USA > Iowa > Wapello County > History of Wapello County, Iowa, and representative citizens > Part 13
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 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59
integrity, culture and ability. D. H. Emery is the worthy and able prosecuting attorney for the county. E. E. MeElroy is noted for his steady purpose and integrity. MI. . \. Rob- erts is now one of the judges of this district. J. C. Mitchell, an able jurist, formerly judge of the district, is active in practice. . 1. W. Enoch has served acceptably two terms as county attorney. A. C. Steck and J. J. Smith constitute a strong legal firm that is well known to the Wapello county calendar. J. W. Lewis, an orator of renown as well as a successful lawyer, has been register in bank- ruptcy, but resigned the place and is succeeded by C. C. Melntire. Work & Work, a firm made up of father and son,-W. . A., the head of the firm, a most excellent lawyer, and Em- mett A., constitute one of the leading legal firms of southern Jowa. Blake & Hall are partners in a profitable business. F. M. 8
Hunter is a partner with Judge Mitchell in the legal business, and is also U. S. commis- sioner, charged with important duties. B. W. Scott, C. C. Leech, P. II. Riordan, W. W. Epps, at one time mayor of Ottumwa, F. G. Orelup, at one time police judge, Ayres & Fullen, the latter at one time U. S. district attorney, Seneca Cornell, honest and able, who also conducts an abstract office, Summer Siber- ell, at one time county attorney. Joseph R. Jaques, son of and partner with his father, Captain Jaques, in the legal business, .A. B. Williams and Keota, son and daughter of the late Judge Williams, and W. D. Tisdale, who remained on the bench as long as he wanted
There are not many lawyers in Wapello county, outside of Ottumwa. W. R. Nelson, of Eddyville, is deservedly prominent as an attorney, and the same may be said of Meurs. Tomlinson, Smith, Henshaw and Dougherty, of Eldon.
It is, perhaps, better to speak of the dead than of the living; of those who have finished their course and completed their record. Sum- mers, Williams. Burton and Hendershott were lawyers who would have graced any bar in the United States. Summers was austere in the presence of strangers, calm and dignified, vet he was very genial with his intimate friends; he and Major Hamilton were the only lawyers of note in the county who entered the army and achieved distinction during the Civil war. if we except Colonel Stuart, who was here a short time, and did not relocate after the war was over. Williams was noted for his keen
132
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY
cross-examinations of contumacious witnesses. Hendershott was grave, dignified and studious. Burton excelled in the examination of consti- tutional questions and was impressive in argu- ment. Dixon was a man of more than ordi- mary ability. Eugene Fawcett was here for a short time : he was brilliant but eccentric ; he achieved reputation and honors in California. One of the most distinguished lawyers, who practiced occasionally in Wapello county, was James F. Wilson, of Fairfield, who became United States Senator and achieved national fame as a statesman. Van Buren county con- tributed Knapp, the dead jurist, and Sloan, the living one, to the galaxy of stars at the Wapello county bar.
Henry Clay Dean appeared at the Wapello county bar on two or three important occa- sions : his greatest success was achieved about the year 1867, when he saved the neck of Trogdon, who had committed a most brutal murder and robbery in this county. The evi- dence was complete; indeed, it was admitted that Trogdon had committed the crime, but Dean set up the plea of imbecility and secured a sentence of life imprisonment. The gal- lows was cheated! Dean made a wonderful argument in support of his plea ; he had Trog- con before him and exhibited the prisoner's
lead to the jury; Trogdon had the physiog- romy of the average cut-throat, and a certain peculiarity of the skull that Dean claimed to be a malformation. Those who heard it will never forget Dean's dramatic presentation : pointing to the head of the murderer, he ex- claimed in piercing tones : ".\ defect ! . i de- fect ! \ defect!" Ile dwelt on this, and con- vinced the jury that the prisoner was not a responsible being. It was the triumph of ora- tory. Trogdon was a base murderer and deserved the gallows. Dean was one of the greatest orators that the West has produced ; he was unique, original, and sometimes spoke as if he were inspired.
W. S. Coen, attorney-at-law, who died January 25, 1900, aged 53 years, was an ex- ample of an honest, industrious lawyer, who gained an enviable place at the county bar. Hle was a soldier of the Union and was seri- ously wounded; he returned from the front, determined to become a lawyer. He had a limited education, but acquired the habits of a student and was admitted to the bar with hon- ors. He had a brusque way about him that was not agreeable to all those he encountered, but all admired and respected him when they came to know of his many good qualities.
CHAPTER XVIII
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION
DISEASES AND REMEDIES OF THE EARLY PERIOD PRIMITIVE DOCTORS AND THEIR PRACTICES- THE PROFESSION AS IT IS TO-DAY.
It is believed that the Indians did not suffer from some of the diseases that came with the advent of civilization ; they were either ac- climated, or there were conditions produced by the cultivation of the soil that developed certain kinds of fevers. The decaying vegetation and, possibly, the pollution of streams from which the early settlers procured water for domestic purposes, also the privations to which they were subjected, the coarse food which they were obliged to use, all contributed to make the country appear unhealthy at the beginning. The prevailing diseases were intermittent fevers, fever and ague or the "chills." There were but few doctors as compared with the ex- tent of territory that was inhabited ; there were occasions when a physician had to be sum- moned that involved a horseback ride of 25 or 30 miles ; and the settlers were thus taught that in ordinary cases they had to depend upon quite proficient in the use of native herbs, roots and barks. The common remedy for coughs and colds was a decretion of wild cherry bark, simple syrup and whiskey. There were other barks and herbs that served to reduce fever. Fever and ague, or the "chills,' were very re- fractory and nothing but quinine seemed to be patent though to do any good in such cases. At that time, there were no quinine tabloids, covered with gelatine to remove the bitterness; instead of the active principle, they used l'e- rivian bark in a decoction with whiskey as the menstrutill. £ In deed there were instances where more confidence was placed in the men- struem than in the bark, and it was used ac- creingly. Cuts or wounds were treated with poultices, the only antiseptic being hot or cold water, and it is interesting to note that there were few cases of blood poisoning. There i were no laws governing the practice of medi- themselves and upon the aid given by simple cine and there sprang up self-made doctors. remedies. Some of these settlers became
who carried immense saddle-bags stuffed with
134
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY
ill-smelling roots and herbs, and it is possible that many of the sick died from the want of proper medical attention.
Among the earliest of competent physicians who came to the county was Dr. C. C. Warden, who had an extensive practice. Dr. Elbert. of Keosanqua, was eminent as a surgeon and was called in cases of delicate surgery. Among other early physicians was Dr. A. D. Wood. of Ottumwa ; later on came Dr. T. J. Douglass, who became eminent in his profession. Dr. S. B. Thrall came later than did Dr. Douglass, and was highly esteemed as a physician. The same good words can be said of Dr. J. Will- iamson and old Dr. Heuvel. an eccentric but learned llollander, generally known as the "Old Dutch Doctor," who was among the last of the physicians who practiced bleeding. though not indiscriminately. Dr. D. A. La Force came still later, as well as Dr. Charles G. Lewis, who became eminent as physicians.
Meanwhile the character of prevailing diseases changed, but the doctors of Ottumwa and Wa- pello county have kept well in line with the ad- vance of medical science, and are ranked high in the profession and in the various medical associations, state and national.
The Wapello County Medical Association was organized in 1853 by Drs. C. C. Warden, J. Williamson, W. L. Orr, J. W. La Force, .1. D. Wood and Weir. The president was Dr. C. C. Warden : vice-president, Dr. . 1. D. Wood ; secretary, Dr. J. Williamson. The as- sociation became defunct, but was reorganized in 1870, with Dr. W. L. Orr, president ; Dr. T. J. Douglass, vice-president ; and Dr. J. Williamson, secretary. The present officers of the association are Dr. L. J. Baker, president ; Dr. F. W. Mills, vice-president: Dr. C. R. Russell, secretary; board of censors, Drs. B. W. Searle, A. O. Williams, J. F. Herrick.
CHAPTER XIX
THE TOWNS OF THE COUNTY
SKETCHES OF ELDON, AGENCY CITY. EDDYVILLE, KIRKVILLE, DAHLONEGA, CHILLICOTHE AND BLAKESBURC.
ELDON.
Peter Mulvany, who was one of the first business men of Eldon, wrote an address, which he delivered at a celebration of the Fourth of July, in 1876, in which he gave a history of the first settlement of Washington township, including an account of the begin- ning of Eldon. The address was printed in the form of a pamphlet and few copies are now extant. We are under obligations to Mr. and Mrs. E. T. Roland, of Eklon, for a loan of their copy of Mulvany's address, and from which we derive the history of the township and town prior to 1876.
Mr. Mulvany says: "I have learned that where Eldon now stands and this valley reach- ing down to Howaville was the scene, in 1827, of a most terrible battle that Indian tradition has handed down in this state. It was fought by the old tribe of lowa Indians and the Sac and Fox tribes, which resulted in almost the complete extermination of the lowas. Soon
after this battle, James 11. Jordan came to this locality, in 1828, as a trader with the Sac and Fox Indians. Black Hawk, the chief of the tribe, informed Mr. Jordan of his trouble with the Jowas as follows: One of the Sac and Fox Indians killed one of the lowa tribe, and the chief of the latter demanded the 'transgressor." Black Hawk delivered him up where Eldon is now built : Black Hawk and his men bid the 'transgressor' farewell and left him singing his death song, then proceeded on their way to Rock Island; they camped for the night on the Skunk (or Checauqua ) River, and at mid- night were alarmed by a horseman, when the 'transgressor' soon rode up to the camp, the lowas having released him and given him a horse after they had held a council. This seemed to be very generous on the part of the lowas, but soon after this the two tribes had a serious difficulty, and Black Hawk, with his war chief Pashepaho, marched from Rock Isl- and to the lowaville bluffs, and in two di- visions, at the signal of a gun, attacked the
136
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY
lowas, cutting them off from their town, and fought a terrible battle, which resulted in the total defeat and flight of the lowas to the woods, where Eldon now stands; they after- wards retreated to Snake Ridge or Council Bluffs, leaving the Sacs and Foxes in posses- sion of the valley."
It is probable that the United States Gov- ernment interfered and compelled the Sacs and Foxes to make some kind of restitution to the lowas, as will appear from the following para- graph from Mr. Mulvany's address :
"Long after this, in 1838, Black Hawk in- vited the lowas to a council on the prairie at Mr. Jordan's. They attended, and Black Hawk, after making friendly terms with them, presented the chief with 300 horses, 1,000 blankets and some other things, which they immediately took with them, back to Snake Ridge, near Council Bluffs."
Mr. Mulvany then proceeds : "Black Hawk lived within three rods of Mr. Jordan's. In September, 1838, he took sick and sent for his friend, Mr. Jordan, who went to see him ; he said he had been very ill for fourteen days, and that the Indian doctor could not cure him. He requested Mr. Jordan to go to Fort Edwards ( now Warsaw ) for a white doctor. Mr. Jor- dan replied that he had to go to Rock Island to a treaty, and would have to bid Black Hawk farewell. Black Ilawk then presented Mr. Jordan with his sword, bowie knife and whip, and said he wished to be buried in the full dress of a warrior chief, in the grove near where he lay. He died soon after, leaving a wife, two sons and two daughters, who buried him as re-
quested, in full dress, blue cloth regimentals, military hat with ostrich feather, gold epaulets on shoulders, sword belted on, sword cane in hand and three silver medals on his necklace. One of these medals was given him by the British, with blankets to the value of $5,000. to induce him to join them in their war with the United States ; he did join them, but find- , ing that he would have to fight under command of British officers, he returned home with his warriors. The second medal was presented to - him by President Madison, as a token of friendship. The third medal was presented by General Jackson, when Black Hawk was a prisoner at Washington, after the close of the Black Hawk War. Jackson also presented him with the military suit in which he was buried. also the American flag, which was hoisted over his grave, and remained there till it wore out."
Mr. Mulvany in his narration omits a de- scription of the mode of burial, but it is here given, from the testimony of Mr. Jordan: . 1 slight excavation was made in the earth, but not more than two feet ; a puncheon, or split log, was laid in this excavation with the end on which the head of the body was placed elevated at an angle of perhaps 30 degrees ; the chief was placed on this; blankets were spread over the body; then there was a rude structure of puncheons set up in the form of a house roof, one end resting on the ground, the other end meeting at the top with a puncheon from the op- posite side. Then some earth was thrown up against the sides of the structure, as well as the ends, but not enough to constitute a mound, nor any semblance of a mound. On the con-
137
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
=
trary, when the roof had decayed and fallen. there was no elevation to mark the temporary resting place of the chief. When the author of this work last saw it, there was a slight de- pression instead of an elevation of earth.
We again quote from Mr. Mulvany's ad- dress: "About a year after Black Hawk's death, a Dr. Turner, from Bonaparte, stole his remains and the valuables that were buried with him : he took the bones to Alton, Illinois, to a doctor, to have them "wired.' Black Hawk's wife and children were much aggrieved at the action of Turner, and had Mr. Jordan to write to the Governor of the Territory, informing him of the facts. The two doctors disputed about the price of 'wiring.' and the Aton d c- for informed Governor Lucas that he had the remains of Black Hawk, and would send them to him. The governor received them and wrote to Jordan that Black Hawk's family might go to his office in Burlington and get them. BLica Hawk's two sons went and saw the skeleton of their father ; they concluded, as the bones were hung in a nice, dry place, they would leave them there until the tribe would be ready to move to Fall River, Kansas, on the reserva- tion. The Governor's office was burned down before they moved and the skeleton was lost. In 1844-45 the Indians all left here for Des Moines, prior to their removal to the Kansas reservation.
"Before the treaty with the Indians, John B. Groover, an honest, good-hearted German, settled here and claimed the land where Eldon is now built. He thought this was included in the 'Old Purchase,' but finding that the line did
not go farther west than lowaville, he left, until after the New Purchase,' when he re- turned and claimed the same land : he built near where the round house now stands and lived there three years, when he died, and was : buried with two of his children near where John Drake now lives, and within a few yards of where we now stand at this celebration. The C. R. l. & P. Railroad was surveyed over his grave, and the graders, little knowing of car- ing that he was the first settler here, dug up his bones and threw them out with the exca- vated carth.
"James 11. Jordan, the gentleman to whom I am indebted for this information of the early history of this place, was born ja Mercer coun- ty, Kentucky, on September 20, 1800, where his parents lived and died. As I have stated, he came to this valley in 1828. as an Indian trader. and built a small house near the site of the line dwelling that he and his family now occupy. In 1838 be married Frances Williams, of Boone county, Missouri, a lady of more than ordinary refinement ; he has two souls, Il. C. and Victor P., and one daughter, Sarah, wife of Abraham Hinkle. The Indis is offered him to miles square of this valley before the gov- ermment purchase, but he did not take it : he had, however, to content himself afterward with three or four thousand acres.
"In June. 1837. William Betterton arrived in this valley from Elkhart county, Indiana. He bought a claim that is now known as the Haigler farm, from Peter Avery, for $250 in gold, and lived on it only four years, when the government troops under command of Cap-
138
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY
tain Beach, of the Agency, burned his house and property, destroyed his crops, and left him in a desolate condition. He fled to Jefferson county. on the 'Old Purchase,' and when the 'New Purchase' was made, he came back to this valley and entered 330 acres of land in this township, where he lived until March 13, 1860. when he died, leaving two sons and six daugh- ters. Edwin is still living in this township, where he was born in 1840, and is one of our most respected citizens."
Washington township (in which Eldon is located) is in the southeast corner of Wapello county, joining Jefferson county on the east and Davis county on the south; it was first taken possession of by the whites on the event- ful night of April 30, 1843, at 12 o'clock. At I o'clock (before that) some of our citizens were busily engaged in blazing trees, setting stakes, burning brush, etc., to mark the bound- ary lines of their claims. Among these we may mention : John Mael, Milton Wright, James Acton, Reuben Myers, Anderson Myers, who served ten years as justice of the peace. Martin Fisher, Thomas Foster, Srst treasurer of Wapello county. E. Cummins, whose fa- ther was the first American born in the State of Indiana, when the French had charge of the Vincennes garrison, in 1777: and James H. Cartwright, who came to this township in April, 1843 .- he had lost a leg, and had the honor of being the central figure as justice of the peace in John Mulvany's celebrated paint- ing, "The Trial of a Horse Thief in a Western Justice's Court," which has been valued in
Chicago recently at $8,000, and which oc- cupied the "Place of Honor" in the gallery of the Lotus Club, in New York City.
Soap creek flows into the Des Moines river at Eldon, section 34, in this township. The Des Moines river flows diagonally through this township; consequently half the land is well watered and heavily timbered, the remainder being a fertile prairie, producing corn, wheat, rye, oats and grasses, with po- tatoes and other vegetables and an abundance of fruit. The township is underlaid with beds of bituminous coal, which is being mined in different places. Concretionary limestone is found in the bed of the Des Moines river, and fire clay and sand suitable for making brick are very plentiful. There is a fall of from eight to 10 feet in the river about 100 yards west of Eldon, which, with very little expense, could be used for water power to good advantage.
The township was organized into four school districts in 1844, cach district being three miles square. The first school house was built in 1844 in the northwestern district. John H. Nicholas was the first teacher: Thomas Foster, director: and G. B. Savery, secretary. Thomas Ping was the first justice of the peace. James Caldwell was the first constable. The first lawsuit was Woody vs. Griggsby. A large per cent. of the suits grew out of claim disputes. S. M. Wright was the first coroner of the county. Silas Garrison was the first to deliver a religious discourse from the Bible, publicly, in this township. The first postoffice was opened by Thomas Ping, in the fall of
139
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
1843. The first election took place at Ash- land, in October, 1843, where 50 votes were polled.
In consequence of the very wet season, the farmers were much distressed and had to go to Bentonsport Mills, 30 miles, to get flour. Reuben Myers and Enos Moore organized the first Sabbath-school in the first school house built in the township.
Ashland. or "Old Ashland," as it is now called. was once the center of commerce in Washington township. It was designed early after the influx of settlers, and promised to become a place of note. It was on the road to Agency from the south, being upon the southeast quarter of section 9. It grew apace. and boasted of numerous advantages over ofiter towns. It was surrounded by a rich agricult- ural region, and was settled by a good class of men. Thomas Ping was the owner of the plat. which was dated in 1845. The Methodist Episcopal church was organized there by Rev. Thomas M. Kirkpatrick, in 1843. In 1854 the Ashland Seminary was established. It was under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was the first school of that char- acter in the county. It was managed by a board of trustees, and Lewis Dwight, for many years a teacher in Greencastle College, Indiana, was engaged as principal. They had a good, substantial building of brick, 30 by 50 feet. and two stories high. There was a famous bank, and many other metropolitan institutions, In 1856 the place had three stores, a steam mill. a hotel (kept by Thomas Ping), two
churches ( Methodist Episcopal and Meth- odist ), two physicians and a wagon and cooper shop. The town is now no more. Most of the lots are annually cultivated as farms. The failure to secure railroad lines killed the place.
Eldon is situated on the north bank of the Des Moines River, section 27. township 71, range 12. Eldon owes its origin mainly to the old Keokuk & Des Moines Valley Railway, now a part of the C. R. l. & P. Railway system. . flag station was located on the site of the pres- ent town shortly after the road was opened, and named "AAshland Crossing." Subsequently, the little place was called "Williamsburg. "'and a postoffice established there. with Bert. Loftus, postmaster. In 1861 William Riordan settled on the site, and, with John Flynn, Timothy Ryan, Jere Keiff, and perhaps a few others, formed the beginning of the town. William Flint put up a sawmill. So the prospects of the place improved, and when-the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad pushed its southwestern division to this point, the fate of the town was decided. In 1870 the town of Eldon was laid out by Judge J. M. Love. Col. George Gillaspy. Hon. Edward Johnston, Col. William Leighton and George Williams. The planting and surveying was done by (). Ball- win, of Keokuk. Among the first to settle there were James Bradley. Peter Mulvany, Martin Dooley, John Donohoe. W. 11. Cross, Ed. Dibble, Patrick Russell. J. C. Nelson, and others.
In 1872 Eldon was incorporated. The first officers were: D. K. Taylor, mayor; John
140
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY
Donohoe. A. L. Twing, AAdam Blair. J. C. Nel- son and F. X. Kopper, trustees; Ed. Dibble, recorder ; Peter Mulvany, treasurer.
The Catholic. Methodist Episcopal. Congre- gational and Baptist churches are well repre- sented in Eldon. Eldon is justly proud of its public schools.
The postoffice was established at Eldon in 1870. E. T. Cummins was the first postmaster. E. T. Roland was the second incumbent of that office: the latter is now deputy postmaster under llon. W. G. Crow.
The newspaper record was hard to obtain. but it is believed to be substantially correct, as given : First came the Eldon Herald, estab- lished by Mr. Morehouse, in the summer of 1873. The effort failed after about three months' trial. Then came the Eldon Mes- senger, the publication of which was started about November 1. 1875. by Mr. Messick, but this lasted only through six or seven weekly issues. Then appeared the Eldon Times, under the charge of Dr. J. E. Alverson, and a good paper he made of it, too. a fact attested by the life of the little journal. In June, 1876, Tunis Bentley became editor and ran the paper until July 21st, when he changed the name to that of the Western News. In the winter of 1877- 78 Jesse Markee bought the office, but finally suspended the paper in April or May, 1878. The Eldon Review was established in 18SI by E. H. Thomas, now the South Ottumwa post- master : he sold out to C. E. & L. R. McKin- ney, in 1885, who still continue the publication. The Eldon Graphic was established July 25. 1891, by George W. Friend and M. P. Duffield.
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.