USA > Iowa > Madison County > History of Madison County, Iowa, and its people, Volume I > Part 17
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SPECULATORS' LANDS
"Speculators" was a term exclusively applied to those who came here from more castern states-in the particular case of Madison County they mostly were from "York State," Pennsylvania and Ohio-and bought Government land at $1.25 an acre as a speculation, without intending ever to move here and reside. Most fortunately for the settlers this class of persons did not appear until about 1854. Within some two years they had picked nearly every remaining unentered piece of Government land. As the settlers had already entered all the timber, the contiguous prairie, and even considerable of the near-by prairie lands, the speculators were confined to the more remote prairie districts and thus their advent did not retard the growth of the county. As it turned out, the lands they en- tered could not have been settled until the close of the war in 1865, after which a new and wealthier class of people came in, able and willing to pay the small advance the disappointed speculators asked.
Immediately following the advent of the speculators came the hard times that began naturally in 1857 and culminated here in 1858-9. Land speculators were financially hard hit at home and became unable in most cases to pay taxes on their western properties. The "hard times" continued until 1862, but in the meantime much of their land was sold for taxes or the title thereto became complicated. Nobody here wanted an acre of it at any price. In this manner about ten years passed in the history of the lands held for speculation purposes- no income from them, a large tax account piled up, not to speak of interest on the investments. Flush times arrived about the close of the war and people here began to buy land. The speculators began offering to sell at about three dollars an acre. Suddenly appeared from Eastern Iowa, Illinois and sections further east, large numbers of land buyers, for not only the "speculator" lands, but for other cheap lands. While lands rapidly advanced in price the eastern speculator lands sold early at from three to five dollars an acre. Thus the speculator of 1854-6 stood to lose after all those long ten years.
CHAPTER AVH THE REEVES WAAR By .A. J. Hoisington
While the events about to be related did not occur in Madison County, a considerable number of her people were more or less connected with the affair in various ways and they also played a part in the first county election. The story has never been told with any considerable degree of completeness or truth- fulness until now, nor is it hereinafter related more than to show the part Madison County settlers had in the affair.
During the early fall of 1845, just before the Indians gave possession. George and Noah Reeves, two brothers, and their large families settled at Linn Grove. on North River, in now Linn Township, Warren County. In their families were five grown sons. As other settlers arrived the next year or two, an increas- ing public opinion prevailed that the Reeves crowd was a horsestealing outfit. if not murderers to boot. After a time circumstantial evidence so largely accu- mulated that open accusations were made. The Reeves had not stolen any horses in that vicinity, nor permitted others to do so, for prudential reasons, but to the south, southeast and southwest, they were believed to be doing a wholesale busi- ness. Persons related to their organization as developed after they were forced from the county, covered all that section from north of Des Moines south into Missouri and to the Missouri River, even to the Mississippi. The names of three of the sons were Cam, Pressly and Jesse; the names of the other two are for- gotten.
Matters became so that in the summer of 1848 a "vigilants company" was organized, from among the settlers on North and Middle Rivers in ( now ) Warren County, to the number of about sixty men, of whom a man named Lasure (or some such name ) was captain. This company made an ineffectual effort to run the Reeves families out of the country. Soon after this occurrence two Lin Grove men, named James Phipps and James Hart, were in Des Moines, and there got into an altercation with the Reeves boys, in which Phipps was seriously and Hart slightly wounded. Des Moines officers arrested Cam Reeves for the shooting that had taken place and took him to Oskaloosa for safe keeping.
Immediately after this "gun play," the Warren County Vigilants took up again the matter of ridding their county of these families, this time with far more determination. As always in such cases, the Reeves had some friends among the settlers, and there were others too timid to take sides either way. Reinforce- ments were sought in Madison County and at length an organization was effected and named "Black Oak Grove Vigilants Company," after the name of the Madison County voting precinct. Samuel Guye was elected captain. There were eighteen members, among whom were the captain, Irvin and Louis Baum, William Combs,
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Alfred and Harvey Rice. Samuel Casebier, D. Chenoweth, James and George Guye, Lemuel Thornbrugh and others. The members of the company lived north of Middle River. All went horseback and armed to Linn Grove, arriving toward evening, where they found the Warren County Vigilants in camp.
After the shooting of Phipps and Hart all the young men of the Reeves crowd went to and remained in Des Moines. The old men remained at their homes ; the latter two and their families were placed under close guard. Another man, much wanted, was also found in one of the Reeves homes, but that evening he induced a detail of the Madison County company to take him over to a settler's, named Snyder, for something he claimed he must have. He declared he was then ready to leave the country if the Vigilants so elected. At this house Snyder managed to get out a back way and escaped.
The next morning a detail from the Warren company was ordered to guard the Reeves and also help make ready for their removal from the country and the rest of the two companies pulled out for Des Moines to capture the four Reeves boys known to be there. Horses were scarce those days and about a third of the Warren company went a-foot. One of the latter, named Mason, was barefoot. The morning was quite cold and there were frequent puddles of frozen water, but Mason plunged bravely through all of it without complaint.
Arriving at Four Mile Creek, south of Des Moines, the company found a horse tied to a sapling. Near by a man was lying on the ground. His saddle served for a pillow and the saddle blanket was under him. By his side was a bottle of whisky and it was evident he was pretending to be in a drunken sleep. The man was at once recognized as Sheriff Michaels, of Polk County. He was on his way to Linn Grove with warrants for the arrest of six of the Vigilants, who were in the crowd. At that time the north tier of townships of ( now) Warren County was in Polk County. The Vigilants searched the sheriff, took away his arms, all his official papers and compelled him to accompany them on his horse, fully explaining to him what they wanted and were going to do, not only with him but with the Reeves.
The Vigilants marchied down the old Coon bluff hill road, south of Des Moines, in plain view of all the inhabitants of the future capital city. This produced an extraordinary scene in the little village.
Reports of the gathering of the two companies of Vigilants at Linn Grove had been carried to Des Moines by friends of the Reeves, exaggerated into the alarming intelligence that the town itself was to be destroyed and all the citizens compelled to leave for the sin of harboring the Reeves boys and their friends. It was also freely reported that some of the citizens of the fort, being found over on North River, were captured and killed. The Reeves boys and their friends had the more credulous men, women and children in Des Moines worked up to a frenzy of excitement. This element was organized and headed by a Colonel Baker. His small band, armed as best they could and with music of fife and drum, desperately pleaded for reinforcements.
The more conservative of the Des Moines men refused to join Colonel Baker and his excited band and quietly agreed among themselves that if the Vigilants only wanted the Reeves gang they were welcome to come and take them away. The Reeves gang had already given Des Moines some trouble and after the
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shooting of Phipps and Hart they were very much not wanted. This element had a considerable majority.
The Vigilants marched across the Coon bottom, to a point of timber on the south side of the river west of the ford, where they halted and agreed upon a plan of campaign. Two men were sent across the river into the town to inform the citizens whom they wanted and what they were determined on doing, and to consult with those citizens who were known to favor the removal of the Reeves gang. The Vigilants were kindly received by this element and given the informa- tion desired, especially the exact location of the Reeves boys. They were har- bored in a saloon run by a man named Joseph Crews, whose place was a little north and west of the old Magazine Building, and quite out by itself.
The men sent into the town to reconnoiter returned and reported. . \ small detail of footmen was left to guard the sheriff. Coon River was very low at the old ford and the Vigilants after crossing, formed in single file, the horsemen in the lead, the footmen keeping up the best they could. The horsemen rode rapidly, carrying their guns ready to fire, in their right hands and guiding their horses with their left hands. Colonel Baker and his braves, instead of repelling the invasion, were invisible. The road to the Crews saloon forked some distance before it reached his place and, as agreed upon, the first horseman took one fork and the next one the other, and so on alternately the force proceeded on each side toward and beyond the saloon until it was surrounded. Pressly Reeves, upon seeing the horsemen, ran out of the building and away toward the Des Moines River, but was soon captured without a shot being fired. After sur- rounding the saloon, the Reeves were toll that if they would quietly surrender. give up their arms, go with the Vigilants to their homes, load up their chattels and leave the country forever they would not be harmed. The Reeves refused and declared they wouldl fight to the last. After some time spent in parleying, it became evident that sterner arguments were necessary. Thereupon, not wish- ing to shoot anyone nor be shot at, a wagon loaded with prairie hay was pulled up against the rear of the building and those inside informed that the hay and building would be immediately fired unless they surrendered. Then Crews de- manded that the boys should surrender. The Vigilants again pledging their safe removal from the country, the Reeves gave up and peaceably went with their captors. The Vigilants thanked the citizens, except Colonel Baker and his mighty army, and quietly recrossed Coon River, where the sheriff was released and his arms, papers and other property restored. And then the self-appointed rangers returned to Linn Grove without further incident.
While at Des Moines no one was allowed to take a drink of intoxicants nor carry any along either way : not even the barefoot Mason got a drop. It also should be related that the sheriff kept himself and his papers safe on the north side of the Coon, and never did serve the warrants. However, it would be inter- esting to know how his "returns" read.
Arriving at Linn Grove late that afternoon the male members of the Reeves family were kept under close guard and the females and smaller children under surveillance, but all were permitted to help in making ready for moving South out of the country the following day. No particular incident occurred and early next morning the Reeves loaded their wagons, and with live stock and everything movable, treked southward, escorted by both Vigilant companies in full force.
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The refugees followed the old Dragon trail toward St. Joseph, Missouri, and toward evening went into camp on the south bank of South River. Next morning after breakfast, all the men were taken some distance from the women and chil- dren and given their instructions, to the effect that they must not only leave the country but also the state and none of them were ever to return. About this time some of the Warren County Vigilants, who had suffered from the depreda- tions of the Reeves gang, got the elder George Reeves, who was considered the ring leader, away from the rest, tied him to a sapling and began lashing him with a whip. When this was discovered by the Madison County Vigilants they raised violent objections, and Alfred Q. Rice, of the Madison County company, quickly cut Reeves loose. The Warren County members were reminded of the pledges made to the Reeves that they should not be harmed in person or property. While this was going on some straw in a bed tick in one of the wagons was set afire, but this was extinguished and resulted only in the loss of the tick and a part of the wagon cover. All arms were returned to the Reeves but their ammunition was withheld from them. The Reeves outfit proceeded along the road southward and the Vigilants returned to their homes.
The Reeves party reached Pisgah, a Mormon village, on the trail a short dis- tance north of Grand River, in Union County, that night and there they remained some time, but the Warren Vigilants kept close tab on them. Later they went on west, across but near the Missouri River, but not into oblivion.
A curious sequel to this event occurred forty years later in Seattle, Washing- ton, where long resided Francis Guye, son of Samuel Guye, captain of the Madison County Vigilants. He was too young and not in the "Reeves War." A inan named Reeves bought a residence property adjoining Guye's. Soon after- ward Reeves erected a high and very solid board fence between himself and Guye. This the latter could not understand nor could he understand why his neighbor, Reeves, apparently would never look at him nor speak to him. In 1893 George Guye was visiting his brother Francis in Seattle and happened at once to meet Reeves near his home on the sidewalk. Guye at once recognized him and called him by name, upon which Reeves gave him a sharp look and passed on without speaking. The recognition was mutual. And in this way Francis Guye came to understand the mystery of the high fence. This Reeves was one of the younger of his family and had learned that Francis was a son of the Captain Guye who helped to run out his family from Warren County. He had never forgotten or forgiven a Guye.
CHAPTER XVIII
SWAMP LANDS By A. J. Hoisington
By act of Congress, passed and approved September 28, 1850, certain states of the Union were granted all the swamp and overflow lands within their borders. Notwithstanding this provision large tracts of land were alienated by the Govern- ment, which came under the classification of swamp or overflowed land, and to meet the predicament Congress passed and approved an act March 2, 1855, in which it was provided that swamp and overflowed lands in the several states entered with cash since the act of September 28, 1850, the cash thus received by the Government should be paid over to the states ( or counties ), and for those swamp and overflowed lands entered by land warrants or scrip, the state or county should be indemnified, by permitting the state or county to select, in lieu of such entered lands in the several counties, vacant or unentered lands subject to cash entry at $1.25 per acre, within the state.
The lands accruing to Madison County by the acts of 1850, 1855 and 1857 amounted to something over 18,000 acres. The lands selected under the indem- nity measure, consisted of 2,974.49 acres, located in ( now ) Garfield Township. and 5,528.25 acres, in Williams Township, Calhoun County, Iowa; also 550.60 acres in Cedar Township, Sac County, Iowa, which were conveyed by patent to the state, May 31, 1867, and later by deed to Madison County. As computed by the late A. J. Hoisington, who gave the subject careful study, this swamp land was later sold for about $92,000, and the amount in cash, in indemnity money due and paid the county for swamp and overflowed land sold by the Government, was $9,188. But Madison County benefited by none of this money, which aggregated over $100,000. Why, is told in the following paragraphs :
The first information found in the county records, concerning the "swamp lands" of Madison County, is of date January 15, 1861, in the proceedings of the board of supervisors as follows: "Motion was made that H. J. B. Cummings' services be procured to take necessary steps to obtain all the information possible in regard to the Swamp Lands of this County. Carried."
Acting upon this authority, on June 3, 1801, "Mr. Cummings made his report in reference to the Swamp Land of this County. Motion was made that the report be received and that the Committee continue, which was carried."
The next action taken by the board was on June 6, 1861, as follows: "Motion was made that the previous motion to continue Cummings in relation to the Swamp Land be rescinded. Carried. Motion was then made that H. J. B. Cummings receive four per cent of the swamp land money that he gets for this county and if he gets nothing he gets no pay. Carried."
The next record of the board referring to the subject is of date October 22,
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1862, when the following action was taken: "On motion L. N. Clark was nom- inated as Agent to procure from the Government the Swamp Land grant for Swamp Lands lying in this county upon the following conditions, viz: if said grant shall amount to more than twenty thousand dollars the Agent, L. N. Clark, to receive for his services five per cent of the amount: if the amount shall not exceed the sum of twenty thousand then the Agent shall receive seven per cent of the grant secured."
The resolution by the board, appointing Clark agent of the county, was sent by the clerk of the county to the United States Land Officers at Des Moines and found insufficient, in "that it is not specific enough as to the power intended to be conferred upon said agent to meet the requirements of law." The land office suggested a form inclosed in its letter. A security bond was also required, but it seems no further action was taken at this time by either the board or its ac- credited agent.
During the afternoon session of the board, held, June 3, 1863, as the records show. a "motion was then made to sell and Convey the interest of Madison County, Iowa. in and to the Swamp Lands of said county to the American Emigrant Society : motion to amend by letting the Company take the land on the halves, recorded vote demanded on the propositions. The following named members voted in favor of accepting the thousand dollar proposition: J. W. Lane, J. W. Davis. A. Bennett. HI. Haun, E. H. Venard, S. Harter, 'S. Rolston, D. McCarty. The following named members voted in favor of letting said Company have said lands on the shares: L. N. Clark, S. A. Ross, A. Bonham, O. Crawford, William McDonald, H. Harris, G. A. Beerbower. It was thereupon declared sold to the American Emigrant Society for $1,000 and the assignment of her interest to the same was made to A. West and the money paid."
It will be observed that L. N. Clark voted against the outright sale. Follow- ing is a copy of the instrument of transfer :
"In consideration of one thousand dollars, the receipt whereof we hereby acknowledge, we, the Board of Supervisors for the county of Madison and State of Iowa, do grant, bargain and convey unto Albert West of Winterset, county and state aforesaid, all the right, title and interest which Madison County has now or may have hereafter in any Swamp Lands belonging to said County. according to the tenor of a certain Act of Congress passed in 1850, indemnity provided by the Acts of 1855 and 1857, and we further agree to protect the said Albert West in the transfer hereby made so far as the interests of this County in said Swamp Lands may be concerned, and indemnity.
"Done at Winterset, the county seat of Madison County, this 3rd day of June, 1863.
"DAVID MCCARTY,
"Chairman of the Board of Madison County, Iowa."
The next step taken by the American Emigrant Society to strengthen and clear its title to the lands is shown by the following record of the board of date September 8, 1863:
"The papers or deed of conveyance was presented in behalf of the American Emigrant Company requesting the Board of Supervisors to make a title of the
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Swamp and overflow lands of Madison County and State of Iowa, a survey or Nos. of said land being attached and described in said papers or deed of convey- ance in which said Company claims were soll by the Board of Supervisors of said County to Albert West on the 3rd day of June, 1863, and afterwards sold and transferred by the said A. West to them. On motion a committee of three consisting of L. N. Clark, J. W. Lane and S. Ralston was appointed to report on the propriety of making a deed to said Company for said lands."
During the afternoon of the same day the committee made report as follows : "Your Committee appointed to investigate the propriety of making a deed to the Swamp and overtlow lands of Madison County would respectfully report as follows: That this Board take no further action toward making a deed or perfecting a title to said lands either to Albert West or the American Emigrant Company for the following reasons: That at the time and before the Board contracted in regard to said swamp lands with A. West there were misrepresenta- tions made, we think, which induced and influenced the Board to do differently from what they would have done had they fully understood the facts in the case. and would recommend that this board take no further action in the matter ex- cept to refund the amount received by this County with 10 per cent interest per annum when required of them by the proper persons to receive the same. On motion the report of the Committee was received and Committee discharged. Motion was then made that the report of the Committee be adopted, the following named members voted in the affirmative: J. W. Lane, O. Crawford, S. Ralston. E. HI. Venard, William MeDonald, S. Harter, 1 .. N. Clark, S. Ross. A. Bennett, 1). McCarty, Il. Harris, W. J. Davis and Otho Davis, those being all the members present."
Thus the matter remained until the Board meeting of date January 4. 1804, when the Agent of the Society made another effort for title as appears by the record :
"Mr. Savery, Agent of the American Emigrant Society, made some statements in reference to the Swamp Lands of the County and asked for some further action on the part of the Board in the premises. On motion a committee of three. consisting of Hood, Venard and Ross, was appointed to confer with Mr. Savery on the matter and report tomorrow."
During the afternoon of the following day the record proceeds to say :
"The Committee appointed to confer with Mr. Savery, Agent of the American Emigrant Society, in reference to Swamp Lands sale then submitted the follow- ing report : The under Committee appointed to take under consideration what action should be taken by Madison County Board of Supervisors in relation to the Swamp Lands of said County, and to compromise with the American Emi- grant Co., would respectfully report as follows: That a Committee of three per- sons be appointed by the County Board with full powers to act in behalf of the County in relation to said Swamp Lands, either to effect a compromise with said Company to prosecute the claim of the County for a fee or share, or to take such other action in the premises as they deem most expedient for the interests of said County and that said Committee be authorized to employ counsel in be- half of the County, which expenses, with all other expenses of the Committee. shall be paid by the County, together with a reasonable compensation to said Committee for its services. The report of Committee was received and upon
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motion adopted. B. F. Roberts, C. D. Bevington and C. S. Wilson were appointed by the Board as said Committee with additional powers, to wit: That if said Committee deem it best to annul said contract and to tender the Company the amount paid said County for said Swamp Lands with interest thereon at ten per cent per annum, they are authorized to borrow the amount on the credit of the County."
The committee members were not of the board and, so far as the records show, were not sworn or otherwise qualified, to faithfully perform their duties in the interest of the county otherwise than as reputable citizens, in whom the general public had confidence. To say the very least, the appointment, and the whole procedure, appears odd from the viewpoint of today. The final disposi- tion of the entire claim of Madison now rested solely with this committee of otherwise unofficial citizens. Thus the American Emigrant Society had to con- vince only three men that the county, as the society contended, never did have a legal claim for any swamp lands, nor for indemnity, and therefore the county should, as a matter of right, execute a quit claim deed to the society for all the lands claimed by the county. And to prove the whole hearted liberality and utter kindness of the society in thus freeing the county from all complications in ridding itself of its swamp lands, it proposed to pay all the expenses (if not exceeding $100) of the committee and of a special session of the board to be called for the purpose of executing the quit claim deed to the society for 452 forty-acre tracts of land, amounting in all to over eighteen thousand acres.
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