USA > Iowa > O'Brien County > History of O'Brien County, Iowa, from its organization to the present time > Part 12
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H. C. Tiffey, making out tax list. 1 50 00
J. S. Jenkens, making map of county 200 00
C. E. Hedges, transcribing records. 300 00
J. A. Gilbert, superintending swamp lands 500 00
H. C. Tiffey, office rent 300 00
A. Murry, office rent 300 00
H. C. Tiffey, salary 500 00
I. C. Furber, salary 500 00
J. S. Jenkins, surveying roads 700 00
J. H. Coffer, salary 50 00
J. W. Bosler, making out delinquent tax list 250 00
A. Murry, building county building 2,000 00
H. C. Tiffey, for forty acres of land 2,000 00
J. S. Jenkens, building bridges. 8,000 00
Total $17,500 00
Then follows the appointment of Lemuel Parkhurst of Cherokee county, Edward Smeltzer of Clay county, and James Gleason of Buena Vista county, by Judge Hubbard as com- missioners, to locate the county seat. The order entered, as made by the judge. Also the report of the commissioners, who located it on the southwest quarter of northwest quarter of section 36, township 94, range 39, and gave it the name of O'Brien. The report is dated August 28, 1861. Then fol- lows an order by the president and clerk of the board, for an election to be held October 8, 1861, to vote for or against bonding the county for $20,000. The election was held, and the bonds issued accordingly. There were 17 for, and none against. Then follows an order by the board for an election, to ratify a contract with J. W. Bosler, to the effect, that Bosler was to build a bridge across the Little Sioux, and in consider- ation therefor the county was to deed Bosler all the swamp lands in the county. This was also carried out October 8, 1871. There was then allowed about $10,000 of various
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RESIDENCE OF JOHN METCALF, PAULLINA.
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HISTORY OF O'BRIEN"COUNTY, IOWA.
bills, $600 of which does not state what for. These orders seem to be without date, and several meetings of the board were held in regard to levies of taxes, and nothing of import- ance seems have been transacted by the board until March, 1864. February 2, 1863, the board accepted Bosler's bridge.
The following appears upon the record under date of March 14, 1863; board of supervisors ordered on contract No. I that there be $2,000 issued to H. H. Waterman.
Ordered, on contract No. 2, that $1,000 be issued to H. H. Waterman.
Ordered, on contract No. 3. that $1,000 be issued to H. Waterman.
Ordered, on contract No. 4, that $2,000 be issued to Daniel Clark.
Ordered, on contract No. 5, that $2,000 be issued to Moses Lewis.
Ordered, on contract No. 6, that $2,000 be issued to David Carroll.
H. H. WATERMAN,
Clerk Pro Tem.
Then follows an order to Mills & Co. for $164.50 for books. The next meeting of the board was May 2, 1864, and the following the entire entry of that meeting.
DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE, May 2, 1864. 5
The board of supervisors met this day, Moses Lewis, chair- man, and in the absence of the regular clerk, L. Mackfarlane was appointed clerk pro tem.
Ordered, that a warrant for one thousand dollars be drawn in favor of G. A. Arnold.
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Ordered, that warrant for one thousand dollars be drawn in favor of W. D. Abrams and J. H. Walters, lawyers, for serv- ices.
Ordered, that warrants for five hundred dollars each be drawn in favor of Moses Lewis and Daniel Clark, for services as supervisors and work done on bridges in county.
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HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.
Ordered, that a warrant for one thousand dollars be drawn in favor of T. R. Smithers.
Adjourned to May 11, 1864.
JOHN L. MACKFARLANE,
Clerk, pro tem.
Then follows entries made May 11, 1864, as follows:
Warrants issued to J. L. Mackfarlane, salary county judge $500 00
Warrants issued to David Carroll, recorder 500 00
Warrants issued to H. C. Tiffey, asst. treasurer 500 00
Warrants issued to J. W. Bosler, attorney fees 500 00
Warrants issued to A. W. Murry, old account against the county 500 00
Warrants issued to Wm. Paine, old account against the county 500 00
The next meeting of any importance was held January 2, 1865. After allowing $8 to H. H. Waterman bounty on scalps, and $II to A. Murry for wild cats and fox scalps, it was voted
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1888
BANK
QUIEN CAL
BANK
REAL ESTA
FIRST NATIONAL BANK, SANBORN, IOWA.
by the board to issue $17,500 in warrants in order to meet the requirements of the president's call for more men to serve in military service of the United States. Jacob Kerchner was an agent for the sale of the warrants, which were issued in one thousand dollar and five hundred dollar warrants.
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HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.
The board then allowed J. A. Kerchner $12.50, taking elec- tion returns to Spirit Lake; $500 to R. M. Whipple & Co., without saying what for; Mrs. E. W. Holloway, $150 out of the relief fund; $64 to Mills & Co .; $500 to A. Murry on contracts Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7; $1,000 to Moses Lewis.
Next meeting of any importance was October 17, 1865. At this meeting Jacob Kerchner, agent to sell military bounty warrants, reported that he disposed of them at 20 cents on the dollar, and had the proceeds, which he was ordered to pay over to the treasurer, amounting to $3,500, as the result of the sale of $17,500 in warrants. The following warrants were then ordered to be issued :
Mills & Co., stationery $ 34.50
Hudson & Coy, legal services 50.00
William Freney, publishing tax list. 358.00 C. C. Smeltzer, services to the county in 1860 3,000.00
Jacob Kerchner, services selling bounty warrants 1,000.00
This last item, will be noticed, was for selling the bounty warrants at 20 cents on the dollar, and it is further interesting what became of the bounty money. The disposition of this money is shown in the following entry in the minutes of that same date, October 17, 1865: Ordered, that the bounty funds in the hands of the treasurer be paid in equal amounts, (the ' same amounting to $3,500), to William Paine, I. C. Furber and A. Murry, they having enlisted and credited to the county of O'Brien, and that warrants on the bounty fund call- ing for $1,166.66 each, be issued to the above named persons. The board then further allowed the following: H. C. Tiffey, salary, $700; A. Murry, salary, $700; C. C. Smeltzer, as per bill, $1,000.
The next meeting, January Ist, 1866, allowed John Moore, salary county judge, $500; John Moore, assisting the treas- urer, $500; John Moore, building four bridges, $1,000; H. C. Tiffey, salary, $200; A. Murry, salary, $300; Asa Tyler, building three bridges, $1,500. It will be remembered that during this bridge building era, there was not a bridge in the county. The board met again September 4, 1867, and voted
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HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.
to call an election for a vote upon the proposition to issue bonds for $8,000, to be used in building bridges across the Little Sioux.
At this meeting the following bills were allowed:
A Murry, salary $ 1,130 00
John Moore, salary 1,130 00
A. Murry, salary as Recorder 1,130 00
Mrs. Holloway, out of relief fund
229 78
H. C. Tiffey, building bridge 825 00
M. Lewis, building bridge 690 00
John Moore, building bridge 480 00
A. Murry, building bridge 600 00
The next meeting Oct. 25, 1869, declared the vote for and against the bonds of $8,000 as carried. At that meeting allowed a few bills as follows:
R. B. Crego, services $ 8 50
C. W. Inman, services. 4 00
D. W. Inman, services as commissioner 5 50
Fred Fieldman, chain bearer
2 50
John Moore, for wood 150 00
John Moore, making out tax list 150 00
The next meeting November 23, 1867, shows that the board accepted the bid of C. W. Inman of $6,000 for building a bridge across the Little Sioux. Mr. Inman presented plans and specifications which were adopted. The clerk of the board was then ordered to issue warrants as the work progress- ed. It was then voted to ac- cept the proposition of D. W. Inman, to build bridges over the Waterman creek for $2,000, and the clerk was ordered to issue the warrants as the work progressed. Plans and specifi- cations were filed by D. W. In- GEO. T. WELLMAN. man and adopted. It was then voted that the superintendent of public works, R. B. Crego be directed to cause a good
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HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.
and sufficient bridge to be built over Murry creek, and to make his report to the clerk of the board as the work pro- gressed, and that the clerk issue warrants in payment. Board met again January 6, 1868. There was not much business transacted at this meeting. Fred Fieldman (Dutch Fred) was allowed $24 for boarding a pauper, three weeks at $8 a week. Fred must have kept a first-class hotel. Moses Lewis was allowed $30 for services as supervisor, and $120 for haul- ing stationery and wood. D. W. Inman services as supervisor $6 and $Io for assisting superintendent of public works. The clerk of the board was allowed $75 as salary.
Board met January 18, 1868. R. B. Crego made report as superintendent of public works, and upon his recommendation there was allowed $569.84 for the furtherance of work on Murry creek bridge. Bill of Mills & Co., $120.
Next meeting February 1, C. W. Inman allowed $1,200 salary as Treasurer, R. B. Crego services on bridges, $50. Wm. Freney, $398.76, printing tax list. The next meeting was held on January 5, 1869. There were a few meetings between, but not much business transacted. At this January meeting, A. Murry salary, $50; A. Murry office rent, $150; R. B. Crego, supervisor, $15; Mills & Co., $809.33.
This meeting passed the startling resolution, that A. Murry be empowered to draw all warrants in payment of just claims against the county. Also at a following meeting, that A. Mur- ray be empowered to employ counsel to defend all suits against the county. At a meeting held June 17, 1869, no business was transacted except to allow.G. Parsons attorney fees $100, and A. Murry traveling expenses $100.
At the September, 1869, meeting it was voted to move the court house to the center of the county square, and to plaster and paint it. Nothing of importance was done until the meet- ing October 17, 1869. The following bills were allowed:
N. T. Flathers, commissioner $
2 50
D. W. Inman, surveyor 6 00
D. W. Inman, on building Waterman bridge. 1,000 00 A. Murry, express charges on books 600 00
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HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.
At an adjourned meeting in November, 1869, it was ordered that the school land be sold at the appraised value of $1.50 and $1.75 per acre.
At the meeting December 31, 1869. R. B. Crego was al- lowed $600 to build approaches to the Murry creek bridge; C. W. Inman, $500 for furnishing office room and fire wood fur 1868 and 1869: C. W. Inman, salary, $1,000; A. Murry, clerk of board, $150; A. Murry, office rent and fuel, $150.
January, 1870, the new board, O. Higbe, H. H. Waterman and J. W. Kelley took charge, and their first meeting was Jan- uary 3, 1870, with John Kelley as chairman. They did very little business, passed a few bills, and met again February 8, 1870. The first act of this meeting was to instruct the treas- urer not to pay any bridge warrants for bridges over the Murry or Waterman creeks.
They also fixed the salary of treasurer at $1200, and audi- tor the same. They also instructed the treasurer not to pay money on judgments.
Their next meet- ing was February 22, 1870. Some bills were allowed, and it O. H. MONTZHEIMER. was voted further on Murry and Waterman creek bridges, that the bonds issued for their building be repudiated, and all papers connected with them. It was also voted that A. Murry,
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HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.
J. W. Kelley and Stephen Harris be appointed as a com- mittee, to examine the records of O'Brien county. Also voted that the treasurer be forbidden to pay any warrants on the school houses. That R. B. Crego be let the job for building ferry boat to be used across the Little Sioux. Voted that $500.00 be paid O. C. Treadway to get back the swamp lands, and that this amount be deducted out of Murry's salary.
June 6, 1870, Board met. It was voted that Mr. Kelley take away all the timber on the Waterman creek 'that was framed for bridges. The meetings of this board continued from time to time, and they seemed to be hampered in some way, and working against difficulties.
As stated elsewhere, these men were elected supposing they would carry out the schemes of the gang which they would not. Nearly every meeting since the last mentioned, they wrestled over the Murry and Waterman creek bridges, first ordering the frame lumber away, then considering the question of building something there. At their last meeting they fired a parting gun, by ordering the district attorney, to search the records of the ex-treasurer, and prosecute him for all delin- quency. Also empowered the auditor to draw out the pon- toon on the Little Sioux, and secure the same. Notified the treasurer not to receive any warrants on the repudiated list until ordered by the board, paid H. A. Sage his services as investigating committee, also bill of B. F. McCormick as in- vestigating committee, and adjourned sine die. At the close of this term of Higbe and Waterman they were succeeded by B. F. McCormick, C. W. Inman, and T. J. Fields. It is not necessary to follow the records further, although there was much criticism of many acts of the board for a few years fol- lowing.
The real debt of the county which constituted the fraudu- lent era, was up to the election of H. H. Waterman, J. W. Kelley and Higbe as supervisors who served in 1870. The check then made was understood by what settlers there were here, and particularly the settlers on the west side. At this
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HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.
time warrants were worth from twenty-five to forty cents on the dollar, so that everything legitimately required had to be paid for double, or it couldn't be had.
The early records as mentioned and abbreviated, do not contain all the warrants issued, as it will be remembered in the records. A. Murry was authorized to issue warrants to pay any just indebtedness, and all that he issued is not fully known, only as it helped swell the aggregate which went through the process of bonding as a county debt.
It will be noticed in the minutes of the board, that the swamp lands of the county were conveyed to J. W. Bosler, in consideration of bridge building. The land was con- veyed, but the bridges never materialized. The real truth is, that the county only had 240 acres of swamp land which were certified to be such, but this J. W. Bosler, who also achieved notoriety in the "Star Route " frauds, and was one of the original gang, conceived the thought, that the county had a large quantity of swamp land, the title to which he could acquire from the county in consideration of the bridge. The contract was made between the county W. J. DAVIS. and Bosler, whereby Bosler was to build a bridge across the Little Sioux, and the county was to convey by quit claim deed fifty thousand acres of swamp land. The deeds were executed and went to record, and are now carried along on the abstract of title to these lands, which are sometimes annoying to one who does not fully understand it. There were settlers upon this fraudulent and swamp land afterwards, who proved up and
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HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.
acquired title from the government, which is the true title. After Bosler acquired his apparent title from the county, he sold the land to different parties, and these grantees of Bosler paid the taxes several years afterward, most of which was re- funded by the county.
Since the fraud was ascertained by these innocent purchas- ers from Bosler, they gave up all idea of claiming any owner- ship of them, and would soon be forgotten by owners of the land, but for the fact that the written record appears in the abstract.
CHAPTER X.
We now return again to the general history of the county's settlement.
In the winter of 1879, Baker township organized a local congress, which attracted much attention. They discussed all kinds of measures and passed quite a number of bills. A bill was introduced for the erection of a light house at San- born, so that the erring ones from Baker township, in a dark night, could navigate in and out of the city. This bill was passed. Another bill was passed, requiring the secretary of the treasury to report how much money had been expended, for repairs on the court house. Another bill also, requiring the secretary of the interior to appoint ten civil engineers to survey a canal from Sanborn to the Missouri river, and report its probable cost. Enoch Philby, Charley Smith, and many others in the township were members of this congress.
George Sutter settled in what is now Baker; he came in the spring of 1870, and for a homesteader, and a first settler, built quite an extensive residence. S. G., a son, came first in 1869 and secured the claims. George had several grown up sons, who settled in the same township. George settled on the southwest quarter of section 4, H. Sutter on the northeast of section 14, D. Sutter on the northeast of section 10, and Sam on the northeast of section 2. George Sutter died some years ago. S. G. resides in Southwest City, Missouri, and Austin at Storm Lake.
The next real settlers in Baker were John Wagner and his brothers George and Wesley. They came in the early sum- mer of 1870, and built a sod house on the center of section 22,
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HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.
so that it would stand equally on each quarter, enabling each one to hold down his claim in that way. A cousin of theirs by the name of Wilson, had the fourth quarter. These Wagners were bright fellows, and one of them, John, was quite prom- inent in the county.
Byron Donovan afterwards bought one of these Wagner quarters, and long since, the sod shack was plowed under. Byron Donovan with his brother James, came to Baker town- ship in the summer of 1871. They came from the same county (Iowa) that the Wagners came from, and were recommended to come here by the Wagner boys. Jim and Byron drove up, and having had permission from the Wagner boys, as they were away, made their headquarters at the sod shanty. Byron returned after a few weeks; during his stay they drove to Sioux City, and filed on their claims in the land office. Byron on the northeast quarter of section 20, and James on the southwest of section 12. James remained from then on, while Byron drove back to Iowa county, and returned in the spring of 1872. A. J. Donovan, a brother of Jantes and Byron, came to Baker in 1872. He settled on the southeast of section 12, and besides having a residence on his claim, he also had a general store. This store was known all over the western part of the county, and did quite a trade until Sheldon started. The mother of these Donovan boys, with her daughter Lottie, came soon after; they took claims in Baker, but sold them without making final proof, upon their removal to Sheldon, soon after the starting of the town.
Mrs. Donovan's claim was several miles from Byron's, and one day Mr. Wheeler being at her place, and going to Byron's, she sent by him some milk in a tin pail. Byron was very fond of new milk, and had no cow. Wheeler started with the milk, but when he reached his destination, instead of sweet milk, there was butter; it had churned on the way. Mrs. Donovan, a matronly woman and devoted to her children, died about a year ago. Lottie married J. A. Brown, and she died several years ago, A. J. died also several years ago.
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HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA. C
Byron resides in Sheldon, and James at George in Lyon county. During the building of the Illinois Central R. R. James was a large grade contractor with this company, was afterwards mayor of the town of George.
A. H. Balcom settled on the southeast of section 12, in 1871, he married a daughter of Mrs. Donovan, but he left the county several years ago. The Garrells, Dan H. and John M., came also 1871. Dan settled on the southeast of section 4, J. M. left the county several years ago, and Dan recently.
John Wood and his brother Robert came to Baker in 1871. John settled on the northwest quarter of section 20, and Robert on the south half of the same section. Robert came first in June, and did some breaking. John came in November, and batched with the Wagner boys at their sod shack for quite a while, and until he built on his own claim.
John Wood lived on the same until re- cently, when he moved to Clayton county. The writer remembers when John was a justice of the peace at an early day, and administer- ed justice to all par- ties with an impartial hand. Robert left the county several years ago and resides in the eastern part of Iowa.
MRS. JOSEPH SHINSKI.
Among the other of these early settlers were Levi Allison, now living in Lyon county.
D. W. Wellman in Baker township, resides on the original claim, which is the northwest quarter of section 12. He set-
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HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.
tled there in the spring of 1872, although he made his selection, and did his filing in 1871. He also came from Madison county. Mr. Wellman was justice of the peace there for many years, and the Sheldon lawyers have had many a lively tilt in Mr. Wellman's court.
J. A. Smith, a Yankee direct from the State of Maine, ar- rived in Fort Dodge in the spring of 1871. He had seen some stray pamphlet in regard to Iowa, and something on O'Brien county. When he arrived at Fort Dodge, he found some parties there from old O'Brien, who of course directed the steps of this pioneer, from the Pine Tree state, to the open prairies of this fertile county. He settled on the west half of the northeast quarter of section 18, in Carroll, bought him a team, and something to farm with, built a house, and was a full-fledged O'Brienite. His family were sent for, and they arrived in the spring of 1872. Along with them came his brother, Gilbert G. Smith, who settled on the east half of the southeast quarter of section 6, and Levi Dingley, who settled on the west half of the same quarter. C. B. Dingley came in 1871, and took the northeast of section 6. Mrs. L. A. Hon- berger came in 1871, and settled on the north half of the southwest quarter of section 32, in Carroll. J. R. Smith now resides in Hyde county, South Dakota, Gilbert in Sheldon, and the Dingley's along the Northern Pacific R. R. in Mon- tana. Mrs. Honberger died in Spokane Falls, Washington, in 1889.
William Waters settled on the southeast of section 18. He came from New York state, without any definite idea, of what part of the west he was going. He landed at Fort Dodge, and meeting Murry there, was induced to come to O'Brien county, which he did, by way of Marcus, and by contest secured his claim. He returned east, after his family set- tled on his claim in July, 1871. He bought a yoke of oxen to start in with, hauled his lumber from Cherokee for a house, and was soon a full-fledged homesteader of the county. Mr. Waters is now a well-to-do resident of one of the suburbs of
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HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.
Chicago, but still has an interest in O'Brien county, as one of its land owners.
Surrounded by a grove of trees, on the northwest quarter of section 10, in Baker township, is the residence of Enoch Philby, who came from Madison county, Iowa, in 1870, then a single man. He hauled lumber from Marcus, and first built the usual shack; lived in this until Sheldon started, when he bought lumber from H. C. Lane, and erected a substan- tial house. Continuously from 1871, Mr. Philby has resided on this same quarter section, and now with his family takes life easy. In 1890, Mr. Philby donated a spot on the northwest quarter of the section for a Methodist - - B.B church, which was built that year, the spire of which is seen far over the prairie, so MAUD E. SHINSKI. that Enoch lives under the droppings of the sanctuary, but whether he has Methodist tendencies or not we cannot say, but we do know, if all men were as upright, as honest, and as substantial as Enoch Philby, this world would be a paradise of peace.
G. W. Doyle was an early settler in 1869. He came here as other pioneers, hunting a home and settled on a part of section 12 in Highland township. He hauled lumber from Denison, built a shanty, and lived on the claim until 1888, when he moved to Primghar, where he now resides. There came with him his children Mary, Josephine, John, William, Grant and Ellen. John Richardson had settled in Highland township previous to the arrival of Mr. Doyle. G. W. Doyle has always been considered one of our best citizens, and a most upright and conscientious man. He was justice of the
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HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.
peace for awhile, and has been prominently identified with the township.
John Kane with his family settled in Center township in 1871. John and his son Albert L, filed on an eighty each, on the northwest quarter of section 34. A daughter Olive mar- ried C. H. Murry now living on a farm near Primghar. John Kane now lives in Primghar, and in 1895 celebrated his golden wedding. Albert is in business at Primghar. The family are enterprising and well to do.
In 1871, in Highland township, as sort of a lone beacon upon the prairie, stood a building, called Paine's store, which is else- where spoken of as now standing in Sanborn, and which was occupied by L. P. Paine with a small stock of groceries. The oldest settlers remember it, as sort of an oasis upon the un- broken prairie, where they could halt, and regale themselves with a cracker or two, sandwitched with red herrings, or fill their pipes from the public box, and if a fellow stood in with the proprietor, he could get a snifter. At one time Jake Hill- yer was clerk, who handed out a codfish, or a wash board, with the dexterity of a veteran in the business, and with the politeness of a woman. It was for a time, also, the usual place for holding county conventions. The building as it now stands in Sanborn is insignificent, but historic.
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