History of Harrison County, Iowa. Containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county. Together with portraits and biographies of all the governors of Iowa, and of the presidents of the United States, Part 10

Author: National Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, National Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1150

USA > Iowa > Harrison County > History of Harrison County, Iowa. Containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county. Together with portraits and biographies of all the governors of Iowa, and of the presidents of the United States > Part 10

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- HARRISON COUNTY.

These early settlers made desperate ef- forts to keep up the semblance of New England customs in religious lines. They met at each other's houses on Sundays and read sermons and sang. They prayed to the same God that guided and guarded their Pilgrim ancestors on the bleak New England shores. They had Sunday- schools and day schools, and laid the foundations for that superior mental and moral growth, which distinguishes Har- rison Township from the neighboring township on the east, which did not rev- erence God and the Sabbath as it ought. The effects of these two methods of living are apparent to-day. But it was not easy work to keep up these services. There was no nicely furnished church, no sweet- toned bell, no large congregations, to in- spire enthusiasm, but scattered people, unfinished houses and rough plank benches, minus backs, which were not restful to bodies wearied with six days' work. It was easier to stay at home or spend the Sabbath in visiting. Yet they persevered in spite of obstacles, and it paid.

A little town-site was platted on the table land three miles south of Dunlap, called Olmstead. Its streets were named and recorded in the county records. Mat- thew Jennings occupied the honse, the brick part of which was built and occupied by Lorenzo Kellogg in 1858, and was on a corner of High Street. But the nucleus never grew and the visions of a populous city never materialized. It lacked houses and people, two essentials to the exist- ence of every city.

Now we have a faint glimpse of the "then" of Harrison Township. The "now" is more apparent.

One hundred and thirty-five comfortable houses dot the prairie, every man's field

is fenced and cultivated. There is no open, or waste land. Each home has its little grove and orchard and all the conveniences for comfortable living. No prairie fires ever cause consternation and destruction. There are bridges over every river, creek and gully, schoolhouses within easy distance of well-clad, well-shod girls and boys, with teachers of a high grade of scholarship. The thriving village of Dun- lap is within its borders, easily reached, over good graded roads, by every inhabi- tant in the township, and able to supply every real need and many of the luxuries of life. Improved farm machinery and abundance of horses save muscle and time. Four churches, with regular Sun- day and week-day services, invite to wor- ship and instruction in Bible knowledge and the way of salvation.

Two local newspapers keep us posted on local happenings, while daily papers from all the large cities come pouring in in every mail.

The Chicago & Northwestern Railway cuts the township diagonally and on its "flyers" the old-time three-day-trip to Council Bluffs can be made in one hour and the eight-day-trip to Boone can be accomplished in three hours. Half a dozen times a day we can get fresh mail from the post-office and as many times we can send our written mes- sages. By telephone we can talk with our friends in Boone and hear the reply as distinctly, as readily, and as soon as though face to face. By telegraph we can send a message to the New England coast and the reply will come back at an earlier date than it starts. Thirty years ago Harrison Township was isolated and "away out West." Now it is in the very center of the United States and in tonch with all the world, Yes, we can get tid-

HARRISON COUNTY.

ings from the Old World the day before they happen. Verily all the world are our neighbors now.

The contest between the "then" and "now" is sharp and well defined. Even a careless observer would not fail to notice the change. With the present rapid building of railroads itis not as customary as formerly to push far in advance of the railroad, so such sharp contrasts will not as often be seen in the future as in the past.

THE PIONEERS OF FORTY YEARS AGO. (By D. W. Butts.)

The hills, the valleys, the deep canyons, the shady ravines, the bubbling springs, the sparkling rivulets and pebbly brooks, in many places that we know from away back, may yet be seen and admired by the new comer, and the shape of the ground and the size of the stream and rivulet, are much the same to-day, as forty years ago; but beyond these few remaining features of ancient sameness, how changed is the scene in this beautiful garden of Western Iowa! Where before there was much that was wild and grand, and rich in ver- dure and foliage, now we see in many places the barren landscape and the deep beaten patlıs of steady tread and use as the years have come and chased each other away. Where the hunter of "ye olden time" used to gallop far away unhin- dered and free over the broad prairies and flat lands, covered with a wealth of grass and hay, so rich and abundant that to tell of it now would seem exaggeration, how changed is the scene! Where the grass used to grow thick and wavy, far, far up on the green slopes, we now notice apparently bare ground, interspersed with weeds and mullen here and there, and some man's cattle and horses and hogs and sheep are ready to nip the last vestige

of the wild grass as fast as it appcars. And then forty years ago, who dreamed that these broad, rich acres would be so soon fenced, and with iron cords at that. We used to think that the lumber would have to be imported for both buildings and fences, little dreaming that the wire fences would so soon destroy the freedom of range and travel and make it necessary almost to travel around a township to get across it. All fenced up in forty acres, good, bad and indifferent. Tame grass has taken the place of wild, except where the latter has been, in a few instances, wisely saved for its valuable hay crops, which so far has not been duplicated in value by the tame product.

Speaking of grasses, there are perhaps few present inhabitants that would be- lieve if told the exact truth about the abundance of the hay crop of forty years ago in this "garden" section of Iowa. I well remember, when in the early days of September, 1853, I rode from Kanesville (Council Bluffs) to what is now South- eastern Monona County-Preparation- on a large load of printing material aud household goods, up the Missouri Valley to Soldier River, and thence up that stream. At that season the ground was dry enough and the sod strong to hold heavy loads, and sitting up on the piled up loads we could not see any one, horsemen or teams, only in places where the trail chanced to be straight enough, until we came quite near them. The grass, the natural product of this valley, was so high and luxuriant for miles and miles that horsemen might hide from each other, at a distance of two hun- dred yards. Quite as surprising as this true statement, is the rapid change by which this tall grass disappeared very quickly after the white man appeared with

HARRISON COUNTY.

cattle and crowded out the deer and the elk of the red men. We expected to see the range gradually reduced, but were hardly prepared to see it go down from six to two feet in a few years. However, the wild hay of this section has been a mine of wealth to many, and is yet to those who had the foresight to save it from flock and plow. Forty years ago this part of the State was noted for grass and hay as it is now for "corn and hogs!"

One of the pioneers of the '50s, standing upon a high bluff and looki g in the warm sunlight for miles at the waving grass of valley and hill, was heard to groan deeply and this is what he wished: "Oh that I had cattle to eat this grass." Another, who bore the rank of first white settler on the Willow, in Eastern Monona, used to drive cattle to Chicago, and on one occa- sion he drove into Chicago a lot of sleek steers, fresh from his green pastures, that ranked and were published as first pre- miums for the week. The tobacco chew- ing Westerner informed the men of the Garden City that he had not fed them an ear of corn. "How did you get them so fat on grass alone ?" We can in memory see the old man's under jaw go with a sort of a short nip, nip, as he answered : "I put green goggles on them that made every- thing look green." We subsequently learned how he kept the fresh green on the landscape all summer for his herd. So far as grass land he was monarch of all he surveyed, and he used it in this wise : In the summer or fall he would run a great ox-plow for miles, plowing strips a rod or two wide half across a township, and then plow other strips across this immense na- tive pasture, dividing it into a number of sections, on which the new grass would spring up; and upon the strips broken up he would plant pumpkins. Then in the

summer as the common range began to grow old he would burn off the old grass from one of the pastures on which new, tender grass would soon. spring up. In this way, rotating from one to another, his cattle always had fresh green grass to subsist on. Thus his "green goggles" produced premium beef.

But now this is all changed, and the great pasture with the pumpkin rows to fence out fires, is divided up and fenced off by many owners, some of whom are able to produce first-class beef by the "green goggle" process.

The "hill country" that Mr. Dunham and others used for pasture in the '50s, is worth about $20 per acre now, and double this sum with fair improvements. At that time no one wanted it and no one be- lieved it would amount to much in the farm line, and only the finest formation of "bottom" or "bench" land was thought fit for the plow.

The pioneer of forty years ago carried not very much specie about his clothing, but he was a good liver, even if at times his general appearance was a little rough. Going fifty miles to mill had an upward tendency for an appreciation of the grist. Going fifty miles to put a letter in the post-office, and perhaps to receive one from "Mary Jane," had a tendency to ed- hance values in the line of correspond- ence.

Thomas B. Neeley, the first Represen- tative in the Legislature from the "Big Ninth," used to walk from the north line of Harrison County to Kanesville (Coun- cil Bluffs) to receive and forward mail matter, and was said to make good time and never missed a meal or a smoke !

The first dance advertised in a regular way by printed tickets, in the year 1854 or 1855, was at the Stage Station, known

HARRISON COUNTY.

as Fontainbleau (in Little Sioux Town- Township.) Theplace was operated by one La Penteur, a French-Indian trader, who fitted up gardens and arbors and vine- yards with trellises, painted or white- washed, giving an attractive appearance not excelled in the same vicinity to this day.

In general, the life of the pioneer of those early days was a rugged one, but not devoid of its pleasant features and a neighborly good will that is more the cx- ception now than then.

In conclusion, some of the land that was "broke" in 1854 and 1855, has borne good crops from that day to this, without fertilizing or even a good, thorough sub- soil plowing. The peculiar soil of this county is a mine of untold, incalculable wealth, and the husbandman who may exercise but ordinary industry and econ- omy has never failed to succeed well.

THE FIRST HABEAS CORPUS CASE.

"Speaking of reminiscences," said Dr. Robert McGavren, "reminds me of the cel- ebrated Habeas Corpus case which hap- pened back in 1853, and if you will sit down here in the shade I will tell you all about it."

"'At that time I had a neighbor named Samuel Coffelt, and during the year a man named Samuel Coon built a shanty across the road from Coffelt and moved in, not forgetting the old family cow. It so happened that my neighbor Coffelt was the proprietor of a large and vicious dog, and while the remainder of the two fam- ilies seemed to get along on good terms and neighbored back and forth, right from the start, the cow of the new comer and the Coffelt dog never made up, and this infelicitous action on their part was the prime cause of the Habeas Corpus case.

Whenever the cow wandered down the lane on her way to the range she was, unless accompanied by her owner or near members of the Coon family, set upon by the dog, to the great annoyance of her owner and the great detriment of her inilk- giving ability. This, of course, grew to be a great nuisance in the mind of Mr. Coon, and one bright morning, after wit- messing a spirited chase between dog and cow, he walked over to the Coffelt house for the purpose of making a treaty of re- ciprocity: 'Good morning, Mr. Coffelt'- 'Howd'y,' gruffly responded Mr. Coffelt, who never dared give evidence of a thaw- ing out of his chilly exterior in the pres- ence of Mrs. Coffelt. 'I came over,' said Mr. Coon, 'to see if you folks wouldn't keep your dog off of our cow." L'owed as much,' said Mr. Coffelt, 'when I seed ve a comin', but I reckon our dog 'aint done your cow no harm. and furthermore I reckon our dog has as much right to the road as your cow has.'"

"'I reckon it have, Mr. Coffelt, but seein' yo're onreasonable and onneigh- borly about it, I want to give ye a pinter right now, that if that 'are valler dog o' yourn ever sets onto my brindle cow again I'll let daylight through it in two places, providin' my double barrel shot gun might happen to have two loads of buck-shot in it at the time.' So saying he strode away, followed by the voice of Mrs. Coffelt, who had just appeared on the scene, threatening dire vengeance in case he 'teched that 'are dog,' and it is safe to say that had she used the toe of her shoe on him with as much force as she put in the language in which she threatened to do so, my story would now be ended, after a description of the fu- neral.'"

"For the next few days the dog seemed

HARRISON COUNTY.

satisfied not to exercise the full right his master claimed for him, and the cow went back and forth unmolested. Late one evening, however, old brindle came with- out a tail, and the irrepressible Mr. Coon siezed his shot gun and stepping quickly over to the Coffelt premises made his prom- ise, at least half good by putting daylight through the dog once, in such a forcible way that he never knew what hurt him. Being a man of peace rather than of war, he hastened back home to avoid the storm of abuse that was heaped upon him by the now frenzied Mr. and Mrs. Coffelt."

"That night and the next day the Cof- felts took counsel of all the neighbors within a radius of ten miles, which, in the then sparsely settled condition of the country, would mean about five or six families, and it was decided that a suit for damages should be brought against the Coons forthwith."

· " 'Coffelt felt sure of victory, provided he could bring his case before a certain Squire H- -. This Squire happened to live in Pottawattamie County, and there arose in tlie minds of some grave doubts as to his jurisdiction in the case. A self-appointed delegation went with plaintiff Coffelt to lay the case before the Squire and ascertain the law. At first the Squire was disposed to doubt his jurisdic- tion over Harrison County residents. ‘Of course,' says he, 'the plaintiff comes vol- untarily into court and surrenders himself to my jurisdiction, but I do not know of a law which gives me or the officers of my court any authority to go out of the con- fines of this bailiwick for the purpose of apprehending a fugitive from justice. If we had, gentlemen, some way of getting the culprit into this county, then the min- ions of the law could seize upon him and bring him to justice.'"'

"'Why not issue a writ of Habeas Cor- pus?' suggested the only member of the delegation who had ever had the distinc- tion to sit on a jury. That was a bright idea indeed, and the well-thumbed code was taken from the clock shelf, where it had reposed when not in use as a compan- ion piece to the old family Bible, and the law on Habeas Corpus was well digested by the old Squire, when at length he said, with great gravity: 'Gentlemen, I find upon the statute books in relation to Habeas Corpus, the following passages of law, to-wit: The said writ may issue out of any court of record during the sessions thereof, or by any judge thereof in vaca- tion, or by the Chief Justice Now, therefore gentlemen,' he continued, shut- ting the book, but using his forefinger to keep the place, while he slowly pulled his spectacles over his nose with the other, 'this is not a court of record, neither am I the Judge of one, but if I 'aint Chief Jus- ' tice, who in hell is?' This argument seemed to be a clincher to the most of those present, and it really began to look as though the dog slayer would speedily be brought to justice, but there were no form books in those days, and while the Squire was laboriously trying to get up a set of Habeas Corpus papers, the delega- tion adjourned to the sunny side of the log cabin that served the double purpose of courthouse and dwelling, there to stretch themselves and swap chews of home grown 'side-hill tobacco,' and while there, away from the influence of the Squire's miajes- tic presence, the doubting Thomas of the delegation made bold to say that 'he was not conversant with the validity of the Squire's claim to the Chief Justiceship, because he had heard of a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and he believed that was the Chief Justice that was

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HARRISON COUNTY.

referred to in the code.' The doubter brought a number of the delegation around to his way of thinking, and it was finally decided that as there was room for a doubt the matter had better be postponed for a few days until they could go to Kanesville (now Council Bluffs), and get the opinion of a lawyer. The Squire was notified of this new doubt and readily con- sented to postpone matters until after the journey to Council Bluffs. A day was set for the trial, and in the meantime the code was passed from house to house, so that each might make a study of the case for himself, and two or three of the better in- formed men of the community got a very good understanding of the situation, and it began to dawn on them what a ridicu- lous farce they came near playing.'

"On the way down there two or three got together and concluded it would be good sport to carry the joke a little far- ther. Accordingly when the party reached town the Squire was taken to the office of Dr. P. J. McMahon, and given something to drink, and afterward entertained, while one of the knowing individuals went out to get the lawyer, and in the meantime post him as to what was expected of him. The attorney sent word that he could meet them after dinner, and the rest of the fore- noon was put in by the seekers after legal knowledge in visiting the various saloons and places of amusement."

"After dinner the lawyer came, but not having anything during the forenoon to brace up his courage his heart failed him ; instead of helping to carry the joke far- ther he prepared the way for letting the old Squire down easy, by giving one of those legal opinions so characteristic of the legal profession, which neither affirms or denies. Said he: 'Gentlemen, you all know I but recently came from Indiana.

Now, in Indiana the procedure is such that there would be no doubt but what our friend, the Squire, would have juris- diction to issue the writ, but you all know the laws differ in different States, and I have never familiarized myself with the laws of Iowa on the subject of Habeas Corpus, and I would advise that you let the matter rest for a day or two until I can look the law up and send you a writ- ten opinion."

"It would have been cruel to let the full light suddenly into the old man's under- standing, for he had become so mellow that he believed himself to be not simply the Chief Justice of Boomer Township, Pottawattamie County, Iowa, but Supreme Justice of the world !"

"The delegation betook itself home soon after the delivery of the foregoing opin- ion, and one of its members carried the written opinion which it was supposed the lawyer (who by the way was one Had- ley D. Johnson) had yet to prepare. The opinion was turned over to the Squire when sufficient time had elapsed and it went on to say 'that in the attorney's opinion there were grave doubts as to his Honor's jurisdiction : that he found the Iowa law somewhat different from the law of Indiana, and that he believed, under the existing circumstances, the Squire had better not issue the writ.'

"This settled the case so far as Squire H.'s court was concerned, and Coffelt's only other alternative was to go before Squire Dakan, where he did file his peti- tion in damages for the sum of $25. The case occupied two whole days, and every able-bodied individual in the community was present, either as a spectator or par- ticipant, and the plaintiff having forgotten to introduce evidence as to the value of the dog, lost his case, and the costs

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amounting to about $22, were assessed up to him. The judgment stands on the docket, unsatisfied to this day, for no con- stable could ever be found who had the courage to face the cowhide boots of Mrs. Coffelt, and make service of a fee bill."

HARRISON COUNTY DURING THE CIVIL WAR. [By Hon. Stephen King.]

The winter of 1860-61 will be remem- bered by the older people of today as one of great excitement: Abraham Lincoln was smuggled through to the Capital and inaugurated on March 4, 1861, and on April 11, Fort Sumter was fired upon by the Southern Confederacy, and on the 14th of the same month, surrendered to them by Maj. Anderson, after having ex- hausted his provisions and his magazines being surrounded by flames. As the news spread through the Northern states, the people were filled with indignation and sorrow. But the magnitude of secession and the extensive preparation that had been made in the South to make it a suc- cess was not realized by our people. When a call was made for help to sustain the Union,no state was more ready than Iowa, and no county than Harrison, to respond to the call. Public meetings were held and the situation discussed; the Repub- licans almost unanimously, and the Dem- ocrats generally, believed that the time for peace meetings had passed, and that war was not only inevitable, but had ac- tually begun. It is true there was a Rebel element in the county, not only at the be- ginning of the war, but all through. There were those who declared the South could never be subdued, that there was no power in the Constitution to coerce a Southern state, or prevent her from seceding. This was of course, very unpleasant, especially for those who had friends in the field, but

the most aggravating of all was to see the smile of satisfaction, and the look of "I told you so," whenever disaster befell the Union forces, or victory crowned the Rebels.

It was currently reported, and generally believed, at the time, that there were secret organizations and regular meetings held, both by those who favored and those who opposed the Union cause, for the purpose of devising ways and means, for the success of those they favored; but the good sense and moderation of the leaders on both sides, prevented any outbreaks of personal violence, or destruction of prop- erty.

Over one hundred and fifty men in the county had enlisted in other companies, before a company was organized within the borders of Harrison county. From the 1st of May, 1861, until the close of the War, at several places in the county, men met every Saturday for drill, preparatory to entering the field, either as members of Infantry or Cavalry. Those who went to the front were noble men, we always speak of them with the most enthusiastic praise, but I have often thought that those who remained at home, hardly received the credit due them for the part they bore, during that great conflict. It is true that those in the field did suffer more priva- tions, and were in places of greater danger, but the anxiety, the joy and sorrow at their success or defeat, was felt just as keenly by those at home.

At the commencement of this period the finance of the county was in a deplor- able condition, the price of produce and labor was low; dry goods, groceries, hard- ware and taxes were high, and money scarce. The farmer hauled his wheat thirty-five miles and sold it for thirty-five cents per bushel, in trade. Pork sold at

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two dollars per hundred; corn ten cents per bushel. It took a load of wheat to pay for a bolt of factory cloth, and fifteen bushels, to pay for a keg of nails. The farmer learned that except for paying taxes, he could get along with but very little money, and many were the expe- dients resorted to for raising money, for that purpose. The days of the "tallow- dip" had not then passed away-people must have light, and as kerosene had not come into general use, candles were com - monly used, and had a ready sale. I knew of one farmer who killed his hogs, tried the lard from the fat portions, mixed a lit- tle alum and saltpeter to harden it, then moulded it into candles, and sold enough to raise the cash to pay his taxes. Sugar was twenty cents per pound, coffee forty cents, calico thirty cents per yard. In 1863, nails sold by the keg for seven dol- lars and one half. Sugar found a substi- tute in sorghum; coffee in burnt peas, rye and many other things, while tea was seldom used.

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History of Harrison County, Iowa. Containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county. Together with portraits and biographies of all the governors of Iowa, and of the presidents of the United States, Part 10

Author: National Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.) Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago, National Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1150

Author: National Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, National Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1150