USA > Iowa > Page County > History of Page County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc. : a biographical directory of many of its leading citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, history of Iowa and the Northwest, map of Page County, constitution of the state of Iowa, reminiscences, miscellaneous matters, etc > Part 44
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" Be it known that on this the 2d day of March, A. D., 1858, it was ordered
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
by the judge of the county of Page in the state of Iowa, that so much of the township of Dyke as may be west of the congressional section line run- ning north through congressional township number 70, north of range 36 west and commencing at the southeast corner of section 32 in said con- gressional township, be and is hereby stricken from said Dyke township, and attached to and made a part of the township of Douglas.
" Be it know that on this the 20th day of January, 1858, it is ordered by the judge of the county of Page, in the state of Iowa, that so much of said county as may be included in congressional townships, number 67, north of range 37, 38 and 39 west, together with one-half mile in width off of the full length of the west side of township 67, north of range 36 west, be and the same is hereby declared to constitute one municipal town- ship, which shall be known and designated 'Amity township,' in which the elections required by law shall be holden at such place in said munici- pal township as the trustees thereof shall direct.
" Be it known that on this the 1st day of November, A. D., 1858, in open court, is ordered by the county judge of said county that a new mu- nicipal township be created to be known as Washington township, to be bounded as follows: begining at the northeast corner of section 25 in township 68, north of range number 38 west, thence west with the section line to the county line between Page and Fremont counties, thence south to the county line, thence east along the county line until a prolongation of said line intersect the range line between townships 37 and 38, thence north to the place of beginning."
On the county judge's minute book, under date of June 7th, 1858, ap- pears the following:
" And now a petition is presented, signed by Lewis Hunt and a ma- jority of the citizens of Pierce township, Page county, asking the court that so much of Douglas township as may be west of section line divid- ing sections 32 and 33, and extending north, may be stricken from said Douglas township, and attached to Pierce township, whereupon the court ordered such change and decreed that so much of Douglas township, as now constituted, as lies west of said section line, dividing sections 32 and 33, be and the same hereby is constituted a part of Pierce township."
August 3, 1858, there was filed in the county judge's office a petition, asking that the name of Dyke township be changed to that of Valley, and consequently on the 6th day of September, 1858, the petition was granted, and the township has since been known and designated as Valley town- ship.
October 1, 1860, by order of J. Simonton, county judge, the bounda- ries of the various townships were again changed. His order reading as follows:
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
" Congressional township 67, range 38 and range 39, shall constitute the municipal township of Washington.
"Congressional township 67, range 37, shall constitute the municipal township of Amity.
"Congressional township 67, range 36, shall constitute the municipal township of Buchanan.
" Congressional township 68, range 36, shall constitute a new municipal township, to be known and hailed as East River township, in which the first election shall be held at the house of John Fisher, and afterwards at such place as the trustees thereof may designate.
" Congressional township 68, range 37, except sections one and two and the north half of sections 11 and 12, shall constitute a new municipal township, to be known and hailed as Harlan township, in which the first election shall be held at the house of Eli McNutt, and afterward at such place as the trustees thereof may designate.
"Congressional township 68, range 38 and range 39, shall constitute a new municipal township, to be known and hailed as Lincoln township, in which the first election shall be held at Skinner's school house, and after- wards at such place as the trustees thereof may designate.
"Congressional township 69, range 38 and range 39, shall constitute the municipal township of Tarkio.
"Congressional township 69, range 37, also the west half of township 69, range 36, and section 27, and the north half of section 34, and south- west quarter of section 34, in township 69, range 36, also sections one and two, and north half of sections 11 and 12, in township 68, range 37, shall constitute the municipal township of Nodaway.
"The east half of congressional township 69, range 36, except section 27, and the north half of section 34, and southwest quarter of section 34, shall constitute the municipal township of Nebraska.
" Congressional township 70, range 36, shall constitute the municipal township of Valley.
"Congressional township 70, range 37, shall constitute the municipal township of Douglas.
" Congressional township 70, range 38, shall constitute the municipal township of Fremont.
" Congressional township 70, range 39, shall constitute the municipal township of Pierce."
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
FIRST INSTRUMENTS RECORDED.
The records of the county recorder's office being complete from the or- ganization of the county to the present time, we are enabled to give the very first instruments ever recorded in the county:
QUIT CLAIM DEED.
For the consideration of five hundred dollars, I hereby quit claim to Mary Davidson the following named property, to-wit: Four head of horses, twenty-six head of cattle, twenty head of hogs, twenty head of sheep, one wagon, all household furniture and farming utensils; also all my right and title to my claim bounded on the north by William Shearer, on the east by Wayne Davidson, south by McFarlan.
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal, this 28th day of May, 1852.
his SAMUEL M DAVIDSON. mark.
Subscribed to before me the day and date above written.
A. H. FARRENS, District Clerk.
Immediately following the above instrument was recorded the follow- ing:
Know all men by these presents : That I, Mary Davidson, have this day filed for record a notice, stating that I have a claim out of the estate of my husband, Samuel Davidson, to the amount of two thousand dollars, and that I am a preferred creditor to that amount. And if, during my life time, he dies or becomes insolvent, I shall be deemed a preferred creditor to that amount, and that I hold and control the same in my own right.
This 28th day of May, 1852.
her MARY ₦ DAVIDSON. mark.
The first
MORTGAGE
on record is that of Philip Boulware to John Krout, as follows:
Know all men by these presents: That I, Philip Boulware, of the county of Page, and state of Iowa, for the better securing of a sum of money hereinafter mentioned, have given, granted, bargained, sold, aliened and confirmed, and by these presents do give, grant, sell, alien and confirm unto John Krout, as executor of the estate of John Stonebraker, deceased,
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
all the right title interest and claim of and to the following described prem- ises, situated in the county and state aforesaid, to-wit:
The improvements made by the late John Stonebraker, deceased, on the Nodaway river, three-fourths of a mile below the Brown correction line, a description of which will more fully appear by a deed of conveyance made by the said John Krout, as executor on the estate of John Stonebraker, deceased, bearing date of March 22, 1852, to the said Philip Boulware, to have and to hold the same unto the said party of the second part, and to their heirs and assigns for- ever; Provided, always, that these presents, and this conveyance are upon this condition: that the said Philip Boulware has executed and delivered his promissory note for the following sum of money to the aforesaid grantee, bearing date the 22d day of March, A. D. 1852, John Krout, to the amount of four hundred and sixty dollars and ten cents, due and paya- ble one day after date. Now if the said Philip Boulware shall well and truly pay the said sum of money, together with the interest thereon, if any, when the same shall become due and payable, according to the tenor, time and effects thereof, then these presents and this conveyance shall be void, otherwise to remain in full force and virtue in law.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this March 22d, 1852. PHILIP BOULWARE.
State of Iowa, County of Page. S
Be it remembered that Philip Boulware, who is personally known to the undersigned, judge of Page county, to be the person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing conveyance as party thereto, this day person- ally appeared before me and acknowledged that he executed and delivered the same as his voluntary act and deed for the use and purposes therein contained.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. R. F. CONOR, Judge of Page County.
ERASTUS N. THOMAS, Recorder of Page County, Iowa.
EARLY SETTLERS' REUNIONS.
In most counties the early settlers have formed themselves into associa- tions which have for their purpose the keeping up the memory of the days when all were laying the foundations of the future growth of the community, and to renew not only their old acquaintance but to welcome the newer citizens to the soil to which they, the old settlers, had gained something of a prescriptive right. These associations usually keep up
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
their meetings from year to year, until the association becomes one of the features of the county. But in Page county we do not find that any such association has ever been formed, as a permanent organization, to be kept up with meetings each recurring year. But we find accounts of an occa- sional meeting of the old settlers in the press of the county. The first of these was held on Saturday, August 2d, 1873. The Democrat, in speak- ing of this meeting, says: "Many old citizens who had not met for years, came together and greeted each other with a hearty good will and grasp of the hand. The meeting was called to order by our noble-hearted townsman, George Ribble, who was one of Clarinda's first settlers, and who has always been foremost in any enterprise for the ad- vancement of our county. After a piece of music by the band, Rev. Stockton, a gentleman, who helped to beat down the grass of both Page and Taylor counties, and a man whom all respect and love, implored a
blessing from the All-wise Being upon the meeting. After this the Rev. S. Farlow was introduced and spoke at length, giving the history of the trials and privations of the early history and settling of the county. His remarks were timely and appropriate; and why should they not be, for at the time he was a young minister, and instead of the yellow-legged chick- ens appearing before him, he was glad to get 'corndodgers,' and preached Christ to the pioneers of the county. For this Mr. Farlow deserves great credit, and the thanks of all old settlers are due him for his energy and perseverence in filling his appointments. After a piece of music by the band, Dr. J. L. Barrett, an old and respected citizen, was introduced and spoke in his inimitable way, giving incidents of the early settlers of the county. He came down to a late date and eulogized the county as it de- serves. The doctor's speech was well received and all gave him the praise of doing well; in fact, may say he out-done himself.
" Col. Hepburn was introduced and responded to the toast, 'The La- dies, past, present and future.' The response was in his usual happy way. His remarks being timely and well received. At the close of his speech, L. Lingenfelter, of Sidney, Fremont county, was loudly called for, and appeared and spoke for a considerable time, giving some interesting anec- dotes of Page, and especially some concerning the first courts held in' the county."
Notwithstanding the fact that all went away from this meeting resolv- ing in their minds that each succeeding year they would have a similar gathering, it appears that by the next year it was all forgotten and no steps were again taken towards holding a similar meeting until the year 1878, the date being fixed for the middle of October. The day proved stormy and the meeting was not the success it was hoped by all the old settlers it would be. Since that time nothing of the kind has been attempted.
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
FIRST MARRIAGE LICENSE.
The first marriage which appears on records, after the organization of the county, is that of Isaiah Stonebraker to Mary Jones, March 23d, 1852, W. C. Means officiating. 1
April 26th, 1852, Abraham Limbaugh was united in marriage to Mary A. Fruits, R. F. Connor, county judge, officiating.
April 2d, 1852, Erastus Thomas to Mary Jane Farrens, R. F. Connor performing the ceremony.
It must not be inferred, however, that these were the first cases of mat- rimony within the limits of the territory now embraced in Page county as several marriages had taken place while the south half of the county was under the jurisdiction of Missouri.
EVENTS OF THE PAST.
From the columns of the Page County Herald we have gathered the following incidents which transpired during 1859, '60 and '61. From the latter date up to 1868 there are no files of the Herald in existence, hav- ing been destroyed by fire. For our date of events from 1868 to 1880 we are indebted to the files of the Page County Democrat:
Friday, September 23, 1859 .- On Wednesday of last week a bright, in- telligent looking mulatto, about eighteen years of age, passed through Cla- rinda, inquiring the way to Hawleyville. As soon as he got beyond the limits of our town he was pursued and overtaken by a citizen, who, by friendly promises, induced him to accompany him home. Shortly after dark the services of three other citizens and a team were obtained, and about ten o'clock he was tied hand and foot, against his appeals to their humanity, against his cries and entreaties, and started in charge of two of these philanthropists, in search of an owner in Missouri.
Friday, February 17, 1860 .- Mr. Samuel Gregg and his sister, son and daughter of William Gregg, of this county, were drowned in the Pacific ocean, on the 6th of January. They left Page county on the 14th of No- vember for Oregon, and had almost reached their destination, when the vessel they were on was wrecked.
Friday, March 9, 1860 .- Died, in Clarinda, on the 7th inst. Dr. Geo. W. Kridlebaugh, aged 25 years .- The house of a Mr. Sly, in the
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
southeast part of Nodaway township, together with its contents, was burned on Friday night, March 2.
Friday, September 14, 1860-A son of Jacob Friermoter, of Buchanan township, fell from a walnut tree on the 9th of September, and was in- stantly killed.
Friday, January 25, 1861 .- Monday, January 14th, Mr. Elisha Thomas, of Nebraska township, came to Clarinda to superintend some repairs about to be made on the bridge east of town, he being a member of the board of supervisors, but the weather being bad he could do nothing, and accordingly on the 18th he started for home. He had an opportunity of riding as far as Mr. McBee's, on the Hawleyville road, at which place he left the road and started on foot across the bottom, for his home, some two miles distant. It was then about sundown and by the time he had got half a mile through the snow-for it was snowing and blowing at a terrible rate, and the storm beat almost directly in his face -- night came on, and being blind by the storm he was unable to keep his course, and missed the course where he had designed crossing East River- Quimby's Ford. When he came to the river and found he had missed the fording, he un- dertook to regain his latitude by traveling up and down the river on the ice. He continued to travel this way during the entire night, leaving the stream only once or twice when he thought he had discovered a habita- tion. By morning he was exhausted so that he could only walk with the assistance of two canes, and his hands were so badly frozen, being with- out mittens, that he could scarcely hold the sticks. When morning dawned upon him, without bringing any habitation to view, he felt as though he must perish, and in order to leave something above the snow that might lead to the discovery of his body, he placed a package of tobacco, which he had just purchased in town, up in a tree, and then continued to walk about as well as he could to keep from freezing, and with a faint hope that he might yet be extricated from his perilous position. Some time during that day he came to his own field, with several stacks of hay by the fence, but owing to the bewildered state of his mind, and being almost blinded by the storm, he could not recognize the place; and while he stood won- dering whose improvement it could be, his attention was attracted by the sound of a cow bell, in the direction of the river. In hope of finding some means of relief he started in the direction of the sound, and approaching the bank of the river he stepped upon some snow, which he mistook for firm ground, which gave way and sent him down the bank, and he only saved himself from going into the water by catching hold of some roots. He had become so weak that he could not get up, but by the use of his feet he scraped down a small embankment of snow, which soon froze hard
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
enough to support him in his reclining position. Here he gave up all hope of recovery and no prospect but death seemed before him; and in order to make his sufferings as brief as possible he undertook to divest himself of a portion of his clothing, but had become so weak and stiff that he could not get them off. The only alternative which seemed to be left him was to lie still and await the approach of death. During Friday night, and while in this helpless situation, a heavy cloud appeared in the heav- ens which betokened snow, and his greatest concern was that he should there be buried with snow, and his friends have no trace of him, and in the spring his body be swept away by the flood. With such reflections as these he passed that night, falling to sleep twice. Next morning about nine o'clock, he heard a boy calling some sheep, to whom he called, and fortunately was heard. The boy approached him, and finding his situa- tion, hastened off for help. He was taken to his home, only about half a mile distant, and medical assistance called, and after carefnl nursing he fully recovered.
Friday, May 24, 1861. -- Monday, May 20, Mr. Storrs' steam saw-mill . was blown up, killing one man instantly and injuring six or seven more. About a dozen men were in and about the mill at the time of the accident. Mr. Griffith was killed instantly, by some of the machinery falling upon him; Mr. N. C. Storrs, the proprietor of the mill, had one leg and one or more ribs broken, and was otherwise injured.
Friday, November 15, 1861 .- About 4 o'clock on Thursday November 7, Col. Morledge and lady both being from home, their little boy, Edward, aged ten or twelve years, took a rifle from the house and went into the yard to play with some smaller children. Not thinking of its being loaded, he put caps upon the tube and pointing the gun at various objects cracked them. Finally he pointed it at a little sister, between three and four years old, who was sitting upon the ground, and cracked another cap; this time the gun discharged a load which had been in it for several months, the ball entering the left and back part of the neck and coming out at the lower part of the right breast, killing her almost instantly.
Monday, December 14, 1868 .- On Sunday, December 6, a little son, aged three years, of Mr. Caleb Aylesworth, suddenly died at the Delevan House, in Clarinda, from strangulation, produced by inhaling a small cop- per rivet, his death occurring in three minutes afterward .- -On Fri- day, December 11, the thermometer ranged thirty-two degrees below zero .- Snow to the depth of eighteen inches on a level in the timbered region and twelve inches on the prairie.
Saturday, April 17, 1869 .- The wife of Joseph Buckingham, Sr., of F
1
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
Hawleyville, died on Tuesday and was buried on Thursday. Mrs. B. was one among the first white women who came to this county.
Saturday, July 2, 1870 .- James H. Hilderbrant, a young man twenty- two years of age, committed suicide by shooting himself through the heart, Tuesday, June 28.
Saturday, March 18, 1871 .- While Gilbert Henderson and C. Hardee, of Buchanan township, were out rabbit hunting the latter accidentally shot the former in the face, from the effects of which he lost his eye-sight.
Saturday, March 25, 1871 .-- The citizens of Nodaway township, on March 18, unanimously voted a five per cent tax in aid of the construction of the St. Louis, Council Bluffs & Omaha Railroad .- A little son of T. T. Pendergraff, five years of age, was accidentally hung, on Saturday, March 18, while playing in his father's barn.
Saturday, June 10, 1871 .- Sunday, June 4, Mr. Arthur Weir was drowned while bathing in the West Nodaway river, about two miles north of Laport's mill .- -The same day Mr. Thomas Chadwick was drowned in the Nishnabotna, while bathing with other parties in the river, near Shenandoah.
Thursday, April 4, 1872 .- Died, at his residence, in Valley township, Thursday morning, March 28, Mr. A. J. Beavers. He came to Page county from Ohio in 1864, and settled on the farm where he died.
Thursday, September 19, 1872 .- Died, in Clarinda, Friday morning, Sep- tember 13, Dr. A. H. East, in the fifty-third year of his age. He was an old and estimable citizen, and a man whom all respected. During his life he filled several important public positions. At the commencement of the war he was commissioned as surgeon of a Missouri regiment, in which capacity he served until wounded at the battle of Pea Ridge, when he was compelled to resign. He afterward served in the same capacity in the Twenty-third Iowa infantry for about one year, when he was again compelled to resign on account of ill health.
Thursday, August 28, 1873 .- Mr. Stephen Reasoner, one of Page county's early settlers, died Saturday, August 23. He came to the county in 1857 and settled on Tarkio.
Thursday, May 14, 1874 .- On Tuesday night, May 12, the office of the Clarinda Herald was entirely consumed by fire. Loss $4,000.
Thursday, February 25, 1875 .- W. W. Russell, while returning home
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
from southern Kansas, was dangerously injured by an accident on the Kansas City & St. Joe railroad.
Thursday, April I, 1875 .- On Sunday, March 28, John Creal, aged 67 years, died at his residence in Nodaway township. He had been a resi- dent of Page county since 1857.
Thursday, May 13, 1875 .- W. F. Thummel and Miss Edith C. Hep- burn, both of Clarinda, were united in marriage at the residence of the bride's parents.
Thursday, June 17, 1875 .- Thursday, June 10, the grasshoppers tres- passed on the soil of Page county, commencing at the south part, and made their way north. They cleaned out all the cornfields and destroyed considerable small grain. After remaining a few days they took their departure, not, however, before doing great damage to the growing crops.
On Monday, June 14, Mrs. Burdick, who resided near Quimby's mill, expired suddenly of heart disease.
Thursday, July 1, 1875 .- On Saturday night, June 26, a very destructive wind storm passed over the county, being most severe west of Clarinda, though its effects were felt throughout the county generally. The house of Mr. W. Whitney, near Page City, was blown down and its contents scattered over the prairie. One of his children, a babe only a few weeks old, was found enveloped in some bed clothes, smothered to death. The house of J. C. Journey, in the south part of the county, was carried twenty feet from its foundation .- Died, on Sunday afternoon, June 27, Miss Frank Waynick, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Waynick, of Clarinda, aged 17 years.
Thursday, July 8, 1875 .- On Sunday afternoon, July 4, William Hardee, a step-son of Stuart Henderson, while walking along the road near his home in the south part of the county, was struck by lightning and killed instantly.
Thursday, September 9 .- Henry Owens, a boy about 15 years of age, was drowned in the river near Laport's mill, on Sunday, September 5.
Thursday, October 28 .- Rev. Mr. Barker, a resident of College Springs, and one of the most highly esteemed men of the county dropped dead while walking along the streets of that place on Friday, October 22.
Thursday, September 14, 1876 .- On Saturday night, September 9, the waters of the Nodaway, which for a few days had been out of its banks, came down and raised that stream about eight feet higher, or in fact, higher than it was ever known. People living on bottom lands had to
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
leave their homes and take to the bluffs, many houses being surrounded by water before the inmates could escape, thus compelling many people to wade for their lives.
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