USA > Iowa > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County, Iowa, Volume I > Part 13
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WILD CAT MONEY
In the history of all peoples, it is not only interesting but necessary to have some knowledge of the financial conditions under which they lived in order to thoroughly understand their actions. We panse here, then, in the narration of events, to find the information indicated above. This is peculiarly a fitting place, too, in our history, for about this time there sprang into existence a new industry of very great importance to the settlers, and without which their condition would have been lamentable, indeed.
Most of the settlers were poor men who brought little, if any more money with them than enough to pay the entry fee for their lands. They had no market for their product except to newcomers, and there were no fixed prices for any- thing, unless the product was very scarce. The price was very low, and money was so scarce that when one had anything to sell he usually had to trade for some- thing he needed worse than what he had to dispose of. What made their condi- tion infinitely worse, was the great financial panic of 1857 which broke nearly all the banks and filled the country with worthless bank bills. The law under which this money was issued provided that it should have a specie basis and the affidavit of the banker issuing the bills was taken as proof of the fact that the specie was on hand when the bills were issued. Strangely enough, the law did not provide that the specie should be kept on hand, or if it did, the provision was not obeyed, so the specie basis that did duty in starting one bank and cased the conscience of the banker over the affidavit he made, was carted off to the
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
next town and became the specie basis for another bank and so it traveled round the country starting "Wild Cat" banks. The bills of these banks of issue promised to pay gold or silver on demand but as paper money was so much more convenient than coin, few people demanded coin and having confidence that the coin was behind the bills for their redemption the bills were readily taken and did all the offices of money. If the fraud had not been discovered this money might have gone on doing the business of the country as perfectly as any money could have done. So long as a man thought the banks had the coin in its vaults to redeem the bill he had in his pocket he did not want the bill redeemed-he pre- ferred the paper ; but the moment he had a well grounded suspicion that the bank did not have the gold, he wanted gold, and wanted it at once.
The fraud of carting the specie about and starting many banks on the same supply of coin was discovered and the people took fright. A general run was made on the banks and of course all the spurious banks went to the wall at once. Banks, honestly started, redeemed their paper as it came in, and kept on in bus- iness for a time but a second run almost inevitably followed, under which few could stand, so if a man accepted a "Wild Cat" bill quoted good one day. the bank issuing it was liable to break before he had an opportunity to pass it off on some one else and it became "dead money" in his pocket.
The banks were mostly located in the states east of the Mississippi and as the means of communication was not as complete as now, it was sometimes weeks after the bank failed, before the news reached the frontier. "Bank detectors" were printed, in which a list of all banks appeared and those that had suspended were noted. These "detectors" were regularly sent for by the merchants and when one would arrive, every settler who had a bank bill in his pocket would go to the store to see if it was yet good. Most of the money among the settlers was of this kind and as almost every dollar of it sooner or later became worthless, it is easy to imagine how scarce money became and how hard it was to get. Old settlers say that there were months at a time during 1857-8 when they never saw a cent of good money of any kind. After things had been going on in this way for some time, and times had become most pinching, two Jew peddlers from the southern part of the state began to buy fur and pay cash for it. Of course everybody wanted cash and almost everybody went to trapping as the only means of getting it. Old settlers have told that the first money they had had for months they received from these Jews for furs. The business having been started, other buyers of fur put in appearance, and the settler became a trapper. The muskrat was the principal fur bearing animal, but mink, otter and beaver were also fre- quently caught in the earlier days.
The hard times continued until after the breaking out of the war, when money became plentiful, and times flush. Occasionally, however, a new settler came with plenty of good money, and for him, times were always exceptionally good, for with it he could buy almost anything he wanted and at his own price.
HORSE THIEVES
About this time horse thieves began to make themselves very troublesome to the settlers. In July, 1857, B. Millard, who resided a short distance south of Webster City had a very fine span of horses stolen. Ile offered $50 reward for
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
the return of the horses or the capture and conviction of the thieves and for a time nearly everybody was hunting them. Though he and many others were con- stantly on the hunt, and the loss was advertised, it was six months after they were taken, before they were found. They were at last discovered over in Marshall county where they had been taken up as strays and sold. He got the horses back but they had been foundered so badly that they were not worth the money spent to recover them. The thieves were never caught. Millard got on the track of them as he believed then, and still believes, and overtook them ( there were two). at Indianola, Ia. He captured one but the other got away. He brought his prisoner back to Boonsboro, but the prisoner produced a man who swore he had accompanied him to Des Moines and that he had no horses, and Mr. Millard being unable to get any positive proof, had to let him go. Ilorses were being stolen in other settlements around and to protect their property a thief detective society was organized with B. Millard. E. W. Salsberry and J. S. Letts as the principal and moving spirits.
RAILROAD EXCITEMENT
And now the people were thrown into a fever of excitement over the prospect of having a railroad, and this is not to be wondered at when it is remembered how far they were from railroad markets. About August 1, 1857, Capt. G. W. Smith of New York, and A. Warren, agent for the state, arrived in Webster City, exploring the line of the proposed Dubuque and Pacific railroad. This rail- road company had received a grant of land through the state of Iowa to aid in building a road from Dubuque to Sioux City. Captain Smith represented the foreign bond holders interested in the proposed road. The coming of these men. and the representations of Capt. Smith, caused the settlers to believe that the road would be built at once, and great was the rejoicing and high were the hopes of all on account of it. But it amounted to nothing at that time, though it no doubt had the good effect of bringing more people in and keeping those already here, in high expectation of better times.
THE TOWN OF HAWLEY
The railroad excitement and the apparent certainty that the railroad would be constructed upon the line proposed, caused the laying out of another new town named Hawley, a short distance east of the present town of Blairsburg. The proprietors of this new town were Thos. J. McCartney, Geo. Grechenek, W. C. & S. Willson, Smith Bros. J. M. Funk and others. They intended to have several buildings erected during the year and it was to be one of the Western Stage Com- pany's stations. The town was named Ilawley in honor of the chief engineer of the D. & P. R. R. However, it absolutely and utterly refused to grow. There was a farm house on the land when platted, and this was the only house ever erected there. A number of lots were soll however, but they were allowed to go to a tax sale, and were afterwards bought up and the town plat annulled and what was to be a thriving little city, is now a fine farm.
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
BUILDING THE FIRST BRIDGE
Up to this time, no bridge had been built across Boone river, but the urgent need of one caused the subject to be discussed upon all sides. It seems, however, that the condition of county finances was such that the county authorities would take no steps toward building a bridge at public expense.
The project of building a bridge by private subscription was therefore brought forward. Accordingly, a public meeting was called, signed by "many citizens." The meeting was held at the schoolhouse in Webster City for the purpose of accepting proposals for building a bridge across the river at the foot of Dubuque street ( the present site of the east bridge ), and to take measures to raise the necessary funds with which to pay for the same. Several meetings were held before the necessary funds were pledged, but the contract to build it was let in October to one Alden Baker. Work was at once commenced and the first bridge across Boone river was completed and opened for travel the last of December, 1857-
ARRIVAL OF JACOB SKINNER
In October, 1857, llon. Jacob Skinner took up his residence in Webster City and opened a law office after which Lawyer Burkley didn't have things all his own way.
Mr. Skinner was a lawyer of considerable experience. He had been a mem- ber of the Wisconsin legislature and therefore at once took a leading position at the bar, and in all public affairs.
CARPENTER VS. DUNCOMBE
A very exciting political campaign took place in the fall of 1857, the chief inter- est centering upon the candidates for representative in the state legislature. Hon. C. C. Carpenter was the republican candidate and Hon. John F. Duncombe, the democratic candidate. These candidates and their friends got out and made the air blue with villification and abuse of each other, both on the stump, and in the press and created a great deal of partisan bitterness all over the district.
Carpenter was elected by a small majority but the friends of Mr. Duncombe claimed that this result was obtained by a dishonest count and so the contest was kept humming for some weeks after the election was over, and we doubt whether the animosities engendered in this campaign were ever wholly wiped out. They certainly have not yet been forgotten, and they continued to live as long as the principal actors were alive.
It was during this year, also that Sheriff Leonard appointed John N. Maxwell. deputy sheriff, and he has the honor, therefore, of being the first deputy sheriff of Hamilton county.
THE FIRST HAY SCALER
The first hay scales were erected in Webster City in December, 1857, by John Peak, Esq. Prior to that, all articles for sale, that could not be weighed on the common counter scales, had to be "lumped off."
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
In December. 1857, the treasurer of the county gave notice that he was ready to receive taxes. Accompanying the notice was the following statement : "The total value of taxable property is. $1.361,251.00 State tax is 4.086.71
County tax is
4.767.84
School tax is 1.362.28
Road tax on poll and personal property is 1,537.81
Road tax on real estate is
1.702.38
Total taxes
$13.457.22
AN ATTEMPT TO INCORPORATE
As early as December. 1857, the citizens of Webster City began to agitate the question of incorporating the towns. Meetings were frequently held at which the question was discussed pro and con, with a great deal of heat and vigor. At a meeting in January '58. it was decided to incorporate and a charter was there- fore prepared and forwarded to the state legislature for legislative action. How- ever, the incorporation was not at this time effected.
RESCINDING THE R. R. BONDS
While Webster and Hamilton counties were united, the county by a vote of its citizens agreed to take $200,000 worth of stock of the D. & P. R. R. and issue county bonds in payment for the same. After the counties were divided, a ques- tion as to the legality of the vote and the liability of Hamilton county for her share of these bonds, arose. In the settlement between the counties, it was ar- ranged that if the counties were liable and were compelled to take the bonds that Hamilton county's share to assume would be $90.000. So grave and un- certain was the question of the liabilities of the counties, that legislative aid was invoked, which resulted in the passage of a law legalizing the division of the bonds but providing that a vote should be taken upon the question of rescinding the former vote. If the former vote was rescinded at the election, the bonds were to be void, but if the former vote was sustained or ratified. then each county should issue the bonds according to the former agreement. A spirited contest was held over this election. The railroad company promised, if the bonds were sustained, to put a large force of men to work and push the same as rapidly as possible. But it was an enormous debt to saddle upon a county whose whole tax collection for all purposes amounted to but little over $13.000, and the election resulted in a defeat of the bonds by the following vote :
For rescinding, 196 votes.
Against rescinding, 182 votes.
THE WET SEASON OF '58
We are now writing of matters happening mostly in 1858 and our history would fall far short of what it ought to be if it failed to mention as impressively as possible that this was the wet season, remembered by all the old settlers so
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
vividly and with good cause. The ponds and sloughs were overflowing all sum- mer. The creeks were always bank full, but every few days, owing to heavy rains, would be flooding the whole adjoining country.
The river was broad, deep and muddy, always bank full and every few days it would "get on a mighty bender," threatening to wash away the only bridge in the county-the one built by private subscription the year before. It is needless to say that this bridge was highly prized now, for it was the only place where the river in its swollen condition, could be crossed except in boats.
The fields were everywhere so soft and muddy that but little farm work could be done. The crops, started on the high lands, were greatly damaged by red and black rust. for in the intervals between lands, the sun shown out with its fiercest heat, and as a result the oat and wheat crop was nearly a complete failure and the corn crop was but little better.
WADING THIE SLOUGHS
Many are the incidents told by pioneers of the trials and dangers passed through at this time. If one went abroad, if only for a short distance, he had sloughs to wade. One of the pioneers of that time, says that when he started to go anywhere and came to water which he was sure to do, and that pretty often, he spent no time in trying to find a place to cross, but at once took off his boots and trousers to keep them dry and boldly waded in, and that he had had to thus disrobe a half dozen times in going as many miles. Even the women had to bow to the necessity of wading, or staying at home much more than they liked to. and so when they wanted to visit a neighbor. they dressed in suitable style for the trip and skipped out alone. When they came to a slough, they waded through.
This kind of adventure might seem very funny for a little while, but it lasted all summer and everybody was heartily sick of it. The general despondency amounting almost to dispair, prevailing throughout the whole community, can scarcely be imagined. Added to this, was the general hard times mentioned be- fore. The Freeman, the only paper in the county at the time. took as hopeful a view of the situation as possible, but still it could not ignore the facts. A few extracts from its columns during the time relating both to the hard times and the floods will no doubt assist in forming a more correct idea of the veritable horrors of the times and a few of them are given for that purpose.
"MORTALITY-Some poet has stated that the world is full of change. We don't believe it. If so where is it? It isn't in the banks. It isn't in the groceries. Don't the poet mean by 'the world' old woolen socks and broken shaving cups ? We propose that the poet be called on to resume!"
"HELP, CASH-US OR WE SINK"
"We were never quite so hard up for a little ready money as at the veritable present. The elephant, hard times, stepped on our pocket book six weeks ago, and we have not in that time taken in enough cash to pay our expenses three days. We paid out our last dime so long ago that we have entirely forgotten how it looks. We are owing divers little debts which ought to be paid, but some one
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IIISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
must pay us first. If quarter sections were selling for a cent a piece, we couldn't buy a gopher hill."
"SOOZANNA'S ERPOSTROFY TOO THE PANICK"
"Amazin Creecher ! say wot giv yew birth ? Was't sum anormus river, on ooze banx you made such orful runs? did'ent you know they'd kave? Dew say, wot makes ye run around, smashin' and breakin' things so fritfully, with such a hol- sail slorter? Aint yew sick of smashed and broken vittals? Don't you think you'd better dri up or else simmer down? I dew.
"The Western Stage Company have just begun to issue money of their own . manufacture. The denominations of this scrip are $1, $2, $3 and $5 bills ; is re- deemable one year from date at lowa City and bears six per cent interest. The company receive it for fares and all debts due them and will not suffer it to de- preciate a fraction."
Many such as the above besides an elaborate article running through several numbers of the paper on the money crisis show how hard times pinched.
As early as the latter part of January, 1858, the Freeman began to speak of the wet season :
"BOONE RIVER ON A BENDER"
"Our quiet, classical little river has been behaving rather obstreperously of late, in fact getting above its business. The recent heavy rains, together with the melted snow has made it swell up prodigiously. Gophers and muskrats have had to retreat to higher grounds. They may brag about their Des Moines, lowa, and Cedar creeks, but there's fluid enough in the Boone this Wednesday morning, January 27th, to make a dozen such feeble riverlets and have enough left for a majestic river still. If the primitive geographer had only happened along here at such a time, the Boone would have been laid down in all the maps as a navig- able stream. Such a whistling of the currents through the woods and thickets, such a deep sullen roar, nights; such a snapping, crackling and crashing of the huge cakes of ice ; such tremendous gorges of ice and such a wayward cutting across lots, of the young currents, each trying to set up a river on its own hook never was seen since the day of the big Indian whose spirits rot out their burial places like the genii of the Oriental world.
"But to drop down suddenly from this lofty sentence, considerable damage has been done by the tall water. A portion of Pray and Stoddard's mill dam has gone out and our new bridge has come very near leaving us without any sort of permission. The bridge was only retained in its place by the best efforts of our citizens who have watched it and worked at it, day and night, for the last four or five days. The bridge has stood firm, but the embankments have suf- fered considerably. The damage will be promptly repaired and communication with t'other side of Jordon will not be interrupted."
April 15-The recent heavy rains have laid an embargo upon travel. The roads are very soft, the streams very high and the sloughs bottomless. Com- munication with the outer world is pretty much cut off. ("When it will be re- sumed. let those who are better versed in mudology predict." )
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
With many intervening notices to the same effect, on June 3rd, this item ap- peared :
"AAnother heavy rain is sending up the rivers and creeks. We have scarcely had three consecutive days since spring opened without a heavy rain. Farming operations have been considerably delayed and travel attended with great trouble. When the weather will become settled is a difficult matter to predict. All signs seem to fail in a wet time."
And this :
"Our supply of paper having become exhausted and the roads continuing so bad as to render it uncertain when we will receive any, there will probably be no regular issue of our paper for a week or two to come."
And it was two weeks before the paper was again issued.
"September 10, 1858 There are many long faces among the farmers of Iowa at this time. With the panic which brought down the prices of their farms from imaginary figures to sober realities, tested by actual production and greatly re- duced means of paying debts ; with an almost total failure of wheat and oats and the loss by reason of continuous rains of an opportunity to raise a full corn crop. there is truly some cause for the farmers feeling blue. But despondency will not pay debts or repair disaster. There is but one sensible thing to do, pick the flint and try it again."
Having now given a fair idea of the conditions under which the settlers labored, in 1858, we proceed to the general history.
THE FIRST BREWERY
The first brewery was built in the county by Mr. Dezeyk, who began the work early in July and promised to complete and have it in operation by October. That was the old stone building which stands to this day at the south end of Willson avenue.
PROMINENT MEN ARRIVE
In August, Hon. D. D. Chase came to Webster City and opened up a law office. It was in this year also that Kendall Young and L. L. Treat settled here, after a few years residence at Irvington, Kossuth county. John W. Lee, who was one of the county supervisors at the time of the building of the new court house in 1876, and whose name is inscribed on the corner stone, also arrived in July of that year.
At the October election this year John Porter was elected district judge, W. P. Hepburn, district attorney, and Julius MI. Jones, clerk of the court for this county.
In November, Superintendent of Schools D. A. Baum, resigned and Judge Maxwell appointed Rev. T. N. Skinner to fill the vacancy.
On November 27, 1858, "The First Baptist Church" was organized in Webster City, and Rev. O. A. Holmes was chosen pastor, and services were held in the new Town llall.
The winter of '58-9 was not unusual in any of its aspects, simply a regular Jowa winter ; March was a fine month in which considerable farm work was done, but April came in cold, windy and disagreeable and kept it up, frosting and freez-
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
ing the life out of early vegetation and the high blown hopes of the farmers. However, May brought good weather and the season of '59, abundant crops.
THE RIVER STEAMER REACHES FORT DODGE
Early in April, while the Des Moines river was in a high stage. the steamer Charles Rogers, came up from Des Moines to Fort Dodge. The citizens of Fort Dodge were in ecstasy and declared the Des Moines river navigable, and so much excitement was engendered that the question was seriously entertained and dis- cussed whether the Boone river might not be navigable too, and a serious editorial appeared in the Freeman of May 26, arguing the feasibility of the question and urging the people to look into the matter.
THE SWAMP LAND FUND
At the April election in 1858, the question. "shall the swamp lands belonging to Hamilton county be appropriated for the erection of county buildings" was submitted to a vote of the people.
There were 315 votes cast of which 246 were for the proposition and 69 against.
AN ATTEMPT TO GET A NEW COURT HOUSE
Pursuant to this vote, Judge J. D. Maxwell advertised for bids for the con- struction of a court house 50x70 ft. on the ground, with the basement of cut stone and two stories above of brick and let the contract for building the same to Hyde and Hoskins, contractors of Des Moines. Under the contract, the county was not obliged to issue any warrants or bonds in payment for the work until the building was under roof.
On the 26th day of July, 1858, ground was broken for the erection of the building, and the work began. It was carried forward with a spirit of enterprise that betokened an early completion. The people of the southern part of the county were opposed to the erection of the building. They hoped to be able to remove the county seat to Saratoga. The sentiment, however, in Webster City and the northern part of the county was almost unanimous in favor of putting up a build- ing that would forever settle the county seat question in favor of Webster City. It is a notable fact that in a public meeting largely attended, Judge Maxwell and B. Millard were the only ones who spoke in favor of a cheap house for present purposes leaving it to the people, when the county became more populous to build a large and costly court house. It was, therefore only out of deference to the universal sentiment about him that Judge Maxwell consented to let a contract for such an imposing and costly structure.
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