USA > Iowa > Story County > History of Story County, Iowa; a record of organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 16
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One of "Aunt Eliza's" trials during this visit is mentioned as itlus- 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; "1 wanted good wood. Now we shall have trouble." Mrs. Kellogg did not understand the connection. Mrs. Wood, however, turning over a few bark- 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
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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 canie. 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 unchiinked, 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-
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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.
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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
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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.
By the middle of November the Kelloggs were living in a two-roomed log house of their own. It stood just south of the present Handsaker home on Chestnut street. Now they felt established and were carrying the responsibilities of citizenship. One of these responsibilities was the office of sole agent for the sale of intoxicating liquors in Story County, an office which unsolicited had been conferred upon the doctor by the governor. The government supplied the liquor, the authorized agent disbursed it, kept records of sales and reported to proper authorities. The original packages
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kept in the shed room of the Kellogg house were a source of anxiety and care, and when the doctor was away, Mrs. Kellogg had to answer calls. So many men came for whiskey or brandy for their suffering wives that the sub-agent's sympathies were severely taxed. It was such a pity, she thought, that pioneer women should be so afflicted with poor health! But, two men coming only an hour or two apart, bringing the same bottle-a bottle peculiarly marked with a dent in one side-set her to thinking, and the second applicant failed in his quest. Again, when a reputable farmer brought a new tea canister, (Alderman's store not having a bottle to spare) and wished the canister filled with spirits for the home supply of camphor, Mrs. Kellogg was credulous. But when, an hour later, the same canister was presented for refilling on the plea that accident had emptied it, she saw through the subterfuge. Frequent experiences of this sort made the office distasteful to both the agent and his assistant, and after a while it was gotten rid of.
THE FIRST SHADE TREE.
Now when chopping down and clearing away is one of the occupations of the season, Mrs. Kellogg is reminded by contrast of the assiduity with which she nurtured the first tree in Nevada of which she had knowledge. The sprout came up spontaneously in her calf enclosure. It was a few inches high when she discovered it, and she protected it with a shield of poles. Judge R. H. Mitchell, who was a lover of nature, took interest in the sprout and after a while discovered that it was an acacia. When, some years later, Mrs. Kellogg removed to her lot farther south she took the sapling with her and there it throve till a few years ago it was destroyed by the stock which occupied the ground.
BEREAVEMENT.
On the morning of April 28, 1856, Dr. Kellogg was grooming his horse preparatory to a ride with Mrs. Kellogg over to the McCartney place on the East Indian where was to be held a Methodist quarterly meeting- the first one in Story County. They both prized religious privileges and anticipated a happy day. Instead, an imperative call took the physician where life and death were battling. The struggle lasted some days and ere it was past the doctor himself lay on a bed of pain. His comrade, Dr. Carr, came over from Bloomington with best offices of friendship and medi- cine; but after six days the sufferer was gone. Bilious colic, the malady was called, but Mrs. Kellogg thinks in the light of present day science it was probably appendicitis. The patient shortly before the end, seeming to feel his hold on life loosening, said, "If you see me going to sleep draw your hand over my face and waken me." The wife did not fully under- stand, and when at last her tender strokes adown his face failed in its pur- pose, her surprise as well as distress was complete. Only thirty years old,
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in the vigor of life, in the midst of winning an honorable way, and all the world to her-how could such an entity slip out of sight forever !
"Teach me to feel another's woe, to bear another's grief." No people are credited with coming nearer to fulfilling this prayer than do those of a pioneer community. Needs in emergency were many, resources few. It was the custom of the Nevada neighborhood to bulletin at Alderman's the orders which the stage driver should fill on the occasion of his next weekly trip to Des Moines if he could. Sometimes articles ordered could not be obtained, and sometimes the capacity of the stage was overtaxed. In the latter case, first orders listed were the first ones filled. The Kelloggs with others had ordered flour some weeks before. but extra passengers had crowded heavy merchandise out. The morning after mourning began in the Kellogg home, Mr. Alderman brought over a small sack of flour, and setting it down said laconically, "Use this."
"But it is all you have," Mrs. Kellogg objected. for she knew the con- dition of Mrs. Alderman's larder.
"It doesn't matter; we can eat corn meal till more flour comes ;" and the true friend turned away to avoid further remonstrance. "I tell you." Mrs. Kellogg says, "such kindness as that went to my heart; it has never been forgotten."
Everybody was kind, Michael Drain, one of nature's noblemen who was employed to scour the country for cattle for Butcher Turtle, and who had been accustomed to bring proudly to the doctor his good letters from kindred in Ireland-letters which testified to the excellent stock from which the alien came, claimed the privilege of watching at night, "I should not feel right," he said, "not to do something for so good a friend." Smith Goodin paused in his work on the new court house to make the black wal- nut coffin, and on the third day after death-it was Friday. May 14-the newly laid floor of the court house was cleared of litter, seats were im- provised, and the funeral was held. Grief dulled impression of details. A Baptist farmer preacher conducted the service, and neighbors tenderly gave earth to earth. The first long grave made in the Nevada cemetery and the short one beside it which had been made eleven months before, now tokened all that the widowed pioneer held dear.
ALONE.
The offering of the Hindoo woman who throws herself on a funeral pyre might have seemed easy to the lone mourner far from kindred. The brown earth relieved by' not one twig of green-for the season was very late, and grass and trees were native only-accorded with her mood.
But however lightly the oriental woman may cast off the burden of life, the woman in the Christian Occident has to carry it, and happily, her way is seldom utterly cheerless. Mrs. Kellogg was blessed with health, she had manual dexterity, love of activity, sympathy with her kind and
VIEW OF EAST INDIAN CREEK NEAR NEVADA
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with everything else that God has made, and in the midst of kind friends her days and nights were never utterly desolate; and when in October she gave birth to a daughter, of course purpose was renewed. Her kindred never ceased their importunities for her to return and live with them. They would defray the expense of travel any time, and hearts and homes would welcome her. Often, beginning with the disaster of the storm, she had declared, "If I ever see Ohio again I will stay there."
Yet when with her little six-year-old daughter she did set foot amid the old haunts again, it was to find the changed conditions which are in- evitable with time and to which she felt unsuited; and, after a protracted visit, she was glad to resume relations with the pioneer people of which she was one, and to work out the problem of livelihood amid primitive con- ditions and abiding sympathy. Dr. Kellogg had more than once said, "If you were to be left alone you'd pull through somehow. It would be easier for you than for those women who always stay in the house." She did pull through, and she says today, "Though my life has been checkered, it has on the whole been happy." Those who know her, regard her life a genuine success. Contented, comfortable, hopeful, busy with good works, and cheered by affection, her age is passing as age should pass, and towns- people wish for their esteemed and earliest surviving citizen continuation of best blessings.
Vol. 1-10
CHAPTER XV. PIONEER INTERVIEW'S BY MRS. A. M. PAYNE.
MRS. CLAUDINE WHEELER-A PIONEER OF GRANT TOWNSHIP.
With the arrival of the summer of 1856, George Wheeler, a young Chicagoan, decided to become a pioneer. He had lately spent a couple of years in Louisiana, and now that he had secured a helpmeet he would try the newer and more attractive west. lowa was the land of promise, he would join the procession moving thither. The tarry there should be but a year or two, however, then, with scrip replenished by the rise and sale of lands, permanent home and business should be established among friends in Chicago.
In furtherance of this plan, Mr. Wheeler purchased from the govern- ment the quarter section of land whereon now stands Enterprise school house, in Grant Township, Story County, lowa, and spent some weeks of July and August on it preparatory to residence thereon. Having car- ried with him from Chicago the necessary doors and windows and a few other articles for building, he erected and enclosed a dwelling superior to the average pioneer shack, in that it included a chamber, a good cellar and a chimney of bricks instead of sticks and mud. He also put up his winter supply of hay. Real estate was on the boom, and he was offered a liberal price for his land and outfit but chose to await further advance. Return- ing to Chicago, he and Mrs. Wheeler set out early in September on their wedding journey.
Their outfit was a three-horse team and a light wagon, furnished with an easy spring seat, and carrying a ton of household goods and supplies. In accordance with the excursion idea, their trip was by easy stages, nights and Sundays being spent restfully at hostelries or homes along the way. and occupied more than two weeks. Hope and rejoicing glorified the beautiful landscape till the border of Tama County was reached. There the frequent question, "Where are you going?" and its usual answer, "To Nevada. Story County," were followed by the depressing statement, "Fires set by Indians have been sweeping across Story, Marshall and part of Tama Counties ; and, unless you left some one to care for your improve- ments, they are probably wiped off."
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Soon the travelers came upon black proofs that the grim rumor had foundation-proofs which increased the farther they advanced.
The relief experienced at the journey's end when their house and stacks were found unscorched, may be guessed more easily than told. as may also their gratitude to their neighbor, Mr. Jacob Erb, who lived about a mile to the northwest of them, and who, unasked, when destruction was sweeping toward the unoccupied property, had plowed the firebreak which saved it. His act was an expression of that good fellowship common among pioneers, which welcomed every new settler as a brother, and sought in all neigliborliness to make his stay permanent. The succeeding winter of '56 and '57 was one of unprecedented severity and has left indelible impressions on the memory of Mrs. Wheeler. One vivid recollection is of the blizzard in which Mr. Wheeler was caught one day when returning from Nevada. There was not a house on the way-six miles-snow cov- ered the ground, the thick storm shut out every landmark, and the traveler lost his course. The cold was intense, and wandering about must not last long as he would perish. Unable himself to steer, he gave the horses rein. and the faithful beasts took him to his own door. He was suffer- ing intensely, but the comfort of his rescuers was gratefully looked after before his own. In spite of precautions, however, the hardship suffered by the animals resulted in the death of one of them.
A snow bank heaped half way to the top of the east window whereon were wolf tracks, tokened that vegetation was shut off from foragers. The autumn fire having destroyed the stacks as well as buildings on many a farm, feed could not be obtained at any price, shelter was insufficient, and the loss of stock from starvation and cold was very large. One man liv- ing between Nevada and State Center, who had brought out a lot of oxen for the purpose of doing a large amount of breaking, lost every ani- mal. The field southwest of Nevada known as the boneyard received num- berless contributions. The severity and suffering were felt in Illinois as well as in Iowa, and the condition of stock, when the season ended, was well expressed, Mrs. Wheeler says, by the following "Ode to Spring," addressed to the tardy season by an indignant farmer and published in the Prairie Farmer of that date. We give a part of the address only :
"Now you've cum wen everybody's feed and corn and things hev all been fed out! Now luk at our kritters, will ye? See our katel on the lift, hevin to be steddied by their taies whin they gits up mornings. Look at our hosses wats all rejuiced to skeletons, a weepin' over a troft-a hull troft full of holes. A hull troft full of bitter rekulekshuns!
"Now look at them hogs, as has ben following them katel wat hev bin stuft with ha! See 'em, will ye, a creepin' roun as if they'se tetched with korns! Look at their eres, will ye-bigger than enny cabbich lefe! See the shotes a lenin onter the fens to squele! Look at them mity eres a hangin' pendent onto sich littel hogs!"
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