USA > Iowa > Fremont County > History of Fremont County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., a biographical directory of many of its leading citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistic, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, history of Iowa and the Northwest, map of Fremont County, constitution of the state of Iowa, reminiscences, miscellaneous matters, etc > Part 57
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dred natures, while it may repress opposing tendencies in lives of the most variant nature. New countries have the stamp of individual char acter impressed on them in a manner that older sections would not brook This is due, perhaps, to the fact that the inhabitants are few and scattered and in times of imminent peril or distress the most individualized person age assumes control. To him, then, ever after the people look, and hi: views become gradually to be public property. It is thus that the early history of any county becomes largely a component part of the history of its first men-the men who give character and coloring to all its early legislation.
"The pioneer settlers of 1836, when they first looked upon the broac acres and beautiful forests of Fremont county, had in reality no compell ing reason for believing that they were not created especially for them and for the trial of the manhood that was soon to reclaim them. They came, not to scenes of pleasure, but to places of most arduous toil. The
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land was new, its advantages still unknown, its resources undetermined, its ancient owners still here. To enter a country so wild and engage in its settlement implied not only a willing heart, but the ability to do and to dare that, in other and long settled lands, has made the monarch tremble on his throne, or placed in peril a nation's life. Pioneers are always brave; and the exigencies continually arising demand a quality of manhood that ensures the success of plans of colonization. It is, therefore, useless to eulogize the early settlers of this county. All were brave, but all were not good men. What was done and how is merely the office of our task. In the hearts of many still surviving the memories of these men live, and that they live to fame and to history is the object of this sketch.
The first white resident of the county was a government employee con- nected with the Pottawattamie Indian Agency, and under a permit from the general government, engaged in farming for them. He was by birth a Missourian, and was a native of Cooper's fort in Howard county. Ma- jor Stephen Cooper, for that was his name, settled upon a farm some four miles southwest of the city of Sidney, then a town unborn. It will be remembered that at this time the Missouri line reached to within one and a half miles of the present site of Sidney. In 1842, Major Cooper was in the Missouri legislature as the representative from Holt county, from which it way be inferred that his residence in the county of Fremont was not continuous. While his business interests were here his preference kept him, much of the time, in the state of his birth. In 1843 he sold his claim and business to Captain Whitehead, who, on coming to take possession of his new home, brought with him as a part of his household the first slaves ever on the soil of southwestern Iowa-two in number. Captain White- head remained in undisturbed possession of his home until the final settle- ment of the boundary line difficulty in 1848, when he removed to St. Joseph, Missouri, where he might legally hold his slaves as chattle prop- erty. Thus early in the history of the county was the question of slavery considered an open one. Captain Whitehead disposed of his claim to James Knox, an early pioneer, and whose presence here is historically handed down by the local name of "Knox Big Spring." In 1839 came Rufus Hitchcock, a trader; a man who afterwards became both notorious and obnoxious. With him came Arthur Burras and Mrs. Rice with two sons. These persons all came from Indiana. They, with Richard Flana- gan, David Jones and family, and Jacob Acord and family, and A. J. Sin- gleton, settled at Pleasant grove in 1839 and 1840. These are the first that may properly be called settlers, as both Cooper and Whitehead were here but temporarily and in the interests of individual finances. But now had come the true pioneers, men who saw wealth in tilling the soil, and whose occupations implied a permanent location.
But while the settlement of Pleasant grove was thus auspiciously
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begun, another one had sprung up at McKissick's grove-the name of which was derived from its founder-C. W. McKissick. These were probably all who came up to 1841, except a few traders, who came for purposes not always legitimate. In the year last named, among others. came George Wilkinson and Robert Watkins, the former finding a suitable location at the foot of the bluffs on the Missouri bottom, the latter at Pleas- ant grove in the immediate vicinity of Mr. Singleton's.
It would doubtless be a matter of extreme interest to trace the emotions and thoughts of these early residents, were such a thing possible. They came from the older and more populous east: left behind them all the advantages of a high civilization-the comforts of pleasant homes, friends and associations made doubly dear by long and constant intercourse. They came to what? Hardships and toil-but for these they cared little. There were hopes to be realized, plans to be developed, farms to make and homes to build. Whatever of romance we may wish to attach to their lives, there was little in reality. Their coming, it should be remem- bered, was not always a matter of election. They did not come to a land then a wilderness altogether from choice, but because stern necessity made it imperative. The population of the eastern states was rapidly increasing through immigration, and the stern law of increase made removal neces- sary. They came hither because the west offered more extended oppor- tunies and contained the promise and potency of success in life.
In the year 1841 occured a most notable event, the coming of the first clergyman. The Rev. Jeremiah Guard, who lived on the land now owned by Jacob Fletcher, was the man. He was called a "reformer" a term both vague and general, for to what end his labors were directed at that carly day does not appear. * After him, in 1843, came Dr. Richard Buckham, who organized a Reform church in Pleasant grove, the first church organ- ization in southwestern Iowa. Two years before had occurred the first birth, that of Ikey Rice, son of James and Nancy Rice. In October of the following year, 1840, occurred that of J. W. Singleton, the second child born within the limits of Fremont county. In the year 1841, Jacob McKissick, a justice of the peace who lived within two miles of the pres- ent site of Hamburg, married William Barrett and Mary Jane Jones, the first couple married in the county, and in that part of it which paid tribute to Missouri.
Religion and education are generally considered " sisters twain", espe- cially in new countries, it is not surprising therefore to find the school-mas- ter abroad cotemporaneously with the coming of the clergy. The first one to engage in teaching in Fremont county was Major William R. English, who in 1843 taught a school in a log cabin in the neighborhood of Wm. Lovelady."
The year 1842 witnessed the advent of a number of settlers, represent-
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ing several of the eastern states-notably Ohio. Among them were Samuel Martin and family, including Miss Jane Hillis, afterwards Mrs. T. L. Buckham. Samuel Withrow and John Lambert came from Mis- souri in the fall of the same year, but in the following summer returned.
The influx of population was exceedingly slow throughout all these years. The fame of the "garden of Iowa" had not yet reached the toil- ing sons of the far east, and many of those who did come were perhaps to be classed with adventurers rather than settlers. In the last named year came also William Lambert with his sons John, William and Jerry, and a nephew by the name of Anderville Clarke. They located on the Mis- souri bottom near McPherson's, who, though not a settler, was engaged in trading with the Indians in company with his brother William, nearly due west of Sidney. In 1843 it is probable that Daniel and Isaac Hun- saker came to Pleasant grove, since Hunsaker's ferry across the Nish- nabotany was in operation the following year. 1
Jefferson Wade came to this county in 1844. In August of that year he located at Pleasant grove, four miles southeast of Sidney, having pur- chased the claim of Rufus Hitchcock, who was here as a trader previous to 1840. Garrison B. Red and Nathaniel Tombs also came in 1844, and a man by the name of Slusher located at the foot of the bluffs, just south of Wilkinson's.
Archibald HI. Argyle came in 1845, and located near Hunsaker's ferry, which he purchased, as well as the trading store at that point, and employed one Manly Green to clerk for him. About the same time his brother, Frederick Argyle, who had been in the United States army, purchased a claim in the same neighborhood. H. Bruce, a brother-in- law to A. J. Singleton, had a farm near him on the west, Captain Lacy located in 1845 south of Captain Whitehead, who then lived, as we have said, at the Knox Big Spring. From this time the arrivals were so numerous and the population so scattered that it becomes a matter of almost absolute impossibility to trace them to their location and the sub- sequent changes made. It will be observed, however, that there were up to 1846 but two settlements-villages-in the county, one, and the largest, at Pleasant grove, the other at McKissick's grove.
Among those who may properly be classed as old settlers are G. A. W. Belcher, T. L. Buckham, John Cooper, A. H. Argyle, J. J. Singleton, David Jones, S. T. Cromwell, John Gordon, Richard Hardin, A. S. Rob- erts, G. B. Gaston, I. D. Blanchard, Rev. John Todd, E. B. Gaylord, Henry and W. J. Halloway, N. Green, I. S. Jones, J. E. Beatty, W. R. Hardy, John McKinney, Enoch Thompson, Amos Crandall, and Judge J. W. Davis. Among these names will be seen many who have exerted a powerful influence in directing the course of events in the county. They were men sterling and true, whose contact with men and things made
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them self-reliant and energetic. Nothing so much as pioneer life serves to develop real manhood, nothing so much leads to self-independence, nothing is so effective for discipline. These men were poor, but pride entered not to disturb their homely joys. The strifes and contentions inci- dent to political contests and hopes of preferment, were reserved for a later day. Petty jealousies, it is true, sometimes occurred, but mutual dependence and kindred interests forbade their fostering.
With the organization of the county in 1849, the history of early settlers and settlements properly ends. Elsewhere in this work will be found tabulated statistics that sufficiently attest the progress made, which has been, not only great, but general.
During the incoming of the settlers many incidents of both a sad and humorous character occurred. To have woven them into a chapter purely historical would have presented little additional interest. The reader is referred to the chapter on incidents for any amusement or information which he may derive from them. But it must not be supposed that while the pioneers who settled the prairies and valleys of Fremont county were busy redeeming the wilderness and surrounding themselves with domes- tic comforts, they forgot to plant the seeds of those institutions among which they were reared. As soon as a sufficient number of children could be gathered together the school house made its appearance, rude at first like the primitive houses of the settlers, but adapted to the circumstances of the people in those times. Pioneer school houses were usually log structures warmed in winter by fire-places similar to those in the pioneer houses. Slanting shelves were used for desks, and in front of these were benches made of slabs. These were for the "big scholars." A row of similar benches stood in front of these upon which the smaller pupils sat. The buildings were sometimes without doors and paper was made to sub- serve the purposes of window glass. The books then in use were such as would not be tolerated now. Webster, Dilworth, Pike, Daboll, Murray, Ray or McGuffey were their authors. These books were well adapted to the capacities of those who had mastered the branches of which they treated, but not to those of beginners. The methods of teaching were
then quite different from the present. The early settlers, as had been their fathers before them, were reared with full faith in the maxim, " spare the rod and spoil the child." The first teachers were usually anxious that pupils should not spoil on their hands, and many old men retain a vivid remembrance of what school discipline was in their boyhood.
An account of the exercises during half a day of school in the olden time would be amusing, though, in some respects, it is an open question whether modern customs are great improvements. Many can remember that when word was passcd around, "master's comin'!" a grand scramble for seats occurred, so that every one was found in his place and a suspic-
-
exercice Otis
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ious kind of order prevailed when the august dispenser of wisdom entered. It must be admitted, however, that notwithstanding the miserable text- books then in use, and the, in many respects, awkward methods of teach- ing which prevailed, the schools of that period furnished some excellent scholars; perhaps, almost a larger proportion than those of the present time. But all the old things have passed away. It has been said that men are more generally inclined to follow than to lead, and an evidence of the truth of this saying may be found in the tardiness which people exhibit in the adoption of those changes in their customs that changing circumstances require. To-day the residents of the county look back with both amuse- ment and pride-a peculiar mingling of emotions-to the things that were. They have passed away; the busy hum of newer industries and modern interests have served to detract attention from these old time events, but they have a value which the present should seize and turn to present advantage.
INCIDENTS AND ACCIDENTS.
A SPECIMEN HUSKING PARTY.
In early days, labor being plenty but the laborers few, it was customary when a job of considerable magnitude was to be performed, to invite the settlers for miles around to assist in the undertaking. The reader need not be told what a "husking bee," or a "wood-chopping," or a "brush-cut- ting" is, even if he has never seen one. In November, 1852, Mr. John Cooper, then living in Madison township, invited his neighbors-then com- prising about all of the citizens of the county-to assist him in husking out about 1000 bushels of corn. By 10 o'clock in the forenoon of the day appointed fully 80 people were on the ground and surrounding the corn pile. To work they went-
The growing pile of husks behind, the golden ears before,
And laughing eyes and busy hands and brown cheeks glimmering o'er ;-
and by evening the task was finished. There was plenty of entertain- ment for the frolickers and a right jolly time they had. They devoured a good sized beef and a fat pig, besides other substantials, and washed the meal down with half a barrel of good old mountain dew whisky, clear and pure as it came from the still, free from fusil oil and from the revenue offi- cer's hand likewise. At night a dance was held, and oh! how many were they, with love in their hearts, whisky in their heads, and music in their heels, the lads and lasses welted the floor in fine style. About forty of the 13
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company stayed all night with Mr. Cooper. His cabin was only 14x16 feet in size, but there was plenty of room for all. Ah, those were rare old times!
ONE GOOD INDIAN.
Soon after Mr. Robert Watkins settled in the county, a Pottawattamie Indian called on Mrs. Watkins and asked her for some bread. Mrs. Wat- kins told the savage she had none. Seeing a number of children about the cabin the warrior exclaimed: "No bread, and all of these papooses!" and then strode hurriedly away. In a short time he returned with a huge loaf of corn bread, which he gave to Mrs. Watkins, saying: "Here; feed your papooses ! "
A NEW WAY TO PAY OLD DEBTS.
About the year 1860, Reed Armstrong, formerly county treasurer, then a merchant of Sidney, sued John McKinney, an eccentric old character now residing in Ross township, on an account amounting to $6.50. Mc- Kinney then bore and now bears a reputation for simplicity and feeble- mindedness, which this story indicates he was never entitled to. He has an inimitable voice and expression and an indescribable appearance. Hav- ing no money to fee an attorney to defend his suit, and not wishing to lose it, he cudgeled his brains-what few he had-to find a way out of his dilemma. At last he discovered it.
There is an animal known to naturalists by the high sounding appel- lation of Mephitis Mephitica, which then abounded and still abides in many portions of Fremont county. This animal, although not large, is very powerful. He is, in some respects, the king of beasts. When he goes upon the war-path he is terrible. He need not be seen to be appre- ciated. His presence will make itself known to the wayfaring man as well as to the fool with equal facility. The glory of his nostrils may not be terrible like Job's war-horse, but the condition of the nostrils of him who is in his company is frightful. This little animal feeds on chickens, but a stranger who didn't know this to be a fact, would never suspect it from the creature's breath, which resembles anything but a chicken pot- pie
Well, John McKinney sought out and found a " Mephitis," etc., and when he had found it, killed it, and when he had killed it, sat up with the corpse until upon departing you couldn't have distinguished him from a Mephitis, for you couldn't have got near enough to him to discover the difference, and on the face of what returns were manifest he was a first- class specimen of the animal. When he reached home John changed his clothes and laid those he wore when with the Mephitis carefully away.
On the day of trial Reed Armstrong was present and so were a number of his fellow-citizens. The magistrate, Esq. Fred Rector, was upon the
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bench, very dignified and grave, and prepared to poise the scales of jus- tice and weigh the case of Armstrong vs. Mckinney and decide the case aright.
Presently an odor resembling a wind from a 400-acre gourd patch permeated the court-room. The door opened and in walked old John McKinney clad in his mephitic suit and "smelling to heaven!" The spec- tators stayed but a moment, and clapping their hands to their noses fled in great disorder. The room was cleared as if by magic of all except his honor and the plaintiff and the perfumed defendant. The latter ambled up to where Armstrong sat, and actually began caressing his creditor! He wound up by throwing his arms about Armstrong's neck! This was enough. Reed sprang up and swearing violently as well as he could, bolted from the room. When he reached the open air and had made his escape he declared that he wouldn't go back to the court-room for twice $6.50.
Being left alone with the odoriferous old John, Esq. Rector asked him if he was ready to defend his suit. John replied that he rather thought he was.
"Where is your attorney?" hurriedly demanded his honor.
"I hain't got none, squire," replied old John; "I guess I kin manage the thing myself if Reed Armstrong will only come back." This in McKin- ney's peculiar drawling tone. The magistrate agreed with old John, and speedily rendered judgment against Armstrong for the costs of suit, and gathering up his papers left the room himself and retired-to vomit, prob- ably. And then McKinney walked through town, and was given the free- dom of the city. He had discharged a debt-if not in dollars at least in scents, and he seemed quite well pleased with the achievement. He lives to this day to witness if this be a lie.
ESQUIRE CUMMING'S " COURTSHIP."
Mention is made on other pages of this history of Esquire James Cum- mings. He was formerly a justice of the peace in what then was Bluff township, Atchison county, Missouri, but is now Franklin township, Fre- mont county. Upon the organization of this county, Esquire Cummings was continued in office.
The stories told of him would fill a volume. He is a very eccentric or peculiar character naturally. His friendship for John Barleycorn was proverbial. He seldom rendered a decision without freely consulting that worthy, and it is alleged that many of his decisions were made entirely under its influence. On one occasion he sat on the floor of his cabin engaged in the trial of a cause, with a jug of his favorite beverage between his knees, from which he quaffed so copiously that before the
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cause was decided, and while an attorney was speaking, he tumbled over and lay prone upon the floor, " o'er all the ills of life victorious."
In the year 1857, Cummings lost his wife. He accidentally shot her while taking down his rifle to shoot a fat cow. He then lived between Sidney and Hamburg, a short distance from the road. Arrangements had been made for a dance at his house the following evening, but when the invited guests assembled they were informed that by reason of the sad accident which had occurred and the solemn affliction that had befallen the family, no dance could be had, but a " candy pulling " would be per- mitted !
Mrs. Cummings had been in the grave but a few days when her bereaved husband laid aside the weeds of mourning and put on the flow- ers of fantasy and his "fancy lightly turned to thoughts of love." The funeral baked meats were about to be made to serve, however coldly, the marriage tables. He would a-wooing go. The wags of the neigh- borhood detected Esquire Cummings' designs and straightway proceeded to "put up a job " on him.
A young man of the community, bold but beardless, was selected, and arrayed in female apparel. A " party " was improvised, to which Cum- mings was invited and introduced to " Miss Bebee. " It was apparently a case of love at first sight. The amorous magistrate proved an arduous wooer and "Miss Beebe " an easy victim. Ile proposed and "she " accepted. It was arranged that they proceed to Missouri that very night and no longer dwell in single wretchedness. A wagon load composed of the betrothed couple and a number of other persons of both sexes, started for the Atchison county Gretna Green. On the way Cummings desired to test the affection of his inamorata for him and asked her to bite his fin- ger as hard as she loved him. " Miss Beebe," whose real name was John McGuire, siezed on Cumming's finger and bit like a snapping turtle. Cummings was satisfied of his darling's affection, and wonderfully impressed with the strength of "her " jaws.
The party forced the Squire to "treat," the expense whereof was about $5. The amount was spent in whisky, of course. The party had to pass Cummings' residence on their way to Missouri, and when the house was reached its owner got out of the wagon to see his children a few minutes. The bride-elect took this opportunity to make "her " escape. When Cum- mings returned and found his bride had so suddenly and so unaccountably left him he was dumfounded. He spent until 2 o'clock in the night search- ing for her. The next day he was told the joke, when he declared he knew it was a joke all the while. His finger did not get well until next spring. Cummings at last married one of the trader Hitch- cock's four "wives." She was, besides being an Aspasia in morals, a Xantippe in disposition and led "old Jim," as he was called, a sad life. It
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is even hinted that she disposed of him in a felonious manner, becoming tired of him at last. Certain it is that no one was present when Cum- mings died-or can tell when that event occurred, or how-" and no man knoweth of his sepulcher unto this day."
RECOLLECTIONS OF MRS THOS. LUSBY.
Mrs. Thomas Lusby, of Riverton, came with her husband to this county in April, 1841. There were then but two white families living in south- western Iowa west of the Nodaway river-Hitchcock's and Rice's- engaged in trading with the Indians. The Indians were then very numer- ous and wandered about in large bands. The settlers did their trading and got their milling done at Savannah, Missouri. One winter they were compelled to beat out their corn for bread. Mrs. Lusby remembers Rev. Mr. Gard, a Christian or Campbellite minister, as the first preacher. He proclaimed the gospel in the open air at Pleasant Grove and performed the first baptismal rite in a small stream that ran through the grove. Mrs. L. is the daughter of Jacob Thomas, who brought the first weav- ers' loom to the county, and she claims that she did the first weaving.
A FREMONT COUNTY POCAHONTAS.
The old Indian chief Wahbonsie had a very beautiful daughter named Blue Bird, who, it is said, re-enacted the role of Pocahontas at one time in the early history of this county. A Mr. John Harding who had come to the county and had been employed for some time at the Wahbonsie agency, had given offense to some of the Indians and they resolved to kill him. Inducing him to accompany them on a hunting expedition they enticed him into the timber northwest of Sidney and were about to mur- der him when "Blue Bird " and another young squaw suddenly appeared upon the scene and compelled the savages to abandon their design. This story ends as it should. Harding married his beautiful but dusky deliv- erer, and it is presumed " they lived hapily ever afterward." Very many of the citizens of the county now living, remember this marriage and have heard of the circumstances attending it. Harding and his wife resided in the county for some years, but went westward and were living in Kansas when last heard from.
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