USA > Iowa > Hancock County > History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 34
USA > Iowa > Winnebago County > History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 34
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hissing viper, the blue racer, the house snake, the garter snake, the horn snake, the yellow joint snake, the green joint snake, the blue black joint snake and a few other species, besides the nasty lizards which could be seen by the hundreds.
Now as the virgin soil had been turned bottom side up and time had arrived for corn planting we proceeded to plant corn by one of the following methods: By axing it in, hoeing it in, heeling it in or dropping by hand, following the plow every third round, and drop- ping the grain on top of the furrow, at such a place that the next furrow would barely cover it with its upper edge. This would produce what we called a erop of sod corn, either good or bad, according to the season and condition of the sod. Plenty of rain was essential to a good crop. It was also essential for the sod to be well rotted. Scores of snakes would be cut in twain by the plow every season, among them a great many rattlesnakes. The early settlers did not have implement stores to which they could go and purchase farming tools, but were compelled of necessity to make them. When the ground was in condi- tion for harrowing we set to work with three sticks of timber some four or five inches square and perhaps six feet in length, framed or bolted them together, which when joined would be a good representation of the letter A. Next with an inch and a half or two-inch anger we bored holes in the side pieces and cross section, into which we inserted huge pegs made from oak or hickory, then sharpened the lower ends of the pegs and our harrow was completed. Our wooden harrow rotted down in the fence corner after many years of good service. A few years later the sod tearer was invented. It was such a peculiarly con- structed instrument that to the writer it baffles description.
Much of the virgin soil contained so many tough roots that it was uncommon to see a furrow of sod one half mile long without a break in it. Some of the toughest roots were the wild indigo, shoe string, blue stem, rosin weed and sometimes a patch of hazel or buck brush. The rosin weed prodneed a white gum which was used as chewing gum by the lads of the early day.
After a few months spent in the little cabin in the brush we decided to venture out on the broad, bleak prairie and erect another log cabin. A well was dug, which supplied water for the house, but for years our stock had to be taken across the prairie to some creek or spring to quench their thirst, and as for ourselves when working in the fields or on the prairie making hay, we have many times drank from a puddle containing many angle worms, crawfish and bugs, and the water would often be warm enough for dish water. Time rolled on and it became necessary to fence our farm; father proceeded to the timber some eleven miles distant and split rails and hauled them, and a worm
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fence was built, which when completed was from seven to ten rails in height; but soon a new difficulty arose. More settlers were coming in, fires were started in the prairie grass; some were started by accident, some purposely and on quite a few occasions campers have left fire where they had stopped for the night; the wind would rise and the fire would be scattered. Soon a conflagration would be raging across the prairies and perhaps hundreds or even thousands of aeres would be burned over before the fire went out. In many cases the fires would burn all night. It was at such times that our rail fences would suffer destruction. Then an idea came to us how to prevent this loss.
The fires of course would do most of the mischief in the spring, and at some convenient time we would plow a few furrows around the farm near the fence, then perhaps two or three rods farther from the fence we would plow a few more, the strip between was called fire land. At a favorable time, when the wind was not blowing, generally of an even- ing, father would say, "Well, boys, this is a good time to burn out those fire lands." This pleased the boys and after the day's work was done we equipped ourselves with small boards and brush to fight fire, and on some occasions we would take along from one to three barrels of water, so in case fire should get into the fence, we were fixed for it. All things ready we commenced firing along the side, so the fire would have to burn against the wind, but it matters not how calm it was when the fire was started the hot air rising creates a vacuum and the cold air rushing in to take its place, would cause a breeze and sometimes the fire would get beyond control despite our best efforts, and sometimes we would not reach home until a very late hour in the night. A weed well known to early settlers called the tumbleweed or careless weed which grew in great numbers on the newly cultivated lands, the tops of which were almost spherical in shape and ranging in diameter from twelve to thirty-six inches, when assisted by a breeze, would carry fire for some distance. They were so near round they would roll for miles without stopping when a stiff wind was blowing.
When the soil had become well rotted and the corn big enough to need attention we plowed it with a cultivator having but one shovel, which was made from a triangular shaped piece of iron, with which it was necessary to plow two rounds to each row of corn. The cultivator was used in the field more or less until the silk made its appearance on the young ears of corn. The worst weed we had to contend with in the corn field in those days was a species of smart weed, rarely seen except on new land. It grew down close to the ground and had a firm grip upon it. Hoes were extensively used in those days in the corn field. Another advanced step was taken in the method of planting corn. The cultivator referred to was used to draw a shallow furrow for each row
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of corn, the corn is then dropped into the furrow, about every three feet, then covered either with a hoe or by cross harrowing, three of us dropping and one furrowing off, planting as much as seven acres in one day.
The time came when we were raising a little spring wheat, oats and flax. The method of threshing grain, after it had been harvested with the cradling scythe and was well cured, was to prepare a circular piece of ground, usually from sixteen to twenty feet in diameter, by taking a sharp spade and shaving off the surface until it was quite smooth and level; after this was done a pole some eight or ten feet high was set upright in a hole dug in the center of the circular patch of ground. To this pole usually two horses were tied with long ropes and a lad mounted on one of the horses with a small gad. The grain had been evenly spread upon the prepared ground and the horses were started on a long tramp, tramping out the grain on the ground, a process which was very monotonous to the horses, and, speaking from experience, the writer was very glad when the noon hour or nightfall had arrived. The grain, during the tramping process, was turned over with a forked stick, and as soon as the grain was tramped out the straw was removed and the grain gathered up and winnowed out. A fresh supply was spread upon the floor and the tramping process was continued.
The snowfall during some of the winters was very heavy. I believe it was in the winter of 1866 that we arose and discovered that the snow had drifted to the eaves of the little cabin. Our fences were all snowed under and our stock scattered hither and thither and our enclosures for stock were all under snow. After the snow fell the weather turned colder and the snow froze hard. We could drive in any direction across the prairie over high fences. We had just put out a washing before the snow and it was six weeks before we were enabled to find all of it. Heavy snows were common, but this one was the heaviest that I ever saw. Our cabin was covered with clapboards as was the custom in those days, and the snow would blow between them and sift down through the loft into our faces as we lay in bed during the snowstorm. The last thing the good mother would do before retiring was to see if the five children were in bed, covered up head and all so that the snow would not lodge in their faces. It was a common occurrence after a snowstorm had subsided for some one of the family to ascend to the loft and scoop the snow out before it melted.
As we pass along it might be well to describe the bedsteads installed in some of the cabins. One method of constructing a bedstead was to place a log in the walls angling across a corner of the cabin at a con- venient height, into which pegs were set about six inches apart. A small rope was then procured and strung back and forth from the pegs
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in the logs to corresponding pegs in the cabin. A later method of con- struction was to procure two round poles to serve as side rails, set the pegs into them, fasten them to corner posts, nail on end rails, then string the pegs with the rope, and the bedstead was completed.
No cabin was complete without the fireplace. The hearth was laid with brick or stone and the chimney usually built of the same materials, or wooden slats built up in mud or lime mortar. In our cabin the hearth was made of flat limestone under which the rats burrowed and made nests and reared their young and as their disgusting habits are noc- turnal and the saucy little rodents would emerge from underneath the hearth during the night, especially in the winter, and skip about the fire, evidently warming themselves, and eating such things as suited their taste. They would sometimes bite some of the family or anyone who chanced to be there during the night. My brother was bitten on the great toe while asleep. A servant girl who was employed to assist in the household duties was also bitten, whereupon she cried "murder." But as that was a common expression with some people in those days when they were frightened, hurt or alarmed, the family thought nothing, but someone proceeded to make a light to ascertain how badly she was bitten.
The various kinds of lights used in those days were first the grease light, then the grease lamp and then the tallow candle.
When the sod had become well rotted watermelons, pumpkins and potatoes did quite well. Among the various kinds of potatoes grown were: The calico, white meshannock, California peach blow, long red, and lady finger, the long red being the most prolific.
For several years after Iowa became a state apples were hauled in from Missouri, many of them coming from what was known as the famous crab orchard, so called because the apple scions were grafted into the root of the wild crab. The first apples the writer ever saw grown were in a small orchard of young trees planted on the old home- stead. I think there were less than a dozen of them, which were guarded very closely, lest something befall them before they were matured.
After the chaff piling threshing machine was introduced the thresh- ing of grain was not so great a task as it was formerly, but as the straw carrier had not yet been invented it became necessary to remove the. straw and chaff from the rear end of the machine, either with horses or by some other method, any of which was very disagreeable, as the chaff and dust would fill the eyes, nose, ears and mouth, but even so, it was quite an improvement.
Thinking there might be profit in sheep raising we purchased a flock of two or three hundred, with a guarantee from the owner that none
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of them was more than four years old, but soon they began to die of old age and we discovered that we were beaten in the deal; however, we kept on trying. We had plenty of range, but they must have a shepherd, which lot usually fell upon the writer; and permit me to say that it was a very monotonous, lonesome occupation, watching sheep on the broad prairie and not a human being in sight for hours at a time. For years we were compelled to lot the sheep at night near the cabin, to prevent the wolves from killing them, but even then they would get among them and kill the lambs. One day while the writer was tending his sheep a short distance from the cabin a wolf came into the flock and seizing a lamb by the back of the neck trotted off with it. I waved my stick, which I usually carried, vigorously in the air and yelled with all the force I could summon. The wolf dropped the lamb and I took it to the cabin, but it was so badly injured that it only lived a few days. Our flock increased and the extremely old ones died off and we had better success for a time. In our flock was a large fellow with curled horns; he had been teased quite a little and had become quite mis- chievous. On a certain occasion by accident the sheep became impris- oned in the smoke house, some member of the family had closed the door, not knowing that he was in there. The servant of the kitchen, who was commonly called an old maid, went to the smoke house for something to serve for the dinner meal and on opening the door the sheep made a dive for her, running between her feet, carrying her for a short distance and bleating as if in great agony, while the maid was screaming and trying to alight from his back. The situation seemed to be a critical one, as the sheep did not know how to unload his burden and the maid feared trying to let loose for fear of getting hurt in the attempt, but finally by some kind of maneuvers they came out of the fracas none the worse for wear.
Another advance had been made in the corn cultivator which then had two shovels instead of one and a row of corn was plowed every round of the horse and plowman, which was quite gratifying to the farmers, but while this was true new and additional weeds were added to the warmer's list of pests, among which were the milk weed and the black-eyed Susan, both of which are with us unto the present day. The latter was introduced into this country as a garden flower by some English people.
Time rolls on and the rats under the hearth having increased in numbers and boldness, they became almost unbearable and father set traps and caught quite a number of them. The cabin all being in one room, we could watch them by the light of the fireplace from all quarters of the room and I must say that it was amusing to see father spring out of bed on hearing the trap spring and kill the rat, set the trap again,
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and retire, sometimes only remaining in bed but a short time, when he would repeat the operation. Someone prescribed a remedy. It was as follows: Catch a rat, singe it over the fire and turn it loose and the rats would all take a leave of absence. Father caught the rat, but his heart failed him when it came to the singeing process and the rat never got singed. So much for rat trapping around the old fireside.
Other improvements had been made to facilitate corn planting. A farmer a few miles distant had purchased a two-horse planter for about $75 and we could hire it for about fifteen cents per acre. The ground when ready to plant was first marked off with a kind of sled, the first one to appear made two marks at once and in a few years someone placed an improvement on the market and it made three marks. The ground being marked, two persons, a driver and a dropper, a team of horses and the new corn planter, would plant from ten to fifteen acres per day. The most common variety of corn planted during those days was the bloody butcher, although more or less white corn was grown.
A threshing machine had been introduced with a short straw carrier attachment known as the Buffalo Pitts, which was quite an improve- ment over the old chaff piler. In connection with this thresher was introduced a system of tallying the number of bushels of grain threshed. It consisted mainly of a board attached to the side of the machine where the grain came out. It had a number of one-fourth inch holes in it, arranged in rows into which pegs were moved for each bushel of grain threshed. The board would tally up to 1000 bushels, when it became necessary to begin again at the first.
So much for the carly and primitive methods of farming. The rais- ing of beets for beet sugar has become a very large industry in Han- cock County within the last score or so of years and each year many carloads of this vegetable are shipped to manufacturing points.
A CYCLONE
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In June, 1881, a cyclone devastated the greater part of Ellington Township. In the Garner Signal of that date appears the following description of this storm:
"A terrible cyclone swept across our county last Saturday after- noon, carrying destruction to nearly all within its reach and leaving desolate ruin in its wake. It came from the southwest and traveled in a direet northeasterly course. It first struck the ground in Garfield Township and made ruins of everything before it.
"The first building it struck in Ellington Township was that of J. B. Gould, in the southwest corner, occupied, at the time, by Harvey Gould and family. The house was blown into kindling wood and Mr. Gould
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and his wife dangerously wounded. Mrs. Gould was badly cut and bruised about the head, and in fact all over her body and limbs also. Her collar bone was broken and her lower limbs and the lower part of her body paralyzed. At this writing she lies in a very precarious con- dition. Mr. Gould sustained several broken ribs and was otherwise bruised and ent.
"W. C. Moak's farm house, occupied by a German family, had the roof taken off; the granary and stable were also demolished.
"C. A. Clark's house, built of logs, was next taken and not one log left on top of another. The family of five were all in the house, but fortunately escaped with but few slight bruises. Their little giri was upstairs when the storm came, and was blown some ten or twelve rods, and when found a log was lying on her clothes, holding her down, but she was not hurt.
DEATH OF JACOB WARD
"Jacob Ward's farm house and buildings was the next point of positive and terrible disaster. His fine double farm residence, large barn, 100 feet long, sheds, etc., were blown into splinters and Unele Jake was found a lifeless corpse among the ruins, some eight or ten rods from where the house had stood. He had stepped out of doors from the supper table, remarking that he thought the wind was going to blow and he would see to his wind mill, and just as he stepped outside the storm struck him. He was found with his neck broken and his breast crushed in. The others of the family escaped without danger- ous injury. Uncle Jacob Ward was one of the pioneer settlers of the county, widely known and universally respected. He was once treas- urer and recorder of the county, and an active participant in our polit- ical and social affairs. He was sixty-one years of age, had a fine farm, and was in shape to pass the remainder of his allotted days in peace, comfort and plenty. But now he is no more. Thousands of dollars of his earnings, and his own life, went before the blast of the hurricane in a moment of time.
"Francis N. Colburn's large barn, granary and the kitchen to his house were demolished.
"Richard Colburn's house was taken entirely off the foundation and literally ruined. The roof was taken off, and the sides of the building, though left standing, were racked to pieces. His granary and barn were blown down and some of his stock killed.
"Beyond Mr. Colburn's the houses of Lewis Thompson and Nels Oleson were destroyed.
"The Center schoolhouse at Ellington, a large two-story building, was entirely destroyed.
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"Andrew Bolsinger's house was blown into kindling wood, but aside from light bruises the whole family escaped uninjured.
"George W. Gillett lost his stables, blacksmith shop and the kitchen to his house, but the main part of his house was left standing. A portion of the planking was torn off the bridge across Lime Creek, and several small bridges were destroyed.
"S. N. Howland's buildings were damaged somewhat. The empty log house on his prairie farm, where George Stonebaugh used to live, had the roof taken off.
"Joseph Whiteis had some stables blown down and Charles Nelson lost a granary.
"O. K. Pike was driving home with a new lumber wagon, and buggy hitched behind. The storm blew him out into a slough, lifted one horse clear over the other, and broke his wagon and buggy. The box to his wagon was taken entirely away and he has been unable to find any trace of it.
"G. Carlson lost a granary on the Blanchard Barrett farm. There were, of course, many others who sustained damages to a greater or less extent. Fences were swept away and broken down.
"In company with J. J. Upton we drove, on the next morning after the storm, over several miles of the track of the tornado. One could easily follow its patch over the prairie by the flattened grasses and weeds, and pieces of boards and sticks driven partly into the ground. The track of the whirlwind seemed to be from three to six rods wide. Of course this hurricane caused a heavy current of air and heavy wind that reached some distance to each side, and did some damage. It was a terrible storm and one never to be forgotten by those who felt and witnessed its effects."
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY
The Hancock County Agricultural Society was organized at Britt on the 13th of August, 1881, and the following officers were chosen : George Stubbins, president ; Lucien Tuttle, vice president ; F. B. Rogers, secretary; Thomas Daylor, treasurer; G. W. Beadle, G. R. Maben, James Lackore, L. H. Chase, H. C. Potter, Herman Brummond, Fred Lentz, Thomas Hymer, Joseph Finch, John Burnside, A. D. White, and J. D. Bailey, directors. At the same time articles of incorporation were adopted.
The first fair held under the auspices of the association was upon the 11th, 12th and 13th of October, 1881, and was a success in every way.
CHAPTER XIII
CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY
IMPORTANCE OF DATES IN THE STUDY OF HISTORY-INFLUENCE OF EVENTS ON THOSE THAT FOLLOW-EXAMPLES-THE SUMMARY-LIST OF EVENTS LEAD- ING UP TO THE ORGANIZATION OF WINNEBAGO AND HANCOCK COUNTIES- IMPORTANT OCCURRENCES OF MORE MODERN TIMES-POSTSCRIPT, IN LIEU OF A PREFACE.
In the foregoing chapters a conscientious effort has been made to show the progress of Winnebago and Hancock Counties since the first settlements were made within their limits three score years ago, as well as their part in the political and military affairs of the state and nation. Dates play an important part in the study of history and they are not always easily found when wanted. As a fitting conclusion to this work, the following summary of events leading up to the settlement of the counties, their organization, and occurrences having some bearing upon their more recent history has been compiled for the reader's ready reference.
At first glance, many of these events may seem to have no connec- tion-or a very remote one at least-with local history, but this is another case of the "Seen and the Unseen." Each event, great or small, played its allotted part in shaping the destiny of the great State of Iowa and wielded its influence upon Winnebago and Hancock Coun- ties. For example : The discovery of the Mississippi River by De Soto in 1541; the English grant of land to the Plymouth Company in 1620; the organization of the Hudson's Bay Company in 1670; or the claim- ing of the Mississippi Valley by La Salle in 1682, may appear to the casual reader as having no place in the history of Winnebago and Han- cock Counties. Yet these events were forerunners of the conflict of Spanish, English and French claims in America-a conflict which finally culminated in the purchase of Louisiana by the United States, by which the territory now comprising the State of Iowa came under the juris- diction of the Federal Government. Without the happening of any one of these events, the history of this country might be differently written.
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THE SUMMARY
1541. Hernando de Soto discovered the Mississippi River , near the site of the present City of Memphis, Tennessee.
- -, 1620. The English Government granted to the Plymouth Company a large tract of land including the present State of Iowa.
May 2, 1670. The Hudson's Bay Company was chartered by the English Government. This was the first of the great fur companies formed for trading with the North American Indians.
June 17, 1673. Marquette and Joliet, the French explorer, discov- ered the Mississippi River at the mouth of the Wisconsin and saw the bluffs near the present City of MeGregor, Iowa.
June 25, 1673. Marquette and Joliet landed in what is now Lce County, Iowa, and were the first white men to set foot on Iowa soil.
April 9, 1682. Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, claimed all the country drained by the Mississippi and its tributaries for France and gave the region the name of Louisiana. Iowa was included in this claim.
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