USA > Iowa > Webster County > Fort Dodge > History of Fort Dodge and Webster County, Iowa, Volume I > Part 36
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Nineteenth general assembly-1882: Senate, John J. Russell; House. R. M. Wright.
Twentieth general assembly-1884: Carpenter.
Senate, John J. Russell ; House, C. C.
Twenty-first general assembly-1886: Senate, N. F. Weber; House, S. T. Meservey.
Twenty-second general assembly-1888: Senate, J. D. McVay ; House, I. L. Woods.
Twenty-third general assembly-1890: Senate, J. D. McVay; House, I. L. Woods.
Twenty-fourth general assembly-1892: Senate, O. M. Oleson ; House, J. D. Flanagan.
Twenty-fifth general assembly-1894: Senate, O. M. Oleson; House, S. Burnquist.
Twenty-sixth general assembly-1896: Senate, Thomas D. Healy ; House, Jonas P. Johnson.
Twenty-seventh general assembly-1897 : Senate, Thomas D. Healy ; House, F. J. Blake.
Twenty-eighth general assembly-1899: Senate, Thomas D. Healy ; House, F. J. Blake.
Twenty-ninth general assembly-1901: Senate, Thomas D. Healy : House, S. T. Meservy.
Thirtieth general assembly-1903 : Senate, Henry Young; House, Robert M. Wright. Thirty-first general assembly-1905: Senate, Henry Young; House, Robert A1. Wright.
Thirty-second general assembly-1907 : Senate, Henry Young ; House, Charles W. Hackler.
Thirty-third general assembly-1909: Senate, Frederick Larrabee; House, Charles W. Hackler.
Thirty-fourth general assembly-1911 : Senate, Frederick Larrabee ; House, John W. Campbell.
Thirty-fifth general assembly-1913: Senate, Frederick Larrabee ; House, Peter Hadley.
HON. JONATHAN P. DOLLIVER, 1858-1910 United States Senator from Iowa 1900-1910
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LFNOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
291
HISTORY OF WEBSTER COUNTY
JUDICIAL DISTRICTS
The first court in Webster county was held at Homer in the fall of 1854, Hon. C. J. McFarland of the Fifth Judicial District, being the presiding judge. At that time Webster county included the present boundaries of Webster and Hamilton counties. In 1856 the county seat was removed to Fort Dodge, and the first court was held in August, 1856. The session was held in the public schoolhouse, which was as yet unfinished. On one occasion, James M. Woods, of Burlington, known as "Timber Wood." was summing up a case to a jury, and was declaiming in one of his high flights. Suddenly a donkey, hitched upon the outside drowned the orator's voice. The judge, sitting very quietly in his chair exclaimed : "One at a time, Timber !- one at a time !"
One afternoon it looked stormy, and an attorney, we believe it was Gran- ville Berkley, moved that the court adjourn on account of the threatening appear- ance of the skies. The judge looked about in every direction, and said: "God Almighty reigns above, and Judge McFarland reigns below; there will be no storm, and consequently no adjournment. Gentlemen, go on with your case."
Under the constitution of 1846, Webster county formed a part of the Thir- teenth Judicial District created in March, 1857, and which included Butler, Franklin, Grundy, Hamilton, Hardin, Marshall, Story and Wright. Webster county was added February 24. 1858. James D. Thompson of Hardin county was elected judge, April 6, 1857, and commissioned July 1, 1857. Under the constitution of 1857 the state of lowa was redistricted and divided into eleven judicial districts, the judges and district attorney of which entered upon their duties January 1. 1859. At this time, Webster county became a part of the Eleventh Judicial District, composed of Boone. Hardin, Hamilton, Franklin, Marshall. Story. Webster, and Wright. With the exception of Marshall county, which in 1887 was made a part of the Seventeenth Judicial District, these counties still comprise the district, which at the present time is presided over by three judges.
The judges who have presided over the district court of Webster county are as
follows :
Name Postoffice County Year Served
Albrook, Charles E., Eldora, Hardin 1908-1913
Birdsall, Benjamin P., Clarion. Wright 1893-1900
Chase, Daniel D., Webster City, Hamilton 1866-1874
Dyer, George W., Nevada, Story 1902
Evans, William D., Hampton, Franklin 1903-1908
Henderson, H. C., Marshalltown, Marshall 1881-1886
Hindman, D. R., Boone, Boone 1888-1898
Hyatt, N. B., Webster City, Hamilton 1892-1893
Kenyon, William S., Fort Dodge, Webster 1900-1902 Lee, Chaucer G., Ames, Story 1907-1913
McFarland, C. J., Boonesboro, Boone
1854-1855
Meracie, David D., Webster City, Hamilton
1887-1888
Mitchell, Isaac J., Boonesboro, Boone
1875-1878
Porter, John. Eldora, Hardin 1850-1866
Richard, J. II., Webster City, Hamilton
1901-1906
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HISTORY OF WEBSTER COUNTY
Stevens, John L., Ames, Story. . 1887-1892
Thompson, James D., Eldora, Hardin 1857-1858
Weaver, Silas M., Iowa Falls, Hardin 1887-1901 Whitaker, J. R., Boone, Boone . 1889-1906
Wright, Robert M., Fort Dodge, Webster 1907-1913
The first legal investigation for murder that occurred in this county was at the old Wahkonsa house, before Judge Pease, then county judge. Palo Alto was then attached to Webster county for judicial and other purposes. Two families, named, respectively, Shippy and McCormick, lived about three miles apart-the Shippys just south of Cylinder creek and the McCormicks near the bank of the east branch of the Des Moines river, further south. They had a feud in relation to a timber claim. One day during the month of August, the McCormicks were chopping wood on this claim, and Gavit and Washington Shippy appeared on the scene. Gavit Shippy had a rifle with him, and shot Robert McCormick dead. James McCormick returned the fire without effect. Gavit Shippy immediately left the country, while Washington was arrested and brought to this place, charged with murder in "aiding, assisting and abetting." C. B. Richards, prosecuting attorney. George Richards, John F. Duncombe and Hon. William N. Meservey appeared for the prosecution, and Counselor Howe, from Spirit Lake, and George W. Brizee for the defense. It took two days to get in the testimony and hear arguments. Nothing of the kind had occurred here before, and there was a large attendance of citizens. Washington was held in the sum of $1,000.00, his father signing for the bond. The old gentleman soon after forfeited his bond, deserted his claim and left the country for parts unknown, driving with him a fine cow which he had promised George W. Brizee for his legal services.
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS
At the time of the organization of the county of Webster, the territory thereof was a part of the second congressional district, which was represented by Lin- coln Clarke of Dubuque, a democrat. At the general election of 1852, John P. Cook, of Scott county, was elected over Clarke. Mr. Cook was a whig. In August, 1854, James Thorington, of Davenport, was chosen to congress from the district. He was a member of the famous Know Nothing order, and had its nomination, and also that of the temperance advocates, the question of pro- hibition then being prominently before the people. He defeated at the polls, Stephen Hempstead, then governor of the state. In 1856, Timothy Davis, of Elkader, republican, was elected, defeating Shepherd Leffler, who had been a member ten years before. In 1858, William Van Deve, of Dubuque, was elected, over William E. Leffingwell, and in 1860, over Ben M. Samuel. Now, the big second district is cut up into several, Webster being put into the sixth. In 1862, this district elected Asahel W. Hubbard, of Sioux City, over John F. Duncombe, in 1864, over L. Chapman and in 1866 over James D. Thompson, of Hardin. Charles Pomeroy, of Fort Dodge, was chosen in 1868, over Charles A. L. Rozell, of Butler county. In 1870, Jackson Orr, of Boone, was chosen over Charles C. Smeltzer. The number of representatives to which Iowa had become entitled having increased from six to nine, Webster county was put in the new ninth district, of which Jackson Orr was the first representative, defeating John F.
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A
HOME OF SENATOR AND MRS. JONATHAN P. DOLLIVER, IN FORT DODGE The small building on the right, just beyond the porch, was the office of Senator Dolliver.
293
HISTORY OF WEBSTER COUNTY
Duncombe at the polls. In 1874, Addison Oliver, of Onawa, was chosen over Charles E. Whiting, and in 1876, he was chosen over Samuel Rees. In 1878, Cyrus C. Carpenter, of Fort Dodge, defeated Lucius Q. Hoggart. Two years later he was reelected. His defeated opponents were one Guthrie and Daniel Campbell. Iowa making another gain of two members in the national house of representatives, Webster county was made a part of the new tenth district, and was represented by Adoniram J. Holmes, republican, from Boone. Mr. Holmes served in the forty-eighth, forty-ninth and fiftieth congresses. In 1888, Jonathan P. Dolliver of Fort Dodge was elected representative in congress over J. A. O. Yeoman, in 1890 over I. L. Woods, in 1892 over J. J. Ryan and John E. Anderson, in 1894 over T. C. Baker, in 1896 over John B. Romans, and in 1898 over Edwin Anderson. Resigning in 1900 in order to enter the senate, he was succeeded by James P. Conner for both the fifty-sixth and fifty-seventh congresses, Robert F. Dale being his defeated opponent. In 1902, Judge Con- ner was reelected, Kasper Faltinson being defeated. He was again chosen in 1904 over W. J. Brannegan, and in 1906 over John B. Butler. In 1908 Frank P. Woods was chosen over Montague Hakes. In 1910 he was reelected sub- stantially without opposition. In 1912 he was again reelected, defeating N. P. Rood, democrat, of Webster City and S. B. Philpot, progressive republican of Fort Dodge.
CHAPTER XXVI
ET CETERA
THE PRAIRIE FIRE-A COW ORDINANCE-SOCIETY IN 1855-HOW ANDY JENKINS LOST HIS LIFE-A CYCLONE OF 1840.
THE PRAIRIE FIRE
The prairie fire was at once the most beautiful and most terrible sight which met the eye of the early settler, and it took work and watchfulness to guard against its annual visitation.
The usual custom was to plow a wide strip of land on all sides of the build- ings and some distance therefrom, but if this could not be done, two narrow strips were plowed some distance apart and the grass between them burned. If this was done in time there was not much danger, but sometimes the fires came so early that the settler was unprepared, and then it was a fight, not only to save the homes but for life itself. In such case the only chance was to plow a hasty furrow and set a back fire to meet the oncoming blaze. These back fires were sometimes as destructive as the big fire itself, and, if your back fire got away from you, you were held for the damage, the same as though you had set the first fire, even though the other fire would have destroyed the same property fifteen minutes later. This once happened to one of the early settlers and the lawsuits which followed nearly ruined him.
It is surprising how easy a fire would start in a dry season. Sometimes when there had been scarcely any frost a fire would be set in some dry grass not burned the previous year, and the heat of the fire would dry the grass ahead so fast that the fire would run for miles.
One who has never witnessed a prairie fire can form but a poor idea of the beauty, grandeur and terror which they at once combined. When running before a strong wind it was like the charge of a regiment of cavalry, sweep- ing forward with the speed of a race horse, the main line proceeded by numer- ous small blazes, ignited by embers blown in advance. Again, where there was only a slight breeze it moved like a long line of infantry, keeping almost perfect alignment and sweeping everything in its path. But when night came, its beauty was increased ten-fold. The whole sky was lit up with a weird and beautiful light, the moon took on a blood red hue and for miles the landscape was aglow with flickering and ever-changing light. A sight which once seen was never to be forgotten.
But the prairie fire, like the wolf and the grasshopper, has gone its way,
295
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HISTORY OF WEBSTER COUNTY
and is seen no more in Iowa, and the younger generation will only know of them from the stories handed down from the remaining pioneers.
THE COW ORDINANCE
During the year 1889, the question whether cows should be restrained or allowed to roam at large on the streets of the city of Fort Dodge caused many heated arguments. Much feeling was shown. Everybody in town was on one side or the other. For several months the daily papers were almost entirely devoted to a discussion of the subject. Such papers as The New York Sun, The Minneapolis Tribune, The New York Times and The Chicago Tribune, as well as the state papers, gave Fort Dodge a great deal of free advertising on account of it.
On June 18, 1889, Mr. Charles Blanden received a letter addressed as fol- lows: "Mr. Charles Blanden, Cow Town, Iowa." The contents of the letter were as follows : "Cedar Falls, Iowa, July 17, 1889. Dear Mr. Blanden : Do you like milk? Very truly yours, A. Fair Child."
The feeling at that time is well shown by a poem written by Dr. W. L. Nicholson, one of the pioneer physicians, entitled "The Cow and its Congeners."
The cow, the cow, the cow, the beautiful cow, Is queen of the city in spite of the row; And her dutiful subjects in council declare She must have free pasture in spite of the mayor.
The cow owners' feelings are readily stirred, As his poverty grows with the size of his herd; For if owners of one are regarded as poor, Then pity poor A-who attends to a score.
A laborer's garden he thinks is all bosh, While he has got clobber to eat with his mush. How trifling the wreck of his neighbor must seem For nothing like cabbage will flavor his cream.
Carrots and posies and lettuce are what Make delicate butter that touches the spot If I was a bossy that ruled in Fort Dodge I'd seed down the streets other bossies to lodge.
With head and tail waving. I'd go to the pound And hook every darky, with star on, I found, I'd have a law passed that dogs must not bark Which I'd bring on my horns to Albert E. . Clark.
And if in his pride he compelled me to wait. I'd show him how quickly I'd open a gate, I'd tramp on his lawn and his sidewalk and then With loud bawling announce I was coming again.
FIRST CHURCH BUILT BY THE CONGREGATIONALISTS
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HISTORY OF WEBSTER COUNTY
Drag "Citizen" out of his hole in the mud To shout in his own name for more milk or blood. I'd fence up the square in a mammoth haymow, I'd be a Jim Dandy if I was a cow.
However, it was a year or more before the city council passed an ordinance restraining "Her Majesty, the Cow" from roaming at large.
SOCIETY IN 1855
The first real social function in Fort Dodge, for both ladies and gentlemen, was held at the Wahkonsa house on the evening of November 29, 1855. The occasion was a dance and an oyster supper. The music was amateur, kindly furnished by Major Williams and Messrs. Pollock and Humphrey. The enter- tainment was by Mr. Schaffner, proprietor of the hotel. The young ladies who graced the occasion were the Misses Colburn, the Misses Garaghty, the Misses Schaffner, Miss Em Vincent, Miss Mollie Williams, Miss Nellie Curtis, and Miss Brown, together with most of the married ladies and all the gentle- men of our young town. There were several couples over from Newcastle ( Webster City), and I believe Charles Bergk of Dakotah and James P. White, from up the Lizard, were present. The ladies did their "level best" in dress, and the occasion was a decided success, and frequently repeated.
Mrs. Major Williams received her friends once a week, entertaining them with music and singing, which together with her charming vivacity and grace of manner made her parlor the object of entree with all the gentlemen. These receptions generally ended with a dance at the close of the evening, and Miss Mollie Williams, though quite young, was one of the great attractions at the receptions. Miss Vincent and the Misses Garaghty gave frequent euchre parties and the gentlemen were not at all diffident about going there any evening for social entertainment, the ladies being favorites with the young men.
IIOW ANDY JENKINS LOST HIS LIFE
In 1873, Andy Jenkins was frozen to death in a stage coach, while on his way from Sioux Falls to Fort Dodge. Before leaving Sioux Falls, he had been warned that everything seemed to presage a coming storm, but he was in a hurry to get home and so gave orders for the stage driver to start off. Before he was many hours on his journey the storm commenced to rage so fiercely that the driver, a man named Baker, stopped his team, unhitched them, and tied them to the wheels of the coach. After covering them with a heavy blanket and buffalo robes he entered the stage coach prepared to brave the storm from the inside of its protecting walls. A day afterward when a rescuing party arrived at the coach they found both of the horses frozen stiff, while but a few feet away was Baker vainly trying to calm Mr. Jenkins, who was in the agonies of death. He succumbed but a few hours later. The exposure to the cold caused him to lose his reason, so that he died in a delirium.
29-
HISTORY OF WEBSTER COUNTY
A CYCLONE OF 1840
The first settlers in Otho township say that there was evidence of a great wind storm having swept through that section of the country at an earlier date. The storm evidently came from the northwest, crossing the Des Moines river between Coalville and Hudson's Bend. A broad strip of territory had been entirely denuded of trees, and in their place had grown up young butternut trees. These trees showed, upon being cut down, fourteen annular rings. This would place the date of the storm at about 1840.
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