Henry, S. P. and George H. Middleton, H. H. Campbell and several others.
There were from thirty to fifty families connected with the movement. H. J. and Daniel Bennett have already been men- tioned among the arrivals of 1860 and 1861. Soon after com-
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EMIGRATION IN 1869
ing here D. Bennett enlisted and went south, where he served until discharged in 1862. Upon his return Il. J. enlisted in the Second Towa Cavalry and served to the close of the war. In 1868, they, together with Rev. Samuel Pillsbury, an- other of the earlier settlers, joined in the new settlement at Lakeville, which soon became a decidedly lively neighborhood. A postoffice was established and maintained for several years, with II. JJ. Bennett as postmaster, and a large schoolhouse built, which at the time was the largest in the county. The center 'of this settlement was near the corner of the four town- ships, Lakeville, Excelsior, Okoboji and Westport. Probably no other settlement in the county was so utterly demoralized by the grasshopper raid as the one at Lakeville.
In Richland township the more prominent of the first set- tlers were E. V. Davis, W. B. Flatt, William Campbell, J. C. Davis, Randolph Freeman, David Farnham, G. W. and H. N. Morse, Jacob Groce, Gid Mott, N. J. Woodin, G. Patterson, F. N. Snow, Aaron Shultz and Simon Young. Most of these were here long enough to make substantial improvements and become identified with the after-growth of the place. Many others came in and made homestead claims, but either sold out or abandoned them without making much improvement. Of course this refers to the period previous to the grasshopper raid. There was a general change after that event. A few of these old timers as E. V. Davis, W. B. Flatt, Gid Mott and the family of A. Shultz and possibly a few others have stayed by through all the changes that have ocenrred since the first settlement, and have witnessed its development from a wild, desolate prairie to a prosperous agricultural community. The township was organized in 1872. The name was first sug- gested by W. B. Flatt and adopted by the township trustees.
The conditions attending the first settlement in Lloyd township, which was named after one of its first settlers, JJohn
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