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 74
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of God moved upon the face of the waters;" out of Chaos bringing Kosmos; he sent it to his far off home in the west, directing that the paper be christened for the third and last time.
On the 17th of June, 1874, Frederick H. Taft, then but a youth of seventeen years, received the entire office and its outfit from his father, and blossomed out into a full-fledged editor. On assuming the control, he gracefully said to the read- ers of the paper: 'I come before the patrons of the Kosmos in the capacity of editor, making no apology for so doing. But I am not egotistical enough to believe in my ability to make of the Kosmos an unusually brilliant paper, or of myself a very prominent member of the newspa- per fraternity. I simply hope to make the paper a faithful representative of the interests of the county, both at home and abroad. What I ask, other than your lenient criticism, is your hearty co-opera- tion. The way to make a paper interest- ing is to keep the editor interested, and the way to do this, is to show, in a sub- stantial way, that his labors are apprecia- ted. Hoping for such expressions of sym- pathy, I take my seat in the editorial chair."
Frederick H. Taft continued to conduct the paper until the 23d of November, 1882, when he sold it to Bissell & Ken- yon, for the sum of $3,000. 'These gentlemen, on assuming the position of public censors, were compelled, by the necessities of the case, being but new- comers in the community, to say a few words in introducing themselves. The following, taken from the columns of the
Kosmos, of November 99, was by way of a
SALUTATORY.
"We have been attracted to Humboldt by the charming location of the town; the evident thrift and enterprise of its business men, and the grand promise of future growth and development.
"Fewinland localities of the State pre- sent better facilities for building up a per- manently prosperous town. Here are lime and building stone of superior qual- ity, a water power liardly excelled in the State, a location midway between the grain fields of Minnesota and the coal beds of central Iowa, choice farm lands rapidly settling up, wooded tracts avail- able for fuel and fencing, and traversed by competing lines of railroad giving ac- cess to markets in every direction. Add to this capital and enterprise, and then a long pull, a strong pull and a pull alto- gether, and we have it.
"We come to Humboldt strangers to most, but we are here to make it our home and to identify ourselves with the interests and enterprises of the place. And if affability and a desire to make friends will win, we hope soon to be both known and trusted. We invite your con- fidence and cheerful co-operation, and promise in return our honest endeavor to give you a valuable paper, weekly wel- comed by parents and children. Let us help one another.
"The name and heading of the Kosmos especially please us and will be retained, and its general make up will continue without material change for the present. Under our supervision the Kosmos will be loyal to republican principles, and give a
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hearty support to the prohibitory amend- ment. In a word, we shall make it our one aim to advance the material, social and moral interests of Humboldt, city and county. BISSELL & KENYON".
On the 1st of October, 1883, Mr. Ken- yon disposed of his interest in the paper to his partner and retired from its manage- ment, leaving it in the hands of C. II. Bis- sell, its present proprietor. The Journal, which is now a six-column quarto, is ably edited and made up in a superior manner, and the office, of which it is a part,is man- aged ou the strictest business pinciples.
THE INDEPENDENT.
This, the only paper of Dakota, was es- tablished in 1860, by A. S. White and Charles Bergk, the initial number being issued upon the 2d of August. At this time A. K. Wells was the foreman, and to him was due the neat appearance of this sheet. After a few issues, however, the paper was discontinued for want of pat- ronage, and remained in a quiescent state nutil the 31st of July, 1868, when it was re-established by Charles Bergk, with M. D. Williams as editor. Its existence now was an assured fact, and under the man- agement of various parties prospered. Among the several editors that manipula- ted the quill in its columns, were Ed. Wood and M. H. Day. The next propri- etor was I. VanMetre, who had William Thompson for his assistant, who made quite a mark in this line, until he retired, which he did in a short time. Mr. Van- Metre remained in sole charge of the paper until the 1st of September, 1874, when it passed into the hands of the pres- ent proprietor, A. M. Adams. In retiring
the late editor thus pays his adieux to his friends and patrons :
HOW ARE YOU ?
"It has been my intention for sometime to resume the practice of the law, and I have concluded to do that now.
"In looking over the list of my newspa- per acquaintances I saw no one more likely to give the people a good paper than Mr. Al. Adams, and hereafter you may credit him with the merits and charge him with the defects of the Independent.
"It would be ungrateful of me to go out of the paper without thanking the people for their generous forbearance, considera- tion and support, which, in all sincerity, I now do. I. VAN METRE."
Albert M. Adams, a long time resident of Humboldt county, and who had had some experience in the journalistic fields, while associate editor of the Springvale Republican, assumed the editorial harness with the following words :
OUR BOW.
"With this issue we commence the pub- lication and control of the Humboldt County Independent.
"We make no special promises, and ask no special favors.
"We shall try and maintain an inde- pendent position in journalism.
"We have abundant faith in our people.
"We regard the person of to-day who is the slave of any party as unfit to look after public interests, or to represent the people.
"We go for reforms in all parties, and for men who will be most likely to effect those reforms.
"Local interests shall receive our first and most careful consideration.
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"Our columns shall always be open to discuss those matters relating to the gen- eral interests of the people, and equally closed to any exhibition of sectional abuse. "Life is short. We cannot prolong this subject. Here we are. You'll find us out. We draw the veil.
Very truly, AL. ADAMS."
In March, 1875, W. L. Chauvet became the owner of an interest in this journal, which he retained until April 1, 1878, when Mrs. Adams entered into pos- session of his share of the business, which has since been carried on under the firm name of A. M. & A. L. Adams. In politics, the Independent, under Charles Bergk and Ed. Wood, was republican, but on coming into the possession of Mr. Van Metre, it was changed into a democratic journal, which is its complexion at the pres- ent, although independent of rings and task-masters. It was originally a six-col umn folio, but was enlarged under Mr. Wood to an eight-column, in 1870. The general form and make up was altered to a six-column quarto, by the present pro- prietors, on the Ist of January, 1880. The paper is printed on a large nine-col- umn Prouty press, driven by steam en- gine, which was put in in April, 1881. The Independent has a stronghold upon the feelings of the community, and has a large influence in moulding public opinion in these latitudes. The Independent also publishes an edition in the interests of Humboldt, which commenced on the 25th of November, 1875, and is published reg- ularly every week, at this office.
Albert Martin Adams, editor and pro- prietor of the Independent, was born in Orange, Orange Co., Vt., April 16, 1844.
His father's name was Moses Adams, who was a farmer by occupation, and was born in Vermont. Ilis mother (formerly Eme- line King) was also a native of the saine State. Ilis grandfather was David Adans, a native of New Hampshire. His great- grandfather came to Henniker,N. H.,from Quincy, Mass., at a very early date, and was one of the old original Quincy stock. Albert M , the subject of this sketch, was taken to Worcester, Mass., when one year old, where he remained two years, and then returned to the northeastern part of his native county and spent a number of years upon a rocky, worn-out farm on the side of Naux monntain. He then went with the family to West Topsham, in Orange county, and lived two or three years, during which time his father worked at the shoemakers' trade. From this point lie moved to Stowe, Lamoille county, and worked on a farm two years; thence to a farm in the western part of Groton, Caledonia county, and lived ten years. In May,1861, inspired with a love of country he endeavored to enlist in the 3d Vermont Infantry, but could not pass muster. When he was nineteen years old, and during the month of May, 1862, he went to Leicester, Mass,, to work in a card factory. On Aug. 20, 1862, he enlisted in company F., 42d Massachusetts Infantry, Capt. J. D. Cogswell command- ing the company, and Col. I. S. Burrell the regiment,and went into camp at Worcester and Reedsville, Mass. Subsequently the regiment, at Union Course, Long Island, was placed in the command of Gen. N. P. Banks. He left this section of country with "Banks' Expedition" by transport Quincy, visited Hilton Head, Dry Tor-
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tugas, Ship Island, Forts Jackson and Philip and landed at New Orleans Jan. 1, 1863, spending the remainder of the winter and the spring and summer follow- ing in the vicinity of that city in the con- traband guard service. Four companies of the regiment were captured at Galves- ton, Texas, by the rebel, McGrouder, at the time of the blowing up of the steam- boat Harriet Lane. The subject of this sketch remained at New Orleans until Aug. 1, 1863, when he returned to Lei- cester, traveling by steamer Continental to New York, thence by Sound steamer Commonwealth to Providence, thence by Boston home, having been in the ser- vice just one year. He then worked a short time in the factory, and in the fall of 1863 returned to Vermont and attended school three months at Groton. In March, 1864, with his father's family he started by way of Syracuse & Grand Trunk Rail- way for Yankton, D. T., a member of J. S. Foster's colony, but at Marshalltown, Iowa, he stopped, and changing direction, came to Humboldt county, arriving in May, 1864. He settled, or stopped, in what is now Avery township, and worked on a farm for O. F. Avery until Septem- ber, when, the unsettled country and hard work not proving congenial to his tastes, he again enlisted in the army at Fort Dodge, in company F, 2d Iowa Cavalry, and joined the regiment at White Station, near Memphis, Tenn. He participated in the battles in front of Nashville on the 15th and 16th of December, and on the afternoon of the 17th was taken prisoner between Franklin and Spring Hill, at what was called the battle of Hollow Tree Gap. He was then taken to the rear, and
marched by way of Columbia, Pulaski, over the mountains to Florence, Tenn., crossed the Tennessee river seven miles above Florence, thence by Tuscumbia, Iuka Springs to Corinth, thence by Tupelo, Okalona, Aberdeen, Columbus, Miss., and Gainesville to Meridian on foot. Thence by rail and boat to Montgomery, thence by way of Columbus and Fort Val- ley, Ga., to Camp Sumter, Andersonville, arriving Feb. 19, 1865. Here he remained until April, when he was removed to Lake City, Florida, and at Baldwin, Florida, was turned loose April 28, 1865, weigh- ing ninety-five pounds, a considerable re- dnetion in flesh from the 145 pounds which was his weight when taken prisoner. Thus weakened and reduced, he songht the hos- pital at Jacksonville; from there he was sent to Hilton Head, thence to New York city, and Governor's Island, to Hart's Island on the East river, then returned to Soldiers' Home in New York city,and was discharged July 12, 1865. He then re- turned to Leicester to recruit, thence to Groton, Vt., and made trips during sum- mer and fall to various parts of New England, including Boston, Worcester, Bangor, Portland and other places, then he started for Iowa and arrived in Hum- boldt county during the month of March, 1866, and formed a partnership with Dr. Russell in a drug store in Springvale, (now Humboldt). In the fall of the same year he purchased the interest of his partner and became sole proprietor. In 1867 busi- ness was much depressed, and in the fall becoming dissatisfied and discouraged he sold out and assisted in the organization of a concert troupe, securing such a com- bination of talent, that in the minds of
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the projectors, the musical world was startled and surprised, or soon would be. But the world proved unappreciative, and after a brief existence, the various artists separated, and the wonderful concert troupe was never more heard; the final "wind up" being consummated at Iowa Falls. This was in January and the sub ject of this sketch, with characteristic vitality, went to work for a farmer in that vicinity the remainder of the winter, then went to Black Hawk county and followed the same occupation the following summer. He then returned to Humboldt and went to work in a saw mill, and dislocated Iris shoulder in repairing a flume. Recover- ing from this disaster he taught school one term in Avery township, and then assisted in the organization of another concert troupe, feeling abundantly quali- fied for this business, in consequence of past experience, he started out as advance agent, billing various towns, and making necessary arrangements, that the public might have an opportunity to hear the artists, so confidently selected, but the world had made no advancement in musi- cal thought, and in consequence of such a lack of education, they could not appre- ciate, and the company was a financial failure and breathed its last as did the former troupe at Iowa Falls. He then with a part of the troupe traveled on foot by way of Eldora, Marshalltown, Maringo and Iowa City to Columbus City, where he took leave of his partners and walked to Burlington, thence to Sagetown, Ill. From there he went to Abingdon, Ill. and worked a few weeks for a farmer, then went to La Salle and was employed as blacksmith's helper in zinc works. In
February he shipped as deck hand on tow boat Storm No. 3 in the Illinois river trade and continued in that occupation until May. He left the boat at St. Louis and took deck passage to Kansas City, where he was engaged as runner for the Broadway Hotel for a time, then he went to Lawrence, Kan., and worked on a railroad section, thence to Topeka, where he secured a situation as waiter, dish- washer and meat and vegetable cook in the Teft House. In July he started from To- peka for Humboldt, on foot, in company with a friend. They made the trip by way of Valley Falls, Highland, Iowa Point, Forest City, Mound City, Clarinda, Quincy, Fontanelle, Panora, New Jeffer- son and Fort Dodge, walking all but eight miles of the distance. He then worked for a time in the harvest field, and in 1869, during the winter, worked in a store at Humboldt, and in the spring went to Palo Alto county and made pre-emption claim in Silver Lake township, walked from there to Sioux City by way of Sioux Rap- ids, Cherokee and Le Mars. Went from there to Omaha, and was employed in the U. P. railroad shops a short time, then shipped as cook on a log raft down the Mis- souri. The raft went to pieces on a sand bar at the mouth of Tatte river. He then worked for a farmer in Cass Co., Neb., until after harvest and then came back to Humboldt, and went to work as runner ·for a stage line, on a train between Fort Dodge and Webster City, then worked at the painter's trade in Nebraska City. Late in the fall of 1870 with his brother he started south, went through Des Moines, Keokuk, Alton and landing in St. Louis, they both shipped as roustabouts on a
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steamboat. At Santa Fe, Ill, they left the boat and engaged in chopping wood, there he separated from his brother and walked forty-five miles to Cairo looking for work unsuccessfully. He then walked up the Illinois Central R. R. to Pulaski, and secured a position as saw-dust wheeler ata saw mill near that place. This was in January, 1871, and here he remained wheeling saw-dust, turning screws and chopping slabs until March 1, when he was engaged as foreman of the establish- ment and remained until May, when he came up the river to St. Louis, thence by deck passage, sawing wood and paring potatoes for board, to McGregor. Went from there to Red Wing, Minn., and worked some at painting. He then left Red Wing for Dakota City by way of McGregor and Algona, arriving, he en- gaged to work as apprentice at the prin- ter's trade for I. Van Metre, in the Inde- pendent office, Sept. 1, 1871. He remained one year then went to the Republican, now Kosmos office and was employed as local editor and foreman for nine months. During the summer of 1873 he engaged with the Fort Dodge Times as compositor and remained until November, 1873, then went to Sac City, Iowa, as editor and fore- man of the Sac Sun, edited by Hon. J. N. Miller, who had at one time been a com- positor and devil in the Independent office, and was at this time member of the State Legislature and away from home on official business. He remained there until April, 1874, then returned to Fort Dodge and worked again in the Times office. Sept. 1, 1874, he came back to Dakota City and purchased the Independent on credit, having cash on hand $10, since which
time he has been connected with that paper as owner and editor, and strange as it may appear during all these intervening years, and varied experiences, he has never moved his residence from Dakota City. He was married to Mrs. Maggie Little, widowed daugliter of B. Chaunet, one of the early settlers of Dakota City, on the 9th of December, 1876. He is still living with his first and only wife, in the enjoyment of good health, and probable long extension of life and happiness. Mr. Adams has always taken a prominent part in all public enterprises, and has held local offices of trust, having been mayor four consecutive years, and is the present treasurer of Dakota City. He may be called a self-made man, the advantages for obtaining an education were such as could be gained as opportunity presented itself in the back woods, among the back districts of the Green mountains. He learned to read from an old fashioned Bible with large initial letters, and the advertising columns of the Montpelier Patriot, nevertheless he has a fund of in- forination beyond most men, and is a gen- tleman who would prove a valuable acquisition to any community in which he might be placed.
The Livermore Independent is also one of the adjuncts or branches of this enter- prising journal, and is published weekly at its office in Dakota. The initial num- ber of this paper bore the date of Jan. 1, 1881, and it is entirely devoted to the in- terests of the thriving village whose name it bears. W. M. Brackett is the local editor at Livermore.
The Livermore Gazette was established at the town of that name, in the fall of
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1882, by Hull brothers. The initial num- ber was issued on the 30th of September, and was a neat eight-column quarto, with patent insides. At this time, having no press, the paper was printed at Lake Mills, in Winnebago county, and C. B. Hull had charge of the editorial department. Af- ter about four months' run it was sold to Jay Boright and Bissell & Kenyon, the latter the publishers of the Humboldt Kosmos, which paper did the printing un- til July 1, 1883, when it was purchased by M. A. Bancroft & Co. It was operated by them, with Jay Boright in the editorial chair, until November, 1883, when it again changed hands. When it became the property of Bancroft & Co., a press was purchased and the publishing com- menced at home. In November, 1883, Oscar Lathrop became proprietor, and is the present editor. On taking possession of the office Mr. Lathrop made a curt bow to his patrons in the following words: TO OUR PATRONS.
"The Gazette will reach you this week with a new name at the head of its col- umns. We hope you will receive us kindly, continue your patronage, pay your subscriptions and call and see us.
Yours for ninety days, OSCAR LATHROP."
Oscar Lathrop is the son of E. J. and M. E. Lathrop, and was born in Belmond, Wright Co., Iowa, Sept. 7, 1857. When fifteen years old he entered the Belmond Minor office to learn the printer's trade. He continued there about three years, then went to Osage to work in the office of the Mitchell County Press. The same year he went to Kansas, and thence to Lincoln, Neb., where he worked in the State Journal office one winter. He then returned to Iowa. He owned a farm in Wright county, upon which he lived for a while, and sold in the summer of 1883. In August of that year he entered the Kosmos office, worked until the following November, when he purchased the Liver- more Gazette, of which he is now editor and proprietor. His parents reside in Belmond, Wright county.
The Gilmore City Herald was instituted by W. S. Grove, in November, 1883. The editor and proprietor is also the sole own- er of a journal at Gowrie, Webster county, but tries to devote as much of his time to this sheet as possible. The paper is a neat specimen of the typographical art, and will win a prominent place in the ranks of county journalism.
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CHAPTER IX.
JUDICIAL.
When Humboldt county was first | jurisdiction, and furthermore, that the brought under judicial organization, several indictment contained no criminal charge, and added that it seemed that the prose- tion seemed to have grown out of malice on the part of the principal witness, Samnel M. Purcell, and assessed the costs on that individual. Hon. John F. Duncombe ap- peared, in this case, as attorney for the defendent. years after it had been permanently organ- ized as a county, it was made a part of the 4th judicial district. This was composed of the counties of Buena Vista, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Har- rison, Humboldt, Ida, Kossuth, Lyon, Monona, O'Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Sac, Sioux and Woodbury.
Prior to 1860 there was no court held in the county, except what was called the county court, which was virtually the board of supervisors.
'The first term of the district court, in Humboldt county, was held in May, 1860, at the school house in Dakota City. It convened on Monday, the 3d, with Hon. Asahel W. Hubbard on the bench. A grand jury had been called by the sheriff, but in the absence of any business to bring before them, they were not impan- elled but dismissed.
The first case to come up was that of the State of Iowa us. Robert Hindle, what this was, more than an appeal from a jus- tice conrt, the records are silent. On the motion of O. C. Howe, the district attor- ney, the case was dismissed, the judge giving his decision, that in the original matter the justice of the peace had no
The second case presented to the court was a chancery snit brought by Elizabeth B. Smith against Henry Williams and wife. In accordance with the desire of the plaintiff's attorney, and the consent of the defendents, Judge Hubbard ordered that the case be carried to the court of Web- ster county, on a change of venne. The attorneys present at this term of court were: O. C. Howe, district attorney; John F. Duncombe, Merservey & Bas- sett, B. B. Richards, Smith, Barclay and Holly.
The first case of divorce came before this court at this term. It seems that Almeda C. Hill brought a snit against her husband, Henry E. Hill, for a dissolu- tion of the marriage on account of his abandonment and desertion of her. The facts being elicited on trial, and the pub- lication of the usual notification being duly shown, the court granted the prayer of the lady and severed the tie that bound
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her to her recreant lord. The custody of their only child, Henrietta, was also given to the mother. This bill was granted May 15, 1860.
John McKitrick, a native of Ireland, was also duly declared a citizen of the United States, at the same term of court.
Judge Hubbard continued to hold one term of court per year in Humboldt county until the 1st of January, 1863, when his term of office expired.
Hon. Asahel W. Hubbard,the first judge over the district of which Humboldt county was a part, was a native of Con- necticut, where he was born in 1817. He came west in 1836,to Indiana. In 1857 he removed to Iowa, locating at Sioux City. He had been in that locality but one year when he was elected to the responsible position of district judge. On the termi- nation of his term of office, he was elected as representative to the 38th Congress. HIe was re-elected to both the 39th and 40th Congresses, and while there gave evi- dence of his solid worth. He served as a member of committees on Foreign Affairs, Public Expenditures and Indian Affairs. He was exceedingly attentive to his duties while a member of the House, and served his constitutents with unqualified satis- faction.
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