USA > Iowa > Story County > History of Story County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization. > Part 16
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 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54
1
INTRODUCTION TO IOWA.
The company, having landed, inquired as with one voice for a hotel that could furnish well-water. They had had enough of river water. There were several hotels in Keokuk; but only one with the requisite demanded. In this one humble hostelry the whole crowd gathered. Crowded indeed they were, and of all ages and conditions. Kind indeed, was the effort of proprietors to furnish comfort; stoves had been removed for the summer ; but the weather being wet and cold, heaters were hustled into service again. Babies were sick, and a learned doctor came from the college to prescribe for them. Thus a few days passed and Baby Willie seemed rested enough to justify another move.
In this land of the free, where stir-about is the rule, one seldom gets far from friends. To the troubled Kelloggs whose footsteps were fresh on soil seemingly close to the jumping-off place, came the comforting recollection that near Warsaw on the east bank of the Mississippi, only eight miles below Keokuk, lived an uncle of Mrs. Kellogg, Mr. William Clyne. Every ill-wind blows some good. Now was the opportunity to visit the esteemed relative. Goods were accordingly stored at Keokuk and a ferry and stage-ride taken which duly ended at the uncle's home. This home was a settler's cabin in a wooded section. One room for living and sleeping purposes, a loft for storage and a bit of a shed to cook in, com- prised accommodations. But however scanty these, hospitality was ample and it was arranged that the guest-mother and babe should tarry while Dr. Kellogg went on a tour of inspection.
The second day after arrival the doctor was off, bound for Keokuk and Burlington and thence for some part of the interior. He should be
Digitized by Google
!
131
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY
gone ten days, should not be able to hear from his family in the meantime, and should not write to them, unless for some reason his absence was to be prolonged. They were in good hands. He could trust them confidently, and of course there would be no worry about him.
Hardly had the baby cooed good-bye and the father gone beyond re- call, when the little fellow sickened. He grew worse and worse, and a physician from Warsaw was called. The new-old doctor found the wor- ried mother walking the floor with her suffering, screaming baby. Of course quiet must be restored or spasms would result. A potion was pre- pared of which the mother was suspicious. She said, "You must not give my child opiates, his father is a physician and says Baby cannot bear them." But what did an excited woman know? The doctor persisted and the mother knocked the spoon from his hand. A few drops, however, went down the little patient's throat. He was soon asleep, and the physician left. Sleep continued hour after hour. Baby had received so little of the medicine that that could not be responsible for the change; yet he could not be awakened. Anxiety became terror. Uncle William rode ten miles to the southward for a wise old doctor who could be trusted; but the healer could not be found. Then he rode two miles to the northward for a young doctor. Still the baby slept, and word went through the neigh- borhood that he would never waken. The doctor whose persistence had been mischievous came in alarm and joined the anxious group. After ten hours of stupor, nature rallied and feeble return to strength began. Fol- lowing closely this heavy strain upon the little household, came the cry of another babe in the house, the newly born of the hostess.
By this time ten days had passed, and anxiety turned toward the pros- pector. Neither husband nor tidings materialized. The stage-driver, hav- ing been commissioned to investigate, reported that Dr. Kellogg had bought a horse at Burlington and with Dr. Launcelot Carr from Kentucky, whose errand was similar to his own, had left for the interior of the state. Fur- ther than this none knew; but conjectures were not wanting. Of course ill had befallen him, else he would have written. He carried treasure; his traveling companion would know the fact, and excited imagination pic- tured the rest. In desperation Mrs. Kellogg implored by letter the doctor's youngest brother, George A. Kellogg, back home to come and hunt the lost one. "Come immediately." She would defray all expenses.
Fifteen days passed. At midnight the Clyne household were quieting the worries of the new baby, when Mrs. Kellogg's ear caught the sound of familiar footsteps. It might though be a repetition of the trick of imagination. She had experienced several such. But quickly this time came a rap followed by the swinging back of the house door and entrance. "Why, Doctor, are you here! We thought you dead!" Mr. Clyne exclaimed.
"Yes, I am here and I have killed my horse to get here."
Digitized by Google
.
132
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY
Dr. Kellogg's journeyings had been about what might have been ex- pected. In company with Dr. Carr he had prospected along up the valley of the Des Moines, striking off here and there to investigate field of prom- ise till Story County was reached. The lay of the land and the good water at Nevada pleased, and farms adjacent to the town were sought but they had all been filed upon by either settlers or speculators; so, as the best they could do, Dr. Kellogg secured 200 acres over near where Roland is now; and Dr. Carr, a similar plat over at Bloomington, while each bought lots for residence purposes in the town nearest his farm. It had been as Uncle Clyne had predicted, there was need to stay longer than had been planned. Dr. Kellogg had posted a letter somewhere but the tardy mails yet held it.
Arrived at Keokuk at nightfall on his return the doctor thought to cross the river and rest his jaded horse till morning; but at the ferry he met the stage driver aforementioned who startled him with "They think you dead and your child is dead."
On he must go, whether his horse were fit for travel or not. In pass- ing through a timbered section he lost his way. He came upon a cabin, roused the inmates and inquired. "You cannot follow the way in the dark," the man said; "you must stay here till morning." The wife inter- rupted, "O, no, he must not stay here! His wife thinks him dead; and his child, though it yet lives, is failing. I'd rather you would go and show him the way," and on he went.
In the morning Mrs. Kellogg urged him to telegraph immediately to the brother who had been summoned, that the dead was alive. A dispatch would reach the Ohio town ahead of the letter she had sent. But the doctor thought a letter would do as well, so a letter it was that went.
ENROUTE FOR NEVADA.
One day was spent in preparation, then the stage received the little family again and by short though not easy rides the journey consuming about a week was made to Nevada. At Pella, Oskaloosa and Des Moines each was a tarry of a few days for baby Willie to rest. Oskaloosa seemed surpassingly fair and Mrs. Kellogg wished to remain; but the doctor pre- ferred the neighborhood of his land. Des Moines was the most unattractive of locations. The river had overflowed in the spring and wetness and dirtiness were the most impressive conditions. Dr. Kellogg said, "Willie would die here, sure," so on they came, in the open stage behind a mule team, an umbrella making the baby as comfortable as possible in the father's lap.
Arrived at Madden's tavern Dr. Kellogg went in to arrange for dinner. Returned to the wagon he exclaimed, "Whom do you suppose I have found in there?" then he answered himself, "It's Albert and he's shaking with the ague."
Digitized by Google
: :
133
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY
George A., as he was designated in the west, had received Mrs. Kellogg's summons but not the doctor's recall; had arrived at Warsaw soon after his brother and family left that point; had come on to Nevada, and was pros- pecting on his own account when laid by with a chill at the way station. The chill subsided, baby rested and the four came on to Nevada.
HOSPITALITY AND SORROW.
The Union House kept by John McLain was the one public house in town. It was located diagonally across from the site of Frank McLain's present residence and consisted of a double log house affording two rooms below and two above with a lean-to in the rear. The hotel was full, but the comers might possibly get in over at Alderman's : so to Alderman's they went. The full capacity of the T. E. Alderman log house has never been reported. The building was the first one put up in Nevada, and occupied the site which is now marked by a memorial stone in court house park. It was a double log house facing the north, and comprising two rooms each about 16 feet square of which the west room was the dwelling and the east room the store, postoffice, and general business center of the settle- ment and of the county. A double-slant roof covered the whole and a narrow lean-to extended along the south side. A door opened from each room to the north, also to the south, and was supplemented by an outside door in the lean-to leading to the wood-pile and that recently acquired blessing, a good well of water.
The family of the first pioneer consisted only of Mrs. Alderman and little Oscar; but if it had numbered many, generous-heartedness would have shared its best with strangers wishing to become neighbors; so its welcome to the Kelloggs was neither tardy nor scant.
The living room of the Aldermans held by day two curtained beds, a trunk or two, a bureau and stand, mother's rocking chair, and other chairs and a big dry-goods box for storage, but there was still room for the guests and their luggage with the addition at night of the trundle bed and a pallet in the corner for the repose of the young man. The lean-to room, though its floor was innocent of boards, contributed materially to convenience. The cooking stove at the west end centralized kitchen operations, and the table and extempore cupboard in the other end told where the dining room was. A cloudburst one early morning soon after the arrival of the Kelloggs poured a flood under the house which ran off through the kitchen like a river, and breakfast had to be delayed till the water subsided; but such an episode disturbed no one.
Baby Willie however kept growing weaker and the fourteenth day in the new place, he dropped away. Treasures from three households already consecrated the hillside which is now our cemetery. They were the in- fant children of the Alderman, Romaine and George Child families. The Kelloggs contributed the fourth; Smith Goodin made the little coffin of
Digitized by Google
134
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY
native black walnut; Mr. Jerry Corey came over from Iowa Center to speak words of comfort and everybody near brought sympathy and joined in last rites.
Grief found best relief in work, so, after one busy day following the funeral, Dr. Kellogg was ready to go to Keokuk for the goods he had stored there. Horses could not be procured, hence, following advice, Dr. Kellogg had purchased an ox team-"You can turn the animals loose on the prairie when you return," said his counselors, "and there will be ready sale for them."
The empty-armed young mother begged to go with her husband-she "could sleep in the wagon or anywhere else that he could," and it would be untold comfort to be with him and out-of-doors. Wise Mrs. Alder- man approved Mrs. Kellogg's request; but the idea of a woman jaunting off in such style was too much for the doctor's prejudices. Then she would at least, she insisted, go with him to Iowa Center and stay with Mrs. John Wood till his return. "Aunt Eliza" had been over to Nevada, and her kindliness had won the heart of the troubled young woman.
"Perhaps Mrs. Wood will not receive you," the doctor objected.
"There need be no fear of that," Mrs. Alderman assured, so the short ride instead of the long one in a prairie schooner was taken. It was the doctor's first experience with an ox team, but the beasts were so good at following the trail that a teamster might have managed them left-handed as appears in Blashfield's famous painting at the Iowa capitol.
Hauling up in front of Uncle Tommy Davis's store at Iowa Center, the doctor went in to inquire for Mr. Wood's house; Mr. Wood himself came out to answer. As to Mrs. Wood taking a boarder, they had neither extra room nor accommodation; but he melted before the tears in Mrs. Kellogg's eyes and added, "We'll go and see what mother says." "Mother" was the word, for a true mother Mrs. Wood was. How could she turn away a sorrowing creature who needed mothering. "Of course we can keep you! Come right in" and mothering arms gave expression to embrac- ing love. It was only one more in a family of six adults-the seniors and four young people. True their log cabin was one roomed, with a low loft, and an outside shanty to hold the cooking stove, but there was plenty of room outside, and kindliness made the stay of two weeks a time of healing.
One of "Aunt Eliza's" trials during this visit is mentioned as illus- trative of a peculiarity of settlement in the timber. More dreaded by the housekeeper than the pest of flies and mosquitoes, was the insect which is diligent at night at human expense. It being necessary that the house- hold woodpile be replenished, the boys drew up a load of fallen stuff. "O, that is too bad," the good woman exclaimed, as soon as she saw it; "I wanted good wood. Now we shall have trouble." Mrs. Kellogg did not understand the connection. Mrs. Wood, however, turning over a few barks brought to light the advance guard of the foe; and before the visitors left, the siege being on, Mrs. Kellogg and one of the girls were sent over
Digitized by Google
135
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY
to spend the day at W. K. Wood's while Aunt Eliza and the other maiden emptied the house and waged war of extermination.
The Fourth of July arrived, and Mrs. Kellogg came over with the Woods to attend the celebration at Nevada. Everybody thereabout came. The year before, the first celebration in the county had been held at Iowa Center. Now was a return of courtesies and it was quite a procession that, decked with flags, wound over the prairie. Mrs. Kellogg, preferring quiet, took little part in the festivities, but the day was celebrated by a proces- sion, orations, etc., at the grove which stood near the old ford, southwest of the cemetery. T. J. Adamson was president of the day, Isaac Romaine was marshall, fully decked in old militia uniform and feathers, and carry- ing a sword that is remembered mainly for its length; the reader of the Declaration was Randolph Goodin, then quite a young man; the orator was a man named Carpenter, from Newton, who made a failure in speak- ing, and was supplemented in that line by a Baptist minister from another county who happened to be present. There was a picnic dinner near where the court house was afterward built, with plenty of corn bread and a great many other good things, and with a cask of home-brewed beer, brought on an ox wagon by Jerry Marks from his place near Skunk river. The celebration was attended by nearly all the residents of the county, and some from counties adjacent, and many of whom came with ox teams and started the day before so as to be on hand in time. Also "a Mr. Cory from Cory's Grove beat upon a drum and was accompanied by a fife, making a good deal more noise than tune, and that, taking the occasion all together, it was notable and highly satisfactory."
Dr. Kellogg's journey to Keokuk prospered; and in two weeks he was back again, bringing the family belongings from the Mississippi town and Mrs. Kellogg from Iowa Center.
SETTING UP HOUSEKEEPING.
The next day, July 13th, 1855, they set up housekeeping in a new one-roomed log cabin which had been built by a man named Barndollar, where on Chestnut street and Second avenue north, the B. F. Ambrose home now stands. This was not according to the original plan of these settlers. They had promised themselves a good framed house to live in; but under the circumstances they might as well have anticipated a palace. The one or two sawmills in the county were feeble creations which, though great conveniences, could supply but a tithe of the lumber needed for improve- ments, and transportation from a distance was difficult and expensive. The log house was the universal dwelling in Nevada, so in a log house the Kelloggs set up their household goods. The habitation was unchinked, was without doors or windows and the stock of boards had given out when a small fraction of the loft was floored.
There was considerable to do to establish convenience, and meanwhile, when the summer breeze was too obtrusive, quilts shut it out. Mr. Alder-
Digitized by Google
136
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY
man had a small lot fenced and under cultivation over on what is now the Emmet Armstrong residence lot, and the garden privileges of this plat he kindly shared with the Kelloggs as with other of his neighbors, so that seeds which had been brought from home, helped out by Mrs. Alderman's stock of tomato and cabbage plants, and the wondrous soil, soon furnished welcome promise. A barrel of dried fruits and other helps to comfortable fare had come with the stores from Ohio; prairie chickens and venison were plenty; and Alderman's store attracted from the country considerable barter trade which helped out town supplies. The doctor's menu, however, was not satisfactory without a good supply of butter ; hence when, one morn- ing, the golden head for the "staff of life" was only the size of a walnut, he started off to hunt a cow. The game was found over near where Roland is and she came home with him at night attached by a rope to the rear of the buggy. She was a brindle creature on whose great wide horns were engraved H. B., the initials of her former owner. She had been quite a traveler, having plodded with an immigrant train all of the way from Indiana and had seen too many years for acceptability in the model dairy of these days; but for many a year after coming into possession of the Kelloggs she demonstrated her strain of good blood; and her contribution to the good fare and content of the pioneer home was inestimable.
Days wore on, the east door of the cabin and the west door materialized; the inside pointing of the log walls was accomplished and the outside pointing would be done on the morrow. The new rag carpet which had been brought from Ohio adorned the floor, and the dame's prettiest quilts covered the fluffy feather beds, one below and the other on the fraction of flooring above; the window curtains were fresh and white, and home- like feeling was growing, when, one night in August, dark shut quietly down. Indeed, the quiet was intense, that calm which in this climate is portentous.
EPISODE OF A STORM.
About midnight an electric storm broke, and lightning, wind, rain, and thunder raged as though furies had been let loose. The man of the house drew the bed and other articles of furniture away from the walls to save them from the drip which came down liberally, and he advised his spouse to arise and dress and be ready for emergencies. The bed, however, seemed the safest place to her, and she covered her head to shut out the almost continuous glare. But directly there came a crash which bounced her from the bed like a Jack from a box, and simultaneously Geo. A. from the loft landed like a cat, beside his brother and sister, while a flood poured down upon the three. Hastily each found a garment or two, pushed feet into shoes that had become cisterns, and Dr. Kellogg said, "Come on."
"Where to?" was queried.
"Somewhere, anywhere, we can't stay here," was the answer.
Digitized by Google
187
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY
As the storm beat from the northwest exit was by the east door; and as the trio fled they walked over the roof of the house. Standing topsy- turvy on the roof was the pride of the housekeeper, a jar of Ohio peach preserves. There was an exclamation of dismay which was cut short by masculine regard for things more valuable than sweetmeats, and the com- mand, "Come on." Their flight with the wind was at reasonable speed but was exceeded by that of some of their belongings; for, as something white sailed overhead, Geo. A. exclaimed, "There goes my pillow !"
The way was not long to the McLain House, it was for the most part nideously light, and in brief intervals of darkness Dr. Kellogg's flapping suspenders echoed the oft repeated exhortation of his lips, "Come on."
At the door of the McLain House a rap was followed by quick en- trance, and the party stood in the presence of the entire household of the hotel. The boarders, J. C. Lovell, Isaac Walker, Geo. and Henry Staley, Mr. Bennett and a couple of others whose names are not recalled, had all forsaken the chambers and were grouped in the living room. Mrs. McLain maintained her refuge, the curtained bed; and to its warmth she welcomed her shivering sister of the storm, in a comfortable robe. Mean- time there had been a general scramble of masculines where the boarders fitted out the refugees with the best which numerous trunks afforded.
It was two or three o'clock by the time sane conditions were restored and the fury of the storm abated-too late for piecing out a night's sleep; so jollity shortened the time till dawn, and after an early breakfast there was general inspection of the work of the storm.
As has been intimated, the roof of the Barndollar house lay in the yard and besides, the logs forming the upper west end of the house had been blown in. Nearly every article that was in the loft had gone sailing, the clock landing on sod several rods from the house, the feather bed in Wilson Daily's little garden plat, the only really dirty spot within blocks. The peach preserves, thanks to the consistency and the stout cloth tied over them, were little the worse for the episode, and the Seth Thomas clock, the work of a master of his art, was proof against vicissitude, and, with opportunity restored, marked time for a generation afterward. Not so fortunate were Dr. Kellogg's library and stock of medicines. The books were soaked and tattered, and. a whole year's supply of drugs was ruined. The drugs had been mostly in dry packages for economy of bulk and weight in transportation, as bottles, the doctor had mistakenly fancied, could be procured at the new station. Here was a loss not readily repaired, and it was keenly felt. While Doctor and Mrs. Kellogg were intently search- ing, Geo. A. seemed wandering about absent-mindedly, and was chided for not "hunting for something." He replied, "I am hunting for something" but did not explain further.
The sequel appeared at dinner time at Mclain's, when "one of the boys" restored to him a carefully written sheet which had been found where the storm had wrapped it around a twig down in the slough below
Digitized by Google
138
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY
the site of the Lockridge house. The manuscript was a tender missive to a lady friend and the storm had found it reposing in a magazine to await the regular mail to Des Moines. Jokes were merciless but had to be endured with fortitude.
One other house was unroofed that night. It was the original part of the house just south of L. H. Proctor's dwelling on Pine street; but for- tunately it was unoccupied.
Several days were required to repair the Barndollar house and restore belongings. During this interval the Kelloggs were entertained by the E. G. Day family, who had recently come to Nevada and were occupy- ing the log house which stood where the old Hutchins House does now.
DR. KELLOGG'S FIRST PATIENT.
Dr. Kellogg's first professional call came the day after his arrival in Nevada. John H. Keigley from "beyond the Skunk," where Ames is now, chanced over to Alderman's store to trade, and there met the new doctor- the "old doctor" being, by the way, a man younger in years and experience,- Dr. T. V. Adamson, whose father, "Uncle Tommy Adamson," kept store over on the Vinje corner.
When, toward night, Mr. Keigley reached his home, he found his son Jefferson, a ten-year-old lad, badly hurt. The little fellow had been play- ing on a lot of squared logs ready for housebuilding and one of the tim- bers had tumbled over on him, producing internal injuries. Mr. Keigley owned the only two teams of horses in that neighborhood. One team was dispatched to bring a physician from Boone and the other for Dr. Kellogg from Nevada. In council the elder practitioner from Boone said, "There is not a chance of saving the patient." Dr. Kellogg said, "There is one chance in a thousand." The agonized father said, "Make the most of that chance." Dr. Kellogg maintained his watch beside the sufferer for twenty-four hours, and had the joy of seeing the tide turn favorably. The boy he saved is now a citizen of Portland, Oregon.
Thus, in one of the deepest experiences of life began a friendship be- tween the Keigley and Kellogg families that has vied with the tie of blood.
IN THEIR OWN. NEW HOUSE.
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.