USA > Iowa > Floyd County > History of Floyd County, Iowa : together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 51
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"This county now produces enough of most kinds of the neces- saries of life for home consumption, and of many kinds a surplus. If the price of some of these articles is lower and labor higher than in the Atlantic States, the soil is so far superior that they can be produced so much easier, cheaper and in such greater abundance, as to fully compensate for the difference in labor and price.
" We believe that the field for usefulness -- the opportunity to do good and to make money-is much greater here than in the old and thickly settled States. The chances of pecuniary gain are more frequent and within the reach of all. New society is of such a plastic nature that superior minds cannot fail to make a decided impress upon the present and future condition of the communities in which they reside.
" We do not say that success is obtainable without labor, that economy is not necessary, or that hardships and privations are not to be endured ; but when we consider that the sun shines upon n fairer nor better portion of our country, we think we have a right to be a little enthusiastic in advocating its advantages. Our ob- ject is not to build up what are understood as "paper towns" in the West, nor any particular town, village or city, but simply to make known some of the facts in regard to the location and advantages of Floyd County, and from our experience to furnish useful hints to those contemplating making homes in the West. Though perhaps liable to be looked upon by some with distrust, from the course pursued by those pecuniarily interested in some particular town, it is believed that this article has a higher motive, namely, to confer as great a favor upon any who may be induced to settle within the county, as upon the present inhabitants.
"In the old manufacturing districts at the East, there are many who, in times of financial embarrassment, can hardly obtain the common necessaries of life, and who in prosperous times can do no more than support themselves and families respectably even in health. This is no fault of theirs, but is attributable to competi- tion in business, the low wages which labor commands and the great expense of living. Were a portion of this class to immigrate to this section of country, it would prove a blessing to themselves, to those who remain and to the present settlers in the West.
545
HISTORY OF FLOYD COUNTY.
"In view of all these considerations our thoughts turn toward our old homes, relatives and friends in the East ; and from the inquiries constantly received from many individuals there, for information in regard to this portion of the West, we find it im- possible to reply to all of them individually and satisfactorily. This inability has led to the present compilation of facts-and it is believed they will bear the closest scrutiny as to general correct- ness-hoping by this means to reply to some that we could not by letter, and that it may prove mutually advantageous to us, to friends at the East and to those who may come among us to reside. Truly yours,
CENSUS.
The term census comprises not only the population, but also the products of the farm, garden, factory, mine, etc .; and by compar- ing the products with the population one can truly estimate the capacities of the country and the industrious character of the people.
In 1865 the population of the county was 4,886, of whom 2,538 were males and 2,348 females. There were three negroes in the county. Number of voters, 1,051 ; scholars between 5 and 21, 1,618 ; acres of spring wheat, 10,345 ; wheat harvested, 172,264 bushels ; corn, 6,301 acres, and 242,003 bushels ; number of sheep destroyed by dogs or wolves, 1,088 ; potatoes, 37,471 bush- els; hogs, 4,466, cattle, 6,216 ; milch cows, 1,999 ; butter, 131,775 pounds ; cheese, 10,463 pounds ; sheep in 1864, 5,850 ; in 1865, 8,171 ; horses, 2,162 ; dogs, 566; tobacco raised, 6,521 pounds ; value of manufactures for the preceding year, $35,682, of which $21,137 was of flour alone in Rockford Township. Floyd Town- ship made the most butter, and Rockford Township the most cheese.
The population in 1870, by townships, was : Cedar, 420 ; Niles, 562 ; Floyd, 1,350 ; Rock Grove, 1,286 ; Ulster, 515 ; Rockford, 752; Riverton, 960 ; Pleasant Grove, 460 ; Union, 1,000 ; Scott, 196; St. Charles, including Charles City, 3,500 ; total, 11,001. Charles City, 2,293.
Number of acres of land in the county, 313,664, valued $5.64 per acre, making a total of $1,769,532 ; value of town lots, $350,573; total of land property, $2,120,045. Personal property, $459,145; total of property in the county, $2,579,170. There were 7,069 cattle, valued at $70,961; 4,276 horses, value $151,050;
546
HISTORY OF FLOYD COUNTY.
84 mules, $3,220; 5,547 sheep, $2,765; 2,549 swine, $2,540; total value of live-stock, 8230,536. The next year (1871) showed an average increase in all these of about five per cent. Number of children of school age increased from 3,197, March 7, 1870, to 3,851, March 13, 1871.
In 1875 the population of the county was 13,098, of whom 4,178 were born in Iowa ; 6,819 in other States; and 2,103 in foreign lands. The whole number of voters was 2,884. Number of males, 6,761; of females, 6,337; militia 2,066. Of improved land, there were 147,098 acres; of unimproved, 52, 130.
According to the State census of 1875, Floyd County raised the previous year, of corn, 26,462 acres, yielding 642,448 bushels; rye, 70 acres, 1,069 bushels; oats, 15,461 acres, 487,729 bushels; barley, 1,929 acres, 29,217 bushels; buckwheat, 123 acres, 1,292 bushels; sorghum, 68 acres, yielding 4,172 gallons of syrup; maple syrup, 363 gallons; maple sugar, 2,905 gallons; blue grass for pasture, 303 acres; cultivated grass, 4,734 acres, yielding 5,167 tons of hay; wild grass, 15, 187 tons; grass seed, 459 bushels; clover seed, 56 bushels; Hungarian grass, 196 acres, giving 299 tons of hay, and 92 bushels of seed; potatoes, 1,129 acres, 81,153 bushels; sweet potatoes, 5 bushels; onions, 6 acres. 1,330 bushels; beets, 1,008 bushels; turnips, 9,29+ bushels; peas and beans, 960 bushels; wild timber, 38,539 acres; planted timber, 977 acres; hedge, 29,447 rods; apple- trees in bearing, 12,756, yielding 5,122 bushels of fruit; pear-trees in bearing, 2, yielding 1 bushel; peach-trees, none; plum-trees, 670, yielding 257 bushels; cherries, 709 trees, 4 bushels; other fruit trees, 3,027 bearing, and 53,008 not bearing; grapes, 3,311 pounds, and 26 gallons of wine made.
Horses, 7,067; horses sold for export in 1874, 177; mules and asses, 82; milch cows, 5,858; butter made in 1874, 499,739 pounds; cheese, 8,306 pounds; cattle (except oxen), 12,333; cattle slaugh- tered and sold for slaughter in 1874, 1,847; number of thorough- bred short-horns, 70; hogs, 14,314; hogs slaughtered or sold for slaughter in 1874, 13,327;number of sheep on hand, 4,802; merino 1,612; wool 19,455 pounds; sheep slaughtered or sold for slaughter in 1874, 641; number of sheep killed by dogs in 1874, 251; dogs, 1,767; stands of bees, 522; honey and beeswax in 1874, 2,013 pounds.
According to the U. S. Census of 1880, of barley, 1,318 acres, 28.103 bushels; buckwheat, 262 acres, 2,592 bushels; corn, 42,948 acres, 1,801,836 bushels; oats, 19,197 acres, 695,235 bushels; rye, 120 acres, 1,773 bushels; wheat, 90,374 acres, 896,006 bushels.
E. B. Haynes Smide.
1
549
ASSESSMENT OF PERSONAL PROPERTY IN 1882.
TOWNSHIPS, ETC.
CATTLE.
VALUE.
HORSES.
VALUE.
MULES AND ASSES.
VALUE.
SHEEP.
VALUE.
SWINE.
VALUE.
VEHI- CLES.
VALUE.
Charles City.
238
$ 2.015
287
$ 5,491
3
$ 75
47
$ 59
153
$ 2,636
St. Charles.
2,448
18,670
1,062
23,852
8
185
162
$ 119
1,376
1,708
95
1,347
Floyd
1,223
8,701
6,004
11,317
15
264
49
36
741
1,028
47
593
Nora Springs .
248
1,995
166
3,890
2
40
135
177
157
270
51
643
Rock Grove.
911
6,861
509
11,215
2
60
51
38
972
969
18
198
725
6,897
480
11,403
14
400
52
38
1,363
1,488
27
375
Rockford .
1,090
8,107
395
9,605
2
100
656
1,051
1,469
52
6.6
Scott .
1,106
7,760
459
10,583
3
80
163
121
1,290
1,537
46
338
Union .
1,133
8,475
577
12,044
10
250
332
251
1,961
2,349
44
472
Pleasant Grove.
1,122
7,204
398
10,135
17
400
18
14
1,070
1,326
10
230
Riverton.
1,418
11,571
621
13,887
9
240
261
185
1,120
1,023
14
265
1,105
8,079
456
9,119
1
25
350
258
755
737
30
180
856
6,148
406
8,250
4
70
105
78
843
1,051
25
426
15,147 $112,867
7,284 $ 159,129
103
$ 2,499
2,396
$ 1,850
14,256
$16,874
738
$9,828
. .
61
106
99
1,141
Ulster
1,304
8,529
586
12,910
5
120
62
44
1,381
1,659
Marble Rock Corporation
80
714
129
2,508
2
40
·
68
95
27
338
Rockford Corporation ...
140
1,201
149
2,920
6
150
491
Niles. .
Cedar ..
The following table gives a condensed view of the wealth of Floyd County, as it
HISTORY OF FLOYD COUNTY.
exists in personal property at present. By the usual percentage the real value can be readily estimated :
Rudd.
34
550
HISTORY OF FLOYD COUNTY.
DISE. ..
VALUE OF MERCHAN-
FACTURES ...
CAPITAL IN MANU-
ITS.
MONEYS AND CRED-
PROPERTY . .
TAXABLE HOUSEH'LD
PROPERTY. .
OTHER TAXABLE
TOTAL VALUE PROP-
Charles City
$29,895
$4,934
$85,337
$2,290
$4,465 $137,197
St. Charles
433
9,562
520
656
57,052
Floyd.
1,965
30
3,995
445
70
59,077
Nora Springs
10,864
938
6,478
300
2,398
28,113
Rock Grove.
1,200
130
205
20,876
Rudd .
2,491
50
1,231
1,385
25,758
Rock ford Corporation
14,270
700
12 103
150
2,750
35,646
Ulster
950
157
24,369
Scott
50
82
137
20,688
Marble Rock Corporation
8,786
2,535
355
1,551
17,072
Union
1,006
120
257
25,164
Pleasant Grove.
630
40
19,979
Riverton
1,865
125
210
29,371
Niles. .
105
644
90
154
19,391
Cedar.
577
200
16,800
$68,809
$6,652 $128,578
$4,807
$15,431 $527,729
POPULATION IN 1880.
The population of Floyd County, according to the United States census in 1880, by townships, was as follows:
Cedar
577
Rudd
794
Floyd
1,004
Scott ..
571
Niles.
902
St. Charles.
1,523
Nora Springs.
710
St. Charles City
2,421
Pleasant Grove.
655
Ulster.
990
Riverton
970
Union
1 435
Rockford .
629
Rockford (village).
739
Total.
14,661
Rock Grove
741
TAXES.
The taxation from 1855 to 1860, inclusive, was made at the fol- lowing rates, the figures denoting the number of mills on the dollar :
1855.
1856.
1857.
1858.
1859.
1860.
State.
1₺
14
2
12
1호
1z
County
5
6
5
6
5
5
School
1
1
1
13
12
1}
ERTY .
TOWNSHIP, ETC.
Rockford
415
363
21,176
551
HISTORY OF FLOYD COUNTY.
The road tax in 1855 was one mill on the dollar; afterward it was assessed as a poll tax, generally at $2 per capita. Besides this there was annually a county poll tax of 50 cents. The valuation and amount of tax for those years are as follows:
VALUATION.
AMOUNT OF TAX.
1855
$ 3,301 35
1856
$ 1,079,759
13,438 37
1857
1,388,789
13,986 81
1858
1,403,996
1859
14,007 57
1860
1,216,122
16,154 55
1875
2,610,045
CHAPTER XI.
RAILROADS.
The efforts put forth by the citizens of Floyd County to secure railroad facilities and connections with the commercial world seem to have been almost Herculean. During the earlier period of the county's history, McGregor, on the Mississippi River, was the near- est market town-distance nearly one hundred miles-and yet much of the traffic went to Dubuque-distance one hundred and fifty miles. Much of the way by either route the track led across open prairie and seemingly bottomless sloughs. No roads had been worked, and no bridges built. A trip to McGregor with a loaded team consumed six to eight days, and if the farmer was en- gaged in marketing his wheat, he was compelled to practice the closest economy, such as carrying his own provisions and sleeping in or under a wagon, in order to save anything. It is no wonder, then, that railroad connections should be eagerly sought. Weare told that nearly all the money received by the town proprietors of St. Charles, for lauds and lots, was expended and finally lost in grading a railroad from McGregor westward.
IOWA & DAKOTA DIVISION OF THE CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE & ST. PAUL RAIL- ROAD.
We find that, on the 22d day of August, 1856, a railroad meet- ing was held at St. Charles for the purpose of aiding in the con- struction of a railroad from McGregor westward to some point in Cerro Gordo County, and a branch up the Cedar River to St. Peter's, in Minnesota. It was named the McGregor, St. Peters & Missouri River Railroad. At this meeting Hon. A. L. Collins was selected President, and S. B. Starr, Secretary. Hon. Jede- diah Brown, of Prairie du Chien, was introduced, who addressed the citizens and made known the terms of the proposed enterprise, which were these : That he (Mr. Brown) a director in the com- pany, being authorized, would have a survey made of the second division of said road, provided a sufficient amount was raised in the counties of Chickasaw, Floyd, and Cerro Gordo, in cash stocks, to pay all expenses incurred in locating the same; and that if these
(552)
553
HISTORY OF FLOYD COUNTY.
counties raise $400,000 he should let the contract for building the road. Much enthusiasm was manifested at this meeting in favor of the enterprise. Milo Gilbert, agent of the St. Charles town proprietors, gave assurances that his company would take at least seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) of the stock. On motion of Hon. David Wiltse, the meeting unanimously resolved to en- deavor to procure a subscription in Floyd County of its proportion of the four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000) required, besides one thousand dollars ($1,000) as its proportion of the expense of the survey.
These people meant business, and they set a subscription paper going the very next morning.
Similar meetings, with equally happy results, were held at other points.
August 30, 1856, the following notice appeared in the St. Charles Intelligencer:
"Notice is hereby given that John Thompson, Alex. McGregor, Wm. McClintock, La Fayette Bigelow, Jedediah Brown and E. D. Clinton, and their associates, and all such persons as shall here- after become stockholders, have formed themselves into an incor- poration under the name and style of the " McGregor, St. Peters & Missouri River Railroad Company." The principal place of bus- iness of said company is to be at McGregor, in Clayton County, Iowa. Its object is to build, equip and operate a railroad running from McGregor westerly to the Pacific Ocean, with one or more branches. The capital stock authorized is $10,000,000, to be paid in on monthly calls made by the directors, not to exceed five per cent. per month. Said company was organized and commenced business June 2, 1856, to continue until June 2, 1906. The busi- ness affairs of the company are under the control of seven directors, who for the present year consist of John Thompson, Alexander McGregor, William McClintock, La Fayette Bigelow, Jedediah Brown, E. D. Clinton and W. F. Ross. Their successors are to be elected by the stockholders June 2, 1857, and annually there- after. The highest amount of indebtedness or liabilities authorized by the articles of incorporation is $3,000,000. Private property of stockholders is exempt from the payment of corporate debts.
" By order of the Board,
"JOHN THOMPSON, Pres.
" JEDEDIAH BROWN, Sec."
554
HISTORY OF FLOYD COUNTY.
Pursuant to notice, on November 4, 1856, an election was held by the legal voters of Floyd County, resulting in 297 in favor to 119 against taking stock to the amount of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) in the McGregor & Missouri River Railroad Company, ten per cent. bonds to be issued therefor, payable in twenty years, and the company to pay the interest until the road should be built and in operation from McGregor to the east line of the county.
In 1857 the county also voted one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for the proposed Cedar Valley Branch of the Chicago, Iowa & Nebraska Railroad. No bonds were issued in either case.
The annual meeting of stockholders of the McG., St. P. & M. R. Railroad Company was held at McGregor in June, 1857, when the following officers were elected: John Thompson, of Clermont, President; Jedediah Brown, of McGregor, Secretary; and George HI. Walker, of Milwaukee, Alex. McGregor, of McGregor, Duncan Ferguson, of St. Charles, E. D. C.inton, of Waukesha, Wis., and Lorenzo Bailey, of Chickasaw, Directors.
The subscription books for stock in the company, heretofore used, were closed, and announcement was made that all subscriptions thereafter should be payable at the time they are made, either in cash or land.
A mass meeting of citizens in Rock Grove Township, Floyd County, was held July 13, 1857, denouncing the scheme of county stock in the railroad. I. P. Cooper was called to the chair and L. G.Phelps chosen secretary, James Hemphill, P. M. Lyon and Wm. Dean were appointed a committee to draw up resolutions, who after a short deliberation submitted the following:
1. That we look upon the tax voted upon us at the election on the 25th of May, called railroad stock, anti-Democratic, anti-Republi- can, and a violation of our private rights, being aware that certain pri- vate rights were ceded for the support of government and society, but not to build up corporations or monopolies at our expense.
2. That we look upon it as a flagrant outrage upon our rights as citizens in the manner in which we have been treated as re-' gards the last election, throwing our election out, when section 255 of the code makes it the duty of the clerk to furnish the judges of election with poll books.
3. That we look upon it as unjust to allow the property of one man to be heavily burdened by a tax imposed by the vote of
555
HISTORY OF FLOYD COUNTY.
another man who is without property, without a household, and who sustains none of the burdens of such taxation.
4. That we consider it an imposition upon us tax-payers to call a special election and put the county to that expense, for the pur- pose of building up a moneyed aristocracy at our expense.
5. That we will not pay said tax unless compelled by a decis- ion of the Supreme Court.
6. That we look upon Judge Collins to be as great a tyrant as Europe can produce, so far as he has power.
7. That we consider the present clerk as unworthy the suffrage of a free people, unworthy the position he holds, and ought to be removed from office for neglect of duty.
8. That we consider the prosecuting attorney of this county too trifling, too insignificant, to hold that office in any county.
9. That we will support no man in St. Charles for judge at the coming election in August, provided the present commissioners locate the county seat at St. Charles.
10. That the proceedings of this meeting be published in the St. Charles Intelligencer and Express and Herald (of Dubuque). On motion, the meeting adjourned.
L. G. PHELPS, Sec.
On the 28th day of October, 1857, a public meeting was held at St. Charles, when Hon. Jedediah Brown, Duncan Ferguson, G. G. Reiniger, John Ball, B. F. Cheney, S. Harwood, David Ripley, J. S. Church and others made addresses. After various objections and questions, concerning the propriety of the county taking stock in the railroad, had been explained and answered by Judge Brown, a vote was taken which resulted unanimously in favor of the proposition. At this time a survey of the line for the road had been completed as far west as Clear Lake in Cerro Gordo County, passing through St. Charles and Rockford. The fact that this line located the road several miles south of Rock Grove, prob- ably accounts for the milk in the cocoanut, as manifested at the recent meeting in that township.
The General Assembly of Iowa, at the session of 1858, adopted a resolution instructing Iowa's delegation in Congress to endeavor to obtain a land grant for the McGregor & Missouri River Rail- road. In connection with this movement, the railroad company employed I. F. Mack, of Wisconsin, as agent or lobbyist to visit Washington and urge the passage of a bill making the grant of lands as prayed for by the Iowa Legislature. But all was of no
556
HISTORY OF FLOYD COUNTY.
avail. The instruction to the Iowa Congressmen does not seem to have been very zealously obeyed-partiality being shown to other railroad enterprises and improvements. Besides, popular preju- dice began to arise against any more land grants to railroad cor- porations, as aiding monopolies, etc.
From the first annual report of the McGregor & Missouri River Railroad Company, issued in April, 1858, we glean the following: Satisfactory progress made in all departments of the work. Within the short space of three months devoted to raising funds, under the agent, E. D. Clinton, of Wisconsin, three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) were subscribed. Two-thirds of this was by farmers and mechanics along the line of the road. The first thirteen miles west from McGregor would be finished before the first of June, the contract time, and at an expense far below the estimates. The en- gineer's report, included in that of the directors, gave the details of the survey, a comparison of the only two practicable routes, and estimates of the cost of the first fifty miles; viz., twenty-three thousand and five hundred dollars ($23,500) per mile. This being, much of the way, through the bluffs from the Mississippi River out to the open prairie country, would far exceed the average cost of the entire line.
On June 2, 1858, an annual meeting of the company was held at McGregor, when John Thompson was elected President; Henry P. Clinton, Secretary ; and Alexander McGregor, Treasurer. Meas- ures were taken to locate the road from the engineer's survey, and to open books for subscriptions along the route.
At the annual meeting in June, 1859, John Thompson was again elected President, and Jedediah Brown was chosen Secretary in place of H. P. Clinton.
Many of the business men of McGregor believed that a railroad westward from that place would do them more harm than good; consequently they were indifferent if not directly opposed to the enterprise.
In Oct., 1859, the Milwaukee & Mississippi Railroad Company of Wisconsin, agreed to assist the McGregor Company in building their road; and during the winter of 1859-'60, petitions to the General Assembly were numerously signed by citizens along the line of the McGregor road asking that the lands which had been granted to the Lyons or Air Line Railroad Company (now forfeited by that company), be surrendered to the General Government, on condition that Congress shall make an equally liberal grant of lands to the McGregor Company. While Congress could have no
557
HISTORY OF FLOYD COUNTY.
objection to such an arrangement, it was really a duty on the part of the Legislature to make such an adjustment in good faith to- ward the north one-third of the State; and particularly in view of the fact that the Lyons grant was originally intended and asked for by the Legislature to aid the McGregor road, but by some sub- terfuge, under Dubuque influence, the McGregor road was de- prived of the aid which the State had asked for, and the same was given by Congress to the Lyons route, which the State had not asked to have done.
It was very natural that Dubuque parties should work against the McGregor road and seek to control the trade and business of Northern Iowa. The rich and fertile country of the upper Cedar River and Shell Rock River valleys, was particularly to be coveted, and it was of the utmost importance to the business men of Du- buque that the citizens of this region should be made "hewers of wood and drawers of water " for their benefit.
The strife and contention for the business of this section of country had subsided or were suspended for a while, owing to the vicissitudes, contingencies and excitement of the war of the Re- bellion and Indian raids, until the war credit inflated the currency and caused every one to feel richer and more enterprising. Ac- cordingly, in 1863, the people began to " talk railroad" again.
At the general election in October, 1863, Hon. A. B. F. Hil- dreth was elected a member of the General Assembly of Iowa to represent the Fifty-fourth District, composed of the counties of Floyd and Cerro Gordo. During the Legislative session of 1864 Mr. Hildreth introduced and procured the passage of a memorial to Congress asking for a grant of land to aid in the construction of a railroad on or near the forty-third parallel of north latitude, and passing from McGregor, on the Mississippi River, westward through his own town of Charles City. Repeated efforts had been made by others to obtain this land grant, and thus secure the build- ing of this railroad, but all had signally failed, until the enterprise was taken hold of by Mr. Hildreth. The memorial was as follows:
MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS, FOR A GRANT OF LANDS TO AID IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MCGREGOR RAILROAD.
Introduced by Hon. A. B. F. Hildreth and passed by the General Assembly of Iowa, Approved March 8, 1864.
To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress Assembled:
Your memorialists, the General Assembly of the State of Iowa, would respectfully represent that, by an act of Congress approved
558
HISTORY OF FLOYD COUNTY.
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