History of Kossuth, Hancock, and Winnebago counties, Iowa; together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 70

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield IL : Union Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 950

USA > Iowa > Kossuth County > History of Kossuth, Hancock, and Winnebago counties, Iowa; together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 70
USA > Iowa > Winnebago County > History of Kossuth, Hancock, and Winnebago counties, Iowa; together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 70
USA > Iowa > Hancock County > History of Kossuth, Hancock, and Winnebago counties, Iowa; together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 70

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Orick Church, who is still a resident of the place he originally located upon, in that early day, settled upon a portion of section 33, and at once set to work to open up a farm.

Reuben Church, who came with his uncle, Orick, settled also in this vicinity, and entered into the pioneer duty of mak- ing a home. Mr. Church was for many years, at a later date, a prominent mem- ber of the community, and at one time held the position of treasurer and recorder of this county. Some years since, he re- moved from this State and is now a resi- dent of Nebraska.

Benoni Haskins was also prominently identified with the official life of the county.

Jacob Ward and John Maben, on the 27th of September, 1855, came into this

county in search of a home, and settled in the northern part of the county, and were the pioneers of that locality.

Jacob Ward, "Uncle Jacob" as he is familiarly called, and affectionately re- membered by his many friends, settled in what is now Ellington township, and built a log cabin. Here he lived on the farm lie made in the wilderness, throve exceed- ingly well, until he was killed in the cy- clone that devastated this part of the county, in June, 1881.

John Maben made a settlement in what is now known as Madison township. He, also, has been one of the men frequently honored by his fellow-citizens, with official position, and is noticed at length in the chapter on county officers.

In December, 1855, Bernard and An- drew Bolsinger appeared npon the scene, and took up land in the present Ellington township. Bernard lived here for many years, but lately moved to Oregon. An- drew is still a resident of this county.

The same month, Joseph and Lewis Barth settled in the same locality, and made claim to land. Lewis, some years since, emigrated to Sioux county, in the northwestern part of this State, where he at present resides. Joseph is still a resi- dent of Hancock county.

Jacob and Harrison Rice settled upon section 8, in what is now Ellington town- ship, in the fall of 1855. These parties did not long remain citizens of Hancock county, but sold out their claims to John Maben, and removed further south, and out of Hancock county. But little is known of them, and they being of the type of true frontiersmen, always ready

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

for a change, they have drifted far out of the sight of the residents of this county.

Philip Tennis, in the latter part of 1855, located upon the northeast quarter of sec- tion 7, in Ellington township, and re- mained a short time.

A party by the name of Pease, also located on section 23,of the same township, but did not stay very long, selling out and removing to some other part of the State.

Thomas Bearas, a trapper and hunter, a mighty nimrod in the county, built him a rabin in what is now Madison township, late in the fall of 1855. Mr. Bearas after- ward- removed to Winnebago county ..

Among the other settlers of 1856 and 1857 were : Francis and Richard Col- burn, C. R. and Silas 3. Wright, H. A. Stiles, Charles Gillespie, M. P. Rosecrans, Thomas Wheelock, David Hunt, Robert Irwin, George Louppe, C. D. Pritchard and Charles Church and his sons C M. and Cyrus. All these and many others are noticed at greater length, and in fuller detail under their proper head in the histories of the townships wherein they located

With these it might be said that the pioneer days of this part of the county elosed. But few new settlers came here after this until the elose of the War of the Rebellion, when a fresh impetus was given to immigration and Hancock county gained rapidly in population.

The first child born in Hancock county was George Avery, the son of Anson and Lavina Avery, whose birth occurred in the month of January, 1855. George is still a resident of the township and county of his nativity.

The first death was that of George W. Haskins, who died June 2, 1855, and was buried at Upper Grove.

The first marriage was that which united Allen Vonker and Jane Haskins, which occurred in 1856. This county not being yet organized, and having no one authorized to tie the nuptial knot, this pair journeyed to Mason City, in Cerro Gordo county, where the ceremony was performed They did not live 10- gether long, but separated. The lady is now in Minnesota, and Yonkers, when last heard from, was in the penitentiary.

The first school was taught by C. D. Pritchard, in a dwelling house in Avery township, on section 29, in the spring of 1857.

The first religious service in the county was held at the log cabin of Benoni Haskins, at Upper Grove, in the spring of 1858. The Rev. Mr. MeNutt being the preacher.

The first postoffice established in the county, was located at Upper Grove, and Benoni Ilaskins commissioned as post- master. This was in 1857.

ORGANIZATION.

For years prior to any thought of the existence of Hancock county, all this ter- ritory constituted a portion of the reser- vation of the Winnebago Indians, and the neutral ground as stated elsewhere. The settlement began, as we have seen, in 1854, and as soon as there were settlers enough for it to be at all recognized, it was attached to Webster county for judi- eial purposes. Thus it continued until 1857, when it was attached to Winnebago county. During the spring of 1858, there was believed to be enough inhabitants in

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HISTORY OF IJANCOCK COUNTY.

the county to organize, so application was made to Robert Clark, then the county judge of Winnebago county, for the neces- sary authority. The following is a copy of the original document, conferring the right to the citizens of Hancock county to organize themselves into a separate county and eleet officers for their govern- ment :

STATE OF IOWA, WINNEBAGO COUNTY. -Ss.

June 8, 18:8.

WHEREAS, A petition of a majority of the legal voters of llancock county has been pre- sented to me, Robert Clark, county judge of Winnebago county, to which said county of Hancock is, by law, attached;

Now, therefore, I, Robert Clark, county judge of Winnebago county. do hereby order an election, by the legal voters of said Hancock county, to be held on Monday, June 28, 1858, for the purpose of electing the following county officers, to-wit: A county judge, a treasurer, a recorder, a clerk of the district court, a sheriff, an assessor, a coroner, a county superintendent of schools, a drainage commissioner, a county surveyer, and such township officers as are - allowed by law. Said election to be held in ac- cordance with the net in relation to new coun- ties, and said election will be held as follows: All the legal vot rs of said county are, under this order, allowed and permitted to vote for or against the banking laws, and for the county and township officers, and it is further ordered that congressional township No. 96, ranges 23, 24 25 an 1 26, a so township 95, ranges 23, 24, 25 and 26, also township 94, ranges 23, 24, 25 and 26 commise one township to be known as Avery township, and an election be held at the house of B. Haskins, in said township; and, it is also ordered, that congressional township 97, ranges 23, 24, 25 and 26 shall comprise one township to be known as Madison township, and an . lection be held at the house of J. C. Bonar, in said township, and James C. Bonar, J. Ward and M Colburn are hereby appointed judges of said election, and this shall be your

order and warrant for the same, and you are further to duly canvass such votes as may be cast, and make due return to me at my office, in Forest City; in seven (7) days from said fourth Monday of June, A. D. 1858.

Given under my hand and the seal of said Winnebago county, this, the 8th day of June, A. D. 1858.

[Seal] ROBERT CLARK, County Judge of Winnebago County.

In accordance with this, the first election was held on the 28th of June, 1858. There were but twenty two votes cast, and the following officers were chosen: M. P. Rosecrans, county judge; George Louppe, clerk of the courts; Benoni Haskins, sheriff; Reuben Church, treasurer and recorder; G. R. Maben, superintendent of common schools; C. R. Wright, surveyor; J. C. Bonar, drainage commissioner. This brought Hancock county into official and and legal existence. For some years the county had no county seat, but the busi- ness was transacted either at Upper Grove, Ellington or wherever the county officials happened to reside. On the 4th of November, John I. Popejoy and James Goodwin, having been ap- pointed commissioners for that purpose by the judge of the district court, made the selection for the seat of county gov- ernment. This was the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 31, township 96, range 23. The land was donated to the county by Truman Sey- mour, of the State of New York, shortly after this location.

The first county buildings owned by Hancock county were two frame edifices erected by them in November, 1865. These offices, for they were only that, were each 16x24 feet and nine feet high.

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

On the 5th of December, of that year, the board of supervisors, instructed the clerk that he was to notify the various officers that they must take possession of these and keep their books and papers therein. This was complied with and Hancock county rejoiced in county buildings. These buildings were erected at a cost of $2,000, as will be seen by a glance at the official action of the board, further on.

Prior to this, an attempt had been made 10 settle the county seat at Amsterdam, and on the Ist day of December, 1860, a contract was entered into, by and between M. P. Rosecrans, county judge, and B. A. Ilill, by which the latter party agreed to build, for the county, a court house in the village of Amsterdam, Hancock county, for and in consideration of $2,000. All the papers were drawn and signed, and the plans and specifications made, but the county judge ceasing to be the supreme ruler, January the 1st, following, the matter dropped to the ground, as the parties were enjoined from proceeding any further, by writ of injunction of the district court, made on application of many of the citi- zens of the county.

During the year 1867, the board of su- pervisors submitted to the people of the county, a proposition, that they would levy a tax of ten mills on the dollar of tax- able property, in the county, for the pur- pose of building a court house. At the special election, ordered for that purpose, through some misunderstanding in regard to the matter, the proposition was defeated by a vote of thirty-five to nineteen. How ever, at the next meeting of the board, a petition was presented, signed by some forty of the qualified electors of the county

asking a re-submittal of the question, and the board granted the same, and ordered the election to take place upon the 23d of the following March. When that day came, the people of the county, walked up to the polls, and with that weapon of free- men, the ballot, voted the necessary ten mill tax. The canvass of the votes showed that fifty-five voted in its favor, while only eighteen were opposed to its adoption. The honorable board at once proceeded to let the contract for the building of the present substantial court house. The for- tunate individual, to whom was awarded the contract, was Grove R. Maben. Dur- ing the summer of 1867, he constructed the edifice, and about the last of the year 1868, turned it over to the county officials. It stands in a most beautiful grove, and is constructed of brick, and by the judi- cions management of the county board, has been well painted, of a brick red color, penciled in white. It is surmounted by a handsome enpola, which adds much to its outward appearance. On the first floor, on each side of a wide corridor, are the offices of the four principal functionaries of the county government, and at the rear, a large, roomy, and safe vault, in which are kept the valuable books and papers. In the second story is the court room. The contract with Mr. Maben was for $9,000, but changes in the plan, and necessary al- terations, together with other items, brought the cost of the structure up to $10,000. It is quite creditable to so young a county, that its officers have so commo- dious a housing.

REMINISCENCE. (By Hon. J. M. Elder.)

Excepting local incidents, the history of the settlement of one northern Iowa

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

county is substantially that of nearly every other, and in the fewest words written are those of privation and hard- ship. All historians will find the interro- gated pioneer the hero of the times and the self recognized leader of the brave ones who directed the destinies of his locality to its present prosperity. It was he who suffered and bore the brunt of the battle and in most cases has little but the glory left. Few of the Hancock county pioneers are left, and still fewer have attained position financially or po- litically. The reason is obvious. Many of our first settlers were of the true type of the western man, who only awaited the advance of civilization and advance- ment to move further west and again be- gin anew a life most congenial to their tastes and habits. Others wasted their best days in the fight with inclement scasons and the thousand drawbacks of a new country, to see others who came later, reap the harvest that they had sown dur- ing the long years of fight for mere sub- sistence. The few who limited their wants to their means, and were content to remain as toilers rather than seekers through political and speculative fields, are now in condition with the same man- agement to pass the remainder of their days in comfort and ease.

In reviews of the past it is well for the pioneer that "distance lends enchantment to the view," for aside from the many genuine displays of Christian sympathy and assistance, and the more laughable as- pect of life in all its phases, there is really little that any one would care to perpetuate in the early settlement of any county. The incessant fight for livelihood and a

degree of comfort is so incessant that the periods of sunshine are transient and seldom. Nevertheless, many of the friend- ships of the olden times will be the brightest at last.

In the spring of 1857, following the Spirit Lake massacre by Inkpodutah's band, the whole northwest portion of the State was thrown into excitement, and even in the then older portions of the State the people were alarmed, and many temporarily left for secure retreats, ex- peeting that the whole State would be over-run by the hundreds of thousands of savages reported advancing from every direction. When escape was impossible, houses were barricaded at night, and many families would congregate in the apparently most secure place for mutual de- fense and protection. To-day can be seen in West Belmond the dim outline of a stockade of vast dimensions, which was designed to shelter the settlers of that vicinity and their stock during the troub- lous times. Fortunately, as the sequel proved, there was little but the outlines thrown up, and if not molested further will in time furnish other evidences of the craft and necessities of the pre-historic man. Each day, for many, brought tid- ings of the massacre of a neighboring set- tlement, and the following night corres- pondingly freighted with fears.

One bright spring morning three of the young braves of Belmond, worn by anxi- ety and fears, filled their knapsacks with provisions, and with guns and ammunition started west to learn the truth of the ter- rible reports. They had not proceeded a dozen miles until they met a party who had just come from Spirit Lake, and that

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

morning from Johnson's Forks on the Des Moines, who in the most provokingly cool manner imaginable informed the said "braves" he did not believe there was a hostile Indian in Iowa. Ile gave the first true version of the massaere, and in that neighborhood restored quiet. As the implements of war were suitable and more intended for defensive than aggres- sive warfare, the transformation to plough- shares was speedily accomplished and the beleaguered again resumed their peaceful pursuits. Without doubt the valor of the rising generation depreciated very rap -. idly at the close of the war. Some laugh- able incidents occurred in the duties of guards and pickets. It was reported that several challenged cows, who had not the countersign and pass, were shot down, and it is well known from the statements of said guards and piekets that many of the red devils were actually seen at night, notwithstanding the general unbelief that quickly followed the restoration of peace.

Among the early settlers at Upper Grove was a thrifty farmer named II-, whose acres were broad and valuable. Ilis family was composed of many sons and daughters, the latter of whom, like the daughters of the rich and influential in all times, were objects of attention and admiration by the young men of the country. Especially was this the case of the eldest whose heart and hand was be- sieged by two of the prominent young men of the place, whether in a spirit of equity or inability to choose, neither for a term was preferred, and as the anxiety became each day more unbearable, their acts became frantic and dangerous. No. 1, in his desperation, attempted suicide in

many ways, but as the fates were against him, failed to succeed. At one time he attempted to drown himself in the Iowa, but being mid-winter and the stream fro- zen to the bottom no water could be found and that scheme failed. An attempt to ent his throat with a pin was equally in- efficient owing to the size of the throat in comparison to that of the pin. No more successful was the attempt to choke him- self by cramming a pillow down his throat as the object of death was, in this case, a little too large. These demonstrations of affection were too strong for the father if not the daughter, who one winter day loaded the couple into a sled, placed a golden eagle in the hands of a trusty neighbor and sent them to Mason City, the then nearest point where marriage could be solemnized, where No. 1 was made happy in the possession of the fair Jane. The course of true love, however, ran no more smoothly after, than before. Harmony did not prevail, and we fear the manly form and knightly being of No. ? grew, rather than diminished in the eyes of the young bride, for certain it is that during the next June the onee happy hus- band departed without as much as an adien ; and in a short time thereafter, without resort to troublesome courts, the young bereft wife married No. 2. We believe thereafter the course of true love ran in its natural channel. The offspring of the last marriage are numerous and we hope ereditable to their parents; and that the efforts of the determined pair will be perpetuated in family as well as county history. The last heard of the would be suicide, and first husband, he was revel- ing at the State's expense at Ft. Madison

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

for permitting the team of another to carry him to Minnesota. The not least singular part of the affair was his ar- rest within three miles of his early ad- ventures, and yet to that time had never been in llancock county since the June day twenty years before.

Although substantial settlements were in existence at Ellington and Upper Grove at the time of the location of the county seat at Concord, few points in the county were ever settled under more disadvan- tages. The location was made in Novem- ber and followed at onee by the erection . of two buildings, each 18x24 feet, for the use of the clerk and treasurer. These were occupied respectively by J. M. Elan, clerk, and II. N. Briking, treasurer in the last days of December and the first of January following. No road or even trail

led to the place, and scarcely two reached the buildings by the same route for many months. A terribly severe winter fol- lowed, and provision and forage were transported with difficulty and danger from wherever they could be obtained. At the meetings of the board and on other occasions the buildings were crowded and no shelter for many of the teams. At other times days would pass and not a soul be seen. In July following, the fam- ily of J. M. Elan, consisting of himself, wife and child, were alone for seven days, during which time they saw not the face of another human being. In September, the child siekened and died, and the near- est neighbor lived many miles distant. His body was prepared for burial by the hands of his mother. Yet neighbors were kind and never omitted an opportunity to help, aid and assist when in their power.

CHAPTER III.

COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

As stated, in early days, Hancock was attached first to Webster and later to Winnebago county for judicial purposes, but was duly organized, by authority of Judge Clark, of the latter county, in 1858. At this time the powers of the present board of supervisors was vested in the county court. This consisted of a judge, a prosecuting attorney and the sheriff. The judge had entire jurisdiction in all matters that could not properly be brought

before the district court, and he was, therefore, to a certain extent, "supreme ruler" in all local matters. The office was the most important one in the gift of the people of the county.

The records of the county court com- menee with the organization of the county. The first court consisted of M. P. Rose- crans, county judge; Benoni Haskins, sheriff; and George Louppe, clerk. No business of any importance seems to have

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

been transacted, except the issning of county warrants, the first being in favor of Charles Church, and was for lumber furnished for the building of a county office, and was for the sum of $57.85. The second was to Robert L. Irwin and was for $119.19, for building the above office.

No official record exists of any business occupying the attention of the county court until the month of December, 1860, when an effort was made to have the vil- lage of Amsterdam made the county seat, and in furtherance of the scheme, a con- tract was let, by the county judge, for the building of a $2,000 court house at that place, but the "best laid plans of men and mice oft gang agley" and the Ist of Janu- ary saw a change of administration, and the plan fell to the ground, the contractors being prevented from going on by a writ of injunction. During these years, the county had consisted of the two original townships of Madison and Avery, and no new ones were organized under the county court system. The court met whenever and wherever it saw fit, as no actual seat of government had been located.

During the winter of 1859-60 an act was passed by the General Assembly, which was approved by the governor, changing the mode of local government, and creating the board of supervisors of the county. This board took charge, and had all powers formerly vested in the county court, excepting the issuance of marriage licenses, probate matters and civil cases.

The county court still held its sessions and continued to do so until 1869, when it was abolished by law; but nothing of any interest transpired, as the time was all spent in routine matters.

THE BOARD OF COUNTY SUPERVISORS consisted of one member from each town- ship. The election for members was held at the time of the general election, in November, 1860, and the first meeting of the board of supervisors, of Hancock county, was held at Amsterdam, on the first Monday in January, 1861. This board consisted of the following gentle- men: G. R. Maben, Madison; and B. W. Culver, Avery. After perfecting the or- ganization of the board by the election of Mr. Maben to the chair, they proceeded to the transaction of business. The prinei- pal matters dealt with seem to have been the allowing of claims and ordering their payment. The salary of the clerk of the board was set at $200 per annum, for his services as such, payable quarterly. The board, at this session, also entered into an agreement with W. P. Hepburn, by which he was to go to Washington, D. C., and attend to the business of the county in relation to the swamp and overflowed lands lying within its borders, according to the act of Congress, approved Sept. 28, 1850. For these services Mr. Hepburn was to receive $200 in hand, and if he succeeded in obtaining either the land serip or the warrants he was to receive $800 more.

The first warrant drawn by order of the board was to Edward Thorp, for entting wood for the office of the clerk of the board, and was for seventy-five cents and bears date of Jan. 7, 1861, and number one. At the June session the board or- dered the division of the township of Madison, and the erection, of the part cut off, into a new civil township to be known as Ellington. At the same time the

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

township of Avery was divided and part of that ordered to organize under the name of Amsterdam.

The tax levy of this year was laid as follows: For State tax, one and a half mills; for county tax, six mills; for school purposes, one mill ; for bridge fund, one mill.

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History of Kossuth, Hancock, and Winnebago counties, Iowa; together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 70

Author: Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Springfield IL : Union Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 950

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield IL : Union Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 950