History of Kossuth and Humbolt 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 69

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Union Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 898

USA > Iowa > Humboldt County > History of Kossuth and Humbolt 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 69

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).

Edward Kune established a hay press at Wesley, in the simmer of 1882, which he continues to operate at the present. He is doing a good business in this line.

The blacksmith shop is conducted by Gustin Tyler, a good and accommodating mechanic, who came here from Algona in the fall of 1883, and opened a shop for' that business.

A blacksmithy was established in Jann- ary, 1878, by E. Perry, who continued to operate it until 1881, when he sold out, and it was run by a man in the employ of G. W. Eddy, who had purchased it. The following year Perry returned, bought back his old forge, and started anew, only to sell out to Mr. Eddy again in the fall of 1883.

The livery business is in the hands of George W. Eddy, who originated this line of business here, in 1875. He has a xtable full of good rigs and his charges are reasonable.

In September, 1872, some religious ser- vices were held at this village, but not until the following year was there any. thing like a Church society instituted. The first meetings were held in the granary of Taylor & Ormaby, which was but 12x16 feet, withont windows, although it could boast of two doors. After a short time here, services were instituted at the depot, where they were continned until the fall of 1874. At that time Elder A. S. R. Groome, of the Irvington circuit, came to Wesley and preached to this little flock, in the new school house which had been just built. He was succeeded in March, 1876, by Elder Freeman Frank-

lin, who re-organized the class, and re- mained two years. The first protracted meetings were held during the adminis- tration of Elder Groomne, in 1874, when five converts united with the Church. In October, 1877, Elder F. E. Drake, was ap- pointed on this circuit and served until 18:0, when, in September of that year, he was succeeded by Jolin M. Woolery. On the 7th of October, 1883, he in turn gave place to his successor, the present shepherd of the flock, Rev. A. L. Tryon. This gentleman came to Wesley, from Comanche, Clinton county, and gives evi- dence of his peculiar fitness for the work. A man of culture and a fair speaker, he will do good work in most any field. The parsonage of this Church stands npon the east half of block 27, and cost some $400 to build, and is a nice cosey little home. The present officers of the Church are as follows:

A. L. Tryon, pastor; E. E. Thomas, G. J. Baker, Frederick Anderson, J. W. Hlop- kinx and J S. Gallagher, trustees; F. Anderson, district steward; J. S. Gal- lagher, recording steward; J. W. Hop- kins, G. J. Baker and Mrs. G. B. Ilall, stewards; G. N. H. Ransom, chorister. The Wesley class numbers about twenty- five members in good standing and bids fair to do good work in the community. J. HI. Merrill, the proprietor of the town site, has donated the north half of block 31 to the society for a place on which to erect a church edifice, which they will probably build next year. In connection with the society is a fine Sabbath school which has a membership of about fifty under the superintendency of J. S. Gal- lagher. This is in excellent condition and great interest is taken in it by all.

Rev. A. L. Tryon was born in Signory of Nyon, Rouville Co., Lower Canada, July 25, 1825. Ilis early education was with the French language. When twenty years of age he moved to the States, lo- cating in Westport, Essex Co., N. Y. He resided there six years, during which time he worked at the carpenter and joiner's trade. He then removed to Iowa, locat-

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ing at Le Claire. While there he worked at his trade, and for three years was fore- man of a gang in the ship-carpenter yard. In 1871 he removed to Comanche, Clinton Co., Iowa, where he worked at his trade. In September, 1881, he came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, purchasing eighty acres of land on sections 24 and 25, Wes- ley township, where he now lives. When eighteen years of age Mr. Tryon was licensed to exhort by the Wesleyan Church. Ile preached at different times, and is now in charge of the Wesley circuit in Kossuth county. During the late war Mr. Tryon enlisted three times, was twice rejected and the third time was appointed chaplain of the 22d Iowa, but was not called into service. Mr. Tryon was married, in 1849, to Hulda A. Slangh- ter, of Essex Co., N. Y. They have had eight children, six of whom are living- Almeda, Hulda I., Albert L., Zenas A., Bas- com B. and Ralph E. Mrs. Tryon is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Meridian Lodge, Independent Order of of Good Templars, was organized on the 7th of August, 1878, by J. M. Comstock, of Algona, district deputy. The first offi- cers were: George W. Eddy, W. C. T .; F. E. Eldy, W. V. T .; O. J. Emmons, W. Chap .; A. Daggett, W.S .; Mary L Leggett, W. A. S .; O. Robinson, W. F. S .; Mra. G. J. Baker, W. T .; F. D. Robinson. W. M .; Julia Robinson, W. I. G .; B. Daggett, W. O. G .; Sarah Ritchie, W. D. M .; M. Taylor, lodge deputy; G J. Baker, P. W. C. T. The lodge is at present in a good condition, but, like all bodies of like na- ture, it has had its ups and downs. One year ago it had a membership of only nineteen, but now has about fifty-five. The present officers are: H C. Hollenbeck, W. C. T .; Mrs. Coasant. W. V. T .; C. E. Oleson, W. S .; M. C. Waite, W. A. S .; Harry Waite. W. F. S .; John Thompson, W. T .; G. N. H. Ransom, W. Chap .; John Woodcock, W. M .; Ida Dinger. W. D. M .; J. S. Gallagher, P. W. C. T .; Etta Daniels, W. I. G .; Oza Artz, W. O. G.

Success Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Wesley, was organized March 16, 1883, by deputy grand master, Joseph Nicoulin, of Algona, with the following six charter members: Thomas Presuell, F. M. Butts, Fred An- derson, Joseph Laws, J. M. Orthel and Wil- liam Orthel. At this organization eight new members joined and the lodge thus started with a membership of fourteen. The first officers were the following named: Thomas Presnell, N. G .; F. M. Butta, V. G .; Fred Anderson, secretary. The lodge, which now has a membership of nineteen, meets every Saturday evening in their hall, which is a fine room, 20x38 feet, with an ante-room 8x20 feet. Although a new lodge, yet by a determined effort it has been brought into most excellent working order, and is a credit to the order to which 'it belongs.

Wesley cemetery was laid out in 1878. The first interment was that of the body of Charles Hardin, of Irvington township, who was killed by lightning as related else- where. He was buried at first on the open pairie, in 1875, north of the railroad track, but on the institution of this graveyard, his body was exhumed and reburied therein.

J. W. Hopkins, son of Benjamin and Elizabeth Ilopkins, was born in Burslem, England, May 31, 1844. When three years of age he emigrated with his par- ents to America. His father purchased a farm in Columbia Co., Wis., where Mr. Hop- kins lived until October, 1868, then came to Iowa, locating near Charles City, Floyd county. He remained there one year, then removed to Nora Springs, where he re- sided until March, 1871. when he came to Kossuth county and took a homestead of eighty acres ou section 10, Wesley town- ship. He resided on his farm until 1880, when, on account of his wife's health, he removed to Wesley village, where he now lins good residence property. Mr. Hop- kins was married Oct. 20, 1867, to Mary A. Church, of Dekorra, Wis. They have five children-Richard R .. Minnie A., Li- ona M., Myrtle E. and Ruth E. In poli- tics Mr. Hopkins is a republican. He is

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connected with the Phoenix & Farmers Insurance Company, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He commenced traveling for the Decorah marble works in 1883. Mr. Hopkins is a member of the I. O. O. F. of Wesley.

George Dickman a native of Germany, was born in Holstein, March 4, 1845. He emigrated to America, locating in Chi- cago, where he lived eleven years. For six years of that time he was engaged in the milk business. He then came to Kos- suth county and located on the northeast quarter of section 9, and erected a honse 24x26 feet. He was married on the 224 of March, 1866, to Margaret E. Gruhl, a native of Germany. They have four children-Henry, John, Christina and Anna. Mr. and Mrs. Dickman and family are members of the Lutheran Church. His parents are buried in Germany. Hle keeps one of the neatest looking farms in the county. Ile is energetic, enterprising and a useful citizen. Mrs. Dickman's fa- ther is buried in Germany; but her mother is living.

Joseph A Cunningham is a native of Virginia, born in Monongalia county, Oct. 2, 1831. When he was two years of age his parents, Joseph and Elizabeth (Walker) Cunningham, removed to Ohno. Ile lived in Ohio thirty-two years, then removed to Olmsted Co., Minn. He re- mained in that county three years, when he came to Kossuth county and took a homestead of eighty acres in Wesley township, ou section 16. He immediately put up a sod house, and in two years erected a log house, which he lived in until 1882, when he built the neat frame house he now ocenpies. He was united in marriage, Feb. 3, 1854, with Matilda Price, of Washington Co., Ohio. fler parents are dead. This union has been blessed with six children-Mansel S., Price, Margaret C., Joshna, Joseph P. and Effie. Politically he is a republican. Ile has held the office of township trustee for several years.

James P. Gray was born in Washington Co., Ohio, Sept. 22, 1837. When nine- teen years of age he went to Olmsted Co., Minn., working two years in Jesse H. Hawthorn's saw mill at that place. He then went to Duhque Co., Iowa, where he worked for eighteen months on a farm. He then went to Wright Co., Iowa, work- ing there on a farm for two years. . He then spent seven years on a farm and in a saw mill in Fayette county. Mr. Gray enlisted March 29, 1864, in company C, 6th lowa Cavalry, being mustered in at Davenport. Ile was in the battles of Bad Lands, Totolooke hills. He was a corporal, and had charge of the ropes which they tied horses with. After the elose of the war Mr. Gray returned to Rochester, Minn., remaining there two years. In 1870 he removed to Kossuth connty, settling on the south half of the southwest quarter of section 4, township 97, range 27. Hle now owns forty acres adjoining. He was married Nov. 10, 1869, to Emma J. Hoffman, of Rochester, Minn. Mr. and Mrs. Gray have seven children-William R., Henry M., Nancy J., Frederick R., Charles, James and George. Mr. Gray is a democrat in poli- tics. Ile has been justice of the peace for three years, and school director four years.

George F. Holloway was born in Columbia Co., Wis., June 30, 1854. When six years of age he went with his parents, James and Ann (O'Dwyer) Hol- loway, to Dane county. In 1876 he came to Kossuth county, remaining three years, then going to Kansas, where he resided eighteen months, then returned to this county. He now resides on section 20, township 97, range 27, Wesley township. Hle is employed in threshing in proper seasons. Mr. Holloway also owns eighty acres of land in Portland township. He was married Jan. 8, 1878, to Mary Gur- ren, of Wesley township. She is a daughter of Patrick and Bridget Gurren. Mr. Holloway is a democrat in politics. Ile is a member of the Catholic Church. lle is also engaged in the dairy business, keeping eleven cows.

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HISTORY

HUMBOLDT COUNTY,

IOWA.

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTION.

A S the changes of less than half a cen- | tion. But what a contrast! Then all was tury are contemplated, one can ! as Nature formed it, with its variagated scarcely realize or comprehend that the wonderful results of Time's marvel-work- ing hand are the achievements of a period so brief as to be within the remembrance -almost-of the present generation.

Let us turn back, as it were, the leaves of Time's great book to but a quarter of a century ago, and the stranger would have gazed upon a landscape of great beauty; selected by the Sioux and Dakotahs as their camping-ground, with that singular appreciation of the beautiful which Nature made an instinct in the savage. These vast and rolling prairies were as green then as now; the prairie flowers bloomed as thickly and diffused their fragrance as bountifully. We are in the haunt of the red man, with scarcely a trace of civiliza-

hue of vegetation; in winter a dreary snow-mantled desert, in summer a perfect paradise of flowers. Now all traces of the primitive are obliterated; in place of the tall prairie grass and tangled under- brush, one beholds the rich waving fields of golden grain. In place of the dusky warrior's rude cabins are the substantial and often elegant dwellings of the thrifty farmers, and the "iron horse," swifter than the nimble deer, treads the pathway so recently the trail of the red man. Then the sickle of fire annually cut away the wild herbage and drove to its death the stag; now it is the home of the cereals and nourishes on its broad bosom thousands of tous of the staple products of the great Hawkeye State. Then the storm drove

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the were-wolf to its hiding place; now the blast drives the herd of the husbandman to comfortable shelter. The transforma- tion is complete.

It now becomes the pleasant duty of the historian to note down upon the pages of history the trials, the troubles, the con- quest of the hardy band of pioneers who achieved this metamorphosis. Lessening cach year under the relentless hand of death, this little knot of early settlers, who first broke the way for civilization and planted the broad mark of progress on the virgin prairies of Humboldt county, are fast passing away. But, before they have all been gathered to their rest, we must hasten and gather from their lips the tales of by-gone time, which they alone can tell; tales of how they, bold adventurous pio- neers, both men and women, leaving the friendly shelter of the old home roof-tree, pushed out into this domain of the wild beast, and his scarce less wild brother,the red Indian, and here essayed to earve ont for themselves new homes.

In many cases their bent forms, their furrowed brows and hoary hair, tell of the battle with trial and hardship, the fight for life against want and penury; but the bright eye, the firm glance, tell that they conquered, after a long struggle, as only a noble band of heroes could con- quer, and they seem spared to sanctify the homes that they have founded in this domain of nature.

'Their deeds deserve a niehe in history, that will long outlast the stately monu- ments of stone or bronze that will soon mark the place where they will sleep in peace. Let the historian bend the ear, that their narative in its fullest detail may

be gathered from their lips, that future generation, shall know them and give re- spect and honor where such is due.

But thirty years ago, these now pro- ductive acres, these rich grazing lands and fertile farms, were lying an unbroken wilderness, the hunting, and often the battle ground of the wild aborigine. But with the coming of the white man, the sun of progress dawned upon Humboldt county, and like the advance of day, its light has grown brighter and lighter and stronger, until the noontide of prosperity seems not far distant. Like the years of man, the county had but a feeble exis- tence in its early days, but now, in the bright and lusty strength of young man- hood, it rejoices in its might.

The soil was rich and productive, but what sterling nerve and determination was required to make it a suitable habita- tion for man and to reclaim to the uses of civilization its nubroken sod. To turn their backs upon the older homes of their race, as did these heroic adventurers, was no light task, and to them belongs the crown of victory, for they have conquered Dame Nature, in her wildest mood. But the present and future generations can hardly repay these pioneers, who have thus opened up this glorious section of country. Let us then honor them as they should be honored as far above the com. mon herd.

** When the statesman saves the Nation : soldier stands the burning test,

Then the Nation pays them proudly. with a medal at the breast,

But the pioneer, with ax and plow clears the way for coming race,

Shall be then be forgotten, dying, leave no lasting trace. His reward? Nor cross nor medal, but all others high above.

They may wear more splendid symbols, they have gained a people's love."

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CHAPTER II.

TOPOGRAPHY, GEOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY.

Humboldt is one of the Upper Des Moines river valley counties in the second tier from the north line of the State, and is the seventh from the Mississippi river on the east. It lies between the forty- second and forty-third parallels, the forty-third passing through Kossuth county, about six miles north of the north line of the county, and on the ninety- fourth meridian, west from Greenwich, or sixteen west from Washington, which passes through the center of it. It con- tains but twelve congressional townships, or 432 square miles. This superficial area gives it 276,480 acres of the most pro- ductive quality.

Few counties in the State are as well supplied with pure running streams of water. The principal of these are the two forks or branches of the Des Moines river, Bloody creek, Lott's creek, Ter- willigen creek, Indian creek, Beaver creek, Prairie creek and Badger creek. The East Fork of the Des Moines, a really fine stream, enters the connty on the northeast quarter of section 1, in the township of Delana, and running in a general southerly course, although with considerable of a bend to the east, in the center of the county, makes its exit on the south line of section 31, Dakota town- ship. The West Branch of the Des

Moines makes its entrance in the north- west corner of Avery township, flows in a sontheasterly course and makes a junc. tion with the other fork on section 19, Da- kota township. Lott's creek enters the county on the north line of section 5, Delana township, and meanders along with crooked course in a southwesterly course and empties into the East Fork of the Des Moines, after having made a con- fluence with Terwilligen creek, which rises in the northeastern part of Wacousta township. Bloody creek has its head on section 23, of the latter township, and in- tersects Delana and Humboldt townships as far as the Des Moines, into which it empties. Prairie creek traverses the northeastern corner of the county, while the others are smaller water courses in the southern portion of Humboldt, empty- ing into the Des Moines.

Considerable timber is found along these streams, principally bordering both forks of the Des Moines river, the banks of which are fringed with a heavy growth of elm, ash, cottonwood and burr oak trees. Groves dot the prairies in all parts, along the courses of the smaller streams, and it is said that although the county is, to a great extent, prairie, still, no farm is more than eight miles from timber from which a supply of fuel may

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be obtained. An aggregate of over 5,000 acres of land in the county is covered with these native trees, besides the nu- merous groves and hedges, set out by the hands of clear-sighted settlers at an early day. The land is principally level or slightly undulating, except in the vicinity of the larger streams, where it becomes of a more rolling character, none so broken, however, as to unfit it for agricultural purposes.

The soil varies, being in most places a rich, warm, black loam, the alluvial de- posit of pre-historic rivers and lakes. This is of an exceedingly fertile and pro- ductive quality and yields a rich return to the industrious husbandman. The valleys of the principal streams cannot be excelled in fertility by any land in the State. This, with the exception of some land on the east of Owl lake, which is a series of grassy marshes, is the general character of the land.

The county is well supplied with rich strata of stone, sufficient for all building purposes, or more. Beds of most excel- lent limestone, of the sub-carboniferous formation, are exposed along the banks of both branches of the Des Moines river. At Humboldt the oolitic limestone of the Trenton group, crops out in large quan- tity and makes a most excellent quality of lime, much of which is manufactured at this point. This strata here is exposed for a thickness of from thirteen to sixteen feet. Above Dakota City, on the East Fork, there is an exposure of about thir- teen feet, made up of the following strata: Fragmentary, gray limestone or shale, one foot; indnrated sandy clay, two feet; calcareous sandstone, in thin layers, six

feet; and magnesian limestone, four feet. This last makes a fine quality of building material.

Peat exists in a limited quantity in the eastern section of the county and the southern portion, lying within the known coal measures of the State, a small quan- tity of that invaluable fuel has been mined in that locality.

Both branches of the Des Moines river possess fine water powers, at present but partially developed, but as the country settles up, and capital accumulates, this valuable resource will be utilized, and make no small element in the wealth of the county. The day seems not far dis- tant when factories and mills will line both banks of these rivers, and while giv- ing employment to countless hands, add importance and wealth to this region.

In agricultural products Humboldt county may well rank among the first in the State in the production of the great cereals in proportion to population. By the United States census of 1880 it is found that the yield for the year previous was as follows: Wheat, 125,915 bushels on 9,539 acres; Indian corn, 928,605 bushels on 25,270 acres; oats, 201,982 bushels on 5,827 acres; barley, 13,478 bushels on 740 acres; rye, 12,308 bushels on 654 acres. There were at that time in tlie county 63,594 acres of improved land, having a value of $1,132,258, and the total value of all the productions from these farms in the year 1879 reaches the large figure of $512,902.

RAILROADS.

The Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad was completed through this county in 1880, and thus, for the first time, people

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were enabled to visit Humboldt county by rail. This line furnishes direct com- munication with the lumber regions on the north and the coal fields on the south. It enters the county at the village of Ver- non, running in a southwesterly course until it reaches Livermore, when the di- rection is changed to one nearly north and south, passing between the two towns of Dakota and Humboldt. After leaving here the course is changed again to a southeasterly one, and it passes out of the county on the south line of Beaver town- ship.

The northern Iowa C. & N. W. Rail- way traverses the county from east to west, crossing the M. & St. L. at Dakota City, and forms a direct line, all the way

over one road, to Chicago. A branch of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern also traverses the county from east to west, entering the county on the east and about its central portion, crossing the Minneapolis & St. Louis at Livermore, and running out of the county near its northwest corner. Both of these lines are so well known as to need no descrip- tion. They are among the very best in the country, and have in operation all the modern conveniences for railway travel.

Another branch of the C. & N. W. Railway extends about ten miles across the northeast corner of the county, and the Des Moines & Fort Dodge extends about the same distance across the south- west corner of the county, making in all five lines of railroad that cross the county.

CHAPTER III.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The annals of the early settlement of any country, while it is the most difficult part to collate, is yet the most interesting and entertaining to the general reader, and of absorbing interest to the early settler him- self. Here the pioneer, noble forerunner of the present civilization, sees the graphic picture of those early days when first he pitched his tent in the wilderness, when first he reared his humble cabin in the grove, or on the wind-swept prairie. As he pores over these lines, busy memory

recalls the recollections of those by-gone days, and he lovingly lingers over the pages, while in meditation the picture grows, and he lives once more those hours of frontier life. He loses the present, and enjoys again the halcyon days when he had youth and health and strength, and in the bright glamour that memory throws around those distant days, sees the little cabin, and the homely hearth- stone, around which gathered wife and little ones when the labors of the day

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had been finished and night had drawn her sable curtain round the world. Anon comes up the sober side of the picture, the trial, the hardship, the penury and want, when the gaunt wolf-starvation- lay close beside the cabin door. The life of the heroic pioneer was not all a bed of roses. In his day-dream, he sees himself starting with the patient but slow plod- ding ox team for the far distant settle- ment, 100 miles or more away, for the necessaries of life, through a new country unsupplied with roads. The loved ones at home, managing to keep life in them by feeding upon a scanty supply of bulled corn, and perchance a little milk, if the only cow has not succumbed to the rigors of a hyperborean winter. But times grew brighter and better, and as memory pursues the train of thought he sees the country gradually filling up with whole- souled, hospitable people, the trading points grow nearer and nearer, until they are almost at his very door. Sees thriv- ing towns and flourishing villages spring up around him, where he found only wav- ing grass and unsightly weeds. Thus it is that this part of local history is doubly dear to all that remain of that little band of pioneers who first located upon the soil of this county. Many, alas! too many of them have been gathered to their reward, and others have sought other localities, but to those who do re- main, these pages may prove the solace of a weary hour.

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History of Kossuth and Humbolt 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 69

Author: Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Union Publishing Company Number of Pages: 898

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Union Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 898