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 8

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 8


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).


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In 1856 and 1858 large appropriations were made for the erection of public build- ings and the support of the unfortunate classes, and a loan of $200,000 was author- ized.


During the years 1858-60, the Sioux In- dians became troublesome in the north- western part of the State. They made frequent raids for the purpose of plunder, and on several occasions murdered whole families of settlers. In 1861 several com- panies of militia were ordered to that por- tion of the State to hunt down and expel the thieves. No battles were fought, the Indians fleeing as soon as they ascertained systematical measures had been adopted for their punishment.


In 1870 the General Assembly made an appropriation and provided for the appoint- ment of & Board of Commissioners to commence the work of building a new cap-


itol. The corner-stone was laid with ap- propriate ceremonies November 23, 1871. The building is a beautiful specimen of modern architecture.


When Wisconsin Territory was organ- ized, in 1836, the entire population of that portion of the Territory now embraced in the State of Iowa, was 10,531. The Terri- tory then embraced two counties, Dubuque and DesMoines, erected by the Territory of Michigan, in 1834. Since then, the counties have increased to ninety-nine, and the population in 1880 was 1,624,463. The following table will show the population at different periods since the erection of Iowa Territory:


Year.


Population.


1888


22,589


1840 43,115


1844 .75,152


1846


97,588


1847


116,651


1849


152,988


1850 .191,982


1851 204,774


1852


.230,713


1854


326,013


1856


519,055


1859


638,775


1860 674,913


1863


701,732


1865 .750,699


1867 .902,040


1869 1,040,819


1870


1,191,727


1873 1,251,333


1875


1,366,000


1880 1,624,463


The most populous county is Dubuque, 42,997. Polk county has 41,395, and Scott 41,270. Not only in population, but in


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66


HISTORY OF IOWA.


everything contributing to the growth and greatness of a State has Iowa made rapid progress. In a little more than thirty-five years its wild but beautiful prairies have advanced from the home of the savage to a highly civilized commonwealth, embra- cing all the elements of progress which characterize the older States.


The first railroad across the State was completed to Council Bluffs in January, 1861. The completion of three others soon followed.


In 1854 there was not a mile of railroad in Iowa. Within the succeeding twenty years, 3,765 miles were built and put in successful operation.


The present value of buildings for State institutions, including the estimated cost of the capitol, is as follows :


State Capitol. $2,500,000


State University. 400,000


Agricultural College and Farm. 800,000


Institution for the Blind. ... 150,000


Institution for the Deaf and


Dumb. 225,000 Institutions for the Insane. 1,149,000


Orphans' Home 62,000


Penitentiaries. 408,000


Normal School 50,000


90,000


R form School


The State has never levied more than two and one-half mills on the dollar for State tax, and this is at present the consti- tutional limit. The State has no debt.


No other influence has contributed so much to the progress and development of Iowa as the newspapers of the State. No class of men have labored more assiduously and disinterestedly for the development of the State and the advancement of her ma- terial interests, than her editors. There


are now published in Iowa 25 daily papers, 364 Weekly papers, and 13 monthly publi- cations. These are as a rule well supported by the people.


Sach is briefly a summary of the history and resources of Iowa. There is perhaps no other country on earth where so few people are either rich or poor as in Iowa; where there is such an equality of condi- tion, and where so many enjoy a compe- tence. The law exempts from execution a homestead to every head of a family. Every sober, industrious man can in a short time acquire a home. Iowa is the home for the immigrant. The children of the laboring man have no prejudice of caste to overcome in the effort they may choose to make for the improvement of their condi- tion in life. Here all men enjoy the alien. able blessings of "life, liberty and the pur- suit of happiness," not only unfettered by legal disabilities, but also untrammeled by those fixed conditions of social and busi- ness life that elsewhere result from accu- mulated wealth in the possession of the few. As education is free, so also the ave- nues of success are open in every pursuit and calling. The highest incentives exist to exertion. Labor and effort, whether manual or mental, are held alike honorable; and idleness and crime are alone consid- ered disreputable.


Thriving cities and towns dot the land; an iron net-work of thousands of miles of railroads is woven over its broad acres; 10,000 school-houses, in which more than 500,000 children are being taught the rudi- ments of education, testify to the culture and liberality of the people; high schools, colleges and universities, are generously eudowed by the State; manufactories are


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L


HISTORY OF IOWA.


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busy on all her water-courses, and in most of her cities and towns.


We quote from Judge Nourse: "The great ultimate fact that America would demonstrate is, the existence of a people capable of attaining and preserving a su- perior civilization, with a government self- mjwed, self-administered and self perpet- usted. In this age of wonderful progress, America can exhibit nothing to the wall of mankind more wonderful or more glo. rious, than her new States-young empires,


born of her own enterprise, and tutored at her own politteal hear the stone. Well inty sie way to the mos archives of the old wild. win look toys dement her regal grandeur and state: ddd. these are my jewels " Mak Hay she never bạch to add: . This ow in the center of the diadem is called


The following is the consna of Iowa by cunyttes, as taken by the National Gov- erin it at each leesde:


CENSUS OF IOWA.


COUNTIES.


1640.


1-5.1.


1-70


Adar


11.19)


A 4:114


1


11.1-4


A onaken


1:


1


4.


An


BwkHawk


7 6


Bremer


4 415


H .c. nhan


7 .. .


17. 4


1× 47


H ota Vita


HHtrF


3. 7


14 . 11


147


.


1


12 .41


1 1.


5 4. 4


1. 91'


1, 23


12. 51+


19.


=


11. 4. 1


Creroken


M.


14, .4


CAV


4.749


I ran ford


15. 41.


Dallas


11 :40


Decatur


IT - 4


3.


-41


Einwelt


Faretto


-


Frete .lit


--


- ١٩٠ ٢٠٢٠٠٥٠


1


.


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Cerro Gordo


4 .


11,112


4. ...


14,.P1


.V. P.4


6


68


HISTORY OF IOWA.


CENSUS OF IOWA-Continued.


COUNTIES.


1840.


1850.


1860.


1870.


1880.


Hamilton


1, 699


6, 055


11,252


Hancook


5,440


13, 684


17,808


Harrison


3, 778


8, 707


3, 108


6, 992


10,8337


Howard


6, 341


Humboldt


43


226


4, 382


Ida . ..


Iowa .


1, 411


7,210


18, 493


22, 619


¥3.771


Jasper ...


2, 773


9,904


15, 038


17.839


17,478


Jobneon


1, 49€


4,472


17, 573


24,898


25, 429


Jones .


471


3, 007


13,306


19.731


21, 259


Kosanth


6, 093


18,861


29, 232


37,210


84, 859


Lee ...


1,373


5. 444


18,947


28.839


37, 235


Linn ..


1,92;


4,939


10, 370


12, 877


13, 146


Louisa.


471


5, 766


10, 3-8


14, 530


Lucas


221


1,968


Lyon .


1, 179


7,339


13, 884


17, 225


Madison


5.9-9


14, 816


25, 5/ 8


25. 201


Marion


5,483


16,811


24, 436


23, 759


Marshall


8,716


14, 135


Mills ...


14, 361


Mitchell


81


3, 654


9, 055


Monona


2, 884


8, 612


14,724


15, N95


Montgomery


6. 731


16, 444


21, 688


4. 155


O'Brien.


2, 219


Osceola


551


4, 419


9.975


19, 667


Page .


132


1.336


4,131


Palo Alto


148


2 199


8, 567


Plymouth


103


1.446


3,713


Pocahontas


4.511


11.623


87. 837


42, 195


Polk


4.964


16, 893


39.846


Pottawattamie


615


5,668


15, 5×1


18, 936


Ringgold


216


1,4:1


8, 771


Scott


2.140


HIN


2. 549


12, 696


Shelby


10


570


6,426


Sioux


4, 051


11, 651


16, 966


Story.


A


5, 283


16, 131


21.5-5


Tama


3.590


6, 989


15, 635


Taylor


$ 014


5, 9-6


14 9%0


Union


6, 116


17, 081


17,672


17,04%


Van Buren


8, 461


14.51zł


22. 346


25,282


Warren


4. 9. 7


14, 235


J8, 952


20, 375


Washington


340


6. 41 9


11, 287


16, 127


Wayne.


¥, 504


10, 484


15, 950


Webster ..


168


1, 52%


4,917


Winnebago


! 46


13,94%


23,570


23, 937


Woodbury


75%


2, 892


7,953


Worth ..


653


2, 392


5, 062


Wright.


Total


43, 112


192, 214


674,913


1, 191, 792


1, 624, 463


Hardin ..


3,021


8,931


16, 649


18, 701


21. 463


20, 826


Henry ..


Jack son


1, 280


9.883


2, 116


25, 902


Jefferson


21, 05%


Keokuk


4. 8:21


13,971


19, 434


416


3, 351


6, 179


Mabaska


25, 111


Mangue


1, 256


5, 934


23,16%


Muscatine.


1,912


25,939


88,509


41,270


Wapello


10. 281


17,980


19,578


Poweshiek


9, 921


5, 691


12, 085


6, 015


17,576


4, 481


3, 404


9,582


13, 719


8,0%9


16, 664


19, 291


179


999


8, 453


1


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Winneshink


1, 119


6,172


14, 997


12, 270


1,594


5,986


715


2, 50G


4 1


HISTORY OF IOWA.


CHAPTER VII.


-


GEOLOGY-TOPOGRAPHY-WATER COURSES.


Goodogiste divide the soil of Iowa into State, and Jad'a out to the Missouri river three general division -drift, Wulf ul paar of the surface ot ila State the bih the offer The Mail les the next meatest andof surface, and the divine est. Af wat is disintegrated rock. The dritt die. pasit of Iwa was derived, to a cars for- ade extent, from the reeks of Minnesota; but the greater part of Iowa drift wis de rived from its own rocks, much of which has been transported but a short distance. In northern and northwestern lowva the drift contains more sand and grivel than elsewhere. In southern lowas the wall is frequently stiff and davey The bluff son is found only in the western part of the |


Although it contains less than om per cent. of clay in its comp spion, it is in the pr -pret inferior to the best drift soil. T .... aduvid soll is that of the thood plais of the river valleys, or hatom louis Tra


la a las part of it is mutualy al n th of the hochest thead, but is very pre


The studied ress & loweringe I'm the Azure to the Mes ze, incatsive; hop the gre tter portion of ter surfare et che State is ve mồi 1 by Des Độ the Pai ước Age. The tabir below will show eachad these formations me the sender:


BY-TRMS


11 1 .


Cretaceous


( Ies) Tertiary ..


Drift


10 t41 .61


1


1


..


Carboniferous


1


1


ti


1


Lien'un.


Lower Silurian.


1


Azule


4


1


r


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1


17:


1


70


HISTORY OF IOWA.


AZOIC SYSTEM.


The Sioux quartzite is found exposed in natural ledges only upon a few acres in the extreme northwest corner of the State, upon the banks of the Big Sioux river, for which reason the specific naine of Sioux quartzite has been given them. It is an intensely hard rock, breaks in splintery fracture, and of a color varying, in different localities, from a light to deep red. The process of metamorphism has been so complete throughout the whole formation, that the rock is almost every- where of uniform texture. The dip is four or five degrees to the northward, and the trend of the outcrop is east vard and westward.


LOWER SILURIAN SYSTEM.


Primordial Group .- The Potsdam sand- stone formation is exposed only in a small portion of the northeastern part of the State. It is only to be seen in the bases of the bluffs and steep valley sides which border the river there. It is nearly value- less for economic purposes. No fossils have been discovered in this formation in Iowa.


Lower Magnesian Limestone. - This formation has but little greater geographi- cal extent in Iowa than the Potsdam sand- stone. It lacks a uniformity of texture and stratification, owing to which it is not generally valuable for building purposes. The only fossils found in this formation in the State are a few traces of crinoids, near McGregor.


The St. Peters sandstone formation is remarkably uniform in thickness through-


out its known geographical extent, and it occupies a large portion of the northern half of Allamakee county, immediately beneath the drift.


Trenton Group .- With the exception of the Trenton limestone, all the limestones of both Upper and Lower Silurian age in Iowa are magnesian limestone - nearly pure dolomites. This formation occupies large portions of Winneshiek and Allama- kee counties and a small part of Clayton The greater part of it is useless for eco- nomic purposes; but there are some com- pact, even layers that furnish fine material for window-caps and sills. Fossils are so abundant in this formation that in some places the rock is made up of a mass of shells, corals and fragments of trilobites, cemented by calcareous material into a solid rock. Some of these fossils are new to science and peculiar to Iowa.


The Galena limestone is the upper form- ation of the Trenton Group. It is 150 miles long, and seldom exceeds 12 miles in width. It exhibits its greatest develop- ment in Dubuque county. It is nearly a pure dolomite, with a slight admixture of silicous matter; good blocks for dressing are sometimes found near the top of the bed, although it is usually unfit for such a purpose. This formation is the source of the lead ore of the Dubuque lead mines. The lead region proper is confined to an area of about 15 miles square in the vicinity of Dubuque. The ore occurs in vertical fissures, which traverse the rock at regular intervals from east to west; some is found in those which have a north and south direc- tion. This ore is mostly that known as Galena, or sulphuret of lead, very small


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HISTORY OF IOWA.


quantities only of the carbonate being found with it.


Cincinnati Group -The surface ocon- pied by the Maquoketa shales is more than 100 miles in length, but is singularly long and narrow, seldom reaching a mile or two in width. The most northern exposure yet recognized is in the western part of Winneshiek county, while the most south- erly is in Jackson county, in the bluffs of the Mississippi. The formation is largely composed of bluish and brownish shales, sometimes slightly arenaceous, sometimes calcareous, which weather into a tenacious clay upon the surface, and the soil derived from it is usually stiff and clayey. Several species of fossils which characterize the Cincinnati Group are found in the Maquo- keta shales, but they contain a larger num- ber than have been found anywhere else in these shales in Iowa, and their distinct faunal characteristics seem to warrant the separation of the Maquoketa shales as a distinct formation from others in the group.


UPPER SILURIAN SYSTEM.


Niagara Group .- The area occupied by the Niagara limestone is 40 and 50 miles in width, and nearly 160 miles long, from north to south. This formation is entirely a magnesian limestone, with a considerable portion of silicious matter, in some places, in the form of chert or coarse flint. A. large part of it probably affords the best. and greatest amount of quarry rock in the State. The quarries at Anamosa, LeClaire and Farley are all opened in this forma -. tion.


DEVONIAN SYSTEM.


Hamilton Group .- The area of surface occupied by the Hamilton limestone and


shales is as great as those by all the form- ations of both Upper and Lower Silurian age in the State. Its length is nearly 200 miles, and width from 40 to 50. A large part of the material of this is quite worth- less, yet other portions are valuable for economic purposes; and, having a large geographical extent in the State, is a very important formation. Its value for the production of hydraulic lime has been demonstrated at Waverly, Bremer county; the heavier piers and other material re- quiring strength and durability. All the Devonian strata of Iowa evidently belong to a single epoch. The most conspicuous and characteristic fossils of this formation are brachiopodes, corals and mullusks. The coral Acervularia Davidsoni occurs near Iowa City, and is known as "Iowa City marble" and "Bird's Eye marble."


CARBONIFEROUS SYSTEM.


Of the three groups of formations that constitute the carboniferous, viz: the sub- carboniferous, coal measures and Permian, only the first two are found in Iowa.


Subcarboniferous Group .- This group occupies a very large area of surface. Its eastern border passes from the northeast- ern part of Winnebago county, with con- siderable directness in a southeasterly direction to the northern part of Washing- ton county. It then makes a broad and direct bend nearly eastward, striking the Mississippi at Muscatine. The southern and western boundaries are to a consider- able extent the same as that which separates it from the real field. From the southern part of Pocahontas county it passes south- east to Fort Dodge, thence to Webster City, thence to a point 3 or 4 miles north-


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HISTORY OF IOWA.


east of Eldora, in Hardin county, thence southward to the middle of the north line of Jasper county, thence southeastward to Sigourney, in Keokuk county, thence to the northeastern corner of Jefferson county, thence sweeping a few miles eastward to the southeast corner of Van Buren county. Its aro is about 250 miles long, and from 20 to 50 miles wide.


The Kinderhook Beds .- The most south- erly exposure of these beds is in Des- Moines county, near the mouth of Skunk river. The most northerly now known is in the eastern part of Pocahontas county, more than 200 miles distant. The princi- pal exposures of this formation are along the bluffs which border the Mississippi and Skunk rivers, where they form the eastern and northern boundary of DesMoines county; along English river, in Washing- ton county; along the Iowa river in Tama, Marshall, Hamlin and Franklin counties, and along the DesMoines river in Hum- boldt county. This formation has consid- erable economic value, particularly in the northern portion of the region it occupies. In Pocahontas and Humboldt counties it is invaluable, as no other stone except a few boulders are found here. At Iowa Falls the lower division is very good for building purposes. In Marshall county all the limestone to be obtained comes from this formation, and the quarries near Le Grand are very valuable. At this point some of the layers are finely veined with peroxide of iron, and are wrought into both useful and ornamental objects. In Tama county the oolitic member is well exposed, where it is manufactured into lime. Upon exposure to atmosphere and frost it crum-


bles to pieces; consequently it is not valu- able for building purposes.


The remains of fishes are the only fossils yet discovered in this formation that can be referred to the sub-kingdom Vertebrata; and so far as yet recognized, they all be- long to the order Se achians Of Articu- ticulates, only two species have been recog- nized, both of which belong to the genus Phillipsia. The sub-kingdom Mollusca is also largely represented. The Radiata are represented by a few crinoids, usually found in a very imperfect condition. The sub-kingdom is also represented by corals. The prominent feature in the life of this epoch was molluscan. It overshadowed all other branches of the animal kingdom. The prevailing classes are: Lamellibranch- istes, in the more arenaceous portions; and Brachropods in the more calcareous por- tions. No remains of vegetation have been detected in any of the strata of this formation.


The Burlington limestone formation consists of two distinct calcareous divi- sions, separated by a series of siliceons beds; both divisions are crinoidal. The Burlington limestone is carried down by the southerly dip of the Iowa rocks, so that it is seen for the last time in the State in the valley of Skunk river, near the south- ern boundary of Des Moines county, which is the most northerly point that it has been found, but it probably exists as far north as Marshall county. Much valuable mate- rial is afforded by this formation for eco- nomic purposes. The upper division furnishes excellent common quarry rock. Geologists are attracted by the great abundance and variety of its fossils-cri- noids-now known to be more than 300.


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HISTORY OF IOWA.


The only remains of vertebrates discov. ered in this formation are those of fishes, and consist of teeth and spines. Boncs of bony fish, on Buffington creek, Louisa county, is an exposure so fully charged with these remains that it might with pro- priety be called bone breccia.


Remains of Articulates are rare in this formation; so far as yet discovered, they are confined to two species of trilobites of the genus Phillipsia. Fossil shells are very common.


The two lowest classes of the sub-king- dom Radiata are represented in the genera Zaphrentis, Amplexus and Syringaposa, while the highest class, Echinoderms, are found in most extraordinary profusion.


The Keokuk limestone formation is to be seen only in four counties-Lee, Van Buren, Henry and DesMoines. In some localities the upper siliceons portion is known as the Geode bed; it is not recog- nizable in the northern portion of the formation, nor in connection with it where it is exposed, about 80 miles below Keo- kuk. The geodes of the Geode bed are more or less masses of silex, usually hol- low and lined with crystals of quartz; the outer crust is rough and unsightly, but the crystals which stud the interior are often very beautiful; they vary in size from the size of a walnut to a foot in diameter.


This formation is of great economic value. Large quantities of its stone have been used in the finest structures in the State, among which are the postoffices at Dubuque and DesMoines. The principal quarries are along the banks of the Missis- sippi, from Keokuk to Nauvoo. The only vertebrate fossils in the formation are fishes, all belonging to the order Selachians,


some of which indicate that their owners reached a length of 25 or 30 feet. Of the Articulates, only two species of the genus Phillipsia have been found in this forma- tion. Of the Mollusks no Cephalopods have yet been recognized in this forma- tion in Iowa. Gasteropods are rare; Brachiopods and Polyzoans . are quite abundant. Of Radiates, corals of genera Zaphrentis, Amplexus and Aulopora are found, but crinoids are most abundant. Of the low forms of animal life, the proto- zoans, a small fossil related to the sponges, is found in this formation in small num- bers.


The St. Louis limestone is the uppermost of the sub-carboniferous group in Iowa. It occupies a small superficial area, consisting of long, narrow strips, yet its extent is very great. It is first seen resting on the geode division of the Keokuk limestone, near Keokuk; proceeding northward, it forms a narrow border along the edge of the coal fields in Lee, Des Moines, Henry, Jefferson, Washington, Keokuk and Ma- haska counties; it is then lost sight of until it appears again in the banks of Boone river, where it again passes out of view under the Coal Measures, until it is next seen in the banks of the DesMoines, near Fort Dodge. As it exists in Iowa, it consists of three tolerably distinct sub- divisions-the magnesian, arenaceous and calcareous. 'The upper division furnishes excellent material for quicklime, and when quarries are well opened, as in the north- western part of VanBuren county, large blocks are obtained. The sandstone, or middle division, is of little economic value. The lower, or magnesian division, furnishen a valuable and durable stone, exposures of


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HISTORY OF IOWA.


which are found on Lick creek, in Van Buren county, and on Long creek, seven miles west of Burlington.


Of the fossils of this formation, the vertebrates are represented only by the remains of fish, belonging to the two orders, Selachians and Ganoids. The Articulates are represented by one species of the trilobite, genus Phillipsia; and two ostracoid genera, Cythra and Beyricia. The Mollusks distinguished this formation more than any other branch of the animal kingdom. Radiates are exceedingly rare, showing a marked contrast between this formation and the two preceding it.


The Coal Measure Group is properly divided into three formations, viz: the Lower, Middle and Upper Coal Measures; each having a vertical thickness of about two hundred feet.


The Lower Coal Measures exists east- ward and northward of the DesMoines river, and also occupy a large area west- ward and southward of that river; but their southerly dip passes below the Middle Coal Measure at no great distance from the river. This formation possesses greater economic value than any other in the whole State. The clay that underlies almost every bed of coal, furnishes a large amount of material for potters' use. The sandstone of these measures is usually soft and unfit for use; but in some places, as in Red Rock, in Marion county, blocks of large dimensions are obtained, which make good building material, samples of which can be seen in the State Arsenal, at Des Moines.


But few fossils have been found in any of the strata of the Lower Coal Measures, but such animal remains as have been


found are, without exception, of marine origin. All fossil plants found in these measures, probably belong to the cl.iss Acrogens. Specimens of Calamites and several species of ferns are found in all the Coal Measures, but the genus Lepidoden- dron seems not to have existed later than the epoch of the Middle Coal Measures. The latter formation occupies a narrow belt of territory in the southern-central portion of the State, embracing a superfi- cial area of about 1,400 square miles The counties underlaid by this formation are, Guthrie, Dallas, Po'k, Madison, Warren, Clarke, Lucas, Monroe, Wayne and Appa- noose.




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