History of Hardin county, Iowa, together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 90

Author:
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Springfield IL : Union Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1002

USA > Iowa > Hardin County > History of Hardin county, Iowa, together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 90

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Another of the earliest settlers, whose names were not born to die-if this Association can help it-is 'Squire William Jones, who was the first Magistrate I knew in this civil township. For some years after I came here he dispensed justice impartially and shod horses skillfully; he was both a good officer and good blacksmith-as kindly-hearted a man as you would find in a Sabbath day's journey.

Lindley M. Hoag preached the first sermon I heard in this township, at Rocksylvania. I yet remember my surprise at hearing a discourse showing such ability and cultivation. It was under his ministrations, I believe, that the first church organization in this part of the county was made, that of the Friends Society, in Sep- tember, 1855, in the log house of Mr. Benjamin Talbott, This Society embraced a considerable number of sturdy and intelligent farmers living to the eastward of us.

Among the young men of Rocksylvania whom I recall are Joseph L. and Zeno K. Hoag, George P. Griffith, Mahlon Collins and Benjamin Weth- erell. Benny was a susceptible youth, and before that winter passed lie fell desperately in love with a Miss Tompkins, and sure enough she liked him so well that she meekly answered- " Yea, verily, Benjamin." Soon thereafter these two were married, the ceremony taking place at

Mr. Talbott's house, and after the regular Quaker formula. Both arose, joined hands, and each repeated to the other, in the presence of the congregation as witnesses, the simple cere- mony of that Society, whereupon both subscribed their names to the marriage register, and several other persons added their names as witnesses. That was the day of small things in this frontier settlement, and wedding garments did not hang on the hazel shrubs. Ben was short in this re- spect, and as the young couple were sighing like a furnace in the warnith of their love, a post- ponement of the wedding until the bridegroom could order a wedding suit from the far-off East, was not to be thought of. Fortunately, there was a city-bred young man of his acquaintance who took pity on Benny's straits. This friend in need was not one of your "highly poetical, sweetly esthetical, nice young men," they sing of . in the new burlesque opera of "Patience, " but a sensible young fellow, who might sometime know how it is himself. This friend was Joe Hoag; it was he who had the handsome suit of regulation broadcloth-spring-bottom pants, cut- away jacket, and claw-hammer coat, and he sold the outfit to Ben in which he was married, at a fair margin of profit, it is presumed, like that on fresh drugs and medicines. Such is the brief history of the first wedding in what is now Iowa Falls.

This same Joe Hoag cut something of a figure in another affair that happened during that first winter here, twenty six years ago. He had a boon companion in the person of Mahlon Collins, son of " Uncle Peter, " as he was called, Mahlon being now a prominent and popular minister in the Methodist Church. Uncle Peter kcpt a few goods to sell in one end of his long log house, situated near where Joe White now lives. Mahlon and Joe yet had some wild oats to sow, as lads of their age usually have. Among the articles Collins had on sale was pitch in barrels, used for calking little boats, etcetera. There was but little demand for pitch, yet the supply was rap- idly disappearing, and however much Uncle Peter scratched his head he couldn't account for

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it. One morning, on coming into the store from the sleeping room, adjoining-for in those days we had store, kitchen, parlor and pig-pen all in one-the old mau expressed his surprise at the smell of burning pitch during the night. and looked straight into the eyes of the youngsters. Joe, being the more hardened sinner of the two boys, suggested that it might have proceeded from the heated stove-pipe passing through the pitched roof, while Mahlon slipped quietly out to do the chores. Even at this distance of time -over twenty-six years-I should guess that those boys were burning pitch to save Uncle Peter's woodpile, as they sat up of nights read- ing Pilgrim's Progress, or Baxter's Saints' Rest, or, perhaps, indulging in a mutual struggle fo" victory in the cheerful game of " Seven Up !" It is possible that Mahlon was then and there preparing himself for the ministry, in which he has for years displayed marked ability, piety and success.

Among others of the earliest settlers, I recall Uncle John Racc. He has been dead for many years-rest his soul. Dr. Simonds was another, being one of the few here when I came; a man of education, professional attainments and fair address. He refused to practice but little, and earned a precarious living on a small patch of cultivated land. By some mismating of his mental faculties the Doctor seemed instinctively to court the ill-will rather than the good-will of his neighbors, and, like Mark Tapley, appeared never so happy as when everybody else was miserable.

John F. Brown was the first lawyer who set- tled here, and during the few years of his resi- deuce in the county, he won the rare distinction of never gaining a case.

Schuyler Holly came here the first year, and, like many others, boarded at the famous Log Cabiu House, and a jolly lot those boarders were. Practical jokes, first upon one, then upon another, were common. I remember one, of which Schuyler was the victim. A party of us had been out hunting pigeons of a morning. We brought in a well-filled bag, and among other

birds was an old gray owl, doubtless the one that came out of Noah's Ark to perpetuate its kind. Mrs. Lane cooked it nicely, like the other birds, and when the diners were waited on, the leg and breast of the antediluvian owl were given to Holly. All but two or three at the table had been apprised of the joke, and were furtively eyeing the innocent victim. After a moment he began cutting off a bit, but the fiber was too much for the blade. Dispairing of success in the use of artificial means, Holly laid down his knife and fork, took up the meat in his fingers, and tried his teeth upon it for a while. At last he quit in disgust, and on espying several of the boarders choking themselves with suppressed laughter, he saw the point, and holding up the piece exclaimed: " Gentlemen, there's no use talkin'; that's an old bird ! "

Orrin Foster was another of the early few who helped plant the seed of Iowa Falls. Orriu had great industry, a great frame, a great appetite, and a great voice. For lack of a tin horn, Mrs. Lane used to get Foster to go to the door and call the whole town to dinner. I have heard it said that he once iutoned the benediction hymn alone at the close of a church service, and that each one of all the house full believed that all the rest were singing; and this is the way, I sup- pose, that my esteemcd friend Foster came by the nick-name of "Old Hundred."

Sometime during the winter of 1855-6, Lymau F. Wisner and Joshua Sager came, and at once procured a lot for a store. Wisner bought some land, and I hear that he has a little on hand yet. This brace of youug men were peddlers, using a "one-horse shay" for moving their merehandise from place to place. The following year they built a store about where the Sentinel office is, and for some years prosecuted a thriving busi- ness.

Among others who came to our fresh young town in the spring of 1856, were Moses Hatch aud family, and his herd of cattle. His family consisted of himself, his wife and one daughter- the latter a tall, fair-haired girl of 17, in a green frock, and riding' ne of the horses. In after

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

years this girl became the wife of Mr. Wisner, the first banker in Iowa Falls.

The first hotel built in the place-that is, the first building designed for that use-was the Western Hotel, built by Alfred Woods, in 1857. True, the old log cabin inherited by the town proprietors from old Capt. White, was kept and called a hotel for a couple of years, for want of a better. When it was built I never knew, I suspect that, like Mrs. Stowe's Topsy, "it growed."

Among the earliest settlers in this township was Uncle Jacob George, whose farm and hos -- pitable home werc well-known to every resident. Uncle Jacob and his good old wife were very pious people, the old lady in particular being a singularly zealous and devout Christian woman. They were staunch Methodists, and were always reckoned among the strongest supports of the church they loved, and the yellow-legged chick- ens they supplied to the clergymen were as nu- merous as the leaves in Vallambrosa. Tliese devout parents reared a large family of children, and the domestic circle, as gathered together every evening in the unpretending cabin, for worship, wasof itself a respectable congregation. I have often seen these good Christian people thus reading in turn from the Scriptures, and at the close of the chapter the old patriarch kneel in humility in the midst of the family group and supplicate Heaven's mercy upon them all, and pledge themselves afresh to the service of the Divine Master.

One of the amusing episodes of my own early life occurred there, and as the joke is at my ex- pense, I shall be pardoned for the recital. One of the George family was a modest and comely maid of 20 years. In those early times, young ladies were rare, while the bachelors were nu- merous. Then, as now, I loved the society of ladies, and was it strange that I should often, of a Sunday afternoon and evening, find myself with Martha, rambling along the riverside, or sitting closer still at the domestic fireside? You smile-you know how it is yourself. That these visits should be repeated, was scarcely a fault,

for was I not kindly asked to call again ? For some reason or other, the good old mother be- gan to entertain a suspicion from my visits; and as she krew that I was an unregenerate sinner, her pious soul was troubled. A neighbor of mine happened to call on the family, and the old lady catechised him as to that young Woodruff. What he said in reply, I shall never know; what the old lady said to him was the iron that entered my soul. She summed the whole matter up thus: "Well, Mr. Woodruff may be smart and active, but oh, what principles !"

Still farther down the river lived-and still lives, I am glad to know -- my good friend, Hugh Johnson, one of the first farmer settlers. A finer example of the rough diamond I never knew. He could "cuss" a preacher, or give a hundred dollars to help along his cause, with equal readiness and satisfaction. Broad-shoul- dered, brawny handed, great-souled and rough- featured, Hugh Johnson nevertheless liad the heart of a child. When the soubriquet of "Rough and Ready" was coined, Hugh Johnsou must have inspired it. May he live a thousand years-and I be present at his funeral.

And there were others who formed our little neighborhood-Peter S. Gray, Thos. B Knapp, Paul S. Westgate, John Mann, Wm. H. Foote, David Alvord, Jacob Kidwiler and Adam Crim, whom everybody knew, but nobody ever saw.

Within the year or two after Iowa Falls had a local habitation and a name, the population multiplied rapidly, and visions of the teeming future, full of promise and happiness, warmed our ambition into unwonted activity. Some of this second crop of newcomers I remember. There were Wm. Church, the blacksmith; J. K. Senter, who tried to make an Iowa Falls of Georgeton; O. B. and A. E. Arnold; Delos Mott, now of Hampton, and one of the big, rich farm- ers of which Iowa boasts so many examples; Uncle Heth P. Jones; Uncle Ben Holding, who won enduring fame by beating Buttolph in a swearing match; Uncle Elijah Odell, the most exemplary saint this town ever knew; Alfred Woods, and his hotel; Rev. Williston Jones,

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

who erected the first church building on the town site, the building now occupied as a resi- dence by Mr. and Mrs. Jackson; J. C. Waldron; G. A. Ivins; Chas. M. Hyer, against whom I hold an ancient grudge for throwing me, in a wrestling match; Wm. E. Taylor, who long re- fused the new-fangled Eastern custom of wear- ing boots and shoes; and last, but not because he had not been recalled earlier, Billy Burgess, the best omnibus proprietor in Iowa-who never misses a train or a meal of victuals-and the father of I don't know how many twins; from a coach driver, he has grown to a coach line owner, and in both capacities he was equally popular and deserving.

The winter of 1856-7 was peculiarly cold and stormy. The quails and prairie chickens were frozen in great numbers, and the whole bird and brute creation suffered intensely. One day, the stage driver from Fort Dodge reported a large herd of elk between Pilgrim's Grove and Skunk Grove. The next morning, a party of six or eight of us, armed with trusty rifles and a jug of Hardin City whisky, which froze the first hour out, started with two sleighs after them. The mercury ranged at 30 deg. below zero, but the excitement of the chase did much to keep us from freezing. We brought home fifteen elk as trophies of onr marksmanship, but the hard- ships of the two days' sport have often suggest- ed to me that we paid too dear for onr whistle.

Later, that same winter, a wild buffalo crossed the town plat of Iowa Falls, passing eastward across the public square. having been driven by cold and hunger from thic bleak plains of the Northwest. Dr. Foster seized a gun, and then commenced a foot race between the buffalo and the physician-each intent on something to eat. The Doctor pursued him with as resolute pur- pose as he ever did a fever and aguc rioting in the veins of a wretched patient. The buffalo was shot-whether by the Doctor or the other fellow, the Doctor shall tell you.

Another event peculiar to frontier life, and which must forcibly impress all present who never had a likc experience, occurred twenty-five

years ago, next month, as I remember it. This early settlement quite often heard vague reports of Indian visitations to straggling settlements along the Little Sioux and Upper DesMoines rivers, and in the neighborhood of Spirit Lake. As a rule these rumors were confirmed, but no outbreak occurred to alarm the settlers until the spring of 1857. Suddenly, and with blood-chill- ing emphasis came the report that the entire set- tlement at Spirit Lake had been inassacred, and that the Savages had crossed the DesMoines into the Upper Iowa Valley, and were killing and robbing. Within a day or two terrible confirma- tion of the Ohoboji slaughter was brought to town. and Upper Iowa and DesMoines settlers were flocking into and through town to escape the bloody tomahawk of the Indians. So dread- ful were the tales told of this awful tragedy, that this entire settlement were anxious for their safety, and while initial proceedings were about to be taken, in the way of arming and defense, welcome news came, of the flight of the savages into Dakota. This gang was a band of renegade Sisseton-Sioux, led by the blood-thirsty Iuk-pa- du-tha and his son. At the lakes they butchcred thirty-two persons-men, women and children- and took four women prisoners, two of whom they afterward killed, the other two being sub- sequently surrendered through the interven- tion of some kindly Crow Indians. Major Wil- liams, of Fort Dodge, promptly raised three com- panies of volunteers in that placc, and at once set out to capture and punish the Indians; but they were out of reach when the little army had advanced to the Minnesota line above the lakes.

The youths of Iowa Falls frequently read in their school histories of the historic massacre of Wyoming, and similar Indian butcheries in the early days of American settlement; but sit in open-eyed awe when told that their own parents have been exposed to similar dangers.

From these events you may judge something of the wilderness character of Iowa Falls twenty- five years ago. You, who now sit by cosy and cheerful fircsides, sheltered by comfortable houses, set in the midst of lawn, flowers, shrubs

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and evergreens, have but a faint conception of the hardships patiently endured by the sturdy pioneers of a quarter of a century ago. But these very hardships were the essential elements in forming the characters which have always distinguished the pioneer settler.

I think it was in September, 1855, that Mrs. Allen Thompson achieved the honor of giving birth to the first child in the town of Iowa Falls -a girl baby. But a short time after, and as if in envy of her more lucky neighbor Mrs. Thomp- son, Mrs. Parkinson presented her liege lord with a girl also. Fred Stephens was the first boy born here. Joseph Kidwiler was the first child born in the county-June, 1851.

A son of Samuel White, the owner of the farm on which the town was located, was the first per- son buried here-on the hill where Mrs. Cobb lives. William Taylor's father was the second person buried, and the wife of Daniel Lane the third. All who were buried on that spot were, later, removed, I believe, and buried in the new cemetery.

But I must hasten on. If these reminiscences of early times challenge our interested attention, there are events of a later day that may well engage our thoughts. I remember-and who of you, then here, will ever forget it ?- that terrible July day, in 1874, which saw the whole business portion of your pretty village swept away by fire. To you"who witnessed the destruction the spec- tacle was surely appalling. To see building after building swallowed up in the flaming jaws of the insatiate monster, and whole blocks melting before the firey breath of the crackling and hiss- ing destroyer, was a scene of terrific grandeur, which cannot but hold an eternal place in mem-

ory. And how yet more impressive, terrible and enduring is such a spectacle when reflecting that

the destruction was your own. Many of those buildings were the shrines of pioneer memories; the speaking tokens of early hardships overcome; memorials of early struggles with the untamed wilderness; the seal of consecration to this home of young manhood and womanhood; the testi- mony of a beckoning prosperity, which indus-

trious hands had carved out of the possibilities that Nature had planted here. They were given up with more regret and tears than the world will ever know. But the energy which planted the settlement in primeval wilds, and hewed out such grand results, saw, even in this overwhelm- ing calamity, only a fresh field for new struggles and victories, and the unfortunates at once set about the work of restoration. I will stop a moment to recall one peculiarly interesting inei- dent of the great fire.

While the wreck of homes and hopes was yet smoldering,-the fire having died away for lack of anything more to destroy,-a small, lone wo- man was seen to stand in the warm ashes of her home, sorrowfully surveying the calamity that had befallen her. House, barn, sheds, fences- everything that the house contained, save the plain, work-day suit she wore-even the land- marks which told the boundaries of the home- stead lot-lay in ashes at her feet. Here were the industry and frugality of toilsome years in irremediable wreck; even the little household gods, which home-affection knows so well how to fashion-these, too, were a part of the ruin which no mortal power could restore.

For a brief hour this houseless, homeless and penniless woman stood in the ashes of her home; precious visions of years of comfort and happiness forced themselves through her blind- ing tears, and the heart within her ached and throbbed with unavailing agony over the black ruin before her. Nothing was left her-not so much as a change of raiment; all, all was gone.

But her's was a brave soul. When relicving tears had done their natural office, and sighs and sobs had softened the heavy heart-ache within her, she rose to her feet, turned her steps from the irrecoverable past, and, with equal fortitude and courage, began life anew. How her bravery has been rewarded, you know better than I. I. simply know that, by dint and tire- less industry, noble courage, patient fortitude and heroic self-denial, Mrs. Agnes Jones has acquired another home, and, what is more and better, has furnished to us and the world an ex-

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ample of womanly courage and heroism worthy to be embalmed in song and story.

My friends, other and greater events have challenged onr attention since we "old boys and girls" began life's earnest work here a quar- ter of a century ago. A bloody civil war was precipitated upon the country by ambitious men -- by men who would rather reign in hell than serve in Heaven. The union of the States was assailed, and the authority of free and rightful government denied. More than three million of men were arrayed in hostile conflict during the four years' struggle, upwards of half a million of whom sleep the sleep that knows no waking, on fields whose fame shall last as long as Free- dom lives. Iowa did her full share in defense of the Union of which she was a proud and devoted member, and few are the battle-fields of that greatest of civil conflicts which are not con- secrated by the ashes of Iowa patriots and he- roes.

Human slavery, which was at onee cowardice, brutality, larceny, robbery, adultery, incest, murder-in short, a very Pandora's box of crimes, -no longer sheds its blighting curse upon our name and fame. All are free, all are equal, all are Americans with a common heritage. Our National flag is no longer a reproach, but an emblem of honor as well as strength.

"Flag of the free heart's hope and home! By angel hands to Valor given!

Thy stars have lit the welkin dome, And thy hues were born in Heaven.

"Forever float that standard sheet!

Where breathes the foe, but falls before us, With Freedom's soil beneath our feet,

And Freedom's banner streaming o'er us."

As to Iowa, its growth and progress are mat- ters of profound gratitude and congratulation. In 1840 our population was but 43,000; in 1850 it was 192,214; in 1860, 674,963; in 1870, 1,194,020; and now it is a round 1,800,000-an increase of 66 per cent. in the last ten years.

When I came to Iowa Falls there was not a rod of railway in the State. Now we have hard

upon 6,000 miles-only three other States having more, and two of these but a trifle more. There is invested in these roads over two hundred mil- lion dollars, and last year they transported eight million tons of freight. They paid into our State and county treasuries last year $628,611. Only two of the ninety-nine counties are now without railways, and before midsummer next year they will be supplied.

Iowa practically has no State debt, and our expenses for the last two years were less than for any similar period since 1869, although we now have half a dozen more State institutions to support, and a great capital building going up. We pay over five million dollars a year for schools-more than for all other purposes com- bined; and, as a result, we have as good and suc- cessful common schools as any State, and rela- tively a very small percentage of uneducated yonth.

As Iowa has grown to be the second State in the Union in wheat and corn, the first in pork product, is well up among the foremost in beef cattle, and has acquired National. and even European, renown for its dairy products -- our butter successfully competing against the world -you and I, Mr. President, and all of us, may be pardoned for moderate displays of vanity and self-glorification. I am proud that I am a Hawk- eye-by early adoption, if not by birth, and I am sure that all of you share this pride with me. Let us all thank God for Iowa and its marve- lous resources and possibilities; and let the Asso- ciation of Old Settlers never cease to be grateful for that kindly providence which turned our feet toward this State and cast our lines in such pleasant places.

And of Iowa Falls I find it difficult to speak in such terms of moderation as my relations here to-night require of me. I like it and its people too well to sit in critical judgment upon them. Herc I stood at the very threshold of early man - hood, and resolved to make Iowa Falls my per- manent home. Here I brought a young and devoted wife, in whose patient and loving com- panionship, twenty-one years have sped by with

John Perkins.

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flying feet; here most of our children were born; up yonder, in your beautiful City of the Dead, rests in his silent bed our first-born babe, await- ing the summons of Him who said: " Suffer little children to come unto me, for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven; " here an only sister and a dear old mother live, hallowing the spot, as only the name of "Mother" can. Here are many of the friends of my early manhood, the grasp of whose hands, and the kindling of whose eyes, tell me of a friendship as pure as your running brooks and as enduring as your rock-ribbed hills. Every hill and vale, the rippling river, the bub- bling springs, the hum of the old mill, the lively

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History of Hardin county, Iowa, together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 90

Author: Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Springfield IL : Union Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1002

Author:
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Springfield IL : Union Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1002