USA > Iowa > Osceola County > History of Osceola county, Iowa, from its organization to the present time > Part 6
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The first settler in Fairview Township was Mr. Ellis, who took his claim there in 1871. This was the only claim taken in that township during that year. There were considerable many claims taken in this township in 1872, the year of a general rush to Northwest Iowa. In April, 1872, George Hamilton settled in Fairview and took east half of the north- west quarter of Section 30. Mr. Hamilton drove with his team, his wife with him, from Clinton County, Iowa, and after taking the claim lived on it continuously until final proof, him- self and wife not being away from it at the same time except one night. He has now other land adjoining, but of these early settlers in Fairview, who came there in 1872, Mr. Ham- ilton is the only one of them who still lives in that township. He put up on the start a very comfortable house, broke only about four acres the first year, but has since been engaged in extensive farming, and is a very worthy and substantial citizen of Osceola County.
S. A. Dove came to Fairview in May, 1872, and settled on the southwest quarter of Section S. C. A. Foote the same year took the northeast quarter of the same section. During a later residence in the county, and after one of the blizzards, it was impossible to get around with a team, and the neces- saries of life to subsist upon were obtained by going on foot with snow shoes. Dove and John Hanna went to Worthing- ton, eleven miles, with snow shoes, and drawing a hand sled. They hauled butter to town and returned with flour: there
JOHN A. FLOWER.
94
HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA.
was no road, but they made the journey in a day, though their return was after dark. Dove came from Clinton County, Iowa, and drove through with a team. He put up first a sod house, in which he lived two years, and then built a frame house, and in 1890 moved to Ocheyedan, where he now resides.
Most of the settlers in Fairview have come at a recent date, and but few reach back any number of years. Among its leading farmers at the present time are S. Wright, Samuel Peterson, John Ward, Frank Palmer, Levi Coyour, Charles McLagen, S. C. Palmer, Fred Barneking, Fred Hindt, Ed. Ward, Thos. Jackson, W. E. Proper, D. A. Hall, John Hanna, Ed. Severence, Matthew Walling, William and Samuel Hanna, E. S. Webster, George Miller, Jerry Bean, Milton Woodrow, George Shephard, - Steinkuehler, W. D. Hendrix and William Mowthorpe.
The following is the way Osceola County stood in the year 1873:
CENSUS OF OSCEOLA COUNTY FOR THE YEAR 1873.
HOLMAN TOWNSHIP.
Number of dwellings
T So
66 families
IS9
white males
320
66 66 66 females
28I
persons entitled to vote
IS7
66 militia
I53
66 foreigners not naturalized
3
66
66 acres of land improved
2,553
66 pounds of wool shorn in the year 1872
45
BUSHELS OF GRAIN RAISED IN 1872.
Wheat
2,269
Corn
4,800
Oats
1,572
GOEWEY TOWNSHIP.
Number of dwellings
143
" families
146
66 " white males
277
females 1
1
1
1
1
1
1 4 1 199
" persons entitled to vote
147
66
" militia
I
66
" foreigners not naturalized
I
66 " acres of land improved
1
1 1
1
I
3,464
1
1
1
1
1
I
1 1
1
[
1 1
1
1
I
1
1
1
1
1
1
:
:
1
I
1
1
1 1
1
I
1
4
4
95
2,174 5,420 2,605
346
39
40
76 65
43
39
S66
694
2,265
32 32
63
34
22
420 5
39
1,337
17
40 426
30
20
18
I44
40
HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA.
BUSHELS OF GRAIN RAISED IN I872.
1
1
1
1
t
4
I
1
1
4
1
I
1
1
1
1
I
I
1
ļ
1
1
1
1
1
1
t
1
I
I
Number of dwellings
" families
" white males
" militia
" acres of land improved
Wheat
Corn
Oats
Number of dwellings
" families
" white males
66
" militia
" acres of land improved
" pounds of wool shorn in 1872
Wheat Corn
HIORTON TOWNSIIIP.
Number of dwellings
" families
" white males
" persons entitled to vote
" militia
66
66
66
Wheat Corn
Oats
Barley
1
1
1
1
1
ļ
1
1
1
1
1
I
1
1
1
1
1
1
I
1
1
I
1
1
1
I
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
I
1
1
I
1
1
I
1
I
1
:
I
1
I
I
1
I
1
1
I
1
1
I
I
1
1
1
.
1
WILSON TOWNSHIP.
1
1
1
1
1
I
1
BUSHELS OF GRAIN RAISED IN IS72.
" persons entitled to vote
66
66
66
66
66
" acres of land improved
" bushels of corn raised in the year 1872
1
1
1
1
1
FENTON TOWNSHIP.
females
" persons entitled to vote
66
BUSHELS OF GRAIN RAISED IN 1872.
680
64
66
females
I
I
1
females
1
1
96
HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA.
In 1873 Osceola County had the following: Number of dwellings
419
66 " families
426
" white males
779
66 females 1 1
630
66 persons entitled to vote
431
66 " militia
324
foreigners not naturalized
4
66 acres of land improved
7,444
66 " pounds of wool shorn in the year 1872 50
BUSHELS OF GRAIN RAISED IN 1872.
Wheat
5,176
Corn
13,862
Oats
4,857
Barley
1
1
1
1
1
346
I
1
t
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1 t
1
I
RAND M NALLY CO
CENTRAL BLOCK, SIBLEY.
G
CHAPTER XIV.
We will now leave the general run of settlement for a few chapters and speak of the County's finances in its method of doing business in the early days. Lawyers' fees seemed to be the most prominent method of "raising the wind." Winspear was a lawyer, Blackmer was a lawyer, and, indeed, it was the old saying repeated, that " Ceaser had a party, and Brutus a party, but Rome had none." Other lawyers, also outside the County, had a hand in it, but still there were several lawyers in the County at the time who were battling the gang in their thieving operations.
The early part of Osceola County, indeed northwestern Iowa, for the Sioux City lawyers, was, as Deacon Howell remarked of Lyon County, "a field for legitimate speculation." Sioux City itself then was not prolific with litigation, clients were not numerous, and the Argus eyes of some of its distin- guished disciples of Blackstone magnified the gigantic wrongs of this grasshoppered district, and their tender sympathies were manifested by professional services and condolence to the tune of retainer fees, which in the days of old Rome would have made the eloquent Cicero himself blush with hesitation in receiving them. The many grievances that seemed to afflict these northwestern Counties then were simply astonish- ing, but the remedies suggested by the legal fraternity to be applied by use of County warrants were appalling and appar- ently numberless. Sioux City then was the guardian of these afflicted Counties, and when a steal was to be perpetrated, or when suspicion of its coming perpetration caused a ripple of comment and excitement among the people, then both boodler and reformer would hie themselves to Sioux City, and within the offices of their respective counsel the shadow of defeat for the one, or the sunshine of success for the other, would be thoroughly discussed, which would result either in an exhibi- tion of unbounded "cheek " or a triumph for the watchers and waiters for an honest administration. But the time finally arrived when the scathing voice of the people brought these wild speculations and exorbitant retainer fees to a close, and County affairs were held down to the bed-rock of reason and economy, and there was established rules of good government and efficient administration, which no one since has been dis- posed to violate nor depart from.
FEITO ENG.TO.
J. W. KAYE,
100
HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA.
Indignation MEETING
Swamp Land
RAUD!
An Indignation Meeting will be held at SIBLEY, MONDAY, AUG. 26, '72, at 2 p. m., for the purpose of taking action against the
SWAMP LAND FRAUD.
Osceola County does not wish to become involved in a debt of $20,000.00 without anything to show for it. COME EVERY MAN.
Gazette Print, Sibley, Osceola Co., lowa.
J MANIACO CHI
W. L. PARKER.
102
HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA.
The boodler gang which had fastened itself upon Osceola County in 1872, had by the boldness and mercenary motives of their operations, excited a strong and desperate feeling of opposition among the settlers. That year it was a theme for discussion, the topic of conversation, and taxed the ingenuity and better judgment of the honest element of the county as to what to do. Each side had their friends, and no other ques- tion entered into the election in the fall of 1872, except to elect into office representatives from one side or the other. On the 26th day of August, 1872, by a previous call, there was as- sembled in Sibley, near the Sibley hotel, a large concourse of settlers from all over the connty, numbering about five hun- dred. These men were eager and determined in the feeling and spirit of reform, and were indignant. The meeting had been called by H. G. Doolittle, D. L. Riley and John Hawxs- hurst, and a circular requesting the settlers to meet had been sent over the county. The meeting was organized by electing D. L. Riley chairman.
It will be seen by the records of the board that there was to be swamp land selections, and that Frank Stiles was ap- pointed to select them. Settlers in the county were afraid that this unscrupulous gang might report some of their claims as on the swamp land order, and thus complicate their titles and throw their claims into contest and litigation, which would be troublesome and expensive. This question was discussed at the meeting also, and several made speeches. However much the settlers then may have been poor in this world's goods, there was not at this meeting any poverty of language. Winspear himself appeared and made a statement that in swamp land selections it was the railroad company lands they were after, and not the land occupied by settlers. He also read a letter from the Sioux City attorneys stating this fact, and among other things the letter instructed the Board to issue the six thousand dollars attorney fee in warrants of one thous- and each. Speeches were made by D. L. Riley, Hawxshurst, Doolittle and others, and the meeting finaly culminated in ap- pointing a committee of twenty-seven men, and these men were instructed to take the necessary steps to bring about the resignation of objectionable members of the Board of Supervisors, and to carry the feeling of reform into practical results in all departments of the county administration. This committee consisted of D. D. McCallum, George Hamilton M. J. Campbell, C. W. Wyllys, M. D. Hadsell, John Doug- lass, E. Huff, Geo. Ketcham, John P. Hawxshurst, C. M.
W.L.PARKER
CIPRES
TALIDELA
W. L. PARKER'S DRUG STORE.
104
HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA.
Brooks, F. M. Robinson, J. F. Glover, A. M. Culver, W. H. Gates, H. L. Baker, Robt. Stamm, H. G. Doolittle, C. C. Jewel, Stickney, B. F. Tabler, C. C. Ogan, Rev. Jones.
This committee demanded of the Board of Supervisors that they resign. The committee also organized, electing George Ketcham Captain, John Douglass First Lieutenant and M. D. Hadsell, Second Lieutenant. Nothing was done by them except upon a general conference, discussion and deliberation, and a final decision by vote of the committee as to the moves to be made. It was first decided to proceed to the house of H. R. Fenton, and demand his resignation at once, and if he refused to resign to carry out the vigilance committee act, and suspend the victim, as is usual in such cases, in mid-air. About the first day of September in this year of 1872, the committee met at the house of C. W. Wyllys and at about 10 o'clock in the evening started from there and went to Fenton's house. The committee took a rope along with them sufficient in strength for the hanging, and if the demands of the committee were not complied with, were anxious to use it. The committee halted in the slough west of Fenton's house and sent the Captain and the two lieu- tenants to make demand upon the Supervisor. Inquiry was made at the house and the three committee delegates were informed that Fenton was away from home, and it was learned afterwards that there was a traitor in the reform camp, and that Fenton had been notified and was in hiding. Fenton was then living on Section 20, in Wilson Township.
The committee then proceeded to Winspear's house, which is where now lives, and the larger part of them remained in the railroad cut, near the house, while a delegation went to the house to demand the resignation. Winspear and friends, this committee's representatives were informed, said there would be no resignation, and that the inside of the house was an arsenal, and any attempt at violence would be resisted and that somebody would be killed. The committee, upon learning this state of affairs, retired peace- fully to their homes, and probably wondering when would this "cruel war be over."
The next day it was rumored that Stiles had a warrant of arrest for Douglass, so that this irrepressible Scotchman cleaned up his six-shooter, went to Sibley, and tackled Stiles about the warrant, which Stiles denied. At this time Stiles had appointed twenty-six deputies, for his own and friends'
HUGH JORDAN.
106
HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA.
protection, and these were in Ward's saloon when Douglass went in. Their guns were standing around against the side of the building, when Douglass got some fellow to go around behind Pat Larkins' building and make a cry of fire, which he did, when the twenty-six deputies rushed out of the building at this unusual sound, and Douglass, left alone, dumped the shooting-irons through a trap door where there was about four feet of water.
In the fall of 1872 Blackmer and some others went to Sioux City with $40,000 of Holman School District warrants for the purpose of negotiating, and D. D. McCallum happened to be in the city at the time and learning that these parties were there with the warrants and of their intentions, and know- ing the fraudulent character of the paper, notified the banks so that Blackmer and his party were unable to negotiate them. Blackmer returned to Sibley with them, and was made to give them up, all but a $1,000 warrant which was kept upon the statement that he had none left. A. M. Culver was then one of the most active participants in the opposition forces against the Winspear crowd. During the winter of 1871-72 Culver took Winspear to Sioux City in a sleigh, in February, and Winspear had with him the $350 warrant issued for a map of the County which the County had not yet seen. Culver knew nothing of the warrant, and Winspear in the genial feeling of companionship, suggested to Culver that as he was Treasurer of the County, there was a chance to make some money, and upon inquiry from Culver how it was to be done, said, to buy the warrants at a discount and turn them in for cash. Culver replied to him that as a county officer the law forbid it, and aside from that he did not want to make money that way. Winspear negotiated the map warrant at Sioux City on this trip, and on his return Winspear was accused of selling the warrant which he did not deny, but undertook to lay some of the blame onto Culver and told their conversation, distorting and misrepresenting what Culver had said. There was a crowd of settlers on that day in Sibley and this trip to Sioux City being the topic of conversation, Culver mounted a dry goods box and with that spirit of energy characteristic of the man, and in a feeling of indignation, he told the conversation that had taken place between himself and Winspear and branded Winspear as a liar and a knave. This was expected by some to bring about an open warfare and a resort to weap- ons for the ripple of excitement was great and almost irre- pressible, but the occasion passed off without disturbance, save
-
G. L. CASWELL.
108
HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA.
and except a war of words. County officers then, as now, were required to give bonds, but as all were homesteaders a bond could not be given in the county that would fill the re- quirements of the law but bonds were accepted with such signers as the officials could obtain. Soon after the Winspear administration had charge of the affairs it was found that Cul- ver would not do their bidding, so that under the pretense of apprehension Culver was notified that he must give a gilt- edged bond or the books would be taken away from him and he was given a certain length of time to procure the bond. Culver immediately, unbeknown to anybody, went to LeMars and obtained good names and then to Sioux City and obtained the name of T. J. Stone for $5,000. When the board met it was supposed that Culver had been unable to better the bond and Sheriff Stiles was ready to turn Culver out, but the Treas- urer showed up what he had and the Board relapsed into si- lence and acquiescence. The $6,000 allowed to H. B. Wilson and Joy & Wright as a retainer on the swamp land business was paid, but no swamp land was ever reclaimed or recovered. In justice, however, to all parties concerned, we present the following communication from the attorneys, which appeared January 9, 1874:
EDITORS GAZETTE:
We are compelled, by the position in which we find our- selves placed, to make the following statement to the citizens and taxpayers of Osceola County :
It is well known to the majority of your citizens that we have been employed to commence and prosecute the necessary suit or suits to recover for Osceola County her swamp lands, and that a retainer was paid us for that purpose.
By the terms of the agreement entered into between the county and ourselves, the county was to employ a competent surveyor-accompanied with good and truthful men, as wit- nesses-to make a selection of swamp lands, and ascertain the owner or owners thereof. And under this agreement, but against our advice and in opposition to our protest, the Board appointed Mr. Frank Stiles to make said selection. We urged upon the Board that Mr. Stiles was not the person to make the selection, not from any animosity to him, but because he was neither a theoretical or practical engineer or surveyor; because he was at that time (whether justly or unjustly) un- popular with a large number of your citizens, and any selections he might make would meet with more or less opposition, by reason of a want of confidence in him.
W. R. BOLING.
110
IHISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA.
Under said appointment, Mr. Stiles went on and made a pretended selection of swamp lands, and did the work in such a manner that it was universally admitted, by citizens of the county, that no action could successfully be maintained upon it. We so advised the Board of Supervisors-the selection was repudiated, and the Board agreed to have another and proper selection made. Soon after this a new Board of Supervisors came into office, and we have been constant and unremitting in our efforts to induce them to have the swamp lands of the county selected, so that we can commence the necessary suit or suits, but without avail.
Now we want the citizens of Osceola County to know and understand that we entered into an engagement with the county in good faith. It is impossible for us to make the selection; this the county must do, and the interests of the county imperatively demand that it should be attended to at . once. For reasons, that it would be improper here to state, the county may lose her swamp lands if she does not move in this matter promptly. It is certain that further delay will greatly complicate the matter. If the county expects to ac- quire swamp lands, there must be a speedy assertion of her rights, and this can only be done by making the proper selections. We will not be answerable for the result of such delay.
We are about to commence the necessary suit to recover the swamp lands of Lyon County in the next term of the District Court, and it would be convenient to commence in your county about the same time.
We submit to the people of Osceola County that it is not treating us in good faith to place us in our present position in reference to this matter, and we wish it to be understood that if the swamp land claims of Osceola County are not prosecuted it will not be our fault.
H. B. WILSON, JOY & WRIGHT.
This sort of belligerent spirit, or fighting campaign be- tween the contending forces, soon died away, and other and more peaceful methods were concluded upon. It was thought best to resort to legal proceedings and at the coming election, in the fall of 1872, to rally and elect a reform member of the board.
CHAPTER XV.
PROCEEDINGS OF BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, PARTIALLY GIVEN, INCLUDING ALL MATTERS OF IMPORTANCE.
The first session of the Board, and the session of the first Board, was held January 1, 1891.
The Board was called to order by County Auditor, and there were present as members J. H. Winspear and H. R. Fenton. J. H. Winspear was elected Chairman. Eldredge Morrison qualified as Clerk of Holman Township, A. M. Culver as Treasurer of the County, H. L. Clapsaddle as Justice of the Peace for Holman Township, Geo. W. Ketcham as Clerk of Horton Township, O. Dunton as Justice of the Peace for Horton Township, Frank Stiles as Justice for Holman Town- ship, and Delily Stiles took the oath of office as County Sup- erintendent of Schools. The Board then adjourned to the next day, and met with the same members present.
.It was voted to give orders to Perkins Bros., of Sioux City, for books and stationery required for County purposes. C. M. Brooks qualified as Clerk of the District Court, M. J. Campbell as County Surveyor, and Geo. Spaulding appeared and took the oath of office as County Supervisor. Benjamin F. Cox qualified as Clerk of Goewey Township, and the Board then adjourned to January 3, the next day.
The Board met as per adjournment, at which meeting the above members werepresent, with the addition of Geo. Spauld- ing. L. L. Webb qualified as Constable for Holman Town- ship, and D. F. Curtiss as Justice in Goewey Township. The following appointments were then made: Garvin, Coroner of the County; Frank Stiles, Sheriff; and William Jepson, Justice for Goewey Township. A large number of petitions asking that County roads be laid out were presented and allowed, and the Board adjourned to the next day, Jan- uary 4.
At this adjourned meeting January 4, it was ordered that the County Surveyor select ten sections of land that may be marked swamp lands on the district land office plat, or as near ten sections as he could. It was voted that Sibley be the county seat. Frank Stiles then qualified as Sheriff, John
112
HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA.
Beaumont as Drainage Commissioner. Forty-five dollars was appropriated for paupers to be divided among the three town- ships. It was then voted to call a special election to vote on court house bonds to the amount of five thousand dollars; also to vote as to whether stock shall be prevented from running at large.
John F. Glover asked that the County Auditor be author- ized to accept the bond of D. L. McCausland as County Re- corder, which he was, provided the bond was presented by January 10, 1872. It was also voted to call for bids for a house 14×20 feet, to be used by county officers. Provision was then made for desks and fuel.
Salaries were fixed as follows:
Treasurer, for the year $1,000
Auditor,
66 840
Recorder, "
500
The following accounts were then allowed :
Geo. Spaulding, supervisor and mileage $21 76
H. R. Fenton, 66 66
17 44
J. H. Winspear, 16 00 66 1
F. M. Robinson, services to Sioux City 60 00 1 1 1 1 Į
H. R. Fenton,
66
66
1
1
60 00
J. H. Winspear, 66 66
60 00
William Hecker, maps of county 350 00 1 I
1 Frank Stiles, township trustee 2 00
John Beaumont, « 2 00
H. K. Rogers, use of building 8 00
The Board then adjourned to meet February 12, 1872.
The Board met as per adjournment February 12, 1872, and the election in the mean time having been held to vote on the court house bonds and on stock running at large, the vote was canvassed and resulted as follows:
For court house bonds 9
Against court house bonds 52
For the act restraining stock 61
Against the act of restraining stock I
The Board then recognized D. L. McCausland as Re- corder and approved his bond, and also approved the appoint- ment of John F. Glover as Deputy Recorder. The Board then adjourned to meet the next day, February 13.
At this, February 13, meeting Perkins Bros. were allowed $300 on their bill for books. One dollar was allowed on the scalp of each fox in addition to the state allowance, and the salary of C. M. Brooks, Clerk of Court, was fixed at $50 per
1
1 1
1
LOWVEAUER P.
G. W. MEADER HARDWARE BUILDING,
7
114
HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA.
month. It was also voted to advertise in the LeMars Vidette for bids for the erection of a court house to be 20x40 feet and paid for in county warrants. The Board then adjourned to meet next day, February 15.
The Board met as per adjournment, February 15, 1872. Their first act was to authorize the County Auditor to take legal measures to take the books of the County Recorder's office from John Beaumont and turn them over to D. L. McCausland. There was then allowed various bills for the support of paupers, county seals, Supervisors' services, and other things aggregating $342.36, and after this the Board adjourned without day.
The next meeting of the Board was April 1, 1872, and at this meeting the reports of road commissioners were acted upon and several roads established and designated. John Beaumont was allowed $30 salary while he was Recorder and D. L. McCausland $62.60 for expenses in obtaining possession of Recorder's books.
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