USA > Iowa > Poweshiek County > History of Poweshiek County, Iowa: a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume 1 > Part 9
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44
At that time the Baltimore and Ohio railroad was just begun. That was "a long thought" of Redfield's in 1828, but such thoughts entered many minds, for they thought of centuries to come. But Iowa became a state in 1846 and in less than two months later, Illinois took the first step toward building the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific by creating the Rock Island and La Salle Rail- road Company, with authority to build a railroad from the town of Rock Island, on the Mississippi river, in the county of Rock Island, to the Illinois river, at the termination of the Illinois and Michigan canal. In 1851 Illinois permitted the company to change its name to the Chicago and Rock Island Company, build the missing link from Chicago to the Illinois river, and to increase its capital stock to $3,000,000 instead of $300,000.
77
HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY
The contract for the construction of the road from Chicago to Rock Island was made September 17, 1851, and the work was begun April 10, 1852. Forty miles were built (to Joliet) in October, and the first passenger train then passed over that distance, and regular trains ran to Rock Island in 1854, a distance of one hundred and eighty-one miles from Chicago.
Now they must have a bridge, the first that spans the Mississippi. Illinois organized a bridge company, and by cooperating with one from Iowa, completed the structure April 21, 1856, at Davenport, after a halt of about two years in building the road, at the east side of the river. While the bridge was being built the river interest sought to obtain an injunction from the United States circuit court, forbidding the work on the ground that it would be an obstruction to river navigation. An incident seemed to support the claim two weeks after the bridge was finished, for then the Jennie Afton smashed against a pier. (Wonder if the pilot could tell how it happened or was planned?) In the suits that followed most eminent counsel was employed on both sides. Abraham Lincoln appeared for the defendants. The cases by some arrangement between the parties were finally dismissed. Since then a vessel has not been wrecked each fortnight on one of its piers.
MISSISSIPPI AND MISSOURI RAILROAD COMPANY.
The Mississippi and Missouri Railroad Company was organized January I, 1853. to extend the road to Council Bluffs, through Scott, Johnson, Iowa, Powe- shiek, Jasper, Polk, Dallas, Guthrie, Audubon Shelby and Pottawattamie counties.
The road was completed to Iowa City, January 1, 1856, and was opened for business two days later.
Congress granted tracts of land to the state of Iowa in May, 1856, for the completion of the road to Council Bluffs, and the land was regranted to the Mississippi and Missouri Railroad Company by the state on July 14, 1856, conditioned on its completion by 1869.
The road was in working order to the eastern edge of this county about 1861, to Brooklyn, June 2, 1862, to Grinnell in 1863, to Des Moines in 1867, and to Council Bluffs before the Ist day of June, 1869, as was reqiured by the action of the twelfth general assembly of Iowa, which was approved February 11, 1868.
It may be worth while for the people of Iowa and of Poweshiek county to remember how long and how varied has been our legislation concerning our rights and our duties as to railroads, and their freight and passenger rates. There have been pros and cons of opinion on nearly every point. In 1866 the legis- lature responded to a sentiment widely prevalent that railroad rates for passen- gers and for freight were unreasonably high, and fixed limits above which these rates must not be raised. That law was nullified by the opinion of the attorney general that it was unconstitutional.
RAILROADS BRIDLED.
At the meeting of the twelfth general assembly in 1868 the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific road which crossed our county could not be completed in time to hold its land grant. That was true of several other roads.
78
HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY
The railroad committee in the house of representatives was composed of an unusual number and of those unusually strong. There were thirteen members on the house committee. The question arose as to extending the time for the completion of the road running through our county, then called the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific. Railroad men in attendance were numerous; they were exceedingly polite. The committee made its report. The voice of the majority was to extend the time very kindly. The majority of two, mark, only two, voted also to extend the time, "provided said railroad company accepting the provisions of this act, shall at all times be subject to such rules, regulations and rates of tariff for the transportation of passengers as may from time to time be enacted and provided for by the general assembly of the state of Iowa." A bill in conformity with the desire of the minority of the committee passed the house readily. The senate was about to pass it when the watchful railroad attorney suggested to a senator the addition of three words to the provision quoted above, i. e., "by general law," saying, "It will make no difference, but will be plainer."
On the spur of the moment it was moved and carried and returned to the house for concurrence. "By general law" made the whole condition valueless. Before it came up for action in the house the mover came to the member from this county to confess and ask for help. When it did come some said those three words made no difference ; many really thought so. They did not see that as the Northwestern was already finished, that road would have no restraint from that concession of "more time" to complete their road. It was already built and if the state could not then limit their rates it could not do it after enacting a law containing that modification. The member from this county then made a brief speech. "The history of those words is instructive. They came from the rail- road's chief attorney. He said they were immaterial. He is here under the pay of the railroads to see that they lose no power they have. Is he proposing things immaterial? It is safe for the Trojans to beware when the Greeks bring them gifts, It is safe for us and for the state to accept no suggestions from them. If the railroads want those three words, we don't." Our present United States secretary of agriculture was in that house, and can remember with pleasure that he aided in making the rights of the state unquestionable for all the future. Some of the strongest men in Iowa did not.
Of course it did not please the railroad attorney but the house struck out the words by about two to one, and the senate promptly concurred. The railroad officials were aroused. Threats to build no more railroads in Iowa alarmed those who had none, a special session of the legislature was proposed, its members were asked to pledge themselves to strike out the declaration of "state rights." It was a failure. The railroad tempest in a teapot soon subsided, our railroad was completed before the time given it had elapsed. The bridle was on the roads to remain. The state has used it occasionally.
We had received an illustration of the shrewdness and pertinacity with which the railroads guard their interests.
$100,000 SUBSCRIBED AND-PAID!
Before the railroad was built far into Iowa, this county subscribed $100,000 to be paid if it should reach the county by a given time, and bonds were issued
79
HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY
for that sum. They were drawn with such railroad shrewdness that they were payable "in the hands of innocent parties" unconditionally. The road did not reach the county in time, but the bonds were in the hands of "innocent" parties, and payment was demanded. The county refused, the board of supervisors levied no tax to pay them, and the whole sixteen were arrested and sentenced to prison in 1868 to remain there until they promised to make the levy. It was the mandate of the supreme court, the litigation was expensive, it was useless to go farther. The board yielded. The county must have paid "three or fourfold the original debt," says Supervisor Erastus Snow, one of the most resolute of the recalcitrant board. Erastus Snow's motto was "Be sure you are right, then go ahead." He was sure he was right, but Judge Jones had drawn up the promise to the road and not Erastus Snow. The lamblike purchasers of those bonds collected all they asked for, and the county could not escape making complete payment. "It was so nominated in the bond."
THE LAST HITCH IN BUILDING THE CHICAGO, ROCK ISLAND AND PACIFIC.
The last hitch affected the entire state. The question arose as to the power of the state to limit railroad charges for freight or passengers. Politicians, law- yers and judges answered by "yes," others equally acute said "no." An oppor- tunity for settling it beyond all question came before the twelfth general assembly in 1868.
THE IOWA CENTRAL RAILROAD.
Two things called for the construction of a railroad across the state north and south, and somewhat centrally. Central and northern Iowa were using up their groves faster than the groves were growing, and, secondly, northern Iowa and Minnesota were filling up somewhat rapidly about 1870. The north and south railroad was a growing necessity.
Citizens along the road gave liberal aid, and in Poweshiek county as all who lived here then, and, especially in the western tier of townships had felt the necessity of such roads and knew their worth. While none would be more insistent than such men in this county, that railroads shall not be oppressed, none are more determined that they shall not become oppressors.
Mr. Grinnell has said: "As early as 1858 I was elected president of the chartered company, to construct a line from Albia on the south to Mitchell near the Minnesota line, two hundred miles, in promise of connections with a line to St. Louis, and to St. Paul; Oskaloosa, Grinnell and Toledo were among the points."
But railroad building was then arrested by hard times and the Civil war. The Central through our county was built in 1870 and 1871 by the liberal cooperation of the rich and the poor along the line.
THE GRINNELL AND MONTEZUMA RAILROAD.
Hon. J. B. Grinnell in his "Men and Events of Forty Years," has left the statement that "The Grinnell and Montezuma railroad, of which I (he) was president, was built under my contract. It kept the county seat where the people
80
HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY
were mainly liberal, and despite the bad faith of a few, did not bring the predicted losses. The sale was to the Iowa Central, which finds it a good feeder and not a local foe to its business."
This road was built by the subscriptions of people along the line at a cost of $55,000. J. B. Grinnell, M. Snyder, John Hall, and others were prominent in the enterprise.
A SPUR OF THE CHICAGO & NORTHWESTERN RAILROAD.
The Chicago & Northwestern was the first railroad to cross the state. It was completed in 186 -. It sent a spur southward through this county in 1884, and to What Cheer and Buxton to tap some east and west roads and to open new sources of supply for coal for itself and for a destitute region. While it has been of special value to the farmers and cattlemen of our eastern tier of townships, it has given life to Hartwick, in Jefferson township, to Guernsey, in Lincoln, to Deep River and to Tilton, in the township of Deep River.
THE WESTERN STAGE COMPANY.
The only public conveyance which preceded the railroad through this county was furnished by the Western Stage Company in 1854, when the county was six years old, and there were 1,952 people in it. It was a great convenience for land seekers. Among the distinguished men in the company were Kimball Porter, of Iowa City, and Colonel E. F. Hooker, of Des Moines, when Iowa City was the capital of the state. Their "coach and four" were the admiration of all occupants of the cabins along the way. It brought them visitors from the east or their messages which were almost as good, and reminded them that it had come from the railroad which could carry them more swiftly back to their old home if they should desire and had the money. And how grandly the horses dashed up to the stage barn at the crack of the whip and with the driver's "howdy," while the small boy stood at the corner with his hands buried in his pockets and his knees out of his pants, resolving that he, too, "would be a stage driver." True, they did not always move so impressively and so inspiringly. An unavoidable slough, bridgeless and mellow, often gave them a solemn pause when the wheels took a lunge toward China and the horses stopped to let them go. Stage driver, passengers and horses are in for it, and how will they ever get out ?
Well, we don't know. Let us leave them there. We have wallowed out !
But some people complained of the company, swore at the driver, and cursed the horses, and when they went back they took the same old coach.
But the drivers were not always angels. Perhaps, on occasion, the less angelic received the more pay, as in the following instance.
Amos Bixby lived in Grinnell. The road ran across his land. He broke up his farm and put in his crop. The stage was still driven across his land. He fenced it. The driver threw down the fence and drove across as usual. The Yankee owner was a mild, gentlemanly fellow. The driver was warned that it would not be wise to tear that fence down again. The stage came once more. Down went the fence. The horses entered the field. A bullet dropped the
81
HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY
leaders. The mild gentleman had pulled the trigger. The coach then took the right angle around the field. The hypotenuse across it had become dangerous.
The company sued for damages, and for interfering with the United States mail. The farmer plead his own case. He said: "You need no witnesses, I killed the old horses." Then he told the story. He added: "What would you do, farmers, on the jury? I am one of you. My growing wheat was the bread of my family, which the cattle let in were destroying. I had no enmity toward the driver, and would not harm him. I chose the most effective plan of reaching the company, of turning back the trespassers, by dropping their old horses about ready to die. My crop was saved by the best method of defense that I knew. I followed my convictions of right and am ready to suffer if guilty of any wrong. Gentlemen, you with the spirit of men would have defended your property. I had no other certain remedy. I would do so again, and am now not afraid of your verdict."
The judge-Stone, afterward colonel in the Union army and governor of the state -- gave a charge favorable to the defendant, and the jury promptly gave its verdict, "not guilty," and the court house echoed with cheers. This, doubtless, was the company's greatest mistake, and from misinformation. The company was composed of gentlemen, and was a great benefactor to our vicinity until the railroad took its business in Poweshiek county in 1863.
BICYCLES.
The first bicycles in the county were big wheeled ones followed by a small wheel to steady the movement. The rider rode high in air-five feet or so, and ought to have always been ready for a lunge head foremost to the ground or over a fence, or into a hedge as his big wheel might strike an obstacle a few inches thick. Such a fall was not very amusing to the rider, but it was often so to the small boy who looked on. That method of dismounting was not very desirable or very graceful. That style of bicycle appeared here some time in the '80s.
The "safeties" supplanted them early in the 'gos probably, and were well named. The headlong dive from them was impossible without a direct and earn- est effort, for they could neither rear up nor kick up. Both wheels were of the same size. The safeties were improved about 1892 by putting a small propelling machine under the seat and developed into the motorcycle.
The sensation of riding on these machines seemed most like that of flying without an effort of wings.
AUTOMOBILES.
Automobiles were introduced into the county by Dr. P. E. Somers, in Grinnell, in 1902 and by Judge W. R. Lewis, in Montezuma. They were deemed at first indicative of great wealth or evidence that the owner imagined that he was able to indulge in an expensive luxury. They are now common in the towns and numerous in the larger villages. Men own them now who do not regard them- selves as millionaries or princes on Wall street, but simply sensible business men. Vol. 1-6
82
HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY
Roads must be good if one rides in an auto twenty-five or thirty miles in an hour, and one is tempted to be a "scorcher" once in a while and to take the con- sequences, although his machine may either "skid" dangerously, or "turn turtle." Autos demand good roads and goods roads tempt one to invest in an auto, and some claim that the best part of the "from river to river road" passes over this county.
Does that mean that here the auto will find more victims?
POWESHIER COUNTY COURTHOUSE
CHAPTER VI.
ORGANIZATION.
THE COUNTY OF POWESHIEK IS ORGANIZED-FIRST OFFICIALS-LAND BOUGHT FOR SEAT OF GOVERNMENT AND LOTS SOLD-COMMISSIONERS' COURT-COUNTY JUDGE AN AUTOCRAT- PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND INFIRMARY- TOWNSHIP ORGANIZA- TION-GROWTH OF THE COUNTY IN ITS INFANCY-DEVELOPMENT OF COUNTY TO 1860-TEMPERANCE IN POWESIIIEK COUNTY-THE INDIAN CHIEF POWE- SHIEK.
Iowa territory was about five years old when the Indians left Poweshiek county, and it was about three years before the organization of the state as the twenty-ninth in the Union.
It was represented by strong men in congress but had little to do with legislation. In the winter of 1843-4, R. B. Ogden and wife were the only whites in the county, the next winter there were Daniel and J. W. Satchell and Richard and Felix Cheeseman, with their little Rhioneer Hoyt added to the population in Union, and in the winter of 1845-6, more in the region of Forest Home and in Warren, and John Cox in Sugar Creek, with Conrad Swaney, Richard Rivers and John F. Steele.
WHAT NATURE HAS DONE FOR IT.
The territory now called the county of Poweshiek is somewhat south and east of the center of Iowa, being the fourth from the south line and averages as the fourth from the east side, is the sixth from the north and the eighth from the west. Its surface is rolling, its streams are comparatively small except half a dozen miles of Skunk river which cuts across the southwest corner, and the banks rise gently to the general level except those of Deep river, which is deep only by its distance below the top of its banks and not from its surface to the bottom of the stream.
The hills are peculiar in that they do not rise up first like the Vermont hills and go down afterward, but the reverse. We do not climb over hills but go down through valleys. The surface of the earth has not crumpled up to make them but they seem to be the banks made by plowing out great valleys on the Iowa plain.
83
84
HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY
THE WATER SUPPLY.
The county is well supplied with streams from small to medium sized, and the wells of early days were from twelve to twenty-five feet below the surface.
The county was surveyed in 1847 and organized early in 1848. It is in the fifth tier of counties from the east side of the state and in the fourth from the south. It has no deep ravines or high hills. On the whole, it is gently rolling prairie, the north three-quarters sloping eastward, leaving Grinnell in the west about two hundred feet higher than the east side. The south quarter of the county slopes southeastward. It is twenty-four miles square and con- tains 582 square miles, on the upland between the Iowa river on the north and the Skunk (or the sweeter name "Chi-ca-qua,") on the south.
It is divided into sixteen townships each six miles square excepting Union, which is six by four, and Jackson, which is eight by six.
ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY.
Some five years after R. B. Ogden settled in the south and Henry Snook in the north of what is now Poweshiek county, there were sixty-one persons here who were liable to military duty and probably three hundred or more in- habitants within these five hundred and eighty-two square miles. They enjoyed some political privileges in this Poweshiek precinct of Mahaska county, as it was called, but it was difficult to travel over the prairies to a single polling place to cast their votes, and to invoke the special protection of the law was expensive. Then, too, the Americans desired to feel a consciousness of self government, and some may have been willing to serve as officers of a new county. At all events they wanted to have this territory organized into a separate county. The Iowa general assembly and governor gratified them on January 24, 1848, by the enactinent of the measure that "the county of Poweshiek be and the same is hereby organized from and after the 3d day of April, next."
The judge of the third judicial district (of which the new county would be a part) appointed Mr. Douger, of Oskaloosa, to make provision for its com- plete organization.
The organizing election was held April 3, 1848, when the nation and the state had been thoroughly aroused by the Mexican war and were rejoicing at its close. There were only sixty-seven in the county who were liable to military duty. How many others there were here we do not know. Perhaps the total population was nearly three hundred. They were scattered in two townships, in exactly two in the county, at first, most of them in Jackson township, which was named for "Old Hickory" and embraced all that portion of the county lying south of the north line of the township No. 78, i. e. the four congressional townships numbered 78. That embraced only one-fourth of the county and was six miles north and south and twenty-four east and west.
The other township was called Bear Creek from the stream which runs through it, and was eighteen miles by twenty-four.
About two and a half months later, on June 17, 1848, it was ordered by the court that an additional township be laid off and known by the name of Sugar
85
HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY
Creek, beginning at the southeast corner of section 32, township 78, range 15, running north with said section line to the north line of said county, and to comprise all the county west of that line. The new township includes all that is now known as Sugar Creek, Washington, Grinnell and Chester, the west half of Union and the west third of Pleasant, Malcom and Sheridan. Sugar Creek was then eight miles east and west and twenty-four north and south.
Poweshiek county was a part of Des Moines county from 1834 to 1837, and a part of Keokuk county from 1837 to 1840. Its boundaries were defined and it was attached to Iowa county, February 17, 1843, and February 5, 1844, it was made a precinct of Mahaska county and remained so until April 3, 1848.
The organizing commissioners were David Edmundson, John White and John Rose, and the organizing election was held on April 3, 1848. At that first election held in the house of John H. McVey, the following named officers were chosen :
County commissioners, Richard B. Ogden, Martin Snyder and James Yeager. Clerk of district court, Stephen R. Moore.
Sheriff, William English.
Surveyor, Mahlon Woodward.
During the four years of union with Mahaska county the elections were held some five miles west of Montezuma.
COMMISSIONERS' COURT.
The first meetings of the commissioners' court were held at the home of John H. McVey, who was living at that time on section 22, within the limits of the present Union township. One of the first official acts was to purchase the land upon which the county seat is located. This was accomplished through Isaac G. Wilson, who was appointed business agent for the county. This land the commissioners ordered surveyed and platted, and the work was completed, July 22, 1848. Lots were then sold and from the proceeds the first courthouse was erected.
COURTHOUSES.
Poweshiek county's first courthouse stood on the northeast corner of the square, and was completed in 1850, although work on its construction had com- menced the preceding year. It was a two-story frame structure. The lower floor was devoted to court purposes and was all in one room. The second floor was divided into three apartments. One room was assigned to the clerk, one to the treasurer and recorder, and the other was used by the county judge. For those days it was considered quite an elaborate affair. This building was devoted to various uses. Within its walls a school was taught, and the various religious denominations held worship there. It was a gathering place for almost every public or semi-public purpose, and was the most useful building in the whole community. It served its manifold purposes until 1859, when it was torn down, the material taken several miles northward and reconstructed into a dwelling house.
86
HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY
The present courthouse was built in 1857, after the question of erecting a new courthouse had been submitted to the voters of the county. At the election there were 671 votes cast, of which 340 were in favor of the proposition, and 331 against, thus showing a majority of only nine in its favor.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.