USA > Iowa > Warren County > History of Warren County, Iowa : from its earliest settlement to 1908; with biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county > Part 11
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
and others interesting themselves, secured a majority of the votes residing in the disputed territory. Polk county was as earnest in endeavoring to retain this one hundred and forty-four square miles of land, the best four townships in either county, as Warren county was to regain it. The senator from Polk county was Dr. A. Y. Hull, who resided in the east township and on the north side of the Des Moines river. If the four townships were set back to Warren county, it would have legislated Dr. Hull ont of office, hence his individual inter- est in the contention. Mr. Bryan finally consented to an amendment to the bill by which that portion of the territory north of the Des Moines, should remain in Polk county. There were about five or six sections on the north side of the river. Chapter 18 of the laws of the Fourth General Assembly was entitled :
An act to change the boundaries of Warren county,
Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Iowa that the following shall be the boundaries of Warren county, to wit: Beginning at the northwest corner of Marion county ; thence west along the line dividing townships 77 and 78 to the northwest corner of township 77 north of range 25 west ; thence south to the southwest corner of township 74 north of range 25 west, thenee east to the southwest corner of Marion county ; thence north to the place of beginning. provided that all that part of the township 77 north of range 22 west, which lies north of Des Moines river, shall remain as a part of Polk county.
Section 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after the first day of March, 1853. Approved January 14, 1853.
This finally settled the dispute over what was called the "Strip," which had engendered much bitter feeling; but all parties came to regard the final settle- ment as just and honorable. Mr. Parmelee had a lonely time for the first two or three years of his residence in Warren county. After Fort Des Moines had been supplied with lumber, mill customers were rare, He had no social privi- leges outside of his own family, unless he went to Fort Des Moines, a distance of twelve miles; yet he was a jovial, good natured, and well disposed man, always ready to help the needy and to encourage the despondent. Many of the first settlers had severe attacks of homesickness, a disease that has been the subject of butts and jokes in all the past. Those who have suffered from it never joke about it, but can truly sympathize with fellow-sufferers. Mr. Parmelee was a busy man and delighted in labor, and that helped him to endure the loneliness of those two or three years. After the Indians had vacated their land, the rapidity of the immigrant, coming as they did by the scores and hundreds, was a theme for congratulation by all. People came now to stay, and at once became inter- ested in the country and in everything that contributed to the general welfare, and the spirit of good cheer and helpfulness prevailed among all. If a man came from the east with selfishness in his heart and governed by sordid propensities, he soon yielded to the prevailing fellowship and brotherliness. Many of these first settlers were rough in their manners, and not choice in their words, but common hardships bond them together, cemented their friendships. and fitted them for making a united effort to push Warren into the front rank of Iowa connties. To set forth the real conditions as they existed in pioneer days, to tell of the limited supplies of food, clothing, and log cabins in which they lived seems like romanee to the people of today; and many who listen to
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such recitals are wont to shrug their shoulders and otherwise intimate that the narrator is coloring the picture. Flour could not be obtained by the first settlers, and corn meal was searce. As late as 1850, flour sold at ten dollars per hundred weight. The only article of food that was plenty and cheap was wild meat, chiefly venison. One of the early settlers said he and his family ate no kind of meat for three years except wild meat, such as he could trap or shoot. This was not only true in Warren county but in all the counties in central Iowa. While every farmer had all the work to do at home that he was able to perform, yet many of them had to go into older settled neighborhoods and work for wages, in order to get the actual necessaries of life. In those days fifty cents per day was considered good wages. Skilled workmen in certain lines might obtain more, but day laborers were doing well if they received fifty cents per day. The farms had to be fenced with rails, so that rail splitting was a common employ- ment. The groves were unculled and good timber for making rails abounded in all parts of the county. The standard price for cutting and splitting a hundred rails was fifty cents, but a good axe-man could make from one dollar and fifty cents to two dollars per day out of first class timber. But few of the settlers brought much money with them, about enough to enable them to get through the first year. If a man was fortunate enough to have raised, the first or second year, a little surplus, there was no market for it, unless some new comer appeared with money.
In 1848-9, the emigration which passed through the county, headed for the gold fields of California, proved a great blessing to sparsely settled Warren county. Not only did these first settlers have trouble to get food for themselves and families, but they found it difficult to get feed for their cattle and horses. Often times in the early spring they would have to cut down basswood and other trees in order that the cattle might browse upon the branches. Another diffi- culty was the bank notes in circulation, for hard money went into the land office, and but little was in circulation among the people. Men coming from the east brought with him bank notes and many of these notes were worthless and others below par, some worth fifty cents on the dollar, some seventy-five, and so on. The settlers had no means of determining the genuineness of a bank bill or the rate of discount to which it was subject. The result was that they often had trouble over their paper money. When a man received a bill, he was anxious to dispose of it and did so the very first opportunity. This state of affairs continued to grow worse until as late as 1857. During the summer season, the oxen could live on prairie grass and do fairly good work. This was a great blessing to the pioneers of lowa. The great abundance of deer, wild turkey and prairie chickens, was also as great a blessing to the settlers as the quails were to Israel in the wilderness. Not all the wild animals in this part of Iowa were advantageous to the pioneers. The panther, wolf, and wild cat made it very difficult to keep poultry or sheep, and the howling of the wolves was not calcu- lated to promote sleep.
The lands in Warren county were not offered for sale until 1848, and therefore were not subject to private entry. The plan of the government then was to offer a number of townships at publie vendue, after which the lands were
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subject to private entry at one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. All that the settlers could do prior to 1848, was to stake off claims. They knew that in the east, there were many land sharks, waiting to invest money in Iowa lands as soon as they were subject to private entry. The claim holders also knew that if they did not bid off their lands at the public vendue or immediately thereafter make their entry, that they were likely to be imposed on by the "land sharks" of the east, who were watching for opportunities where they might enter the first choice lands and get the settlers' improvements for nothing. This was often done in some of the older states. The people adopted a plan of what they called "claim chibs." The inhabitants would enter into a compact to protect each other in their claims by administering harsh treatment to any who entered their lands. To violate the laws of the "elaim clubs" was a perilous undertaking, especially for the resident, whom the claimants could find. The claims were in many cases assessed as personal property, and taxes paid thereon. They were bought and sold as personal property, and where the improvements were valuable, the prices frequently ran up into the thousands. If a man had a good claim of three hundred and twenty aeres, well located, with fair log buildings, and one hundred aeres in cultivation, it would bring a good price, so that these claims were esteemed valuable, but in order to protect themselves they had to visit punishment upon any offender, and this they did. A man in Warren county entered forty aeres on which the claimant resided. The offender was summoned before the club and asked for an explanation, which he refused to make, but at the sight of the tar and feathers, and listening to some straight talk, he yielded and came to terms. The committee who had the matter in charge, decided that the claimant should pay the offender the government price within one year, and that the offender should immediately deed the land to the claimant. In this way they managed to protect themselves. These elaim laws did good service, but were sometimes the means of instigating feuds, which were perpetuated during the life time of the interested parties. If a man, belonging to the club, failed to keep his pledge when a member was in distress, he was boycotted in a way that made it very unpleasant for him and his family to remain in the neighborhood. The club organization was plain and easily understood. About all the officer needed was a captain, who called the club together when occasion required. The club had "by-laws," which today are read with amusement, but in that day were serious statutes.
BY-LAWS.
Whereas: Self-protection, the acquiring and peaceable possession of prop- erty are essential to the happiness and prosperity of the people; and
Whereas: Reckless claim jumpers and invidious wolves in human form are . prowling through the county for the purpose of robbing the settler of his claim and of the means of support; therefore be it
Resolved: 1. That we pledge ourselves to protect every member of this elub in his rights of claim, or against the pre-emption of adverse parties, without fear of the world, the flesh or the devil.
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2. That no person shall be allowed to pre-empt, or to purchase from govern -. ment any claim of a member of the club, without the unequivocal consent of the member.
3. That the filing of any intention to pre-empt, in contravention of the right of any member hereof, shall be regarded as an attempt to deprive one member of his rights under the eternal fitness of things, and we pledge ourselves, one to another, to meet the offender on the home stretch with logie of life or death.
4. That a committee of three be raised, whose duty shall be to hear and adjust any disputes, evasions, or disagreements that may arise with members of this club, or any case where claims of members are in dispute with outside, adverse claimants, of every character whatever.
5. That we pledge ourselves to sustain and uphold our committees and appointments in the performance of their several duties, and to enforce their decisions and adjudications to the very letter, with force and arms if necessary.
6. That a cordial invitation is hereby extended to every citizen of the county to sign these articles of by-laws, and assist in their faithful execution and enforcement.
It will be observed that these by-laws were intended to protect actual settlers, and to confer no favors upon non-resident speculators. "The claim club," no doubt, saved many a settler's home for him, and in some cases they were permitted to reside on their claims for two or three years after the lands were in market. There was a pre-emption law by which parties could go to the land office, file their intention and the lands would be kept for them for twelve months; but at the end of that time it was absolutely necessary to pay the govern- ment price, consequently but few settlers pre-empted their lands. In not a few instances they made the money on the lands, which they paid the government for them. These organizations were kept up for several years after the lands were in market, and the settlers faithfully protected, by the club laws, until such time as they either sold out their claims or were able to make their entries.
When settlers went out into unorganized territory, they were attached to the nearest county for all civil and judicial purposes. From the first settlement of Warren county to the time of organization, it was attached to Marion county, and when a sufficient number had settled in Warren county, it was made a voting precinet with Marion county. If the early settlers had kept records of events and conditions, it would have been interesting reading today, but this they failed to do, so that the knowledge that the people have today of the carly period is traditional. There is not a serap of record of any kind to be found in Warren county of the six years prior to its organization. Those men and women have nearly all passed away, the few remaining find it difficult to call up the seenes or circumstances of sixty years ago, or more. So far as is now known, they needed no law for they were peaceable, quiet and honorable citizens, each dis- charging his duty toward his fellow men, not from legal restraints or fear of law, but from an innate sense of justice. No better encomium can be pronounced upon the inhabitants of those early years than this: They were law abiding citizens. Only those who have experienced the hardships and difficulties incident
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to pioneer life, can understand the strength of the friendship that existed among them.
For several years after Warren county began to settle there was no postoffice nearer than Fort Des Moines, and it was a real pleasure for one who was going to the Fort to bring the mail for the entire neighborhood, and to see that it was distributed at as early a date as possible. If a settler was so unfortunate as to fall siek in seed time, his neighbors would come for miles and put in his erops. If the sickness was in harvest time, the siek man need not worry for the neighbors would gather his erops. The saying, "Every man for himself," was not true in pioneer days. On one occasion a mill-wright was repairing the Parmelee mill on Middle river; it was time that the mill-wright's corn was gathered. The patrons of the mill met and gathered the mill-wright's corn so that he might continue repairing the mill. When a new settler came, the neighbors esteemed it a privilege to meet and put up a log cabin for the new acquaintance. Such friendship and liberality amazed new comers, but they soon became accustomed to it and fell into the trend with willing hands and hearts. Some men were not content with anything but pioneer habits and customs, therefore when the coun- try became settled and affairs established after the manner of older organized communities, those who had become infatuated with pioneer life would sell out and push on into the frontier. When the lands became subject to private entry in 1848, all who could raise a sufficient quantity of hard money, hurried imme- diately to the land office in order to secure their lands. When a man had made his entry and pocketed his certificate, he started home with new hopes and aspira- tions, feeling that he was a free holder, and had a larger and more permanent interest in the government.
The books of the register of the state land office show that the following entries were made soon after the lands were subject to private entry :
In Allen township; Nicholas Beezley, northwest quarter of section 2, town- ship 77, range 23, one hundred and fifty-two aeres, October 30, 1848. Simpson Hargis, Hiram Niday, and Owen E. Osborne all made entries about the same time.
In Palmyra township; John D. Parmelee, northwest quarter of northeast quarter, and northeast quarter of northwest quarter of section 12, township 77, range 23, eighty acres, August 1, 1848.
Washington township; Thomas Clough, southwest quarter of seetion 2, township 76, range 24, one hundred and sixty aeres, March 5, 1849.
Richland township; John D. Parmelee, lots 1, 2, 3 and 4, and the southeast quarter and the southwest quarter, all of section 6, township 77, range 22, Octo- ber 30, 1848. On the same date entries were made by James Burnett, Riley Driscoll, Robert Reese, Michael Howard , John M. Parkinson, Martin Ray, Austin S. Howard, Newton Guthrie, Amos E. Freel, Samuel Black, Elias Myrick, Isaaic N. Ewing and Elisha Hardin.
Union township; James Farley, the southwest quarter of section 9, and the northeast quarter of section 6, township 76, range 22, containng three hundred and twenty acres, October 30, 1848.
Belmont township; Robert L. Tidrick, the northeast quarter of the southeast
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quarter, and the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 34, and the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter, and the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 35, all in township 75, range 22, containing one hundred and sixty aeres, April 15, 1851.
Jackson township; Jacob Archer, southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 5, and the south half of the northeast quarter, and the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 6, township 75, range 25, containing one hundred and sixty acres, June 20, 1849.
Virginia township; John White, south half of southeast quarter of section 35, township 74, range 25, eighty acres, November 27, 1851.
White Oak township; Daniel Barker, northwest quarter of section 11, town- ship 75, range 24, one hundred and sixty acres, January 20, 1849.
Squaw township; Sarah Hackney, southwest quarter of the southwest quar- ter of section 11, township 74. range 24, forty acres. May 2, 1849.
Otter township; Levi Hollingsworth, southwest quarter of the northeast quarter, southwest of the southeast quarter, and the north half of the southwest quarter of section 22, township 75. range 23, one hundred and sixty acres, January 5, 1849.
Liberty township; John Williams, southeast quarter of southwest quarter, section 5, township 74, range 23, forty acres, June 29, 1849. On same day Williams also entered the southeast quarter of section 6, same township and range.
Whitebreast township; John Guise, northeast quarter of southwest quarter of section 28, township 75, range 22, forty acres, May 19, 1849. Barnhart Henn, west half of southwest quarter of section 2. township 75, range 22, October 26, 1849.
Linn township; John C. Hempstead, the northeast quarter of section 36. township 77, range 25. one hundred and sixty acres, November 13, 1848.
Jefferson township; John F. Woodside, west half of the northeast quarter, and the west half of the southeast quarter of section 32, township 76, range 25. one hundred and sixty acres, March 22, 1849.
Greenfield township; William Whited, east half of the southwest quarter, and the west half of the southeast quarter of section 27, township 77, range 24. October 30, 1848.
Washington township; east half; James Laverty, the northwest quarter of section 9, township 76. range 23. one hundred and sixty acres, October 30, 1848. Lands were also entered at the same time by Henry Hays, Harrison Jordon, John D. Parmelee and Thomas M. Clough.
One of the chief difficulties experienced by the early settlers was the long distance they had to travel in order to obtain groceries and other necessaries of life. The people of Warren county obtained part of their supplies from Fort Des Moines. They believed then as people do now. that the farther they went. the better they could do, so often they would go to Oskaloosa or to Ottumwa, and often as far as to Keokuk for groceries, salt. clothing and so forth. The names of these places were familiar to all the inhabitants in Warren county.
The first mercantile establishments in the county had to go to Keokuk to
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make their purchases, and then the goods were drawn in wagons by horses or oxen. In the summer season, oxen could subsist on grass, so that was the cheap- est teaming of that day. It required an ox team from two to three weeks to make the trip from Warren county to Keokuk and back. Whether the wagons were drawn by horses or oxen, the transportation added materially to the cost of the goods. A few of the first settlers in Warren county went down into Missouri for groceries and provisions, but this was not usually as satisfactory as going to Keokuk. When the first postoffice was established at Fort Des Moines. it was kept in one of the cabins built for the accommodation of the garrison, and the mail was put in a dry goods box, and from that distributed to the anxious inquir- ers after letters and papers. Occasionally, neighbors would join together and select one of their number to take a team and go after supplies. or to mill, for the entire neighborhood. In this they took turns, so that the burden was dis- tributed. Sometimes bread stuffs would become entirely exhausted, and in the summer season, the cooks would resort to a dish called frumenty, which was made of wheat when it was in the milky stage. Families have had to do without bread for several days at a time and live on potatoes and meats. But notwithstanding all these hardships, men and women were willing to endure them for the sake of getting homes. However, there is something very stimulating and infatuating in a new country, in having a part in the organization of schools and churches, and everything that pertains to our civilization, in seeing the country trans- formed and changed into the abodes of civilized men.
After 1848, the population increased very rapidly. The census showed that in 1849, there were six hundred and forty-nine inhabitants in Warren county ; in 1850, nine hundred and sixty-one; in 1852, one thousand four hundred and eighty-eight ; in 1854, four thousand four hundred and forty-six. The two years from 1852 to 1854, showed an increase of three hundred per cent, the greatest in the history of the county. For two or three years preceding 1848, the subject of county organization had been agitated. but many were indifferent in regard to it, fearing that it would increase taxation. The people of that day had not been educated in tax paying as the people of today are. They very much dreaded taxes.
In December, 1848, Paris P. Henderson was appointed organizing sheriff. The custom had been for the legislature to make these appointments, but in this case Judge Olney, while holding court in Marion county, to which Warren was attached as a voting precinct, made the appointment. It was the duty of the organizing sheriff to secure poll books. appoint judges, to make the necessary arrangements for the election. It required careful thinking upon the part of a young man to map ont this work so that the election might conform to the law. The county had been divided into two election precincts; the eastern half was called Union precinct, and the western half. Highland precinet. The first election was held on Monday, the first day of January, 1849.
HIGHLAND PRECINCT.
Poll books of an election held at the house of D. A. Felter in Highland precinct, Warren county, on the first Monday, (1st day of January,) 1849.
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William Simmons, W. W. Hurst and Lewis Johnson, judges, and Daniel Barker, D. A. Felter, were severally sworn as the law directs, before entering upon the duties of election officers. The following named persons are recorded as hav- ing voted : Ulysses Berger, William G. Ball, Thomas J. Hill, William D. Conner. William W. Hurst, Daniel Barker, D. A. Felter, Wm. Simmons and Lewis Johnson.
Tally sheet of votes cast for county officers at an election held at the house of D. A. Felter, Highland precinct, Warren county, on the first Monday, the first day of January, A. D., 1849 :
SHERIFF :
P. P. Henderson 9
DISTRICT CLERK :
H. A. Lambert 3
W. G. Ball 5
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS :
D. Barker 8
A. Ginder 8
S. Haworth
8
COMMISSIONERS' CLERK :
H. Jordan 8
JUDGE OF PROBATE :
Win. G. Ball 1
Ulysses Berger
6
RECORDER :
D. A. Felter 8
COUNTY SURVEYOR :
Henry Hays 5
Lewis Johnson 4
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE :
William Simmons 4
Thomas J. Hill 2
William D. Conner
3
CONSTABLES :
Peter Conner 6
Wm. Hurst
4
Wm. D. Conner
3
UNION PRECINCT.
Poll-book of an election held at the schoolhouse in Union precinct, Warren county, on the first Monday, the first day of January, A. D., 1849: J. M. Haworth, Milton Haworth and William Dillon, judges, and Jonathan Dillon and Harrison Jordon, clerks, were severally sworn as the law directs, previous to their entering on the duties of their respective offices.
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