USA > Iowa > Madison County > History of Madison County, Iowa, and its people, Volume I > Part 29
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Those living on the north side of that line were in the North Company and those living south of it were in the South Company. To give form to the move- ment each company selected a captain. William Combs was captain of the North Company and Ephraim Bilderback was captain of the South Company, and to add still more interest to the hunt it was agreed that the company killing the greatest number of snakes was to receive from each man of the defeated company a certain amount of corn to be delivered at Hart & Hinkle's mill, which was being built that summer. As to the amount of corn there seems to be some difference in recollection. Mr. Davies has it two bushels to the man; Mr. Guye thinks it was 21/2 but Mr. Wilkinson thinks that it was a peck of corn to the man. But it matters little about the amount; it was a small amount of corn but the corn was never paid, though I think (W. S. Wilkinson, writer of the article speaking) it would have been if it had ever been demanded, and the circum- stances had been such that it could well have been done, but the snow was so deep that winter that the settlers could scarcely get the corn to the mill to make the meal for their corn bread and by the time their crops were in the next spring, there was not one settler in a dozen that had any corn above what would bread their family through the summer. And the object of the hunt was accomplished ; the snakes were killed and little was thought of the bonus.
All the instructions given were to go forth and kill all the snakes they could ; to sneak out and watch the dens as the snakes were coming out in the spring and kill as many as possible before they got abroad. You may be sure that all were pretty busy that spring getting their ground ready and planting crops, but at noon every nice, warm day, while the snakes were coming out of their dens, some one would run down to the snake dens to see if there were any snakes lying around in the sun, and usually some were caught. Most of the snakes killed were caught before leaving their dens.
It is the habit of the rattlesnake at the approach of winter to den up in the rocky bluffs along the streams where there is an open ledge of rocks affording an entrance. They remain in their dens until the weather begins to get quite warm in the spring. About the last of April or the first of May, according to the season, they begin to come out in the warm part of the day and lie around in the sun a while and then crawl back into the den. As the weather grows warmer they leave the den by degrees, coming back to the den at night for a while before leaving it entirely, affording the vigilant snake hunter a good opportunity to kill
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
them before they get off into the woods and brush. Many snakes were found and killed after getting away from their dens that summer and fall.
The settlers were on the lookout for snakes at all times and Sunday was given over to the hunting and killing of them. Quite a few were killed in the fall as they were returning to their dens. It was customary to go around armed with clubs and when watching the dens in the spring have a wire hook driven into the end of a stick to pull the snakes out of holes and from under rocks. The rattles of the snakes were saved and were counted at the celebration held in Guye's Grove on the Fourth of July, 1848-the first celebration ever held in this county.
There was a committee appointed to count the rattles, consisting of Jacob Combs and William Gentry, of the North Company, and David Bishop and some one whose name is not now remembered, from the South Company. . A. D. Jones of the North Company was appointed clerk of the committee. The rattles counted that day amounted to between three thousand and four thousand. The north side counted the most rattles. Few kept count of the snakes killed after that season, but from some who did keep count there were ten or twelve per cent of the snakes killed after the count, which would run the total number killed that season to something over four thousand.
There was no organized "snake hunt" after 1848 but the settlers kept up their vigilance and watched the snake dens just as closely for several years after the "hunt" until the snakes became quite scarce, so that they ceased to cause any great uneasiness.
Some very interesting and successful snake frolics were engaged in that season, some of which have already been told in county history that seems a little large, which, no doubt, are true. It should be understood that these large frolics took place on Sunday. when the whole force woukl go forth in crowds and make a general round up of dens. One of these was where George Guye and some others of the north side killed over one hundred snakes one Sunday. Mr. Guye is still living to testify to these facts. The first den they went to in the morning, when it was cool, they found about thirty-seven snakes rolled up in a ball, supposedly to keep warm, and during the day they killed the number given. Of course this took place in the spring when the snakes were coming out of their dens.
At first there was no town, mill, church or schoolhouse, and nothing to draw the people together, so there were no beaten roads and nothing more than a narrow path from house to house or anywhere else and there were high weeds and grass everywhere. It seems fortunate, as numerous as the rattlesnakes were in this county, that there were not more people bitten by them. The boys. and many of the men, went in their bare feet in the warm weather and ran some very close chances of being bitten by rattlesnakes while in the weeds. But the large kind were considered slow of action until thoroughly aroused and it is said they would always rattle before making their strike. Men and boys would jump higher and farther at the sound of the rattle of a snake than they were apt to do under any other circumstances. The constant vigilance of the people and the inertness of the snakes was probably the reason so few were bitten. There were but two cases of snake bite in the Wilkinson neighborhood, neither of which proved fatal. There were other cases in the county and there were
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some deaths. Sam Peter's boy was bitten on the finger or hand while playing near the house and died in a few hours. Of the two spoken of in the Wilkinson neighborhood, one is still living but not in this state. They were both confident that their lives were saved by the use of whisky-the only sure cure for snake bite. It was so popular a remedy that people usually kept some on hand in case of need. Some people used to think it was as good a preventative as a cure. When the first prohibition law was passed in this state it was opposed by a good many on the ground that whisky was the only sure cure for snake bite. People do not seem to think so much of whisky for snake bite as they used to. The doctors do not use as much for snake bites as they did but they use it for other things.
Stock was sometimes bitten by rattlesnakes, or supposed to be, and the remedy in that case was rattlesnakes master, a weed that grew everywhere on the prairie, with a stem, flag leaves and a large burr on top. This weed was gathered, the juice pounded out and mixed with sweet milk and the animal drenched with it; a poultice was also made of this weed and bound to the wound. There were but few deaths among stock caused by snake bite.
Some of the habits of the rattlesnake are hard to understand. So many stories have been told about snakes that are so unreasonable that one is apt to consider all stories which are not understood as "snake stories."
Uncle Davy Henry, a very nice, jovial fellow, settled on Cedar Creek, on the bottom place now occupied by J. J. Gaston. He was liked by everybody but was counted a little high on snake stories and every one had a laugh at Uncle Davy's stories. He used to tell of seeing a dozen or two young snakes run into their mother's mouth. Every one knew that was not true but people repeated it to laugh about and the boys laughed about it. They knew it was not true because the old folks said it was not true, but everybody liked Uncle Davy, he was such a nice clever man and so truthful in everything except snakes. Sarah Cooper states in her work on the subject of snakes that "the young rattlesnakes are hatched in broods of eight or ten and cared for by the mother snake until well grown, and on the approach of danger they run into their mother's mouth." How now about Uncle Davy's story? It don't look so bad after all.
Some of the snake stories told are snake stories indeed, but others that look unreasonable are nevertheless true. W. S. Wilkinson once opened an old snake and found in it thirty-four young ones and he helped his mother skin an old one to get the oil for medical purposes and found in it over ninety young snakes, ranging in length from one and one-half to two inches. Henry Rogers, a neighbor of the Wilkinsons, afterward counted ninety-four young snakes in an old one.
Note .- From some cause Mr. Davies got the date of the snake hunt wrong. He has it 1849. It should be 1848. See A. D. Jones' letter in "Madison County History."
It is thought to be a disputed question among naturalists whether or not rattlesnakes care for their young in this way.
CHAPTER XXX ASSOCIATIONS AND OTHER THINGS PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY By Ezra Brownell
The order of Patrons of Husbandy originated with O. H. Kelly, an officer of the Department of Agriculture, in 1866, and the giving to women a full mem- bership therein, with Miss Carrie .1. Ilall, of Boston, Massachusetts. These two, with William Saunders and Rev. A. B. Grosh, of the Department of Agriculture, William M. Ireland, of the Postoffice Department, Rev. John Trimble and J. R. Thompson, of the Treasury Department, and F. M. McDowell, a pomologist, of Wayne, New York, organized the National Grange, in a small building in the gardens of the Department of Agriculture on December 4, 1867, and the following officers were elected: J. R. Thompson, lecturer; William M. Ireland, treasurer ; (). Il. Kelly, secretary ; William Saunders, master.
The first subordinate grange was organized at Washington, D. C., as a school of instruction, January 8, 1868, with William M. Ireland as master. The first subordinate grange to receive a charter was at Fredonia, New York, April 16, 1868. The first state grange organized was Minnesota State Grange, February 22. 1860. The first subordinate grange organized in Iowa was Newton Grange, No. 1, at Newton, Jasper County, May 2, 1868, under dispensation from the National Grange, with A. Failer, W. M. and C. A. Fish, secretary. The first subordinate grange to receive a charter from the lowa State Grange was Hardin County Grange, No. 1, January 1, 1871, organized by Dudley W. Adams. The first lowa State Grange was held in 1871 and its sessions have been hell each year since at various places in the state.
The granges organized in Madison County were as follows :
No. 12, Prairie Flower. January 10, 1871, Ohio Township, William Anderson, master; J. Garst, secretary; W. Anderson, organizer.
No. 85. Earlham, December 6, 1871, Earlham; S. Hightower, master; D. Stanton, secretary ; W. D. Wilson, organizer.
No. 170, Penn, February 15. 1872, Penn Township, C. Crane, master ; Daniel Francis, secretary ; J. D. Whitman, organizer.
No. 210. St. Charles, February 20, 1872, St. Charles : S. M. Creger. master ; John Honnold, secretary; S. M. Hightower, organizer.
No. 249, Stringtown, March 13. 1872. Jackson Township; William Bard, master ; J. S. Bard, secretary ; S. M. Hightower, organizer.
No. 262, North Branch, March 14. 1872, Douglas Township; J. Butler, master ; J. H. Lock, secretary ; S. M. Hightower, organizer.
No. 295, Douglas, March 30, 1872, Douglas Township; J. A. Dooley, master ; S. A. Ellis, secretary ; S. M. Hightower, organizer.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
No. 376, South Branch, May 7, 1872, Douglas Township ; H. Davis, master; John Stock. secretary; S. M. Hightower, organizer.
No. 378, Winterset, May 11, 1872, Winterset; N. W. Garretson, master ; W. H. Lewis, secretary; W. D. Wilson, organizer.
No. 480, Prairie View, July 8, 1872, Jackson Township; Henry Comp, master ; E. G. Perkins, secretary; N. W. Garretson, organizer.
No. 559, Peru, September 4. 1872, Walnut Township : Isaac Reager, master ; B. F. Brown, secretary ; N. W. Garretson, organizer.
No. 560, Scott, September 4, 1872, Scott Township; J. S. Holmes, master ; W. S. Wilkinson, secretary ; N. W. Garretson, organizer.
No. 571, Grand River, September 14, 1872, Grand River Township; J. W. Pinkney, master; T. Sharp, secretary ; N. W. Garretson, organizer.
No. 755. Webster. December 28, 1872, Webster Township; E. A. Pindell, master; M. C. Shaw, secretary; N. W. Garretson, organizer.
No. 875, Union Chapel, February 11, 1873, South Township; W. H. Queen, master; S. A. Ross, secretary ; N. W. Garretson, organizer.
No. 876, Monroe, February 12, 1873, Monroe Township; Bolsar Hartsook, master; B. F. Hartsook, secretary ; N. W. Garretson, organizer.
No. 877, Clanton, February 13. 1873, Monroe Township; Gerth Hamblin, master; Mattie Hamblin, secretary; N. W. Garretson, organizer.
No. 878, Deer Creek, February 14, 1873, Monroe Township; J. Reasoner, master; M. R. Sheldon, secretary; N. W. Garretson, organizer.
No. 895. Jefferson, February 18, 1873, Jefferson Township; J. A. Harten- bower, master; William MeCleary, secretary ; N. W. Garretson, organizer.
No. 896, Union, February 18, 1873, Union Township; T. S. Love, master ; J. S. MeGinnis, secretary ; N. W. Garretson, organizer.
No. 899, Patterson, February 19, 1873, Patterson; W. Howell, master; John Gamble, secretary; N. W. Garretson, organizer.
No. 935, Pleasant Grove, February 22, 1873. Jefferson Township; Jas. Means, master ; J. T. Shaw, secretary ; N. W. Garretson, organizer.
No. 1,096, Lincoln, March 14, 1873, Lincoln Township; W. J. Ruby, master ; WV. A. Steward, secretary; N. W. Garretson, organizer.
No. 1,206, Valley, March 22, 1873, South Township; Robert Cleland, master ; M. I. Bean, secretary; N. W. Garretson, organizer.
No. 1,207, Ohio, March 24, 1873, Ohio Township; C. H. Young, master; G. W. Foreman, secretary; N. W. Garretson, organizer.
No. 1,208, Liberty, March 27, 1873, Lincoln Township; William Hartsook, master; Noble Peters, secretary ; N. W. Garretson, organizer.
No. 1,235, Harmony, March 29. 1873, Madison Township; M. A. Knight, master: George Storck, secretary; N. W. Garretson, organizer.
No. 1,236, Bethel, March 31, 1873, Walnut Township ; L. H. Chapman, master ; D. F. Foster, secretry ; N. W. Garretson, organizer.
No. 1,293, Jackson, April 5, 1873, Jackson Township: S. Hamilton, master ; D. H. MeDill, secretary ; N. W. Garretson, organizer.
No. 1.382, Buckeye, April 17, 1873, Ohio Township; Robert Eyrie, master ; Calvin Ellis, secretary : N. W. Garretson, organizer.
The above granges continued their work for various periods, all finally lapsing. The last to report to the State Grange were No. 376, South Branch, Vol. 1-16
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
paid to December 31. 1891 ; No: 480, Prairie View, paid to June 30, 1892; and No. 1,208, Liberty, paid to December 31, 1894.
Perhaps an epitome of the Grange principles and accomplishments would be interesting, the motto being "In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty ; in all things, charity."
The specific objects of the grange were to develop higher manhood and woman- hood; to strengthen love for pursuits; to foster cooperation ; to maintain laws; to buy less and produce more ; to condense the weights of exports; to discoun- tenance the credit system, the mortgage system and every other system tending to prodigality and bankruptcy ; to meet together, talk together, work together, and act together for mutual advancement.
FARMERS' MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY
A meeting for the purpose of organizing a township mutual benefit association was held on June 22, 1878. Wm. McDonald presided at this meeting and II. D. McCombs acted as secretary. A permanent organization was perfected with Emerous Hazen as president ; J. C. Weede, secretary ; and John Westphal, treas- urer. On January 4, 1879, at the second meeting the same officers were chosen. On December 4, 1870. the association met for the purpose of adopting a constitu- tion, and articles of incorporation as the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company. covering the south half of Dallas County and all of Madison County. At this meeting Emerous Hazen was chosen president ; H1. D. MeCombs, secretary ; and John Westphal, treasurer. The charter members were all Jefferson Township farmers, viz. : 11. D. MeCombs, A. P. Fitch, Wm. McDonald, Charles Wishmire, W'm. Buske, Emerous Hazen, H. E. Marquardt, Louis Ballon, Ed. Steinhaus, Win. Steinhaus. F. P. Hazen, Ferdinand Marquardt, Harry Linton, A. B. Kirkpatrick, Chris. Heitman, J. C. Weede, and John Wesphal.
At a special meeting held in Winterset on January 10, 1880, the newly incor- porated company elected the following officers: President, Emerous Hazen ; vice president, Lewis Ballou ; secretary, Il. D. McCombs ; treasurer, John Westphal ; directors. A. B. Kirkpatrick, Wm. McDonald. J. C. Weede, F. P. Hazen, Harry Linton, A. P. Fitch, Ferdinand Marquardt, W'm. Buske, Chris. Heitman and H. E. Marquardt.
Some time during the year 1880 Emerous Hazen died and at the annual meeting in December of that year George Storck was chosen president, 11. D. MeCombs, secretary, and Win. MeDonakl, treasurer. Mr. Storck held the position of presi- dent until April 8, 1893, when he was chosen secretary to take the place of H. D. MeCombs, deceased, and has held that position to the present time. Mr. Mc- Combs had held the position of secretary from 1880 to the time of his death in 1893, with the exception of the year 1881 when it was filled by James Mccullough. At the time of the death of Mr. MeCombs, John Brooker, who had been vice president since 1885 became president, serving as such until his death in the year 1904. At the time of Mr. Brooker's death George Mueller was vice president and was then made its president, serving in that capacity until the present time. \be Golden was elected treasurer in 1882 to take the place of Wm. MeDonald, de- ceased, serving as such until the annual meeting of 1888 when Taylor Jennings was chosen and he has held that position to the present time.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
The company at the present time is in a flourishing condition, carrying over two million dollars risk by 1,200 farmers.
The annual meeting is held in Winterset on the third Saturday of October of each year. At the last meeting the following officers were chosen :
President, George Mueller of Jefferson Township, Madison County; vice president, D. C. Harper, of Adams township, Dallas County ; secretary, George Storck, of Madison Township, Madison County ; treasurer, Taylor Jennings, of Van Meter Township, Dallas County. There is also chosen one director from each township, there being nineteen at the present time.
MADISON COUNTY FARMERS' INSTITUTE By H. A. Mueller
Pursuant to a call, a meeting was held in the grand jury room in the court- house at Winterset, Iowa, on March 14, 1903, at 1:30 P. M., for the purpose of organizing a farmers' institute in Madison County. H. A. Mueller was chosen temporary chairman, and T. M. Scott temporary secretary. After a few remarks the following officers were chosen: President, J. H. Leonard, of Union Town- ship; secetary, T. M. Scott, of Scott Township; treasurer, H. A. Mueller, of Winterset ; members of the executive committee, W. H. Lewis of Lincoln Town- ship. George Mueller of Jefferson Township, J. W. Sawhill of Jackson Township, John Schoenenberger of Walnut Township, and A. J. Jones of Scott Township.
Arrangements were made to hold the first institute on March 25th and 26th following. H. A. Mueller was appointed a committee to secure members and to arrange for the coming program.
The first annual meeting of the Madison County Farmers' Institute was held in the court room on March 25, 1903. Prof. P. G. Holden of Ames, Iowa, and Henry Wallace of Wallace's Farmer, Des Moines, Iowa, took part in the pro- gram. The day following, March 26th, the constitution and by-laws were adopted and the officers chosen for the ensuing year as follows: President. J. H. Leonard ; vice president, T. M. Scott ; secretary, H. A. Mueller ; treasurer, A. M. Meachem ; executive committee, W. H. Lewis, John Schoenenberger, and George Storck.
The presidents and secretaries of the Institute, since 1905, have been :
Year President
Secretary
1905 T. M. Scott
II. A. Mueller
1906 H. H. Hawk
H. A. Mueller
1907 HI. H. Hawk
J. S. Herman
1908 H. H. Hawk
J. S. Herman
1909 S. A. Hays
W. I. Raymond
1910 S. A. Hays
W. I. Raymond
1911 S. A. Hays
W. I. Raymond
1912. W. D. Patterson
IT. G. Tilton
1913. W. D. Patterson
II. G. Tilton
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The last institute was held at Winterset on January 16 and 17, 1913, and was a very successful meeting. The following summer arrangements were made for a
.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
Short Course to take the place of the Farmers' Institute. At a meeting on Sep- tember 20, 1913, officers were chosen as follows:
President, W. D. Patterson ; vice president, W. P. Rhyno; secretary. W. 11. Vance, treasurer, P. M. McNamara. W. H. Vance, refused to serve and at a later meeting S. A. Hays was chosen secretary and township vice presidents were chosen. The first Short Course was held at Winterset December 29, 1913, to January 3, 1914.
MADISON COUNTY FAIRS By H. A. Mueller
The first settlers had been here ten years before there was any attempt made to hold any kind of a fair. They were busy in buikdling homes, clearing the forests, building fences and breaking the land for cultivation.
In the fifth annual report of the Iowa State Agricultural Society for 1858, Elias Stafford, secretary of this society made the following report : "The question of organizing the Agricultural Society in Madison County was first agitated in June. 1856. Elias Stafford, during the early part of that month, circulated ad- vertisements, calling a meeting on the 21st, at which time a number of farmers and others met and appointed a committee, consisting of Messrs. B. F. Roberts, J. A. Pitzer, Elias Stafford. W. F. Suydam and E. R. Guiberson, to prepare and report a constitution for a County society at an adjourned meeting to be held on the 28th inst. The day to which the meeting stood adjourned having arrived, and those present who were at the first meeting and some others, the committee appointed for the purpose reported a constitution, which after due consideration was adopted, after which the meeting adjourned until July 5th.
"July 5th. 1856 .- Pursuant to adjournment those interested in the formation of a County Society met. Elias Stafford in the chair. On motion the meeting proceeding to perfect the organization of the Society by electing officers as pro- vided by the Constitution adopted at the last meeting. The election resulted as follows: President, Elias Stafford; vice presidents, HI. J. B. Cummings, W. F. Suydam. J. B. Sturman, William Bennett, J. W. Shannon, Isaac Reager, T. W. Folwell, Samuel Kenyon and Frank Bosworth ; corresponding secretary, B. F. Roberts : recording secretary, W. W. McKnight ; treasurer, D. F. Arnokl. Our annual meeting for the election of officers is held on the first Saturday of January of each year.
"The first annual fair was held October 8th and 9th, 1856, almost two miles northeast of Winterset. ( This was on the James James farm, southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 29. Union Township, which is now owned by Mrs. Joseph Criss ). There was no protection from the weather to anything on exhibition, except the ladies department, which was arranged under sheds. The exhibition was limited and. we might say, thin in every branch, although the weather was good. An address was delivered by the Rev. Mr. Russell, of Adel, Dallas County. After the sale of some excellent fruit trees belonging to Mr. Smith, the proceeds were donated to the society. The people generally, were well pleased and satisfied with the exhibition and went home determined, if spared another year, to be among those who should draw premiums.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
Receipts $146.25
Expenditures
78.90
Balance in treasury $07.35
1857
"The annual meeting of the society was held, as provided by the constitution, on the first Saturday in January. The election of officers resulted as follows :
President . Wm. Jones
Recording Secretary. Elias Stafford
Corresponding Secretary W. W. McKnight
Treasurer
D. F. Arnold
"Vice Presidents- H. J. B. Cummings, Elihu Wilson, John B. Sturman, J. W. Shannon. Isaac Reager, E. S. McCarty, Lemuel Kenyon and Frank Bosworth.
"The second annual exhibition was held at the same place as the first, on October Ist and 2nd, 1857. In the stock department, it was an improvement on last year, but in the grain and vegetable departments, not so good. There were 72 entries in horses and 53 in cattle. In both classes there were some excellent animals shown. Messrs. Compton, Wilson and Barnett were the winners in this class.
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