USA > Iowa > Kossuth County > History of Kossuth County, Iowa > Part 17
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and was so old that it couldn't masticate the green grass with which it filled its mouth.
The literary and debating societies which held their meetings in the hall just after the war were valuable to the young people in giving them confidence to speak before the public. Those were the occasions when John Fill, Abe and Thomp Crose, Ed Crockett, John Reed, Ben Reed, Ed Wheelock and numerous others entertained those present with arguments at times that caused outbursts of laughter. One winter while the debates were being held, a young man, whose name is now forgotten, came into the community and was present to hear the arguments and oratory of the young men. It soon became ap- parent that he had a high opinion of himself. He claimed to have studied law and could not resist from frequently speaking about the matter. He finally challenged any two whom the president might select to debate that old chestnut, "Resolved that the negro has suffered more from the hands of the white man than the Indian," if allowed to take the affirmative. At the next meeting he opened up the debate under a full head of steam, not knowing who were to be his opponents. He was a fluent speaker and at times was quite eloquent. He had his speech well committed, but sought fine sentences rather than sound argument. After he had spoken for a few minutes in walked Doctor Armstrong to the surprise of all except the presiding officer. When the oppor- tunity came the Doctor rose and waded into his opponent with little mercy. He referred to the thousands of white men who had sacrificed their lives for the betterment of the negro's condition and defied the previous speaker to cite an instance where a single white man had sacrificed his life for the good of an Indian. One of his rounded periods is still remembered. Said he "No Harriet Beecher Stowe sat up night after night writing an Uncle Tom's Cabin to create a sentiment beneficial to the red man of the forest, and. no Wendell Phillips gave up his standing in aristocratic society to become the champion of the rights of the Indian as he did for the negro race." The law student had all he wanted when the Doctor had closed his argument and was not heard again to boast of his ability to debate.
Frequently there were as fine exhibitions in the hall as at the county seat, as no license was required and as a good sized audience was sure to be present. The best remembered of these, by those who lived in that section at the period, and one of the rarest as well, was given on the scorching hot evening of July 4, 1867, when "Bill T. D. Travis, the Special Artist on the Spot" displayed his interesting and exceedingly valuable war scenes which he had painted on a long canvas. He had been an artist along with the forces of General Rose- crans and had painted in panoramic form large pictures to illustrate his sub- ject-"Honor to the Cumberland Army." Nothing of the kind has been in the county at any time since then. The two evenings previous he had enter- tained Algona audiences.
During the closing months of the war much interest was manifested by the Irvington settlers in raising funds and supplies for the sick and wounded soldiers, especially when the excitement began to capture the prize sanitary flag, an account of which will be found in the chapter on the "Civil War Period." The students' club from Algona went down and gave an entertain- ment one evening at the hall to help raise funds for the sanitary commission.
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The old hall was crowded and those present were delighted with what they saw and heard. Ed Blackford was one of the club speakers and Jane Hender- son (Chapin) one of the singers. J. E. Blackford made the opening address and an eloquent one it was throughout. He explained the great need of funds for the cause and appealed for liberal contributions.
During the existence of the hall the styles in vogue of the wearing apparel of the girls and their mothers passed through many curious changes. In the latter 50's and early 60's, there was that hideous custom of wearing pantalettes which extended below the ankles. These were white on Sundays, but made of the same material as the dresses on other days. Then came the rage for hoop skirts. Old girls, young girls, big girls, little girls and many of their mothers followed out that fashion to their hearts' content. Every girl who could climb a tree with a hatchet came down with a grape vine to bend and fasten to the bottom of her skirt. When placed in position the shape of many of them assumed dif- ferent forms, some were circular, but by far the greater number observed were either oblong, triangular or elliptical. The lady thus fashionably attired never knew, in endeavoring to sit down in church or before polite company, just what kind of a freak her hoop was going to cut to cause her mortification. The hats evolved from the good old fashioned pasteboard, splint sunbonnet first, to the home-made, oats-straw hat, then to the sugar-scoop, next to the sun- poke and finally to the sky-scraper. The little girls who assembled at the hall for religious instruction have been widely scattered since that time. Those were the days of character building, the most valuable to them of any period of their lives. They all came who could get there-the Carlons, Samples, Hodges, John- sons, Duttons, Raneys, Wrights, Lanes, Robisons, Armstrongs, Reeds, Fills, Greens, Croses, Manns, Harveys, Sparkses, and a host of others who were the young life of that community.
Many fond recollections cluster about the old hall which revive the stirring scenes of the war. It was there where Levi Leland delivered his lecture "The Conduct of the War;" there where Doctor Armstrong gave his eloquent Lincoln memorial address; there where Jacob Skinner and Dr. L. H. Cutler made such patriotic appeals for recruits that several in the community enlisted; there where farewell suppers were tendered to the local volunteers; there where heart- broken relations met as the "boys" left to join the ranks of the Federal army. and there whence those started for the front never to see home again. The hill on which the hall was located is sacred soil, and is dear to hearts of those who are still alive and are familiar with the story of the many scenes which occurred upon its brow. But how changed in appearance is that hill since the days of the war! The hall is gone and Lafayette square is no more. The yellow grain, ripening to the sun while growing upon that cherished spot, absorbs in its growth the tears that have fallen on occasions that were fraught with sadness and laden with grief.
The only other structure that stood on the townsite, not heretofore referred to, was the fort which was erected in the spring of 1857, just after the news reached that place that the Sioux had massacred the entire Spirit Lake settle- ment. The mill was kept running night and day sawing two inch oak plank which were placed on end in a trench and doubled in making the fort. On the corners were bastions, and on the south side was the heavy door. Portholes
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were provided on every side, and benches inside surrounded the walls upon which to stand and shoot in case of an attack. The structure was about fifty- eight feet square and was a substantial stronghold. Its building was directed by John Edwards, an old man, who lived in the grove now owned by M. D. L. Parsons and who in his younger days had seen Indian service along with Gen. Henry Harrison at the battle of Tippecanoe. All the excited neighbors took a hand in its construction. Its location was on a spot now in the Dutton field northeast of the depot, about six rods from the south line of fence.
The village of old Irvington went to decay gradually, beginning soon after the close of the war. The old Hewitt house, built by Ransom Parmenter, and the residence and shop of Bing Howard, were the first to crumble down. The bach hall was moved to Levi Parsons' claim and there consumed by the prairie fire. The Len Hinkle house took fire and burned in the spring of 1859, and the Orcutt building was moved to the premises of Kinsey Carlon, where in after years it went to decay. The old Treat store was moved to the Arm- strong place west of town, where it is now incorporated into a granary, and the two Parmenter buildings were moved to Armstrong's residence where the store building now constitutes a buggy shed. The residence of William B. Moore was finally taken down and hauled away. The old log hotel was a con- spicuous landmark in the Armstrong-Dutton field for many years. It re- mained in good condition until 1910 when it was taken down and removed to get it out of the field. The Green-Armstrong store building still remains, but in a changed location. The fort, being of sound oak, would have lasted until the present time had it not been molested. The neighboring farmers helped themselves to the plank to use about their farms and to make bridges. One plank after another went until the old fort was no more. The old mill was sold in 1866 to Lewis H. Smith and E. N. Weaver and moved to Algona.
Among the last structures of the town to disappear was the old hall. It stood upon the hill a conspicuous object for many years after the neighboring buildings had perished. It was used by the public in a fair state of repair until the new schoolhouses in the community afforded better places for holding meet- ings of any kind. Being neglected, and having no one to care for it, the old relic of pioneer days began to lean and twist out of its original shape, and finally collapsed during the summer of 1881.
The village of old Irvington and community received numerous settlers from a little town in Marshall county, Iowa, by the name of Lafayette. The two proprietors, Young and Treat, had business relations there before coming to Kossuth, and when they platted Irvington they called the square upon which the hall was afterwards built, Lafayette. Bing Howard, the blacksmith, and Leonard Hinkle, the carpenter, had lived there several years before, and Sam- uel Reed had been in the milling business at that town. Moreover, the families of Thomas and John Robison and Philip Crose had spent a part of one sum- mer there while prospecting for cheap lands. Jacob Wright in 1855 in passing from his new home in the Irvington region to Illinois and return made Lafay- ette his stopping place. Thus it happened that these people became acquainted before the town of Irvington had been established. That little Marshall county town is now called by the name of Albion.
The land adjoining the townsite of old Irvington on the south was owned
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by Thomas Robison. Believing that the original town would develop into one of importance, he platted an addition and placed it on record August 10, 1857. This addition from east to west coincided with the original townsite and its distance from north to south comprised four blocks and three alleys, making thirty-two blocks in his addition. No lots were ever sold as platted, but still the plat of his townsite appeared on record until August 23, 1881, when steps were taken to have the site vacated. The Armstrong-Dutton residence, the depot, tile works and most of the present village of Irvington are located on the old Robison addition.
The lots in the original Irvington were purchased from the numerous own- ers by Doctor Armstrong who later had the titles to the same quieted in him by an action in court. The old townsite then became a splendid corn field which the owner took much pride in managing until he sold the same to C. J. Dutton.
Those who figured conspicuously in the upbuilding of the old Irvington village, or who at any time resided there have all disappeared from the com- munity. Kendall Young, the head proprietor of the town, moved to Webster City before the war and engaged in banking, becoming immensely wealthy. All of his estate at the death of himself and wife was devoted to founding the Kendall Young library at that place. L. L. Treat, another of the town proprie- tors, also moved to Webster City and conducted a dry goods store until he had all the money he desired. He is still living there and is the owner of a num- ber of valuable farms. James and G. C. Carlon and George T. Tulley left for Pike's Peak in the spring of 1859, to make their fortune in mining, but they passed on through and landed in California. They left here with an ox team, and a wagon they had bought from Barnet Devine. John Crose crossed the plains also about that time. Ransom Parmenter, it has always been reported, got $1,000 for driving overland to Pike's Peak with a four-horse team and1 taking ten men along. This was after he had left Irvington. The report also is that he brought back all those he had taken there. C. E. Orcutt, Charley Parsons, and William Moore lost their lives in the army, the body of the latter being returned home and interred in the Irvington cemetery. Leicester Fox and John Reed also were soldiers in the army, but came home at the close of the war. The former lives in Missouri and the latter died several years ago at Des Moines. Kinsey Carlon and Samuel Reed, both of whom lived for a few months in the village, have also passed on before. Doctor Armstrong, who lived on the Robison addition, adjoining the original townsite, for fifty-four years, was called from the community by the death messenger, November 27, 1911. W. B. Howard (Bing), died after a prolonged attack of creeping paralysis at Webster City a few years ago. He left Irvington in the fall of 1858, and engaged in the hardware business at the place where he died. Leonard Hinkle was a fifer in the army and lived to return, but his residence now is not known to any parties here. O. W. Robinson, head sawyer at the mill and an carly-day sheriff, has been lieutenant governor of Michigan and now resides at Chassell in that state. Levi Parsons, one of the occupants of the bach hall, has gone to the other shore. Reverends Snyder, McComb. Chauncey Taylor, J. H. Todd, and no doubt others who preached at Irvington, have ceased their labors on earth.
Old Joe Hewitt, who was a familiar figure in Irvington during the latter 50's, while he was carrying the mail from Clear Lake to Algona and return by
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the fall of 1854 and the following year, much of the food supplies came from Iowa City. Boonesboro, Waverly, Masqueton, and Iowa Falls were later fre- quently visited by our settlers in search of needed articles. There they could get sugar and coffee or could do without, and there they could procure boots and shoes if they did not choose to make them of the hides of animals. Sub- stitutes were generally used in place of all such articles whenever they could be made. Fortunately some sod corn was raised on the new breaking in 1855. From this corn dodger was made at numerous cabin homes. Some pounded the corn into rough meal with iron wedges or other like articles, and others ground it by hand in coffee mills. Although it was rough it tasted good to those who had the patience to do the pounding or the grinding. This practice was continued at some cabins until a much later date.
There were several maple sugar camps at an early date in the river settle- ments. One of them was south of Algona on Ambrose A. Call's claim and another in Malachi Clark's grove, about thirty rods east of the Mann bridge, across Purcell creek in Irvington. These places were favorite resorts for the young people to make merry while partaking of a most excellent beverage, just before "sugaring off." For several rods on every side of the camps were to be seen the sugar troughs which received the sap from the majestic hard maple trees. That was a long time ago but is still remembered by a score or more of residents.
Before the postoffices were established, to mail a letter an occupant of a cabin had something more to do than running over to a neighboring tree and depositing it in a government mail box. He had to run, walk or ride down to Fort Dodge or send it by someone else going there. If he got any mail he received it at the hands of someone who had brought it up from the place, if he didn't go after it himself.
If there was any monotony to cabin life it suddenly changed when some wandering Indian made his appearance at the door. He knew how to appear friendly by greeting the cabin boys with "How!" When once inside, he soon was able to locate almost everything in the room, especially the guns and am- munition which he generally proceeded to examine when allowed to do so. The earliest settlers all knew how best to quiet a body of Indians after they gained access to the rooms. That was by feeding them. When Umpashotah came to the Ingham cabin on the Black Cat in the spring of 1856, he was dined on all the delicacies of the season to his heart's content. That delicacy was venison, and to all appearances was unusually appetizing to the red visitor. The boys helped him to it as long as he could swallow a mouthful. He pro- ceeded to eat until his stomach was puffed out like a toad's. After resting a short time he took a fresh supply, then placing his hands over his abdomen said "tonka, tonka" (big, big). He finally became dizzy and rolled over into the corner where he remained all night in comparative silence. At least he did not kick around so as to mar the piano or the mahogany furniture or damage the lace curtains. On leaving for the north the next morning he wanted some of the meat and other food to take home to his squaw. His wishes being com- plied with, he left on his journey. After he had gone out of sight Mr. Ingham went out over the hills to see which way he was going. In the distance he saw
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SAMUEL REED (1858)
MRS. SAMUEL REED (1858)
A. M. JOHNSON
JOSEPH RANEY (1857)
PIONEERS TO THE IRVINGTON REGION
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his late visitor cramming the contents of the package down his throat, apparently forgetting the needs of his squaw.
The Indians were not only natural beggars, but natural thieves as well. Where they found women in the cabin and the men absent, they generally took what- ever they pleased. Sometimes they would do so when men were present if they showed they were afraid. That's just what they did in the Maxwell cabin in July, 1855, when eleven of them entered and found no men there but Maxwell and young Craw. The latter being so badly frightened that he could offer no resistance, the Indians pulled his ears, twisted his nose and nearly stripped his clothes from him. They found they had something else to do when Ambrose A. Call arrived with his rifle to assist Maxwell in defending his family.
The following winter a young Indian staid several days at each of various cabins in this vicinity. D. W. King was baching at J. L. Paine's cabin during the absence of the owner and his wife. This Indian came, staid a few days and then left for the A. B. C. school in Minnesota. He soon returned saying the snow was too big. He could make himself understood in English by talking very slowly. He said to Mr. King, "you-got-wife?" Being answered truth- fully in the negative, he pointed to a pair of Mrs. Paine's shoes which were in sight and said "ugh, ugh," as if to doubt Mr. King's veracity. He would never talk English in the presence of another Indian. The name of this young Sioux was Jospadotah, but always went by the name of Josh. He was the son of Sidominadotah, the old chief whom Lott murdered in Humboldt county about six months prior to the coming of the Call brothers. The wounded Josh, by hiding in the weeds, managed to get away. He staid in the cabin for some time where Lewis H. Smith was one of the bachelors and was quiet and peace- able. He also did chores for his board at Carter's place at the west bend during the winter of 1855-6. It is said that Josh warned one family at Spirit Lake of the impending danger and that they fled just before the massacre. It is claimed he did this because of some kindness that had been shown him. Whether or not Josh was one of the attacking party at the lakes is not definitely known; but he probably was for he was recognized by Mrs. Thomas as one of the band of Sioux who attacked her cabin at Springfield, Minnesota, a couple of weeks after the slaughter at Spirit Lake.
When by degrees women came from the East and joined their husbands, and bachelors began getting married, the scene about the cabin premises was changed. The log huts were transformed from mere places of abode to simple, rustic homes. This was more especially the case where children frolicked before the open fire- places and over the puncheon floors. Many families lived for months in cabins having no floor at all, yet they were homes and enjoyed as such by those occupying them. Those brides who came from far-away homes, where they had been sur- rounded with all the luxuries of life, and began their housekeeping careers in dusky cabins in the wilds of the forest where neighbors were few or none at all, are ever to be remembered as being the foremost heroines in the settlement of this county. The story of their first cabin experiences, in this undeveloped county, be- ing one of courage, daring and adventure, has such an enchantment that it needs not the imaginary characters of the novel in addition to have it rank along with the best stories of romance connected with the history of our country.
There is no more striking example of unusual courage displayed by any bride Vol. 1-9
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than that exhibited by Mrs. Asa C. Call, when she began housekeeping in the Call cabin, on the edge of the woods, now in the pasture of the Chubb farm in Cresco township. Coming from the home of her parents at Elkhart, Indiana, with her hus- band to Iowa City, at a time when no man had settled in this county, she re- mained there until a cabin had been erected here for her reception and provisions procured. The judge brought her up in a lumber wagon heavily loaded with sup- plies. In attempting to get over to the west side of the river, near the place just below Irvington, known as the Jacob C. Wright farm, the wagon stuck in the river and could not be pulled out. The team was then unhitched and the judge and his bride rode horseback to the cabin, some three miles away. There she be- came the sunshine of the little hut and had her first experience in housekeeping. A few settlers just prior to her coming had located, some distance away, on the edge of the groves, in cabins similar to her own. She had arrived November 4, 1854, and had seen no one from the outside world until the 24th of that month when W. H. Ingham and D. E. Stine came up from Cedar Rapids on a prospect- ing tour. They were both surprised and delighted at the generous hospitality they received. They were met in front of the cabin by the husband, who was wearing a silk blouse coat, white shirt and collar, and polished shoes. The puzzling question that arose in their minds for solution was: "What can be the object of a man of such commanding presence and evident ability living out here in the woods on the borders of civilization, dressed in such fashionable style?" They accepted the courteous invitation to "alight and remain over night." Inside the cabin they were met by another surprise: They were greeted by Mrs. Call who was tastily gowned in silk. She stood before them, a young woman yet in her teens, and was the very picture of health and happiness. Nature had done much in giving her both beauty and grace, but not more so than in giving her a disposi- tion to be content with her lot and to make the most of what she found at hand. The supper she provided was such a fine one that the two visitors in after years frequently referred to it when telling about their experience in first meeting Judge and Mrs. Asa C. Call.
How well Mrs. Call thought of her first cabin home and how much she en- joyed it, can be learned from the report of her experiences, which she read on an occasion nearly twenty years after her coming to the county. In part she said: "Major Williams thought it best for me to remain at Fort Dodge awhile, as the Indians were quite hostile and had been here but a short time before, but I preferred to go on with my husband. I thought if it were safe for him it could not be very dangerous for me. After we left Fort Dodge the country seemed so wild and still, a feeling of sadness came over me for awhile, but the new- ness and freshness of the prairies soon dispelled all such thoughts. When we got about six miles out of Fort Dodge we met some hunters and bought some elk meat of them. We then made a fire and boiled some, and made some coffee which we drank from a new tin wash basin. Before we left the fort we bought some pies from Mrs. Miller, so we made out to have a very good dinner.
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