USA > Iowa > Harrison County > History of Harrison County, Iowa : its people, industries and institutions, with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families > Part 3
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There is much more timber in the county now than in 1852, owing to the fact that destructive prairie fires have been kept back by civilization. and that other important fact that wire fencing was introduced in the seventies. Due to these facts tens of thousands of trees have been spared, which other- wise would have been used for rails and posts. In 1890 it was carefully estimated that Harrison county had thirty-three thousand acres of timber- land within her borders.
MINERALS.
The minerals of much value are scarce in Harrison county, hence it is known almost exclusively as a farming section, where stock-growing is the better paying branch of agricultural industry.
Limestone is found at Logan, and many years ago was freely shipped to Council Bluffs, but of late this industry has not been worked, other better building material having been found the best to use in constructive work. Glass-sand may be had in a four-foot strata on section 7, township SI, range 44. in Jackson township. Sandstone found in the northwestern part of the county makes excellent building stone, but is not used to any consider-
10
IIARRISON COUNTY, IOWA.
able extent at this date, as we are now as a people just entering into the "cement age." when concrete and cement blocks and cement side-walks are becoming almost universally used. Potter's clay is found one mile to the northwest of Magnolia: also in Lincoln township. Peat (moss suitable for fuel) was found in Jackson township, at an early day, covering as much as two hundred acres, but, with the drainage system, this peculiar formation is fast disappearing. Lincoln. Harrison, Cass and La Grange townships each had small amounts of this commodity.
. THIE SOIL OF THE COUNTY.
It has been said : "Tell us what kind of soil you have and we will tell you the character of your people." Then, if this be true, Harrison county may be the home of many kinds of people! The soil of the upland consists of the light colored deposits of bluff formation and only differs from that in the bottoms in the fine condition of silicious material of which it is nearly composed. Both the uplands and bottom are derived from the same source, that of the Missouri bottoms being the coarser, because the finer particles are swept away by the current of the ceaseless flood, which comes sweeping down from year to year.
One geological writer has said of the soil of Harrison county: "The soil in the uplands is of the light colored deposits of the bluff formation, which does not differ materially from that in the bottoms, only that it has less of the vegetable, or humus, matter. It is said that dirt taken out of wells sixty feet deep seems to produce as well as that on the surface. The soil is easily cultivated, and produces all the grains, grasses and vegetables common to this latitude. It seldom caves in deep wells, when they are walled a few feet at top and bottom. Here the soil stands both wet and dry weather ie- markably. A real crop failure has never been known. Hillsides that look to the passerby as though they were valueless, have been sowed to tame grasses and planted to vineyards and orchards, while almost any crop grows fairly well on the hillsides."
RAINFALL AND TEMPERATURE.
The author of this work is indeed fortunate in having access to the accurate records of weather taken by the late venerable Jacob T. Stern, a pioneer of the county, for years a farmer in Harris Grove, and later a resident of Logan, who commenced to observe and record the rainfall. temperature, winds, etc., as early as 1860, or fifty-five years ago. These reports were made to the Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D. C., and later, when the
-
4I
HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA.
government bureau at Washington was established, he was provided with fine government instruments, weather gauges, etc., and weather observations and records were taken daily and reported weekly to the department at Washing- ton. When this honored old pioneer was feeble and unable to attend to these duties, his good wife took up the work, and at their death the son, Willis Stern, of Logan took their place, and thus we have the record complete to date. The record shows, among many other details, the average temperature and the total rain-fall (snow counted to its equal in rain) for each year from 1861 to the present date, or down to 1914. Only round figures are given in this connection, the fractions of the reports being omitted.
Degrees (mean)
Year.
Inches.
Temperature. Degrees (mean)
1861
26
43
IS88
40
51
1862
25
45
1 889
33
51
1863
20
48
1 890
11
50
186.1
2.1
48
1891
35
51
1865
31
50
1892
35
49
1866
2.4
47
1893
22
42
1867
28
45
1894
17
50
1868
35
46
1895
26
48
1869
50
46
1896
13
48
1870
24
47
1897
1 1 26
48
1871
27
49
1872
33
46
1899
31
49
1873
16
47
1900
31
49
1874
28
48
1901
30
48
1875
12
44
1902
10
48
: 1876
28
46
1903
31
-
1877
I
I
15
49
1904
48
1878
16
53
1905
1
1
33
48
1879
32
50
1906
37
49
1880
25
51
1907
23
48
1881
57
51
1908
28
50
1882
37
50
1909
1
13
48
1883
39
49
1910
19
50
1884
36
49
1911
23
50
1885
13
48
1912
20
47
1886
39
48
1913
31
51
1887
28
49
1
I
1
I
I
I
1
1
i
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1 1 24
47
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
I
1
Inches.
Temperature.
I
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Year.
1
1
1
1
1
1
42
HARRISON COUNTY, JOWA.
The average down to 1802. was thirty-four inches rain-fall per year and forty-eight degrees above zero temperature. Since then the averages, to- gether with those to that date. amount to thirty-two inches and fifty-three degrees temperature, per year.
Much is said in all countries, from time to time. to the effect that the "weather is changing in this country," etc., but really Nature seems true to herself, and with the coming and going of the decades, there is but a little change actually seen when records are carefully consulted. It will be noticed that from 1860 10 1890-thirty years-the average temperature per annum was forty-eight degrees, and that no year showed over fifty-three degrees and none less than forty-four degrees. The rainfall averaged thirty-four inches for three decades and it was never more than fifty-seven inches or less than twenty-four inches. "Seed time and harvest" usually afford an abund- ance for all who care to work and care for themselves.
The record shows that the hottest day at Logan was in the summer of I911. when in July it reached one hundred and ten degrees, while the coldest weather was that recorded for January, 1912, when it was thirty-five degrees below zero. July 25, 1804. the time the corn was ruined in Iowa, the record was one hundred and ten degrees above zero at Logan. In 1901, it was over one hundred degrees every day between July 9th and July 25th.
PRE-JIISTORIC OR INDIAN MOUNDS.
Ever since the whites settled this country it has been believed from many evidences at hand. that here once lived, as well as in all parts of the Mississippi valley, a race of people which preceded that of the North Amer- ican Indian or the red race. By some it is thought that it was this race that built the mounds so famous throughout this country-but this probably never will be definitely known. These wonderful mounds have a uniformi diameter and all measure quite the same height, or so nearly so that, unless resort was had to actual measurement, every beholder would be compelled to admit that they were all constructed after the same pattern. The appearance of these mounds in Harrison county has not changed in the least degree since first known to the white race. Nature has formed strange earth-works, but Nature has never selected numerous locations and there formed the same sized structures or-upheavals, hence it appears that these mounds must have been made by human hands and superintended by intelligence, with some aim and object in view. The mounds found here give a chance for much
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HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA.
speculation as to what they were originally intended for, and by whom and when built.
The two largest and most imposing groups of these are located as fol- lous: The first on the farm formerly owned by William McDonald, near the old town of Calhoun, where there are six mounds, each ninety feet in diameter and about fifteen feet in height, and all in a direct line running north and south, and from fifteen to twenty rods apart. Another group is found on the okdl A. W. Locklin farm, north of those just named. and are located in section 7. township 79. range 43. In this row there are twelve of the same size and of identical appearance as those on the McDonald farm. They are in a direct row north and south, with the same space intervening.
The last named are the most imposing of all that are found within Har- rison county, for, at and near this place, in a ravine near by, numerous stone hatchets, stone hammers. sledges and pieces of pottery have been found, which are of a make unknown to any one of this country. There have also been discovered at this point specimens of copper, ornamental tools or instru- ments, unearthed at the depth of about twenty-five feet from the surface of the soil. The drinking cups and jars found in this ravine seem to have been inade reverse from modern makes, in that the center of the ware is composed of fine gravel cemented together. then a thin layer of earthen substance. This, without any glazing process, was burned, so that the qualities of the same for preventing fluids from escaping is on the inside of the material rather than on the exterior, as is our present-day custom. At about the same point where these things were discovered there was excavated in ISSS, at the bottom of a washout, twenty-five feet from the surface, a well pre- served cedar tree, some twenty inches in diameter, and immediately over this stood a large white oak tree, at last four feet in diameter and not less than one thousand years old. Near the cedar irce was found a number of buffalo skulls which had washed out of the banks. having been buried in the ground more than fifteen feet. Where did this cedar tree come from, and how long had it been taking its sleep there? The oak referred to must have made its growth since the burial of the cedar, and the animal skeletons could only have been placed there before the growing of this king of the forest.
In 1886 a furnace. made of finty brick. was discovered by P. R. Shupe. near the above Locklin farm. The bricks were six inches by six inches and two inches thick. They were burned a deep red, and as hard as any present day flint brick. The furnace was two by two-and-a-half feet by four feet in height. Mr. Locklin had lived there more than a third of a century, was the first to locate there, and no person could have possibly placed the furnace
..
44
HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA.
there without his knowledge. When was it made, for what purpose and by whom? Echo answers: "Who?"
An old Indian trail passed within twenty feet of both of these groups, being on the east side thereof, and so constant had been the travel thereon that in 1848, the little path was worn into the soil six to ten inches.
There are Two mounds in section 35, township 80, range 44, in Raglan civil township, which are of the same design as those described; each in a north and south line, located on the highest point on the bluff, which possess the grandest view of the surrounding country in that immediate neighborhood.
"If these mounds," says a recent writer who was well posted, "were used for burial, unquestionably some noted old warrior had signalized him- self in some conspicuous battle, and had been accorded a burial like the triumphs given the old Roman generals, when returning with the laurels of victory. The opinion which seems to find the greater support is this: That these mounds were ruins of sod houses, such as were constructed by the Omahas, for there are yet persons living in our midst who have seen the sod houses of this tribe, and from their description little doubt remains as to the former use of these ruins, which are so numerous and of which so little, at the present. is known."
"On the farm of D. W. Kennedy," said Smith in his history of this county, written in 1888. "in section 3. township 79, range 42, on Six Mile creek, in Jefferson township, there is a large mound which has been the won- der of the people of the county and presents, as in the case of all others, such appearances as beyond doubt convince the beholder that the same is not the natural condition in which the surface of the land was left by unseen agencies, but was the result of the labor of human hands."
The mounds in Raglan and the burial place at the point of the bluff at the southwest of Logan, on the Locklin farm, are without doubt those of the Omahas, because the arrow-pointed implements, darts and tomahawks, indicate the manner of burial, as illustrated in the burial of old Bluebird, the great Omaha chieftain.
AN ORIGINAL MODE OF BURIAL.
The Pottawattamies practiced tree or scaffold burial. Pioneers Daniel Brown, Amos Chase and Robert Neely all stated in their life time that the following was about the custom used by the Indians-Pottawattamies --- in 1849 and 1830. The corpse was well encased in buffalo robes and blankets, those bound about by thongs, or sinews, so as to prevent the robe from being
45
HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA.
undloosened by wind or rain, and when thus enrobed the body was carried high up and placed in the crotch of some old monarch of the forest.
The scaffold burial was quite the same as the former in the way of its preparation, lint instead of the corpse being lodged in the crotch of the tree, stout poles or posts were set in the ground. These had forked ends, and upon these poles was placed a flooring of poles. On this the body of the deceased was laid, and near by were placed buckets containing water and baskets of food, so as to furnish sustenance for the departed while journey- ing over the happy hunting ground to meet the Great Spirit. The vessels, buckets, etc., mentioned were daily filled by the near and dear relatives of the departed. This was usually kept up until nothing but the skeleton was left.
The latest on this topic is from the Missouri Valley News, of a recent date :
"Skeletons Unearthed -- Logan, lowa, July 4, 1914: Workmen con- structing a line fence in Raglan township between the farms of John B. Stoner and E. Harter, southeast of Little Sioux, unearthed a grave con- taining a dozen skeletons. The grave was found on a high hill, and the skeletons were a short distance between the surface of the ground. Mr. Stoner brought parts of two skeletons to Logan and turned them over to Dr. Charles S. Kennedy here in the interest of the Ilarrison County His- torical Society. Dr. Kennedy says the skeletons found are of the Indian racc.
"Mr. Stoner, Doctor Kennedy and others are desirous of inducing Rob- ert F. Gilder, State archaeologist for Nebraska. to come to Harrison county with other scientific men to make a careful examination of the recent finds, as well as to make an examination of other finds northwest of Magnolia.
"Doubtless, Charles Lamb, of Raglan township, has the most interesting as well as most complete collection of relics of the race antedating the Indians. Pieces of pottery, stone hammers, sledges, stone and copper dressing knives, beautifully finished stone spears and arrow heads are among his rare col- lection from this county.
"Though a number of the mounds erected by the race before the Indian race have been practically obliterated since the settling of Harrison county, yet twenty-nine mounds still remain in a fair state of preservation in this county, but most unfortunately the finds taken from the mounds by relic hunters have, as a rule, been scattered. This is also true of the remains of the mastodon and elephants found in different parts of Harrison county by
46
HARRISON COUNTY, JOWA.
workmen in opening up sand pits from time to time since the carly settlement of the county."
THE LAST OF THE DEER, ELK AND BUFFALO.
Deer and elk were plentiful when the first white settlements were effected in Harrison county in the forties and fifties. But the civilized lite caused them to quickly disappear. The fleeing west, or being slaughtered by huntsman's rifle, and the hard winter of 1856-57. all entered into their becoming extinct in these parts.
On December 3, 1856, a little snow began falling, which increased as the hours and day went by, until within seventy-two hours, four feet mantled the surface of the earth in this county, as well as all over the state. Many of the ravines were filled to the depth of forty feet, the same remaining in places until far into May, 1857. After this heavy snow-fall the temperature changed and this caused a sleet to fall, which crusted the snow hard enough to permit teams to pass over its shining surface. Thus the immense herds of elk and deer were left at the mercy of the Indians and white men, with nimble hounds and sure rifles. The deer and elk could not run rapidly, as the ice-covered snow caused them to slip and fall and cut their limbs, and in other instances they would break through the sharp crust and break their legs like pipe-stems. It was during this memorable winter that many thou- sands of these wild animals were sacrificed, and in many cases ruthlessly slaughtered, since which time but few have been seen, in western Iowa especially.
The last buffalo ( American bison ) ever seen in Harrison county, and in fact the only one ever seen here by white men, was. according to George Musgrave in the Logan Observer of March 6, 1887, killed in 1863. It was first discovered near the Boyer river, in Boyer township, a short distance from the Josiah Coe farm. A few of the neighbors gave him chase with their horses. They ran the frightened animal around the east side of Twelve Mile grove, across the farms of Matthew Hall and George Mefford, to the south branch of the Picayune, near the G. W. Pugsley farm. Lem Mefford. who had, with others, given the animal chase, and had run him down until his tongue was a foot extended from his mouth, finally succeeded, after about ten shots at him with a rifle, in killing him, just as he was about to jump a high front-yard fence by the Mefford place. This killing has been ac- credited in former histories, through the writings of the late George Mus- grave, to have been accomplished by pioneer G. W. Pugsley, but Lemuel
47
HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA.
Mefford still a resident of Woodbine, and a trustworthy man, affirms to the author that he was the man who killed this, the only buffalo ever seen in this county by white men. Honor to whom honor is due-hence this correction.
PRAIRIE CHICKENS.
The wild prairie hens, up to about 1872, were unusually numerous in this county ; so much so that the corn crop left in the field late in autumn time was ruined by their eating it from the stalk. From 1856 to 1860, and pos- sibly as late .as the year 1865. in the fall of the year they would assemble in such large flocks that they would appear to cover an entire corn field, especi- ally in dark drizzly weather. At other times they would fill the tree tops and fences until they looked as if painted brown. These fine birds were trapped in many ways, including the "figure-four" trap. Immense amounts of the breast-meat was taken from them and what was not needed at the time of being captured, was salted and placed away in brine until warm weather the following harvest time. The meat was the most tender, sweet and delicious ever eaten. Later, 'these chickens brought from two to four dollars per dozen in the eastern markets, but at the date named there was no means of shipping and everyone feasted on prairie chicken breast to their hearts' content. In winter time, so tame these wild hens became that they would sit by hundreds in tree tops near the cabins of the settlers and were easily shot with rifle or shot gun. The settlement of the county drove these valuable birds away to such an extent that for many years there has only now and then been seen small flocks of them in this county. The law protects them now and there are more to be seen than there were twenty- five years ago.
THE BEAVER AND HIS DAM.
The beaver, that fine fur-bearing animal of North America (before civilization made him extinct), had his head compressed, with an unbroken line of profile from occiput to muzzle; two large incisors and eight molars in cach jaw, with large and powerful muscles, regulating the movements of the inferior jaw; eyes disproportionately small, and vision of short range; cars very small but hearing acute; sense of smell powerful; body short be- tween the fore and hind legs, broad, heavy and clumsy; length, when full grown, from end of nose to tip of tail, three feet and six inches; weighi from thirty to forty pounds. The fore feet of the beaver are digitigrade and the hinder ones plantigrade. The paws are small in proportion to the animal.
48
HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA.
In swimming they are not used and are folded under the body; but they are capable of some rotary movement, which enables the beaver to handle and carry sticks. limbs of trees, mud and stones, and to use his paws as hands while sitting up or walking on his hind legs. The hind feet are the pro- pelling power in swimming, and the feet are fully webbed to the root of the claws. The most conspicuous organ, the tail, is from ten to eleven inches long and five or six broad, nearly flat, straight and covered with black horny scales. The common error that the tail is the beaver's trowel is con- futed by the fact that the animal always uses mud and soft earth as mortar, but it serves as a pounder to pack mud and earth in constructing lodges and dams, is used in swimming as a scull. assists in diving, and, by striking a powerful blow, the report of which can be heard at a distance exceeding a half mile in the timber, it gives alarm: while the strong muscles enable the beaver, when standing erect, to use his tail as a prop. The female brings forth from two to six young in May and weans them in six weeks.
From a commercial standpoint. besides its fur, the beaver furnishes captoriam, a secretion used in medicines as an antispasmodic, and its flesh is inch esteemed as food by trappers and Indians. The beaver is social, pairs and brings up a family to majority, and sometimes, two or more families inhabit the same pond. The common supposition that beavers live in vil- lages or colonies is erroneous. All the inhabitants may assist in construct- ing or repairing a common dam. but each family has its own lodge, and bur- rows and lays in its own supply of provisions for the winter.
As their work is carried on by night, little is actually known of their methods except from the examination of what they effect.
These particular and harmless animals, as far back as the knowledge of man runs, were very numerous along the streams in this county. The Soldier river, in 1856 and 1857, was an especial resort and home for them. At a point directly in front of the old residence of Mr. Abraham Richardson, in Taylor town -hip, in 1856 and 1857, there were trees then standing .on the left bank of the Soldier river that were more than two-thirds sawed off (or gnawed off, rather ) by these little animals. Some of these trees were sixteen inches in diameter, and the place where the cutting was done locked as though a carpenter had tried to fell the trees by the use of some sort of a gouge, the marks of their teeth being plainly seen. Here at this place, and a short dis- tance below. dams were constructed with as much architectural neatness as though planned and executed by the most skillful human hand.
Who of the readers of this history ever saw a beaver slide? If not, they could find a reproduction thereof By visiting a swimming place of the
49
HARRISON COUNTY, 10W.1.
boys of the period, constructed by them during summer vacation. The Willow river has ever been the home of a family of beavers, for, since the time of the first settlement along the stream, near where later stood the resi- dences of Michael Doyle and Dr. J. H. Rice, in Calhoun township, each year these curious little fellows have built a dam in the river at this point. Cot- tonwood, willow and box-elder, of such size as would astonish any person not acquainted with the habits of these intelligent animals, have by them been felled and carried into the stream. At late as 1886 a very large beaver was killed at the place just named, and being of such monstrous size, the same was shipped to Knox College. Galesburg, Illinois, by W. G. Rice, and when received there was, by the professors of that institution, skinned and mounted. During the winter of 1886-7 six large, healthy, full-grown ones were captured at this place, and it is believed that members of the family still remain in that section of Harrison county.
In the early days of this county, beavers were so plentiful that the skins were not so highly prized as now, for then it was no uncommon sight to see a man wearing a beaver vest. cap. overcoat and mittens made from beaver captured near by. The Butler boys, at Woodbine, during the winter of 1887-8, captured more than twenty beaver in the Boyer in January.
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