History of Kossuth County, Iowa, Part 53

Author: Reed, Benjamin F
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 879

USA > Iowa > Kossuth County > History of Kossuth County, Iowa > Part 53

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Publicity-Finnell, C. C. Call, McDonald, Reed, Hutchins.

Invitations-Blackford, Crose, Reed, Rist, George C. Call.

Program-Starr, Holmes, Ferguson, Sullivan, Haggard.

Finance-Ferguson, Chubb, Haggard, C. C. Call.

Reception-Chubb, Blackford, Starr, Ingham, McDonald.

Entertainment-Rist, Crose, Ferguson, Hutchins, Holmes.

Music and Amusements-McDonald, Reed, Haggard, Finnell, C. C. Call. C. T. Chubb was chosen secretary and W. K. Ferguson, treasurer.

At an enthusiastic meeting of the general committee held at the mayor's office, the dates for the celebration were named for the two days-September 28-29. A tent large enough to hold a great audience; a barbecue dinner ; a museum of pioneer relics; badges to designate the period when the bearers came to the county ; the establishment of enrolling quarters and a coffee depart- ment were features decided upon. Ambrose A. Call and W. H. Ingham-the two 1854 pioneers-were early secured to be the first speakers at the opening session. Senator Dolliver and Governor Cummins were invited to attend and deliver addresses, as were also George W. Hanna, Harvey Ingham, A. F. Call and Mrs. Gardner Cowles.

The celebration being a county affair, vice presidents representing every town- ship were appointed as follows:

Algona-Ambrose A. Call; Buffalo-Milo Elwell; Burt-Thomas Hanna ; Cresco-Alex. Brown; Eagle-H. V. Hand; Fenton-Mike Weisbrod; Green- wood-R. I. Brayton; German-C. Rippentrop; Garfield-Phil Dorweiler ; Grant -J. L. Vaux ; Hebron-Sanford Rowe; Harrison-C. F. Buker; Irvington-J. R. Armstrong; Ledyard-Aug. Gutchnect ; LuVerne-G. W. Hanna; Lincoln-

Dlaiized by Google

MR. AND MRS. CHARLES GRAY (1856), PIONEERS TO THE ALGONA REGION

SKET

SEMI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, 1904

Digiszed by Google

401

HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY

Frank Pearce; Lotts Creek-Will Dau; Portland-Rod Jain; Plum Creek-Jacob Altwegg; Prairie-Jos. Rahm; Ramsey-N. Collar; Riverdale-A. J. Jones; Seneca-C. O. Fish ; Swea-C. A. Erickson; Springfield-R. A. Lyon; Sherman -Henry Curran ; Union-W. F. Hofius; Wesley-A. K. Kennedy; Whittemore -H. P. Hatch.

As the time drew near for the celebration the various committees had well in hand every detail to ensure success. The board of supervisors appropriated the sum of $200 to help defray the expenses ; J. W. Wadsworth secured a mammoth tent from Des Moines and a man to superintend its erection; the fatted ox was provided, and H. B. Stanton of Garner, secured to barbecue the animal : John F. Smith of Fenton was made boss of the coffee department and S. E. Davenport of the parcel checking ; the drilling of the large chorus was delegated to Prof. L. T. Benjamin, and the tableau features to Mrs. H. V. Robinson; Ed Blackford was made manager of the museum of relics, and Mayor Ferguson directed the in- stallation of the electric lights.

Wednesday morning, September 28, came, and within a few hours the streets were filled with a surging mass of humanity. The Algona and St. Benedict bands entertained the crowds with music. The busiest place on the grounds was at the enrolling room where several were engaged in having all record their names and the dates when they became residents of the county. Those who came before the close of 1864 were given blue ribbons ; the next ten years, red; the next ten, yellow ; and all those coming at a later date, white. Each of these ribbon badges bore a picture of the old Brown cabin, which was built in 1855, and these words and figures: "1854-Kossuth County Semi-Centennial-Algona, Iowa, Septem- ber 28-29, 1904." The enrollment and distribution of badges were superintended by C. T. Chubb, M. P. Haggard, B. F. Crose and C. W. Bates.

At 2 o'clock Mayor Ferguson called a great audience to order at the tent auditorium. On the platform were seated numerous old settlers, among whom were Hon. Ambrose A. Call and Capt. W. H. Ingham, the only 1854 resident survivors. In front of them on the stand lay the Sanitary flag which had been presented to the county in 1864, because of her generous gifts to the Sanitary Commission to aid the sick and wounded soldiers. After the opening prayer by Rev. O. H. Holmes, the presiding officer, E. B. Butler, upon being introduced, delivered his brief opening address. Then came the old settlers' quartette, Mrs. Harriette E. Stacy leading in the music with the melodeon which she brought to the county in 1857. Next in order came the addresses by Ambrose A. Call, W. H. Ingham and Governor Cummins, and music by the Congregational choir. A heavy down pour of rain prevented further proceedings that afternoon.

The program was continued at the opera house in the evening on account of the rain. The audience occupied every foot of available space. This proved to be one of the most enjoyable sessions of the event. Following the prayer of Rev. D. K. Miller came the address of Col. J. M. Comstock, formerly of Algona but now of Spokane; the address of Geo. W. Hanna : a paper on pioneer days by Mrs. Alice Seeley ; an original poem-Retrospect-by Mrs. A. J. Lilly ; an elocu- tionary reading by Miss Mae Farley ; a character song by Mrs. Donahoo and Mrs. Devereaux ; a paper by Mrs. Gardner Cowles, recounting the incidents of her girl- hood. and a song by the choir.

Thursday forenoon the crowds witnessed the laying of the corner stone for Vol. 1-20

Diy zedby Google

402

HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY

the new library building. Since an account of that proceeding is given in the write-up of that building and institution no further notice of that feature is nec- essary in this chapter. After the close of the dedication exercises came the march to the barbecue dinner which was served on the garage corner, southwest of the courthouse. Never before in the history of the county was such an impressive marching procession witnessed as when that long column moved down State street under the direction of Marshal D. A. Haggard. More than 15,000, it was estimated, viewed or participated in the pageantry. In order came the city police, mock Indians, city officials, children of the city schools with their teachers, school boards, St. Benedict band, Company F, the G. A. R. post, Relief Corps, and 1,600 students and pupils, accompanied by their teachers, from the various town schools in the county. Nearly 2,000 flags fluttered in the breeze as they marched, and the high schools were giving their yells. After the schools came the Algona band, followed in order by the Redmen, Odd Fellows, Yeomen and other kindred organizations in the county, and then came hundreds of other citizens.

The children were centered on the courthouse square; and when they took part in an inspiring scene, affirming their allegiance to the stars and stripes which was waving above them, the tear drops glistened in many eyes. Visitors from a distance were enraptured with the scene, declaring they had never seen anything so impressive before. Those from Palo Alto, becoming enthused, began making preparations to duplicate the great event in their county two years later.

While the procession was moving down the street a typical pioneer scene came in view. It was Ed Norwood's emigrant outfit. The old canvas-covered wagon was drawn by a span of old gray horses. The tired mother with a baby in her arms was driving. while Homestead Ed walked along and prodded the old cow that was tied behind the wagon.

Reverend Holmes refereed the games during the afternoon, though not one- tenth of the people could see them. Wilson won the foot race, Baker the barrel, Evans and Laird the three-legged. Wilson the burro, Laird the wheelbarrow, Nicoulin and Blanchard the business men's, Keith the farmers', Evans the po- tato, Putzier the egg and Hubbard the pie eating race.

The closing entertainment of the celebration was presented Thursday even- ing in front of the courthouse on a large platform. The chorus of one hundred voices directed by Professor Benjamin preceded the appearance of numerous liv- ing pictures, statuary, poses, and other realistic figures under the management of Mrs. Robinson.

Throughout the two days' entertainment many visited Blackford's museum of relics. Among the interesting views that attracted attention were the photo- graphs of the departed old settlers and baby pictures of many who were then active in business, professional or domestic life.

Many old settlers and others, who were at the time residing elsewhere, in reply to the invitations sent them to be present at the golden anniversary. sent letters of regret which were read by Samuel Mayne at the tent. These came from [ .. I .. Treat. one of the founders of old Irvington, of Webster City ; Agnes Reib- hoff Salisbury of Oregon City ; Mrs. E. A. Pollock of Strawberry Point ; Dick Rist of Tacoma : Quincy Hudson of San Jacinto, California ; Helen Weaver Fox of Shinrock, Ohio: C. O. Minkler of Sanger, California ; H. S. Vaughn of Denver; Frances Fill Hathaway of Cleveland, Ohio; S. S. Henderson of Pimento, Indiana ;

Dky ized by Google

403

HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY

A. N. Stacy of St. Paul; C. H. Magoon of Wakefield, Massachusetts ; John Carey of El Reno, Oklahoma; Matt Reibhoff of Portland, Oregon; Watt Jones of Iola, Kansas; Josephine Carlon Skiff of Iowa Falls; Lydia Schenck Dunton of Lea- banon, Kansas; Thomas J. Clark of New Carlisle, Indiana ; Mrs. Flavia Flemming Holmes of Elba, Nebraska, who taught the first school in Algona; Mrs. Vina Carlon Arnold of Morgan Hill, California; Viola Mann of Cedar Falls; Mrs. Hattie Parsons Reed of Des Moines; James B. Henderson of Rapid City, South Dakota ; C. A. Elmendorf of Minneapolis; A. W. McFarland of Dakota City ; A. D. Bicknell of Humboldt ; John Haire of Fort Dodge; Charles McCormick of Emmetsburg ; S. B. Reed of Des Moines and A. B. Funk of Spirit Lake.

Some of the addresses were delivered without the aid of manuscript or notes; some were read and then carried away at the time, and others read manuscripts which are not available for use in this chapter. They encompassed a wide range of topics and were interesting and valuable throughout. The opening speech was as follows:

PRESIDENT E. B. BUTLER'S ADDRESS

"We are met to celebrate the semi-centennial anniversary of the first white settlement in Kossuth county. Fifty years ago last July the first hardy pioneers penetrated the wilderness and boldly staked their fortunes on the fair promise of Kossuth's future greatness. Those fifty years have wrested her broad prairies from the Indian and the buffalo, from the slough and the quagmire, and have dotted her fair bosom with beautiful villages and thriving farmsteads ; have brought within her confines 26,000 people averaging in material prosperity. in intelligence, in virtue, and in happiness with any like number of people that can be found any- where on the face of the globe. Fifty years, the average working period in a strong man's lifetime, is but a short span when measured against the taming of a wilderness and the development of all the complex interests of a thriving commu- nity. Individuals die, but the community lives on, and the work of develop- ment and improvement is handed down from father to son for many genera- tions. Bear this in mind, and consider also that the very first men to make their axe marks on Kossuth's unbroken forests and drive their plowshares through her virgin sod are alive and with us today, and you can get the proper perspective and come to a proper realization of the magnificent work the half-century has accomplished. It is eminently fitting, in view of our great progress and present prosperity, that we devote these two days first, to pay- ing due honor to the pioneers who first blazed the trail in the wilderness and whose shoulders have ever since been sturdily bent to the wheels of the car of progress; second, to a little modest glorification over our present condition of peace, pros- perity and happiness ; and third, to a high resolve that the next fifty years shall see an equal degree of progress in all the things that modern civilization and modern culture can offer and which make for the happiness and highest welfare of a community."

HON. AMBROSE A. CALL'S ADDRESS

The larger portion of Ambrose A. Call's address pertained to his "coming to Kossuth in 1854." That part of it has been already appropriated for this

Digitized by Google

404

HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY

volume and made a part of the chapter on that subject. Following is what he said on other topics :

"During the early summer of 1855, together with Levi Maxwell and Ben Hensley, I explored the whole country west beyond the Spirit Lake and Okoboji region, to the Minnesota line on the north and east to Winnebago county, then called the big brush country, and Clear Lake, and home across the Boone river flats. Again in 1858, a company was organized in Algona consisting of eight men -Judge Wm. McClintock, Matt Lampson, his brother-in-law, of McGregor, Wm. Benschoter, Mike Smith, James Colby, G. P. Taylor, Geo. Knapp and myself, to explore the country west along the proposed line of the McGregor Western Rail- road. Our trail took us through several Indian villages and we had many ad- ventures. We took a claim on the Missouri bottom where Smutty Bear's village was then located and where Yankton now stands, but the financial depression com- ing on we abandoned our claim and our men whom we had left to hold it floated down the Missouri river to Sioux City on a log raft. The only two of this party of adventurers now living besides myself are Mike Smith, living near the south line of Kossuth county and Wm. Benschoter of California. I mention these inci- dents in our early history as they have never been written of before.

"In 1857 occurred the Spirit Lake massacre, and in order to hold the settlers we were compelled to build a fort. This was 100 feet square, with bastions on two diagonally opposite corners, with a good well in the center. This was built under the direction of H. A. Henderson, an early pioneer of Illinois who had served through the Black Hawk war, and Judge Call, who had seen these stockades in the west.

"When the tocsin of war sounded Kossuth county had a population of but a few hundred people, but our young men from every part of the county promptly responded. They fought in nearly every battle in the west and many of them occupy unknown graves among the thousands of others. The sanitary conditions of the western army were such that many from Kossuth died of disease in hos- pitals. But a few were permitted to return to us and are here with us today. The Stars and Stripes that flutter over your heads was awarded Kossuth county as a testimonial to the generosity of the fathers and mothers of the boys in blue, early in the war.

"Kossuth county since its earliest days has been noted among the counties of the state for the enterprise and intelligence of her citizens and they have been liberal in the education of their sons and daughters. You will find them, the children of the pioneers, in almost every college and university in the land and wherever found they rank among the very foremost. Also many have gone forth to occupy high stations in every part of this great country, on the wide plains, and the high mountains, and in the parts of the great industrial centers and the islands of the sea. Wherever they are, they are filling their positions well. They will never disgrace Kossuth county or the noble state of Iowa, and wher- ever they go the well wishes of our whole people will go with them."

CAPT. W. H. INGHAM'S ADDRESS

The address of Capt. W. H. Ingham was devoted almost wholly to the experi- ence he had in coming to the county and in getting settled in his new cabin home.

Di zedby Google

405

HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY

Consequently it has already become a part of the chapter "Coming to Kossuth in 1854." He began his address with this paragraph :

"As the years pass by we become more and more interested in the past, and so we have met here today, in response to an invitation from the city of Algona, for the purpose of celebrating the settlements made in Kossuth county from forty to fifty years ago, and especially so for the first settlements were made by Messrs. Call brothers in July, 1854; and further to learn more of the early conditions of the county as seen and known by those who were here at that time. Being one of that class, I presume, is why I have been listed to make an effort in such show- ing. I may further say, that I esteem it to be a great privilege and one fully ap- preciated to be called upon at this time, as there will be no other such opportunity again until fifty years shall have passed away."

His closing utterances were as follows:

"At a time like this when we are having a celebration of the first settlement of the county on its semi-centennial anniversary, it is only natural for our minds to reach back and recall the olden-time pioneers, our friends and neighbors, who did so much to lay the foundations of what we are today. A passing thought must now be given to the little log cabin and the sod house of those early days with all their primitive ways of life, and yet where is the pioneer to be found who has ever regretted that early experience? If we could call the names of these pio- neers who have finished their work and have stepped out to rest, and have them report in person as they have been known to us, what a remarkable time and gathering it would prove to be. With hardly an exception they were strong, brave, generous and self-reliant, never complaining and always hopeful as to the future. Now as we shall not have another carnival like this for fifty years yet to come, it will be well for each and all of us to make the most of this and have a royal, good time, filling our cups to the brim and overflowing with sparkling and lasting good cheer."

ADDRESS OF HON. GEO. W. HANNA

"I came not here to talk. I came here for the sole purpose of listening to the men who came here fifty years ago-and to their children who were born here and had something to do with making Kossuth county. I wanted to hear these pioneers tell of their early experiences. I like to hear the early history of Iowa from men who made Iowa's history. I came here to take a day off, to visit and get a chunk of roast ox.

"It is true I was invited to talk but I immediately wrote Milton Starr, 'the invitor' that I did not feel that I could talk on this occasion. I felt that no man whose citizenship commenced in 1880 in this county had any right to talk, be- cause I believed that he could know but little of Kossuth's early history. I felt that none but early settlers of the county should be put on guard. But Starr, the villain, paid no attention to my letter declining to talk, but put me on the program in the most uncomfortable place imaginable-to precede these gifted ladies. Milton Starr is a mighty inconsistent man anyway. When LuVerne township belonged to the Roman Empire of the Southeast or the Commonwealth of Irvington, and we had to go to Irvington to vote, Milton got mad at me be- cause I rallied my friends to go up and vote against a certain constitutional amend-

Dlg ized by Google

406

HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY

ment which he favored, and he called me 'a newly-acquired citizen.' As measured by old settlers' time that wasn't so very long ago. Now he has the audacity to put me on the rack to tell what I know about Kossuth county's early history. Just think of it! Well, if Milton Starr is ever caught down in the flat he may expect to be rounded up.

"I did not decline to talk because I had little interest in this celebration. 1 feel that there is no one in the settlement who has a stronger and a warmer friend- ship for the early settlers of Iowa than I have. I know them. I was born among them. I have lived with them all my life. Although I had no residence in Kossuth county until 1880. I was a part of this grand army of settlers which extended from Call's Grove on the west to Dubuque on the east, and we felt that no part of the settlement was very far removed from any other part of it. We were always in touch and in full sympathy with one another. In those days families that lived within 200 miles of each other were neighbors.

"In those days, when a settler went from one part of the settlement to another he usually went with his oxen. He was in no hurry. He knew he was welcome in the cabin of any settler. If he was on the road to mill, on his return he divided his grist among the people along the route who were short. He visited; he told all the news of the settlement from whence he came and all about where he had been. The people of the early fifties knew more of their neighbors fifty miles away than do many of this generation of families living in the same block. When there was a birth on the Des Moines we on the Cedar knew all about it the first time any one from that settlement came along. If there was a death every one knew it from the Des Moines to the Mississippi, and every one was grieved. The facts are that though somewhat separated, we were still in touch with one another and knew much that was done and said in the settlement. Although Frank and George and Harve think they can put it over me as to citizenship in Kossuth county, yet I knew the day each one of them was born and exactly how each one of the little red headed statesmen looked.

"My father and mother were the pioneer settlers of Black Hawk county. On the 16th day of July, 1845, father, mother and Jolin Melrose (my mother's brother) struck camp on the east bank of the Cedar where Waterloo now stands. At that time there was no other white family in Black Hawk county. My mother was the first white woman to tread Black Hawk county soil. They made the first entry of land in that county, the old homestead. Father afterward entered and platted West Waterloo. The county seat was originally located at Cedar Falls. but Waterloo got it relocated there the first year that it was platted. The Black Hawk county seat war was scarcely paralleled by the Black Hawk Indian war.

"Flushed with the victory of that county seat fight many of the pioneer young men that were engaged in it turned their faces west to the new unorganized coun- ties of Iowa, hunting more worlds to conquer. Dr. Armstrong came to Kos- suth. My father and John Melrose to Wright county, where my father platted Goldfield and again won a county seat fight. Goldfield held the county seat until 1866.

"Quite a good many of the early settlers of Black Hawk county later on came to Kossuth county.

"I noticed by some Kossuth history that the first marriage in Algona was Hurlbut Lake and Rachel Eggers. The fathers of the couple were early in

Digliced by Google

407

HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY

Black Hawk county. Lake built the first hotel in Waterloo. Eggers was associated with my father in building the first mill at Waterloo. My father and mother owned the W. B. Carey farm in this county in 1860, and were up to see it in that year. I have always been in touch and knew something of Kossuth county and its people. I made my first trip to Algona from Goldfield in 1866. I rode on horseback from Goldfield to Johnson's Point on the Des Moines and from the Point along the old stage road across the prairie to Dr. Armstrong's store and then to Algona. It was in June and the unbroken prairie along that route was the most beautiful land this side of the pearly gates. The man who did not have the fortune to see Iowa in its primitive condition has missed a great deal. I have not been far removed from Kossuth county but little of my life. In the summer of 1858 a little steamboat, Black Hawk, made several trips from Cedar Rapids to Waterloo.

"In August of that year my father was about to make a trip with a yoke of oxen and take a load of salt to a store that he and John Melrose owned in Gold- field. As he was about to start for Wright county I suggested that I thought it would be a good thing if he would let me drive the oxen for him on that trip. He said, 'Get up on that barrel of salt and go ahead.' I was eight years old but I climbed up and drove the oxen across the country. We had five barrels of salt in our load. Waterloo felt that she was a seaboard town that year of the high water. She was getting all of her goods that year by the little steamer. I will not soon forget the first night of that trip. We went into camp at a spring near Bear Grove, about four miles east of where Ackley now is. We unyoked our oxen and turned them west beyond the wagon, where they seemed to feed very con- tentedly. We cooked our supper and prepared our bed by mowing some grass and putting it under the wagon and then spreading our blankets over it. Just before dark father said for me to go after the oxen and we would tie them to a tree near. I started out and met them coming as fast as they could run, evidently very much frightened. I tried to stop them with the whip but failed and back by the wagon they went pell mell. My father tried his best to halt them, but by him they went and soon were out of sight. My father told me to go back to the wagon and go to bed; that he would follow the oxen and that he might not overtake them until they got to Parrott's which was five or six miles further down the Beaver. I went back to the wagon, but as I was about crawling into the bed we had made I heard a wolf bark not far off. I climbed up on the salt barrel and I saw two gray wolves cross the road about a hundred yards ahead of the wagon. They ran off about forty rods on to a knoll and sat down and barked at me. My father was gone about two hours, but I never was so glad to see him in my life as I was when he returned with the oxen that night. When father got back he asked me why I hadn't crawled into bed. I told him I felt safer on top of the salt barrel with the ox whip.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Kossuth County, Iowa, Part 53

Author: Reed, Benjamin F Publication date: 1913 Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 879

Author: Reed, Benjamin F
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 879