USA > Iowa > Pottawattamie County > History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa. Containing a history from the earliest settlement to the present time biographical sketches; portraits of some of the early settlers, prominent men, etc. > Part 4
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In 1857, new officers were appointed. James Pollard became Register, and A. H. Palmer
Receiver. Mr. Pollard resigned the Register's office in 1858, and Lewis S. Hill was appointed to fill the place. Mr. Hill had been a clerk in the office for several years before his appoint- ment as Register. The next change in the office was made May 20, 1861, after the election of President Lincoln, when Frank Street became Register, and D. C. Bloomer was made Receiver. At this time, nearly all the public lands in this vicinity had been sold. In 1862, the new homestead law passed, and the first entry un- der it was made January 1, 1863.
Up to the close of the office in Council Bluffs, in May, 1873, the whole number of homestead entries was 648. Of this number, 194 were "proved up." In the spring of 1869, Mr. Syl- vanus Dodge was appointed Register. He re- mained in the office until his death, in Jannary, 1871, and in January, 1872, Mr. Nehemiah Baldwin was appointed Register, and held the office until its removal to Des Moines. Hon. D. C. Bloomer remained Receiver of the Land Office for over twelve years. The whole num- ber of cash entries made at this office during its existence was 13,049, and the whole number of land warrants located was 18,647.
The 600,000 acres of land in Pottawattamie County are well watered by the Missouri River and numerous other streams, and it is bounded on the north by Harrison and Shelby Counties, and on the east by Cass County, and on the south by Montgomery and Mills Counties, and on the west by the Missouri River. The Boyer River, in the northwest corner, enters from Harrison County, and meanders down the Mis-
₹By W. T. Giles.
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
souri bottom about fifteen miles, where it joins that great father of waters about ten miles above Council Bluffs. The next stream east- ward is Honey Creek, a tributary of Boyer River. This stream rises in Harrison County, and runs in a southwest course for about twelve miles through Pottawattamie County, and enters the Boyer about three miles north- west of Crescent City. In its course it passes through what is known as Honey Creek Lake, a small lake containing about eighty acres. It is supposed that at one time this was a portion of the channel of the Missouri. River.
Big Pigeon Creek comes next, on the east. It enters from Harrison County, about fifteen miles east of the Missouri, and runs in a south- west course to a junction with said river, about ten miles above Council Bluffs. Along this stream, it is said, some of the finest farming land in Iowa is to be found. The Big Pigeou affords some fine mill privileges, with two or three mills already in operation on it.
The Mosquito Creek also enters from Harri- son County, about twenty miles east of the Missouri River. It runs in a southwest course entirely across the county, touching the city limits of Council Bluffs, and enters the Mis- souri Valley a short distance below the city. This stream affords some good mill sites, and one mill, valued at $20,000, is already in opera- tion on it. About six miles above this city, on the same stream, can be found an excellent woolen mill. The valley of this creek contains some of the very best of farming lands. The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad enters this valley four miles south of the north line of Pottawattamie County, and follows it, nearly on a direct line, to Council Bluffs.
The next stream east is Keg Creek. It also enters from Harrison County, twenty-five miles east of the Missouri River, aud runs in a sonth- westerly course, and affords sufficient fall and water for small mills.
Silver Creek has its head in Shelby County,
and enters Pottawattamie about thirty miles east of the Missouri River, and runs in a south- west direction. Middle Silver Creek is a trib- utary which rises in the north part of the county, and runs nearly south to its junction with the main stream ou the west side.
The West Nishnabotna River enters from Shelby County, about thirty-four miles east of the Missouri River. It also has a branch two miles farther east. These two streams form a junction four miles south of the county line. and flow in nearly a south course across the county. This is a good mill stream. and ser- eral grist and saw mills are in operation along its banks. The rich and beautiful valley of the West Nishnabotna contains some of the finest farms in the State, many of which are highly improved.
Jordan Creek rises in the northeast part of the county, and flows in a southwest direction. This stream has several small tributaries, the largest being Mud Creek.
Walnut Creek rises in a small lake near the northeast corner of the county, and runs nearly south across its limit. The next stream is the East Nishnabotna, which flows about seven miles through the county, across the south- east corner of the same.
To the streams mentioned above can be added numerous other small tributaries, such as Pony Creek, Little Silver, Little Mosquito Indian Creek, etc. These streams are well dis- tributed at regular intervals, and afford an abundance of water to every section of the county. Many springs of pure, cold water flow from the bluff's and along most of the streams in the county. The wells are not generally deep, and they give excellent water.
TIMBER.
It may be well enough in writing up this history to state that, while timber is not abun- dant in Pottawattamie County, it is to be found in such quantities as to answer all necessary use, B
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IIISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
if properly husbanded. The largest bodies to be found are the cottonwood groves along the Missouri, but there are also some excellent bodies of various kinds, on West Nishnabotna, Honey Creek, Pigeon and Musquito Creeks.
Two varieties of cottonwood are to be found on the Missouri River, known as white and · yellow. Among the other varieties of timber found are burr oak, black oak, red oak, walnut, white elm, red elm, ash, soft maple, linn, honey locust, hickory, etc. Nearly all the streams herein mentioned are skirted by groves of tim- ber of greater or less magnitude, but in quanti- ties for fuel, convenient to all parts of the coun- ty. The largest supply of timber will be found in the western part of the county. If the prairie fires could be prevented for ten or fifteen years, timber would be abundant in every sec- tion of this and other counties in Iowa.
WILD FRUIT.
It is a well-established fact, that some very delicious wild fruit is to be found in this coun- ty, particularly along the Missouri slope. IIere you will find plums of good quality and vari- ous kinds ; grapes, raspberries, gooseberries, strawberries and crab apples, all growing lux- uriantly.
STONE.
It was generally supposed that stone, in this county, was not to be found, but upon in- vestigation, the facts show an abundance of lime stone and some sandstone. These can be ob- tained in large quantities whenever the vari- ous quarries in Pottawattamie shall be opened up properly. Limestone can be found on Sec- tion 36, Township 75, Range 38, and on vari- ous other adjoining sections. In the south part, on West Nishnabotna, limestone suitable for building purposes can be obtained. North of Council Bluffs, two and a half and four miles, on Mosquito Creek and along the Mis- souri River, are to be seen exposures of lime- stone. In Township 74, Range 40, an excellent
quality of stone for burning lime is to he had. At various points along the Missouri Bluffs are " masses of coarse sandstone and conglomer- ate, formed by the percolation of lime water through the beds of sand and bebbles belonging to the drift deposits." These beds of sand and pebbles having been deposited in layers, and being cemented in that position, present in many places the appearance of a rocky ledge.
The best of brick can be manufactured in the bluffs and all parts of the county, where the best of sand and clay are obtainable for the purpose. Many of the sidewalks made of these bricks have endured for many years.
COAL.
Some years ago it was stated that coal had been discovered a few miles up the Missouri River, in the bluffs, but up to the present writing no such discovery has proven correct. Coal is abundant in some parts of Iowa, and may in time, by deep boring, be discovered in this county. If this article of fuel should be- come a commodity of this section, it would be a great blessing to those who have but little timber, and in fact, it would be beneficial to all classes. Coal is one of the cheapest and best heating substances yet discovered, and its im- portance to the public can scarcely be calcul- lated by dollars and cents, for it has a value beyond the money that is in it. Many of the citizens of Pottawattamie County seem confi- dent that coal will yet be found in the vicinity of Council Bluffs.
The climate of the Missouri slope is salubri- ous and bracing, and in consequence of this fact, many persons have located in the city of Council Bluffs and the County of Pottawatta- mie. At one time the idea prevailed that much of the Missouri River bottom would prove too wet for agricultural purposes, but this idea has long since been dispelled, for these lands are of the very richest in the county, and yield the most abundant corn,
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
grass and other crops. Here cattle and stock growers find the very richest spots on earth for their business. The luxuriant growth of grass on these bottom lands causes cattle men to drive their stoek for many miles for the feed that is to be found from early spring till late fall. Thousands of head are fed and fattened here for the market with but very little other feed than the grass they find upon this land. Often cattle are driven from these pastures directly to the slaughter house, where they are killed for the market.
Nearly every acre of this bottom land is susceptible of excellent drainage, and when reduced to cultivation, it presents a moist, loamy surface, easy of tillage and is uusur- passed for productive qualities. The uplands are also rich, and the best of health prevails among the settlers. All the climatic conditions of this county are such as to attract special attention from persons who are naturally weak or debilitated. Here many have gone out upon
these prairies, and have become strong and healthy, and are now among the most prosper- ous people of the county. Persons seeking homes for health and rich soil, have found them in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, and with but few exceptions, are satisfied to remain.
In 1804, when Lewis and Clarke were hold- ing their first council with red men of the for- est, no such grand things as have occurred could have been hoped for this country. But the time has arrived when everything ean be hoped and looked for, and many things not now expected will be seen. The day for doubt- ing the healthfulness, the productiveness and the prosperity of this large and extensive county has passed. No one any longer seems to have fears or doubts as to the future greatness and growth of Pottawattamie, for these are inevita- ble, and her increase and prosperity only de- pend upon a little time. Climate, water, soil, a navigable river and railroads all combine to complete the grandeur long since begun.
CHAPTER IV .*
THE MISSOURI RIVER - STEAMBOATING - REMINISCENCES OF CAPT. LA BARGE-INTERESTING DETAILS-A WARLIKE OUTRAGE-FLOATING PALACES-RAILROADS-SHARP CONTEST FOR ROUTES-KEOKUK'S INDIFFERENCE AND CONSEQUENT LOSS OF A GREAT ROAD-THE GREAT TRUNK LINES TO TIIE " BLUFFS," ETC.
T
THE following interesting account of the
Missouri River, its early navigation and navigators, is to be found in the Omaha Bee, as gathered from Capt. La Barge, at one time owner and Captain of the steamer "John Chambers." The Bre says : "Capt. Joseph La Barge has been steamboating on the Missouri River since the year 1832, a longer period than any other steamboat man was ever engaged on this stream. In 1832, Captain La Barge, then but seventeen years of age, was running on the Mississippi, and was present at the Indian bat-
tle of Bad Ax, Wis. During the same year, he came to the Missouri, and began learning the river preparatory to becoming a pilot.
His first trip up the Missouri River was on the " Yellowstone," which was built in Pitts- burgh, in 1827, and was the first steamboat to engage in the Upper Missouri trade. She was built and owned by the American Fur Com- pany, and was commanded by Capt. Young. She was laden with miscellaneous merchandise, designed for trading purposes. This boat went up the river as far as the mouth of the Yellow- stone, the trip taking all summer.
*By W. T. Giles.
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
The " Yellowstone " continued to run on the Missouri during the years 1832 and 1833, and in 1834 the American Fur Company sold her and built a new boat, called the " Assiniboine," named after an Indian tribe, to take her place. This new boat was commanded by Captain, now General, Pratt. . She made her first suc- cessful trip, but in 1835 she was burned, about three miles below where now stands Fort Abra- ham Lincoln.
Capt. La Barge was put in charge of the company's boats, and continued as pilot for them for thirty years. He never lost a boat during his forty-six years' experience. He also built a number of boats for the Missouri River, be- ginning in 1839. "The steamer " Chambers " was the fifteenth boat built by him, and was the first stern wheeler that he ever constructed and owned. He thinks a stern wheeler is bet- ter adapted to the Missouri River than any other kind of boat, and it is especially adapted for the navigation of the Yellowstone.
" It is wonderful," said Capt. La Barge, " to see the remarkable changes that have taken place since then. Little did I think that I would ever live to witness them, and I can hardly realize it. In 1831, there was, at the spot where Bellevne now is, a noted trading establishment. It was the rendezvous for the tribes of the Rocky Mountains, and was under the control of Fontenelle and Dripps, and after- ward became the property of David Sarpy. The Omahas were here, where the city of Omaha now stands. Just above where Flor- ence now is, Cabanne had his trading post. All of these points along the river, in this vicinity, were quite important trading posts, the trading being done with the Omahas, the Otoes and the Pawnees. These trading posts, as well as others. were outfitted by the American Fur Company. Their next post up the river was just below the mouth of the Vermillion, and twenty miles above Sioux City. It was a large establishment.
"I remember many interesting incidents that transpired in this vicinity," said Capt. La Barge, "and one in particular, which proved to be quite an important event before the end was reached. It was in 1833. One Le Clair, who had been in the employ of the American Fur Company for some time, and had saved up several thousand dollars, went to St. Louis and purchased a keel boat, loaded it with merchan- dise, and started np the Missouri River with the craft, intending to trade with the Indians on his own account. Henry Shaw, of St. Louis, and the proprietor of 'Shaw's Gardens,' was heavily interested with him in the enterprise. Le Clair had a slow trip of it, as it was tedious work to cordelle the boat up the river. The American Fur Company had the only steam- boat for this trade. Steamboats were both scarce and expensive then, while keel boats were, of course, cheaper and more numerous. The only way to get them up stream was to pull them by a tow line along the bank of the river.
" When Le Clair was approaching this point, the American Fur Company gave orders to watch him closely, and at the first good oppor- tunity to capture the whole outfit, as they would not allow any opposition. At that time there was a long bend in the river, opposite where Florence now is, and where Cabanne's trading post was. It was ten miles around and two miles across the bend at this point, where Cabanne had six large buildings.
" As the boat was going around this bend, old Col. Peter Sarpy mustered out the Fur Company's employes, to the number of about eighteen men, all armed, and marched across the neck of land at Cabanne's, and there took station, and planted a cannon about three feet long. When Le Clair's boat came within hail- ing distance, Col. Sarpy commanded Le Clair to surrender or he would blow the boat out of the water with his cannon. Le Clair was forced to obey. If he had not done so, old Sarpy would
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
certainly have carried his threat out. The Fur Company took possession of the boat and goods. It was nothing more or less than high- way robbery, and the affair created considera- ble commotion, almost resulting in a movement that might have ended in forcing the company to leave the country.
" Le Clair returned to St. Louis financially ruined ; he never got over it. A big lawsuit followed, but Le Clair never got anything out of it, although the company settled with Shaw.
" The Missouri River in those days ran over by the lake above Council Bluffs, and continued there for several years, and when that cut-off was made, it was called 'Heart Cut-off.' I remember the river formerly ran along where the smelting works now stands, striking the bluffs just below there. Little did I ever sup- pose that such a large town as Omaha would be located there. In 1854, town sites were laid out all along the Missouri River, wherever there was a steamboat landing. Steamboating was very profitable in those days, much more so than it has been for several years back. The passenger boats on the Missouri River, from 1856 to 1869, were the finest and most substan- tial ever built, and cost from $110,000 to $125,000 each. The people demanded floating palaces, and would not travel on ordinary boats.'
Capt. La Barge said, " I find you are mis- taken in relation to the name of Kanesville, now Council Bluffs. It was not called Kanes- ville in honor of a Mormon Elder, as you have stated, but in honor of Dr. Kane, the celebrated Arctic explorer. I brought Dr. Kane up here on a steamboat. He came up as Government Commissioner to investigate the Mormons, and not finding them as bad as they had been rep- resented, he made a very favorable report on his return, and the Mormons, who thought con- siderable of him on that account, changed the name of the place from Miller's Hill to Kanes- ville.
RAILROADS.
Early in 1848, the older and more thiekly settled portions of Iowa began to elamor for railroads, and petitions were sent to Congress asking grants of land for building railroads in the State, but no proposed routes had been mentioned in the petitions, and the committee to whom said petitions were referred reported against them on these grounds. When these objections were made known, the Dubuque and Keokuk Company immediately went to work to get their stock taken in their pro- proposed road, and to organize. The or- ganization was completed in the month of December, 1848, at Iowa City, with Lucius Langworthy as President. The President was a citizen of Dubuque. P. R. Skinner, of Anamosa, was chosen Secretary, and J. H. Fisher, of Iowa City, appointed Treasurer. A Board of Directors were elected. Maj. Thomas J. McKean was selected as Engineer. Ile made a cursory survey of the route, and reported the distance to the Board of Directors. This re- port was laid before the Legislature, and was accepted and adopted by that body, when another memorial was sent to the United States Senators and members of Congress, asking grants of lands for this road. Another me- morial was also sent, asking a grant of land to aid in constructing a road " from Davenport by Muscatine, Iowa City and Fort Des Moines, to some suitable point near Council Bluffs, on the Missouri River." These proposed routes began to assume a character of importance, and the people of the various counties and towns began to make a hot contest as to the locations of the roads. Davenport and Iowa City could not see the propriety of making a road west via Muscatine to the Missouri River. These two cities contended for a straight line, and this produced ill feeling among the citizens of Mus- catine in relation to the other two places, and the battle became quite warm. On the Du- buque and Keokuk line; in the north. Cedar and
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
Linn were rivals, and in the south, Henry and Jefferson Counties, each of which counties contended hotly for the location of the road.
Soon after the meeting of the Legislature, in 1850, the Dubuque and Keokuk road attracted special attention. and a large number of promi- nent men from along the line of this road as- sembled at the capital and effected a new or- ganization, with two sets of officers ; one set were to control the business south, and the other north, of Iowa City, and were known as the north and south divisions. In the articles of incorporation, and in the memorial passed by the Legislature that winter, asking for a grant of land, the towns of Cascade, Anamosa, Marion, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Washington, Fairfield, Glasgow. Salem and West Point were made points on the road. At that time this had every appearance of being the first road that would be built in the State, and if proper efforts had been made, probably would have been.
Along the line of the road, particularly in Jefferson County, there were liberal subserip- tions made, and hopes were entertained of ob- taining a grant of land for its aid at the next Congress. At that time no road had reached the Mississippi from the East, and nearly all the trade from lowa sought an eastern outlet by going down the river. The citizens of Keo- kuk, who, as a matter of fact, were to be bene- fited the most by the enterprise, thinking they were, by their location, "The Gate" through which most of the trade of the back country must pass, whether the road was made or not, took but little interest in the enterprise. With- out the aid of Keokuk, where the road was to commence, those north of the city, particularly Jefferson County, did not feel like engaging in the enterprise, and the public mind was look- ing to Keokuk with much anxiety to see what her people would do.
A meeting of the citizens of Keokuk was beld, and the railroad question agitated, when
it was decided to make a plank road up the divide toward Des Moines, leaving Fairfield on one side. When this result was understood by the citizens of Fairfield, public sentiment in the county soon changed. and notwithstanding the wedded feeling formerly entertained for Keo- kuk, the sentiment was transferred in favor of Burlington. This city treasured the advantage gained, and the citizens went to work in ear- nest to get the road. and urged the people of Jefferson County to aid them. They raised a fund, and sent a person to Washington to lobby against the grant of land by Congress to the Dubuque and Keokuk road. The papers of Burlington attacked the project with fierceness, particularly the Telegraph, edited by James Morgan, who gave the road the name of "The Ram's Horn Railroad," on account of its crook- edness. The ridicule thrown out by Burling- ton against the road, defeated the land grant, and blasted the hopes of the road. Keokuk. like many other towns in Iowa, ruined her own prospect for the first road in the State, and thereby destroyed her chances to become the first and best city of Iowa.
V At a very early day, Pottawattamie County was marked out as the great railroad center for the Missouri Slope in Iowa, and Council Bluffs, the county seat, having long been the starting- point for the plains, was, necessarily, to become the great city of railroads. But when this was discovered by Omaha and other points, in 1866 and 1867, a strong fight was made against this city, and every effort was made to divert the great railway center from this point. The citi- zens of Council Bluff's, seeing the necessity of speedy action to hold the ground already gained, held meetings and appointed committees to act for the city and county, with the authorities in the State at Washington, and also with the railroad men. The greatest battle arose be- tween Omaha and the Bluff's as to the eastern terminus of the Union Pacific Railroad, and the location of the bridge over the Missouri
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
River. This conflict grew earnest and hot, and the citizens of either city became bitter and fierce in the advocacy of their special city. While speaking on this point, permit the writer to refer to a statement found in a history and directory published by Messrs. Hawley & Street ,for 1880-81, wherein it is stated that "in Au- gust, 1859, Abraham Lincoln visited Council BInffs and old acquaintances in the city. During his stay here, he delivered an address at Con- cert Hall, and made our situation a special study, which resulted in a decided action in our favor on his part when he became Presi- dent, a few years afterward. We now refer to his proclamation establishing the eastern ter- minus of the Union Pacific Railroad, a duty *imposed upon him by the Act of Congress chartering the enterprise. At the time of his visit, we were without any railroad facilities, but were looking anxiously for the approach of those whose tendency was westward across the State."
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