USA > Iowa > Lucas County > History of Lucas County, Iowa containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc > Part 37
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Lucas county is situated about mid-way between the two great rivers of the continent-Mississippi and Missouri-it being the middle county of the second tier east and west from the south line of the state; and em- braces twelve congressional townships, with an area of 276,480 acres. This county lies within the Sac and Fox Indian purchase by the treaties of 1837 and 1842; which included all the land in the torritory west of the " Black Hawk Purchase " of 1832-west of the Iowa river. As soon as this treaty was fully consummated, and the land surrendered to the United States, the territorial legislature of 1845, by an act approved July 11, of that year, organized the county of "Kishkekosh," which is the present county of Monroe, to which name it was changed by act of the territor- ial legislature, approved June 11, 1845; the organization to date from July 1, following. Section 16 of this act provides: "That the territory west of said county be, and the same is hereby attached to the county of Kishkekosh, for election, revenue, and judicial purposes." Thus it will be observed that Lucas county, prior to its organization, was a part of " Kishkekosh " county, for the purposes aforesaid. However, by an act of the legislature, approved January 19, 1846, the name of " Kishkekosh" was changed to " Monroe " county, taking effect August 1, 1846.
By an act of the same legislature, approved January 13, 1846, entitled, " An act to establish new counties, and defines their boundries," the county of Lucas was organized, the boundries of which are thus defined: "That the following shall be the boundaries of a new county which shall be called ' Lucas,' to-wit: Beginning at the northwest corner of Kishkekosh county; thence west to the northwest corner of township seventy-three, north of range twenty-four west; thence south to the southwest corner of township seventy-one, north of range twenty-four west; thence east to
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the southwest corner of Kishkekosh county; thence north to the place of beginning." Thus Lucas county assamed its civic relation to the State, in its wild, untamed condition, as nature transmitted it to us.
PHYSICAL CHARACTER.
The physical features of Lucas county are somewhat irregular, caused by its natural and ample drainage system. It is traversed by the great watershed of the State, extending from Dickinson county in the north ·part thereof, in a southeasterly direction to Clarke county, thence through Lucas to the south line of the State in Appanoose county; which gives this county a peculiar surface feature, through which its course lies along the line between the two southern tiers of townships, though in an irregu- lar course as shown by the Chariton river, which rises in Clarke county, and entering Lucas near its southwest corner, and coursing northeast to near the center of the county, or to within about a mile south of Chariton, then turning in a southeastern direction, it leaves the county near its south- east corner, coursing its way along the southern base of the watershed. On the northern slope of the watershed, the east and west branches of the White Breast.Creek rises-one coursing in a northwest, and the other in a northeast direction, until the two form a junction near the north line of the county, and then flow on as one, until it empties in the Des Moines river. Streams traversing more than half of the county, join the two branches of the White Breast creek. Besides these, Otter creek rises in Jackson township, on the west side of the county, and flows northward into Warren county, and empties into South river, and thus finds its way into the Des Moines. The next two streams of any importance are the Cedar and English; the former rising in Cedar township on the east side of the county, and running northeast into Monroe and Marion coun- ties, thus also, finding its way to the Des Moines, as does the English, running in an almost parallel direction on the south of the Cedar. Wolf creek rises in section thirty-four in Union township, near the southwest corner of the county, and coursing eastward through Warren township into Benton township, emptying into the Chariton river in section fifteen.
The Chariton river forms a sharp angle in its approach to Chariton, from the southwest to the southeast, making the watershed thus irregular in its general course. The natural drainage of the county is thus so com- plete, that every township is traversed by one or more streams of the sys- tem into which its surface-water flows. The general elevation of Lucas county is high-over one thousand feet above tide water. The surface of the great watershed through this county is comparatively level, while the
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lesser divides branching from it and forming the main uplands between the streams to the north, is of similar character. However, as they ap- proach the water courses, they are broken by ravines along which forest trees are growing. The valleys of some of the larger streams are some two hundred feet below the general surface of the uplands, which thus present various configurations in the general contour of the county, from the level surface of the valleys and principal divides to the more rolling formation of the uplands between them. Lucas county contains norivers, other than already mentioned, the Chariton being the main one. It con- tains no lakes at all within its borders.
Material substances, called "drift deposits," are distributed quite gener- ally over the surface of the county to a considerable depth, in some localities. However, gravel beds, which are thus found in many parts of the state, are rarely developed here. The larger streams, especially the Chariton, have worn their channels entirely through the drift deposits, and in some places into the shales of the upper coal measure. The val- leys of many of these streams are subject to overflow; thus car- rying an alluvial deposit over their surfaces, producing the rich mould which renders the soil so excellent for crops and grass. This is espec- ially the case with the valley of the Chariton. These valleys also pro- duce luxuriant growths of timber. "Drift deposit" is a geological term indicating material matter, such as sand, gravel, clay and boulders, which have been transported from high places over the continent, by glacial movements, or other natural agencies, sufficiently powerful to carry masses of rock, ice and other material, over the surface, and which are not always dependent for their motion on the slopes. This drift, or gla- cial agency has, doubtless, had much to do with the present surface changes of this continent in its hills, its valleys, and its water courses. As already noted, the evidences of drift deposits are found in the valleys of the streams of this county, to a greater extent than elsewhere; although they are found beneath the vegetable mould of the prairie uplands-the subsoil being of the drift formation, where it has not been carried from the slopes into the valleys. The general surface of the uplands of the county is prairie-a term signifying meadows, first applied to the broad scopes of treeless land bordering the two great rivers of the continent, by its early French explorers, and included in the vast central plain, the largest of North America not only, but of the world. These natural meadow-lands, covered mainly with grass, and presenting in the growing seasons, the grandest display of floral beauty which the sun ever illu- mined, are included in three divisions-bushy prairies, wet or swampy prairies, and rolling prairies. The latter, mainly forms the surface of this county; and the English language cannot be moulded into a description of
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their beauty, nor of the traditions they suggest, finer than the following, by William Cullen Bryant:
THE PRAIRIES.
These are the gardens of the desert, these The unshorn fields, boundless and beautiful, For which the speech of England has no name- The prairies. I behold them for the first, And my heart swells, while the dilated sight Takes in the encircling vastness. Lo! they stretch In airy undulations far away, As if the ocean, in his gentlest swell, Stood still, with all his rounded billows fixed, And motionless forever. Motionless? No-they are all unchained again. The clouds Sweep over with their shadows, and, beneath, The surface rolls and fluctuates to the eye; Dark hollows seem to glide along and chase The sunny ridges. Breezes of the South! Who toss the golden and flame-like flowers, And pass the prairie-hawk that, poised on high,
Flaps his broad wings, yet moves not-ye have played Among the palms of Mexico and vines Of Texas, and have crisped the limped brooks That from the fountains of Sonora glide Into the calm Pacific-have ye fanned A nobler or lovelier scene than this? Man hath no part in all this glorious work; The hand that built the firmament hath heaved And smoothed these verdant swells, and sown their slopes With herbage, planted them with Island groves, And hedged them 'round with forests. Fitting floor For this magnificent temple of the sky- With flowers who glory and whose multitude Rival the constellation! The great heavens Seem to stoop down upon the scene in love- A nearer vault, and of a tenderer blue, Than that which bends above the eastern hills. As o'er the verdaut vast I guide my steed, Among the high, rank grass that sweeps his sides, The hollow beating of his footsteps seems A sacreligious sound. I think of those Upon whose rest he tramples. Are they here- The dead of other days ?- and did the dust Of these fair solitudes once stir with life
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And burn with passion? Let the mighty mounds That overlook the rivers, or that rise
In the dim forest, crowded with old oaks, Answer. A race that long has passed away
Built them; a disciplined and populous race
Heaped, with long toil, the earth, while yet the Greek
Was hewing the Pentelicus to forms Of symmetry, and rearing on its rock
The glittering Parthenon. These ample fields
Nourished their harvests; here their herds were fed,
When haply by their stalls the bison lowed,
And bowed his maned shoulder to the yoke. All day this desert murmured with their toils; Till twilight blushed, and lovers walked and wooed In a forgotten language, and old tunes, From instruments of unremembered form, Gave the soft winds a voice.
The valleys and the broken border-lands are usually thickly covered with forest trees and brushwood-the white, black and burr 'oak, elm, hickory, blackwalnut, cottonwood, basswood or linn- are the prevailing varieties, which are fairly distributed along the numerous water courses throughout the county, aud afford a supply equal to the ordinary needs of its inhabitants.
An English traveler* in this country, several years ago, published an interesting description of the prairie and its forest borders from which we quote:
" The charm of a prairie consists in its extension, its green, flowery carpet, its undulating surface and the spirt of forest whereby it is surrounded; the latter being of all others, the most significant and expressive, since it characterizes the landscape and defines the form and boundary of the plain. The eye sometimes surveys the green prairie without discovering on the illimitable plain a tree or bush or any object, save the wilderness of flower and grass, while on other occa- sions the view is enlivened by the groves, dispersed, like islands, over the plain; or by a solitary tree rising above the wilderness. The resemblance to the ses, which some of these prairies exhibited, was really most striking. I had heard of this before, but always supposed the account exaggerated. * *
" In spring, when the young grass has just clothed the soil with a soddy car- pet of the most delicate green, especially when the sun, rising behind a distant elevation of the ground, its rays reflected by myriads of dew-drops, a more pleas- ing and more eye-benefitting view cannot be imagined. You see the fallow deer quietly feeding on the herbage; the bee flies humming through the air; the wolf, with lowered tail, sneaks away to its distant lair, with the timorous pace of s creature only too conscious of having disturbed the peace of Nature; prairie- fowls, either in entire tribes, like our own domestic fowls, or in couples, cover
*Captain Basil Hall.
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the surface; the males rambling, and, like turkeys or peacocks, inflating their plumage, make the air resound with a drawled, loud and melancholy cry, resembling the cooing of a wood-pigeon, or still more, the sound produced by rapidly rubbing a tambourine with the finger. * *
" On turning from the verdant plain to the forests or groups of high-grown tim- ber, the eye, at the said season, will find them clad also in the most lively colors The rich under or brushwood stands out in full blossom. The andromedas, the dog-wood, the wood-apple, the wild plum and cherry, grow exuberantly in the rich soil, and the invisible blossom of the wild vine impregnates the air with its delicious perfume. The variety of the wild fruit trees, and of blooming bushes is so great, and so immense the abundance of the blossoms they are covered with, that the branches seem to break down under their weight.
" The delightful aspect of the prairies, its amenities, and the absence of that sombre awe, inspired by forests, contribute to forcing away that sentiment of loneliness which usually steals upon the mind of the solitary wanderer in the wilderness, for, although he espies no habitation, and sees no human being, and knows himself to be far off from any settlement of man, he can scarcely defend himself from believing that he is traveling through a landscape embellished by. human art. The flowers are so delicate and elegant as apparently to be distrib- uted for mere ornament over the plain; the groves and groups of trees seem to be dispersed over the prairie to enliven the landscape, and we can scarcely get rid of the impression invading our imagination of the whole scene being flung out and created for the satisfaction of the sentiment of beauty in refined man."
In the earlier years of the settlements of our prairie states, much fear was expressed lest the prairie portions of them would not become gener- ally settled, because of the absence of forest timber thereon, for fuel and other economic uses; there being a prevailing conviction that forest trees would not grow in that kind of soil. But subsequent investigations have shown that this apprehension is erroneous. A former state geologist* who had given the subject of soil, climate, and forestry much careful study, thus concludes: "If there is really an unfitness of prairie soil for the growth of forest trees, then at least one-third of our state is worthless indeed. But this is not the case, for personal observation in all parts of the state, extending through a period of thirty years, has established a knowledge of the fact that all varieties of our indigenous forest trees will grow thriftily upon all varieties of our soil; even those whose most con- genial habitat is upon the alluvial soil of our river valleys or upon the rugged slopes of the valley sides." It has been thus demonstrated throughout the state, that many varieties of forest trees will grow rapidly and thrive. Orchards and planted groves of forest trees which have for years tested the prairie soil and climate of Iowa, affirm the assertions of the above quotation. While there are some species of forest trees, as well as plants and cereals, indigenous to Iowa, that flourish in some sections of the state
*Prof. White, then of Iowa State University.
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better than in others; yet there is a marked uniformity in the composition of the soil throughout the state; and its variableness in different localities and latitudes is the result of climatic influences and the barrenness or fer- tility of the soil, which is noticeable in the bottom or flood plains of the valleys, in contrast with those upon the uplands and hills.
The general surface of Lucas county being rolling-of an undulating character, its upland soil, as before noted, is of the bluff drift deposit, varying in depth according to the altitude of its high-lands and hills; and thus also varying in strength of soil and consequently in its productive force, whether of forest trees or cereals. For agricultural pur poses the county is well adapted. Corn, oats and flax being grown successfully; corn being the most prolific product of all. Wheat is not a certain staple crop. In the earlier days of farming upon the prairie soil of the state, it was proclaimed that tame grasses would never flourish in it, but subsequent experience has long since exploded the idea, and to-day timothy and clover are among the most profitable products of the soil. This is especially true in Lucas county, where attention has already been given to grass-growing, for stock-raising and dairy purposes.
Judging by results already attained in the cultivation of tame grasses, the future gives promise of centering in this region of the great dairying interests now looming up so extensively in the west. That timothy is most successfully grown, it is only necessary to say, that with proper attention, the yield of seed per acre runs from three to six bushels. Clover also yields abundantly.
Aside from the ample supply of timber in this county for fuel, and other economic uses; there is also an abundant supply of coal underlying its surface. Lime and sandstone are also found in the county, the former on the White Breast Creek, and the latter in the northeast corner of the county, which affords material for building and other uses. These mineral productions will be treated more at length under the head of "Geological Outline."
THE CLIMATE.
Climate is a condition of the atmosphere-a temperature of the air; an ethereal substance that floats over the earth. It varies in different locali- ties, to a greater or less degree, in obedience to fixed natural laws-laws which govern the heat and cold, the rain and drouth, the wind and storm. Scientists have learned, in a measure, something of these laws, which, at this day, enables them to foretell with a great degree of accuracy, the changes which will, from day to day, occur in the climatic elements
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throughout the various parts of the country. It is therefore important that every one should have a knowledge of these laws; not only because they are advantageous in the affairs of life; but also because they indicate to us the atmospheric conditions of localities through the different seasons of the year. These climatic conditions may be healthful in some locali- ties, and unhealthful in others.
The elevation of Lucas county is so great, and its general surface is so free from swamps, and other miasmatic generators, that its atmosp heric surroundings are wholesome-are not breeders of diseases and pestilence. Iowa, as a state, lies between the two climatic extremes of the continent, north and south; not subject to the excessive heat of Missouri in the sum- mer; nor to the extreme cold of Minnesota in the winter. Thus, atmos- pheric extremes in this county are not characteristic. The abundant and continuous fall of snow the past winter of 1880-81, is an exception in this county; and while the annual fall of rain is not usully as large here, as it is in the same latitude farther eastward, the ground rarely suffers from drouth. The winds of the winter are frequently merry; the prevailing ones being the " Manitoba Waves," which lose much of their " blizzard" character before they reach this latitude. Those of spring are tem- pered as they glide under the warmer sun rays from a southerly direction; and as the seasons change, so do the atmospheric currents.
There have been no meteorological observations made in this county, showing a continuous record, for any considerable length of time, from which can be ascertained its precise climatic conditions. However, its range with Council Bluffs, where such observations were made for a long series of years, through means of the general government, is so slight that the following table of mean temperature, for each season, compiled from that point, ranging between the years of 1850 to 1873, will approxi- mate closely to the conditions which prevail here:
Latitude. 41 degrees, 30 minutes.
Longitude 95 48
Elevation in feet above low water mark of Mississippi river. 554 Mean spring temperature 49.3
Mean summer
74.7
Mean autumn
51.4
Mean winter
21.7
The year
49.3
From the above it will be observed that the mean temperature for the year, is precisely that of the spring season.
There are but few days in the year, that the movement of the winds are not observed in this locality. Their healthful importance cannot be
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over estimated. They serve to modify the atmosphere, and distribute its heat and moisture. The malaria which escapes from the decayed vege- tation of the prairie-a vegetation which has accumulated for ages upon its wild surface and produced the rich black mould overlying it, is swept away by the winds; thus keeping the atmosphere in a healthy condition. The prevailing winds during the summer are from the south; while the winter winds are from the west and northwest; and during the spring and autumn seasons they are more changeable, coming from all points of the compass, which is likely caused by the equinoctial periods occuring during those seasons. East winds are quite certain breeders of rain or of snow.
The rainfall, too, is another health preserving agent in absorbing, and neutralizing the noxious gasses generated from decaying vegetation, sinks of filth, and various other sources.
The following interesting table giving the number of days that it rained and snowed in Lucas county, from 1866 to 1876, inclusive-eleven years-is furnished through the courtesy of Mr. M. J. Burr, of Warren township, by whom the record was kept:
RAINED.
SNOWED.
In 1866
109 days;
32 days.
In 1867.
89 days;
40 days.
In 1868
93 days; 37 days.
In 1869
124 days;
44 days.
In 1870
120 days;
34 days.
In 1871
110 days;
29 days.
In 1872
96 days;
45 days.
In 1873
118 days;
44 days.
In 1874
102 days;
45 days.
In 1875
102 days;
46 days.
In 1876
119 days;
48 days.
During this period it rained and snowed on the days of the week, as follows:
Rained on
168 Sundays, and snowed on 62
Rained on
169 Mondays, and snowed on. 63
Rained on
166 Tuesdays, and snowed on 61
Rained on
185 Wedn's'ays and snowed on
66
Rained on
167 Thursdays, and snowed on
60
Rained on
155 Fridays, and snowed on 65
Rained on
172 Saturdays, and snowed on 67
1,182
444
The foregoing tables will afford an interesting study of the rain and
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HISTORY OF LUCAS COUNTY.
snow fall during the years of this period. It will be observed that these climatic elements are no respecters of days; that there is not much varia- tion as to the number of the days of the week on which rain and snow fell, during this period.
Climate has so much to do with the health and prosperity of a country or civic locality, that it is an important study. It is a frequent observation that ague, malarial fevers and other pestilential diseases find their source in low, malarial and unhealthy localities, which generate the seeds of dis- ease and death in those who dwell within them. Hence, the importance of escaping such localities, which the people of Lucas county have so effectually done. These considerations are important, not only in their effect upon the body, but upon the mind as well. " Health and intelli- gence, intelligence and good morals, good morals and excellent govern- ment, are sisters three, without which neither nations nor men may live and prosper."
Upon the question of climatic localities, Dr. Farr, in 1852, presented a very interesting and instructive report to the Register-general of Eng- land, in relation to the degenerating and destructive results to those of the human race who dwell in the low malarial localities of the world. In speaking of the destruction of the human race through these causes, Dr. Farr says:
"It is destroyed now periodically by five pestilences-cholera, remittent fever, yellow fever, glandular plagues and influenza. The origin or chief seat of the first is the Delta of the Ganges. Of the second, the African and other tropical coasts. Of the third, the low west coast around the Gulf of Mexico, or the Delta of the Mississippi, and the West India Islands. Of the fourth, the Delta of the Nile and the low sea-side cities of the Mediterranean. Of the generating field of influenza nothing certain is known; but
the four great pestilential diseases-cholera, yellow fever, remittant fever and plague,-have this property in common; that they begin and are most fatal in low grounds; that their fatality diminishes in ascending the rivers, and is incon- siderable around the river sources, except under such peculiar circumstances as are met with at Erzeroum, where the features of a marshy, sea-side city are seen at the foot of the mountain chain of Ararat. Safety is found in flight to the hills. As the power of the Egyptians decended from the Thebaid to Memphis, from Memphis to Sais, they gradually degenerated, notwithstanding the elevation of their towns above the high waters of the Nile, their hygienic laws and the hydrographical and other sanitary arrangements which made the country renowned, justly or unjustly, for its salubrity in the days of Herodotus, the poison of the Delta in every time of weakness and suc- cessful invasion, gradually gained the ascendancy, and as the cities declined, the canals and the embalments of the dead were neglected, and the plague gained ground. The people, subjugated by Persians, Greeks, Romans, Turks, Mamelukes, became what they have been for centuries, and what they are at
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