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 9
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Prairie is a French word signifying meadow-a tract of country in its natural state covered with grass. Where a plain is not covered with grass, it is called a desert. At least one-half of the surface of North America is prairie. The most extensive district of this character lies between the Mississippi and the Rocky Mountains; having a width of about five hundred miles, the southern extremity reaching into Mexico, and the northern into the British possessions. Originally, the country between the Mississippi and the Atlantic ocean was occupied by forests, however, in Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana, there are extensive prairies. As to the origin of prairies, there has been much discussion by learned men as well as by the common people. One of the writers in the reports of the Geological Survey of Illinois, argues that the prairies have all been lake beds, covered by aquatic plants, and when the water was drained off, and the surface became dry, the grass prevented the growth of trees.
Professor J. D. Whitney, in the report of the Geological Survey of Iowa. attributes prairies and the absence of forests to the fineness of the soil, main- taining that the soil lies so close that it prevents tree roots from penetrating it. Professor A. Winchel supposes that the prairie grasses are a preglacial product ; "when the ice and water of the glacial period were withdrawn, the surface of
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the drift deposits was covered with grass, which sprang from seeds that had retained their life from preglacial times. The popular contention is that fires, sweeping over the prairies, burning the dead grass, without destroying the roots, are fatal to young trees ; and ammally destroy forests more or less, and thereby- extend the prairies." J. S. Newberry, writing in Johnson's encyclopedia, main- tains that : "A large part of the diversity of opinion, which exists in regard to the origin of prairies, is due to the limited observaton of many of those who have written on the subject; and it is probable that if the advocates of the different theories proposed could all traverse the great grass covered plains of the west and could study on the spot the phenomena they have discussed, they would be more harmonious than they are now." Mr. Newberry believes that "elimatie influences have had more to do with the distribution of forests and prairie than all local causes combined." This is a subject of great importance to the inhabitants of prairie regions. Fires can be suppressed and prevented, but climatie infiuences are fixed, and the composition of the soil is fixed. If prairie soils are too fine for the production of trees, or if the rainfall in prairie regions is too limited to promote the growth of trees, then any attempt to plant forests must be measurably unsuccessful. Mr. Newberry's argument that the rainfall in the midst of the valley between the Mississippi and the Rocky Moun- tains is insufficient for the growth of trees is certainly true. Mr. Whitney's argument about the fineness of the soil is not so easily demonstrated. The efforts made in Nebraska and the Dakotas to produce forests have thus far been in a large degree failures; whether the cause lies in the quality of the soil or the rainfall is not easily determined. After a forest is once started, by its own processes, in a measure sustains itself ; that is, it excludes the sun and wind, and checks rapid drainage, and thereby retains moisture sufficient to perpetuate its growth. Droughts are deadly foes of tree-growth. Trees are long-lived, some existing for centuries. Therefore a prolonged drought, once or twice in a cen- tury, would be destructive to forests, while it would not greatly affect the prairie grass. Fortunately, the prairie soil is adapted to cultivation, and in its virgin state produces grasses of fine quality for grazing and stock raising purposes. In many places in the western states, settlers have mnde the mistake of attempting to cultivate the higher and drier prairies, which are far more valuable as grazing lands.
CLIMATE.
The climate of Iowa is variable. The most serious objection to which is the sudden changes in temperature. In the southern part of the state the tempera- ture seldom rises above ninety-five degrees, or falls below fifteen degrees below zero; yet, greater extremes are sometimes observed. July and August are the hottest months, and January, the coldest. The winds are variable, shifting from one point of the compass to another. The rainfall is usually sufficient for the growth of vegetation, sometimes is excessive. In the central and northern portion
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of the state, snow sometimes measures from two to three feet in depth; but ordinarily not so much as that. In a large part of the state, perhaps in every county, in 1863, there was frost in every month of the year. One close observer states that : "The latest frost in the spring, during thirty-one years, from 1839 to 1869, inclusive, was May 26, 1847; and the earliest, August 29, 1863." Farmers have come to confidently expect when there is a late spring, the fall season is lengthened, so that the corn erop usually has full time to mature. While Iowa has large quantities of coal, lead, gypsum and clays, its chief glory is the fertility of the soil. The agricultural products of the soil of Iowa are worth more than all the gold mines of the world. The farmer who plants a variety of crops is sure to reap an ample reward. The salubrious air and freedom from malaria, the purity of the water supply, make Iowa one of the healthiest states in the Union. From some cause or other not easily analyzed, Iowa has not developed any large cities. Des Moines, capital of the state, is at present Iowa's largest city. It contains less than one hundred thousand inhabitants. All the states bordering on Iowa, east, west, north and south, have larger cities, but no state in the Union can boast of more beautiful cities and towns than Iowa.
PRODUCTS OF IOWA.
Such is the large per cent. of cultivable and grazing land in Iowa, that it is capable of sustaining a population of at least ten millions. The productiveness of the soil is equal to any state in the Union. The most common grains are corn, wheat, oats, rye, barley, flax, and hemp. The most common grasses are timothy, clover, red top, alfalfa, blue grass, broom corn, buckwheat, and sor- ghum. There are a few varieties of wild grasses still found in Iowa, the most important is the blue stem. There are coarse bottom grasses, which if properly cared for, make excellent hay. The most common vegetables are turnip, pea, potato, parsnip, celery, onion, beet, lettuce, cabbage, salsify, raddish, bean, as- paragus, egg plant, tomato, and cauliflower. The most common fruits are apples, peaches, pear, plum, cherries and grapes. Among the small fruits are blackberry, raspberry, currant, gooseberry, and strawberry. There are many other fruits grown in the state, but are not found on the average farm or garden.
Horses, mules, cattle, hogs, sheep, goats and poultry are raised in great abundance in every county in Iowa. Of late the poultry production has out- stripped many other industries, and has become one of the most profitable employments of Iowa farming. The hen is competing with the horse for the first place in the list of Iowa live stock.
The prosperity of the state is evidenced in the fact that the State Treasurer reports that Iowa is now doing business on a cash basis with over a half million dollars in the treasury. A better record than this cannot be found. Of late. much is being said about scientific farming. The Agricultural College at Ames is crowded with students. Professors in that institution are traveling over the
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state holding meetings in the interest of farming, and making suggestions to aid the farmers in improving the soil and increasing the yield of crops. Many farmers claim that their corn yields more bushels per aere than it did when the land was fresh.
From early in its history, Iowa has taken a prominent place in national affairs, having furnished some of the most distinguished United States Senators and Members of the House of Representatives.
UNITED STATES SENATORS.
Name
Politics
Residence
Years Served
Angustus C. Dodge,
Democrat
Burlington.
1848-1855
George W. Jones,
Democrat
Dubuque.
1848-1859
James Harlan,
Republican
Mount Pleasant,
1855-1865
James W. Grimes,
Republican
Burlington,
1859-1869
Samnel J. Kirkwood,
Republican
Iowa City,
1865-1867
James B. Howell,
Republican
Keokuk,
1870-1871
James Harlan,
Republican
Mount Pleasant.
1867-1873
George G. Wright.
Republican
Des Moines.
1871-1877
William B. Allison,
Republican
Dubuque.
1873-
Samuel J. Kirkwood,
Republican
Iowa City.
1877-1881
James W. MeDill,
Republican
Afton.
1881-1883
James F. Wilson,
Republican
Fairfield.
1883-1895
John 11. Gear,
Republican
Burlington.
1895-1900
Jonathan P. Dolliver, Republican
Fort Dodge
1900-
IOWA MEN IN THE PRESIDENT'S CABINET.
SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY.
Leslie M. Shaw, from February 1. 1902, to March 4, 1907.
SECRETARY OF WAR.
William W. Belknap, from October 25, 1869. to March 2. 1876. George W. MeCrary, from March 12, 1877, to December 10, 1879.
POSTMASTER GENERAL.
Frank Hatton, from October 14, 1884. to March 6, 1885.
SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR.
James Harlan, from May 15, 1865, to July 27, 1866. Samuel J. Kirkwood, from March 5, 1881, to April 6. 1882.
SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE.
James Wilson, from March 5, 1897, to-
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A NOTED FRAUD.
One of the most stupendous frauds ever perpetrated on this continent, had its beginning in Iowa, and is known in history as the "Cardiff Giant." The people of Onondaga county, New York, were startled by a report in the month of October, 1869, that a farmer near the village of Cardiff, about 13 miles from Syracuse, had found a petrified body of a man of more than gigantie size. The farmer, whose name was William Newell, informed the newspaper reporters that he was digging a well in his barnyard, and at the depth of three feet, struck what he supposed was a large rock; but upon examination found it to be the petrified body of a giant. He carefully uncovered the immense body. The villagers and others, as the news spread, rushed to Newell's barnyard to see the amazing find. As they returned and scattered the news, the crowds increased around the wonderful discovery. Newell at once put a tent over the giant, stationed guards about the tent, in fact set up a regular museum, charging fifty cents admission. The Syracuse newspapers published an account of the discovery ; the excitement and the throngs of visitors; which only increased the number who hastened to Newell's home to see the wonderful stone man. Many people saw at once a fortune in this petrified body. A company was organized and offered Newell a large sum of money for his giant. He declined to sell at any price. Many scientists rushed to the spot to study this amazing wonder, but Newell held them, as well as everybody else, at bay, and refused to allow a close and satisfactory examination. Most of the learned men were of the opinion that it was a statue, the work of human hands, rather than a petrified human body. Dr. James Hall, who was then geologist of New York, who was the first state geologist of Iowa, made an examination as well as he could under the restrictions placed upon him by Newell, the finder. He hurriedly published a report which says :
"It is certainly a great curiosity and, as it now presents itself, the most remarkable archaeological discovery ever made in this country, and entirely unlike any relie of the past age yet known to us. It is clearly a statue cut by human hands, and is in no way connected with petrification ...... nor is it a cast or model of any kind, but an original. The importance of the object lies in its relation to the race or people of the past, formerly inhabiting that part of the country. The statue is of a far higher order and of an entirely different char- acter from the smaller works of rude sculpture found in Mexico, Central America or the Mississippi valley.
"In regard to the question of the antiquity of its origin, we are compelled to rely upon the geological and chemical evidence. That the statue has lain for a long time where it now lies, there can be no doubt. The entire length of the left side and back of the statue is eroded to the depth of an inch or more, from the solution and removal of its substance by water percolating through the gravel stratum in which it lies imbedded. Such a process of solution and removal of the gypsum, a mineral of slow solubility in the waters of that region, must have re- quired a long period of years. Any theory of the recent burial of the statue in this place is disproved by the fact of the extensive solution and removal of the
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surface by water coming in by the gravel bed from the southwest. The most extensive erosion has taken place on the left side and beneath the back upon that side corresponding to the direction from which the water came. You will see therefore, upon any theory of inhumation it must have time for the gradual dissolving of the stone. So long as the alluvial deposit was going on this portion was covered by water and there would be no current along the gravel bed, and this movement of the water would only take place after the drainage of the stream or the lake to a lower level. Therefore so long as the alluvial deposit was going on, and the water remained above the level, there would be no current, and consequently no erosion.
"This statement answers the inquiry as to what are some of the evidences of its antiquity."
In the summer of 1868, George Hull and 11. B. Martin appeared in Fort Dodge, Iowa, and soon became much interested in the gypsum deposits in that vicinity. They went to an owner of a quarry and proposed to buy a block of gypsum twelve feet long, four feet wide, and from two to three feet thick, for which they offered to pay a good price. They told this man they wanted to ship it to New York as a specimen, and interest capitalists in the development of Iowa gypsum. On some other occasions, they told that there was to be erected a Lincoln monument in Washington City, and that each state was requested to furnish some material, and that they wanted a block of gypsum for the purpose of representing Iowa in the monument. They conducted themselves in a way that aroused suspicion among the people of Fort Dodge. They finally succeeded, however, in leasing an acre of land on Gypsi creek, and employed an expert quarryman to get ont such a block as they had described. It had to be trans- ported on a wagon to Boone, the nearest railroad station, forty miles from Fort Dodge. They found it a very difficult job; they broke down one wagon, mired down several times, and were several days making the trip to Boone, but finally reached there and shipped the huge block of gypsum to Chicago. The Boone Standard, on July 28, 1868, gave an account of the shipment, giving the size, eleven feet, three inches long; three feet, two inches wide; one foot, ten inches thick ; weight, 6,560 pounds.
While the scientists were differing as to whether Mr. Newell's giant was a statue or a petrified man, the crowds continued to press to Cardiff to see the wonder. The receipts at the gate of the tent had now reached over a thousand dollars per day. P. T. Barnum had sent an agent to purchase the wonder, but Newell declined to sell. About this time, Galusha Parsons, a lawyer residing in Fort Dodge, was visiting in the east, and went to Cardiff to view the petrified man. lle immediately wrote a letter to HIon. B. F. Gue, editor of the North West, in Fort Dodge, in which he said: "I believe it is made of that great block of gypsum those fellows got at Fort Dodge a year ago." Upon this suggestion, Mr. Gue obtained Syracuse papers, and at once began an investigation, which required much labor and considerable expense. After having completed his investigation, he put it in pamphlet form. From this pamphlet and personal recollections, the facts here narrated have been obtained. Mr. Gne traced these men from Fort Dodge to Boone; found they had shipped the block of gypsum
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from Boone to Chicago; found where it had been chiseled by a Chicago sculptor into human form; he found that the statue had been put into an iron box and shipped to a point near Cardiff, Onondaga county, New York. He found where it had been transported from the railroad station to Cardiff or near there. After having published all these facts in a pamphlet, it seemed only to increase the excitement. The pamphlet was stoutly denied by Newell. By this time George Hull and H. B. Martin appeared at Newell's and were recognized as partners in the museum. At first no one in the neighborhood of Cardiff ac- tepted the exposition given in the pamphlet; the scientists were discomfited, but several of them were already on record. What deceived Prof. Hall was the erosion on the back of the statue, but this erosion was on the original block quarried at Fort Dodge, and Hull instrneted the quarryman not to interfere with the erosion. Prof. O. C. Marsh of Yale College, and President Andrew D. White were not deceived; they suspicioned that it was a fraud. The evidence furnished in Mr. Gue's pamphlet was too strong to be disposed of by the jests of the newspapers, or by the persistent claims of the scientists. Hull became vain over the ingenuity he had displayed in his invention, and it is said sold out his interest for a large sum of money, and then made an open confession, substantiating every allegation made in Mr. Gue's pamphlet. It must always be regarded as an ingenious trick. Hull and Martin invested in the scheme *2.200. Hull's only exense was that he and his family needed the money, and for the sake of gain, he was willing to spend much time and be at considerable expense in order to complete a fraud that would "deceive the very elect." It was a splendid advertisement for Fort Dodge, and has no doubt promoted the gypsum industry. While Hull and Martin were seeking to deceive everybody they came in contact with, they were giving Fort Dodge free advertisement.
THE HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
COUNTY NAME.
General Joseph Warren of Massachusetts, after whom Warren county was named, was born June 11th, 1741, graduated from Harvard in 1759, was a mem- ber of the Provincial Committee of Correspondents in 1772, was chosen Major General by the Provincial Congress, June 14. He declined the command at the battle of Bunker's Hill, but was killed in that battle, June 17. 1775, falling near the spot where the Bunker's Hill monument now stands. Statnes have been erected in memory of this distinguished patriot, but better than these statues of stone are the names of counties and cities that have been given in honor to the man who sent Paul Revere on that famons midnight ride, which the poet has woven into history. There are no less than twelve counties in the different states in the Union, and perhaps more, that bear the name of Warren, thus fixing his memory in the minds of the people as long as American history lasts. It was not until October 11, 1845, that Warren county was legally opened for settlement. At that time, the last Indian claim was relinquished, and the
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Indians moved to their new home in the western wilds. The geology of Warren county is set forth in a book published by Prof. J. L. Tilton, which gives also a geography of the county and its drainage. There is no county in the state better watered and better drained than Warren county. The North, Middle, and South rivers, with other small streams, afford water privileges and a natural drainage system which is not surpassed in any county in the state. Good well water is easily obtained at a moderate depth below the surface in great abun- dance in all parts of the county. The county is free from sloughs and swamp lands, which are so common in many of the counties in the northern part of the state. The timber and prairie was better divided in Warren county than in many other counties, owing to the numerous streams. As is true in other portions of Iowa, the best timber in Warren county is gone, yet there are beautiful groves along the streams. The soil of Warren county is of the very best quality, and responds bountifully to the touch of the husbandman. The climate is delightful the greater part of the year. Crops are seldom injured by excessive rains or droughts. The roads are usually good except in the early spring. The pro- dnetions of the soil average well with other portions of the state in grains, grasses, fruits and vegetables. The inhabitants are as contented and prosperons as any people east or west, north or south.
GEOLOGY.
The following extraet is from the Geology of Warren County, by J. L. Tilton :
LOCATION.
Warren county is in the south central part of lowa. It is in the third tier of counties from the southern boundary, and in the center of the state, east and west.
PHYSIOGRAPHY.
The weathering of the rocks supplies in various ways material which is gradually washed into the streams. The latter, working under the force of gravity upon strata of different hardness and dip, eroding here, depositing there, effected by the slightest crustal movement, writes the geographie history of the region in the landscape. When once a broad plain has become subject to erosion. the gradual wearing away of the rocks would, after a period, reduce the country to a surface dotted with low rounded hills. The series of changes which a landscape undergoes as it thus wears away until it is again raised for erosion to begin its work anew, constitutes a eyele. Generally the changes of one cycle erase from the landscape much that resulted from preceding cycles; but in the area under consideration the oscillations that have ocenrred since the land was finally raised above the sea. each successive elevation marking separate incomplete cycles, seem to have aided erosion along lines first marked out, and hastened the development of the present physiography.
The interpretation of the physical geography of Warren county must not only answer questions presented by the topography of the county itself, but
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also explain the phenomena presented in the adjoining counties. It must be in harmony with the facts observed in the great area now drained by the Missouri river. It must stand in proper relation to any explanation of the conditions existing in northeastern Iowa. It must allow a suitable explanation of the upper course of the Mississippi river as contracted with its course farther south. All these physiographie features are expressions of the movements that have occurred in the various parts of the Mississippi valley, and the explanation of any one must be in harmony with a possible explanation of all.
DESCRIPTIVE PHYSIOGRAPHY.
GENERAL DRAINAGE OF THE REGION .- Along the eastern border of the state flows the Mississippi river; along the western the Missouri. These two great rivers are the master-streams of the entire west central region of the United States. A line passing through Clarke county, the southwestern part of Madi- son. through Adair, thence in a continued curve through Sac. Buena Vista and Dickinson counties, divides the state into two areas, the larger one to the east draining into the Mississippi river; the smaller area to the west draining into the Missouri. In the eastern area are large secondary rivers-in this case snb- sequent streams-some of them originating along this divide and gathering to their waters the numerous smaller streams that drain the adjacent territory. Two of these streams. the Des Moines and Skunk rivers. have selected their courses along the shales of the coal measures. draining an area between the heavy limestones of the Mississippian series to the northeast and similar lime- stones of the Missouri stage to the southwest.
STREAMS OF WARREN COUNTY .- Among the streams referred to are North river. Middle river and South river, all of which take their rise along the crest of the divide in Clarke. Madison and Adair counties, and meet the Des Moines river near the northeastern corner of Warren county, together draining an area of approximately 1,440 square miles, including the whole of Warren county, with the exception of the southeastern part, where the drainage is into White- breast creek ; another of the streams arising along the divide and flowing parallel to the three rivers mentioned to the Des Moines. It should be noticed that all the main streams of the county have a general direction to the northeast.
GENERAL CHARACTER OF THE STREAMS AS ILLUSTRATED BY MIDDLE RIVER .- Middle river lies close to bluffs on the south along its entire course through the county, though departing here and there in sharp curves as it wanders across a flood plain excessively large.
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