USA > Iowa > Cerro Gordo County > History of Franklin and Cerro Gordo counties, Iowa and biographies of representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races > Part 63
USA > Iowa > Franklin County > History of Franklin and Cerro Gordo counties, Iowa and biographies of representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races > Part 63
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In October of that year John McMillen, accompanied by James Jenkinson, arrived and put up the body of the first log cabin on the town plat. Mr. McMillen returned to Winnebago Co., Ill., to winter, leaving our young friend Jenkinson to pass the winter as best he could, alone in camp. A few stones now mark the spot where he established his winter quarters on the bank of Lime creek, in the timber near a spring half a mile northeast of Shiboleth To James Jenkinson belongs the honor of being the first permanent settler in the immediate vicinity of our city. What hardships he endured that eventful winter of 1853-4, now on the verge of starva- tion, and now almost miraculously re-
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
lieved by timely aid at the hands of a visiting Indian, who shared with him his venison while enjoying the comforts of his cabin, we will not now enumerate. He came out alive in the spring of 1854, when he was relieved by the return of J. L. McMillen and others, bringing ample supplies of provisions and material to replenish his somewhat tattered wardrobe.
That spring added quite a number of inhabitants to the few already here. Among these was Jarvis J. Rogers, who, with his family, located twelve or thirteen miles southeast of Masonic Grove, and eight miles southwest of Owen's Grove, in a small body of timber to which the name of Linn Grove was given, on account of a cluster of linn or basswood trees at its western extremity. Here he made his claim and erected his small cabin, and with the help of his family, although in very poor health, commenced to improve the land and culitvate the soil.
At this time every thing looked reason- ably prosperous and promising to the set- tlers. Hope that a constant stream of emigration, gradually increasing, would flow into the county, animated the hearts of the sturdy pioneers. They had planted and sowed, expecting their coming crop would carry them through the next winter, and they should not need for bread or grain. But suddenly an unforseen calamity comes upon them. The news of an Indian raid ; that a band of Sioux warriors are at hand, ready to murder the inhabitants, is spread among them, and they are thrown in a state of consternation resulting in a general stampede for protection to the older settlements on the Cedar river. This hasty retreat of the settlers took place on
the 4th of July, and for some time after- wards the county was depopulated, only the soldier who was sent to repel the In dians daring to return to Clear Lake.
The trouble originated in an old feud between the Winnebagoes and Sioux Indians. A band of the former, to whose tribe Capt.Joseph Hewett (Noek-a-Shooka) had formerly been a trader, were wont to visit their old haunts at Clear Lake and camp in the timber near Hewitt's cabin. To the Winnebagoes encampment,one eve- ning, came 'wo Sioux pretending friend- ship. These the Winnebagoes entertained kindly through the night, although well aware that mischief and treachery were at work.
Toshanaga, a Winnebago brave, (The Little Otter) communicated his suspi cions to Capt. Hewett, who bade him to be quiet, telling him that the two Sioux seemed well disposed. Toshanaga's son, Patchoka, a boy of fifteen, rode Hewitt's horse to look for the cows, following the road the Sioux had taken down the shore towards R. O. Sirrine's house. He had been gone but a few minutes when the report of a gun in that direction convinced Toshanaga that the boy was murdered, and soon the horse came galloping back riderless. Hewitt found drops of blood and a small piece of a bone on the horse's back. Ile and Toshanaga hurried down the road and found the headless body of Patchoka in the road. Giving him a hasty burial the Winnebagoes left the settlement, and messengers were sent to all the settlers of the county to make their escape. Thus originated the hasty flight of all the inhabitants, on July 4, 1854, so disastrous to their prosperity,
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
depriving them of the little crops they had put in for the winter's use, and bring- ing other discomfitures so keenly felt by all.
Slowly and sadly they returned to their homes, after weeks of absence, to find them robbed of all that could be made useful by a lawless crew of soldiers and roughs, who had visited them during the absence of their proprietors. Notwith- standing all this, most of them determined to remain and hold their lands, which would come into market on the following September.
Many had been compelled to use the funds laid by for the land sale during their absence. This with some was a serious matter, but they all repaired to Des Moines to attend the land sale, which opened Sept. 4, 1854. They were reg- ularly organized into settlers clubs for the purpose of protecting each other in securing their claims, and especially against speculators who might appear and bid on their lands.
The officers of the land office gave them their full sympathy and aid,advising them to settle all disputes among themselves, then to appoint men to bid on their lands as agreed among themselves, and if any speculator interfered or offered to bid against them, the Des Moines river was near and they knew what to do with them.
After securing their lands they returned to enter more heartily upon the work be- fore them. Yet they were not free from difficulties, for the stampede in July had used up much of what was now needed, and their money had been expended in purchasing their lands, while some had
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no funds to secure their lands, and had to borrow for that purpose.
That year a goodly number was added to the settlers already here. To Shell Rock Falls came Richard Moore and H.I. Smith, with his mother and other members of the family; also Richard Morris, Mah- lon Brown and Robert Campbell. George L. Bunce and Chauncy Lugard settled on the Shell Rock a few miles below the Falls. Jacob Van Curen located in Lime Creek township, on section 26. Wellington Benton settled three miles north of Mason City. In August, Henry Martin came and settled on land north of Mason City, where he still lives. James G. Beebe and others came to Masonic Grove, while several others came to the vicinity of Shiboleth, which was pur- chased by John B. Long, who changed the name to Masonville in honor of a son of his named Mason, who died a short time previous to his leaving Illinois.
Either soon after this, or early the next year, a postoffice was established, and as there was already an office in the State called Masonville, both the postoffice and the name of the town was changed to Mason City. The following winter, 1854-5, is said to have been unusually mild, a very fortunate circumstance for the inhab- itants in their condition at that time.
The next spring and summer of 1855 were seasons of prosperity. and rapid growth of the settlements. Early in the spring Cerro Gordo was attached to Floyd county for judicial purposes, and treated as one of the civil townships. Accord- ingly an order was issued by John M. Hunt, judge of Floyd county, for an elec- tion to be held at Mason City on the first
you. Her. G. Parker
THE MEO MAIN PUBLIC LIBRARY
Astor, Lenur eno FAUT la' In:
HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY. 599
Monday of April, 1855, for the election of two justices of the peace, two constables, three township trustees, one assessor and one township clerk.
The records of that day, though very imperfect, show the fact that George L. Bunce and John L. McMillen were elected . justices of the peace in and for Cerro Gordo county.
It is presumed that other officers were elected at the same time, although the records fail to mention the fact.
Among those who came to Mason City that season we may name J. S. Church, N. MI Adams and family, Silas Card, J. W. Card, E. Randall, Thomas Drummond, A. B. Miller, F. J. Turnure, S. Zuver and many others. Alonzo Willson also settled at Owen's Grove, and William Abbott purchased land there. C. W. Tenney came in May, 1855, and located near the present site of Plymouth.
At Clear Lake, Marcus Tuttle, James Turner, Joseph Wood, H. G. Parker and others purchased property and settled.
At Shell Rock Falls, A. J. Glover pur- chased the water power, erected a log store and prepared to build a mill.
Thomas Perrett, John G. Kortee and others also came to the Falls.
Ira Williams built a house on the prai- rie one mile west.
E. Randall and his brother came to Mason City and built a saw mill, the first in the county, from which sawed lumber was obtained for floors, which up to this time had been hewed from split logs.
Several persons had already settled on the Shell Rock, three miles above the Falls, where Plymouth now stands. Among them was John Morgan and John Meyers.
The first Monday of August, 1855, was designated by the judge of Floyd county as the time for the election to be held at . Mason City, to organize the county. At this election John B. Long was chosen judge; Henry Martin, clerk of the district court; C. B. Raymond, attorney; Henry Van Patter, treasurer and recorder; David Wright, school fund commissioner; I. W. Card, county surveyor; N. W. Stackhouse, sheriff, and James Dickirson, coroner. With this board of officers, Cerro Gordo county began her organized and official career, and began to assume among the counties a separate and distinct form of government.
On the 14th of the following November, C. W. Scott was appointed clerk of the district court in place of Henry Martin, resigned. Subsequently the judge divided the county into four civil townships or precincts: Lake, which took in a tier and a half of townships on the west side of the county; Canaan embraced the territory adjacent to and north of Mason City; Falls, in the northeastern part of the county; and Owen, which had for its capitol Owen's Grove, and embraced all the terri- tory south of Canaan and Falls townships.
These townships were organized at an election held April 7, 1856, in each, at which time two county officers were also elected: Thomas Drummond, school fund commissioner, and A. G. Parker, drainage commissioner.
The first officers of Lake township were: Marcus Tuttle and HI. G. Parker, justices of the peace; Peter P. Wood and Hiram II. Stiles, constables, and James Turner, clerk.
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
Of Canaan township the first officers were: Elisha Randall and Solomon Zuver, justices of the peace, and J. C. Gregory, constable.
Owen township had the following for its first officers: Alonzo Willson, justice of the peace, and Charles Strong, consta- ble.
Having named the first officers chosen in their respective townships, as far as they can be found out, it is proper that men- tion should be made of some incidents during the winter of 1855-6; a winter re- membered by the early settlers as a most severe and rigorous one.
The 22d day of December, 1855, opened clear and mild; the sun was bright, and the weather seemed like the beginning of a thaw; men went to their work without coats or mittens, as if spring were upon us with its balmy air. But oh! even now, after an interval of over twenty-five years, we can not think of that and the fatal night without a shudder. That awful night, which bewildered, chilled and pros- trated three stalwart men, beguiled by the mildness of the morning. Andrew J. Abbott and Charles Weeks, new settlers at Owen's Grove, had started for Linn Grove, eight miles distant, for wood. They drove ox teams and on their way home they met the storm-furious, keen and freezing-a blinding storm. Their cattle refused to face it, and bewildered, the men wandered away until, prostrated by fatigue and chilled by the blast, they laid down upon a snowy sepulchre, their bodies being found by the neighbors after the storm and taken home for burial.
Mr. Abbott's young wife, Mrs. Lamora C., daughter of A. S. Marsh, was about
that time on her way from New England to her new home at Owen's Grove. Im- agine her grief when arriving at Dubuque, where she first heard the sad news of her bereavement.
The same time that Abbott and Weeks were lost, John Van Aiken, while on his way to Lime Creek, near the lone rock in what is now Grant township, being unable to face the storm, unhitched his horses and undertook to ride to the settle- ment. The storm drove him furiously forward, and no one knew for a month where he had been compelled to lie down and die. At last Richard Cassady, of Clear Lake, while hunting elk, discovered wolves gnawing his body, near East Grove, two miles east of Clear Lake. He was brought to Joseph Heart's house, and John McMillen, coroner pro tem, held an inquest over him at that place. But want of space forbids that further mention should be made of the sufferings and hard- ships of that winter, or the one that fol- lowed it, when Alexander Long, on his way from Forest City to the residence of W. P. Rosecrans, perished in the south- western part of this county. This was in December, 1856.
In the spring of 1856 the saw mill, which Elisha Randall had built the previous year, was carried out by the ice and high water, the loss of which being a public calamity the citizens assisted him to re- build. That season Edwin Nichols and Oscar Stevens erected a steam saw mill at Clear Lake, from which large quantities of lumber were turned out to be used in the construction of frame buildings, many of which were at that time being
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
put up in the new town of Clear Lake vil- lage, on the northeast shore of Clear Lake.
During the summer of 1856, a survey was made as far west as Clear Lake, from McGregor, on the Mississippi river, for a railroad. It was called the McGregor, St. Peter & Missouri Railroad. The people believed the road would be speedily con- structed; many of them took stock, and as payment, put in farms, which they eventu- ally lost, while the road remained unbuilt and the company became bankrupt. Not until November, 1869, did the iron horse find his way into our county; but it is needless to mention to-day the wonderful things which every one can behold. Our ears are greeted with the steam whistle of the locomotive, which dashes along over our prairies, bringing our daily mails and depositing the necessities of life at our very doors. Our telegraphs dropping in- telligence with lightning pulsations, and words of eloquence hot from the lips that utter them; our churches with spires pointing upward; our school houses with our system of schools; all contrasts so
strikingly with the condition presented by onr county twenty-five years ago, that he who knew it then can hardly realize that the same skies are over his head and the same soil beneath his feet.
And now, after this very broken history, I drop the thread, feeling that nearly every subject, which should have been fully dwelt upon, has been unnoticed.
Indeed, as one attempts to grasp the whole and reduce it to a few pages, it widens and expands, growing in impor- tance and magnitude. Though yet com- paratively new, a complete history of our county, its growth from the beginning, a mention of its worthy heroes, living and dead, would fill a volume. Very exact and patient of research must he be who can do justice to all, and fully perpetuate the memory of every event, even for the brief period which has transpired since the first settlement of the county in 1851.
In the histories of the various townships the settlement will be found to have been carried to a much later day than is possible in this chapter.
CHAPTER IV.
CREATION AND ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY.
The third General Assembly, which con- vened at Iowa City on the 2d of Decem- ber, 1850, and adjourned Feb. 5, 1851, devoted a good deal of time to the crea- tion of new counties. About fifty counties were set off at that time in the north and northwestern part of Iowa, Cerro Gordo
being among that number. Its boundaries were minutely defined and an organization was authorized as soon as the proper time should arrive. Who suggested the name of the county is unknown. The name un- doubtedly"came from the battle of Cerro Gordo in the Mexican War.
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
Early in the spring of 1855, the territory now comprising Cerro Gordo county was attached to Floyd county, for judicial purposes. At that time the laws of the State provided that any unorganized county could petition the county judge of the most convenient organized county, and be attached thereto as a civil township. This is what the citizens of Cerro Gordo county did, and became one of Floyd county's civil townships. Accordingly, an order was issued by John M. Hunt, judge of Floyd county, for an election to be held at the house of John L. McMillen, which stood within the present incorpo- rate limits of Mason City, on the first Monday in April, 1855. This was for township officers-two justices of the peace, two constables, three township trustees, one assessor and one township clerk. Whether this election was ever held or not is a question upon which the old settlers are divided, and there is no means of positively settling it. One ver- sion is that George L. Bunce and John L. McMillen were elected justices of the peace at this time.
A short time after the township organi- zation had been effected, a petition for the organization of the county- of Cerro Gordo was prepared and presented to the judge of Floyd county. This petition was granted, and an order was issued for the election of county officers and the perm - nent organization of the county on the 7th of August, 1855.
As soon as it was known that the peti- tion was granted, a convention was called for the nomination of county officers. John B. Long was then a very prominent man among the settlers of the county,
and was one of the most active workers for a county organization. John L. Mc- Millen was also a prominent worker The convention was called by these two men. It was held at the log cabin of J. L. Mc- Millen, in the summer of 1855. Candi- dates were nominated regardless of their political creeds. So far as issues were concerned, if there were any, they were due entirely to local predjudice.
On the 7th of August, 1855, the polls were opened, and the first regular election in Cerro Gordo county was held. The only voting place in the county was at the log cabin of John McMillen, on the present site of Mason City. About all of the voters in the county were in attendance, but everything passed off quietly, and it was pretty much one-sided. Henry Mar- tin was one of the clerks of the election, and Robert Campbell, Henry Van Potter and David Wright were the judges of election. John B. Long, being a promi- nent man, had, by the convention, been accorded the highest county office-that of county judge. He received forty-nine votes and Silas Card one. For clerk of court, Henry Martin received forty-eight votes and Elisha Randall two. C. B Ray- mond was elected prosecuting attorney by a majority of twenty-four, receiving thirty-three votes to nine cast for Elisha Randall. Henry Van Potter was elected treasurer and recorder, without opposition, receiving fifty-two votes. For school fund commissioner there were two candidates, David Wright and Richard Morris. The former was elected, receiving forty-four votes to the latter's nine. I. W. Card was elected surveyor by a majority of eleven over J. B. Randall. For sheriff N. W.
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
Stackhouse was elected. The vote stood: Stackhouse thirty-one; J. L. Stewart seven- teen; J. V. Curen two. James Dickirson, the first settler in the county, was elected coroner, receiving fifty-two votes. Alan- son Beebe also received one vote for coroner. Nearly all of the parties elected were democrats. Henry Martin was one of the exceptions, he being a whig.
The following is a list of the fifty-four voters at the election in August, 1855 :
Noah Cummins, James Dickirson, James Wright, C. B. Raymond, Elijah Wiltfong, Thomas Casady, George L. Bunce, McCullum Russell, Henry Wilt- fong, W. R. Willson, Aaron Peabody, Calvin Scott, Peter Clymer, Wm. Gilbert, Charles Lutz, Mahlon Brown, Richard Casady, J. P. Myers, John Russell, George W. Clymer, Eliphalet Allen, Richard Morris, Silas Card, Chauncy Lugard, Thomas Bears, James L. Stewart, J. R. Byford, J J. Barker, C. W. Scott, Sebina Day, Wmn. Reynolds, J. B. Long, Joseph Hewitt, J. L. McMillen, Andrew Butter- field, Anson C. Owen, J G. Beebe, David Wright, Robert Campbell, Alanson Beebe, James Jenkinson, Elisha Randall, Joseph Wood, Henry Martin, Wellington Benton, Stephen Wright, D. W. Miner, Henry Van Patter, N. W. Stackhouse, A. A. Burton, Leonard Van Patter, Alexander Long.
Some time after the organization of the county, much trouble was experienced from the collection of taxes levied on lands which had not yet become taxable. Since that time the governmental wheels of the county have ground steadily and surely, without impediment or interrup- tion. The county has been fortunate in
having had capable and efficient officers, and public interests have always been well cared for.
THE COUNTY SEAT.
Shortly after the organization of the county, Hon. Samuel Murdock, judge of the district court, appointed three com- missioners to locate the county seat of Cerro Gordo county. These commis- sioners were from Floyd county, and were in sympathy with John B. Long, and the other county officers, who were outspoken in their choice of Mason City as the county seat. Shortly after the election in August, 1855, the commissioners met and after viewing a number of the available sites, decided upon Mason City as the future county seat of Cerro Gordo county, and ended their labors by driving the county seat stake on the square where now stands the public school building of Mason City. This made some dissatisfac tion among the settlers in the western part of the county, who had hoped and worked to have the county seat located at some point near Clear Lake. Accordingly they set to work to undo what the com- missioners had done. But for some time their efforts were futile.
When the sixth General Assembly con- vened at Iowa City, in December, 1856, there were on hand, Thomas Drummond, Marcus Tuttle, Silas Card and I. W. Card, with a petition from their citizens of Cerro Gordo county, asking the ap- pointment of three new commissioners to re-locate the county seat of Cerro Gordo county. They were successful in their efforts, and before the close of the ses- sion of the General Assembly, Stephen II. Henderson, of Mitchell county ; James
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
Taggert, of Benton county, and George McCoy, were appointed commissioners to re-locate the county seat.
They met April 29, 1857, at Clear Lake and were sworn by I. W. Card, justice of the peace. After investigation, they made the following report to the county judge, of Cerro Gordo county :
"The undersigned, a majority of the com- missioners appointed to select and locate the seat of justice for this county, report that on the 29th of April, 1857, they met at the village of Clear Lake, in said county, having first taken and subscribed to the oath, they then proceeded to further discharge their duties, and after hav- ing visited and examined each locality in said county, that would, in their opinion, be in any way suitable for a seat of justice, they have upon mature consideration concluded that the 1 uture, as well as present interests of said coun- ty, would be most promoted with the selection of the following described tract of land, viz : Commencing at a point 40 feet south of a point 5 chains east of the northwest corner of the northe ist. quarter of section 18, township 96, range 21 ; thence south 4} chains ; thence east 4} chains ; thence north 4} chains, thence west 4} chains to the place of beginning. We have named the said selection, Livonia. The com- missioners therefore adjudge, determine and hereby constitute said Livonia, henceforth the seat of justice of said county of Cerro Gordo. And the above described selection and descrip. tion of land shall be the site and locality for the erection of the necessary county buildings.
In witness, whereof, they have set their hands, this 30th day of April, 1857.
STEPHEN HENDERSON,
[ SIGNED. ] JAMES TAGGERT, GEORGE McCOY,
Com.
As will be seen, the town of Livonia was located on section 18, of what now constitutes Lake township. During the summer of 1857, a court house was erected upon the new site, and late in the fall some of the county records were moved
from Mason City to the new county seat, but the county officials were loth to go. C. H. Huntley, treasurer and recorder, and E. D. Huntley, clerk of the court, both moved their records and offices to the new court house, and spent most of the winter of 1857-8 at Livonia.
On the 1st of February, 1858, the county court convened at Mason City, with J. S. Church, county judge, presiding. It at once adjourned to meet at Livonia, the new county seat, where it again con- vened, and began the transaction of busi- ness. At this term of court A. B. Miller presented a petition numerously signed 1 y the citizens, asking the court to grant an election to be held in April, 1858, to sub- mit to the legal voters of the county the following question : "Shall the county seat of Cerro Gordo county be removed from Livonia to Mason City ?" The pe- tition being signed by over one-half of the citizens of the county, the county judge granted it, and issued an order for the election to be held on the first Monday in April, 1858.
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