USA > Iowa > Allamakee County > History of Winneshiek and Allamakee counties, Iowa > Part 21
USA > Iowa > Winneshiek County > History of Winneshiek and Allamakee counties, Iowa > Part 21
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The sketches previously published, and from which we have quoted, say :
186
HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
We have not met with the names of any Norwegians in re- searches prior to 1850, but in that year there came, if not the pioneers, a band of them who found on the West side of Wash- ington Prairie the land that suited them, and made there homes which have given competence to all and wealth to several of them. They have been, too, among the best citizens of the county; generally founders of large families, with sons and daughters who are following in their worthy footsteps. This band consisted of twelve families, and became the settlers of what is known as Springfield township. The names of the heads of these families were as follows:
Nelson Johnson-died in 1881.
Germund Johnson-still living.
A. Simmonson-dead.
Toleff Simmonson-still living.
Ole A. Lommen-killed by accident, a few years ago.
A. O. Lommen-ex-Representative and still living.
Andrus Hogue-dead.
John Johnson-dead.
Knud G. Opdahl-dead.
H. Holverson-died in March, 1575.
Ole Tostenson-still living.
Mickkel Omlic-still living.
These came in two caravans. The first three left homes in Racine county, and the others were from Dane county, Wiscon- sin. The latter came directly through, but the three were en- cumbered by flocks and herds-a tendency some of them have not outgrown-and had to drive more slowly. One of these, Mr. Nelson Johnson, who furnishes us these names and facts, says his party arrived on the 2d day of July, 1850 nine days after the party from Dane county. They immediately commenced making the homes which grew into rich and valuable farms.
Mr. Johnson informs us that it was at his house, or log cabin, that the caucus or convention, was held which nominated officers preparatory to the first election of county officers. This was prior to, but a part of the work of organizing the county. It occurred in March, 1851. Decorah was not yet a hamlet of amazing im- portance, and Mr. Johnson's place was centrally located. This is the only reason he can give for its selection. The attendance was large-all the beginnings of settlements being well repre- sented.
DISAPPOINTED ASPIRATIONS.
In this connection Mr. J. tells a little story of political aspira- tions nipped in the bud, worthy of record. Among the rest who came was a man named Minot, residing over east somewhere. He was ambitious for honors, and capable, besides willing, to serve the people in any place they might see fit to put him. Mr. J.
C.T. Granger
ASTOR, 10 -- TILDEA FUGATION
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HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
was a new comer. a Norwegian, too, not accustomed, then, to par- ticipation in public meetings of that kind; and he kept himself busy attending to the arrivals, animals, &c. This, however, gave him an opportunity to hear of the "horse-shed" or by-talk which went on. The claims of Minot were fully discussed; and to a man, they agreed in letting him alone because he was clad in broadcloth coat and pants, satin vest, fine boots and a shiny hat! He was not the man for the horny-handed pioneers; not a bit of it; and Minot went home disgusted. This caucus and convention put in nomination the ticket which was afterwards elected, and has heretofore been given, as the first officers of Winneshiek county.
Engebret Peterson Haugen, followed these in October, after having spent the summer in traveling over portions of Wisconsin and Minnesota. He actually squatted on a claim back from Red Wing; but could not hold it because it was still Indian territory. Coming down the river he heard of these fellow-countrymen, and came out here. He liked the country; and got his eye fixed on the magnificent farm he still owns three miles southwest of De- corah. It was a claim then owned by G. Cooney living at Garni- villo. It is the claim Mr. C. referred to in his narrative, as the one Dr. Andros threatened to shoot him if he jumped it; and about the safety of doing which he consulted with his friend Judge Murdock. It was also the old H. M. Rice trading post. The The store used by Rice was standing, and for five years later served Mr. Haugen as a dwelling. His family, however, did not arrive until May following. They came from Beloit, where they had located in 1842, when that territory was new. Peter E. Haugen, the son, was a boy 16 years of age when the family re- moved to Iowa; and he distinctly remembers the first bridge built over the Rock river at Beloit. They came direct from Norway in 1842. Inasmuch as emigration from that country did not com- mence until 1838, Mr. P. can be called a pioneer settler, in the fullest sense of the term.
Besides those above named, the only other Norwegian we have heard named at this date, is Mr. Thor Peterson, of Calmar.
WHO WERE FIRST.
Sparks' History, published later than sketches, and also the year after Mr. Burley's address, says:
From the most reliable information, it would seem that the first immigration of Norwegian settlers came in the year 1850. But to whom to accord the honor of being the first actual settlers -- whether to Thor Peterson and his party, who afterward settled in Calmar Township, or to the Erick Anderson party, who settled in Springfield Township, is a question. The Anderson party emigrated from Dane County, Wis., and included the following persons: Halvor Hulverson, Ole Gullickson, Knudt Anderson, Ole and
12
183
HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
Staale Tostenson. This company was joined at Prairie du Chien by Ole Lomen and Andrew Lomen. Mr. Erick Anderson served the party as guide and interpreter. The Anderson party finding land in Springfield Township that suited them, took up their claims thereon in June, 1850. But it seems that the Peterson party had preceded them by a few days, and had laid claim to the very land on which Anderson's company had squatted. At that time there was a county organization for the protection of settlers against claim-jumpers, if such they can be called. It was an imperative law with this association that the man who first regis- tered his claim at Moneek had a perfect title to the same. The Peterson party demanded that the Anderson party move off what they called their claims; but the other party was determined not to surrender their claims until obliged to, and consequently they immediately dispatched a representative to Moneek, whose duty it was to ascertain if the Peterson party had registered their claims. On examination he found that no registration had been made, and he took advantage of their tardiness and registered the claims for his party. The matter was finally compromised, the Anderson party paying some indemnity for their usurpation.
Mr. Sparks goes on to say that the Nelson Johnson party, re- ferred to a little previously, made settlements in Springfield in July, and were therefore a little later-and that Engebret, Peter- son and Haugen followed these in October.
Eighteen hundred and fifty-one saw a large addition to each of these commencements to settlements-for settlements
they could not be called. The northern townships were being occupied in this year, 1851. Among those who came and settled on lands where they still reside are D. D. Huff and E. E. Meader. Both happened to fall within the boundary lines of what is now known as Hesper Township, although they lived between four and five miles apart. They were, however, near neighbors in those days, and very warm friends. As one old settler remarked to us, "We thought nothing of tramping off ten or a dozen miles to see a man." Mr. Huff tells us a story something like this: He lived in Michigan and started west in the fall of 1850. Winter found him in Illinois, where he met a brother of Bernard Harmon. He was told by this brother about Northern Iowa, and became interested in it. Coming to McGregor he met the pioneer merchant, H. D. Evans. By the way, it is singular how warmly these pioneers to a man speak of the generosity and liberality of this same Evans. He trusted them freely when they had nothing; and if it had not been for his kindness and unselfishness, many could not have stayed upon their claims. Evans had been up to Decorah, around among the settlers, and was enthusiastic in his ideas about the country and its future; and imparted some of his enthusiasm to Mr. H .. The latter pushed through to Decorah, with B. Harmon's as an objec-
189
IIISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY,
tive point. Nightfall overtook him, however, as he drove up to the old log "Winneshiek House." In response to his applications for lodgings he was told the house was "full." There had been inportant arrivals that day. Jolin B. Onstine and Dr. Hazlet had just come, and the hotel could accommodate no more. Mr. Huff found accommodations on the floor of the Painter cabin that night; and he says that when they were settled for the night, that, too, was full. In the morning he pushed on to Harmon's, and soon found his home for the next quarter of a century. His experience for the first year or two was that of nearly all the pioneers, and need not be repeated.
PROTECTING SQUATTER RIGHTS.
As he told some of his experiences to us the other day, an his- torical fact was brought to light which we cannot permit to go unrecorded. Surveys were being made that year, the lands were soon to come into market, and there was nothing to hinder land sharks from buying their homes from under them. Here was a danger that seriously menaced the new settlers. Buy their homes, they could not. They not only had no money, but they were struggling to make a bare living. Protect themselves in some way they must. To do this a large meeting of settlers was called, and held at Meader's, in Hesper township, on the fourth of July, 1851, at which a solemn compact was formed between those present, to protect each other in their squatter rights. Although it was not expressed in as eloquent words, doubtless they meant to maintain the compact and pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. The compact was drawn up by a committee duly chosen, consisting of one Marshall Sherwin (squatter on the present Ezra Reed farm) one Kincaid (living just east of Huff,) Benjamin Beare, (a settler over by what is now Locust Lane post- office,) Eli Waterman, (a man who lived for a short time close by the spring at Russell Taber's mill, in Hesper,) and Mr. Huff. By this compact it was agreed that every squatter was entitled to a homestead of 160 acres. If he needed timber, he might claim a 40 where he listed. This was to be his by their squatter law, un- til good fortune should enable him to secure the legal title from the government. They agreed to stand by each other to the worst, if need be, in protecting each other; and it would have been dangerous for any man to attempt to enforce a claim con- trary to the squatter claim. Happily, no serious resistance to these crude laws ever compelled the settlers to unite in forcible protection of each other. Doubtless the existence of this com- pact was well known at Dubuque, where the land office was loca- ted; and when the land was so plenty, speculators did not care to buy law-suits or disputes with settlers who might prove reckless if their rights were trodden upon.
190
HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
There were differences between the settlers themselves; but these the terms of the compact soon settled. One of the com- mittee (Sherwin, we think, was the name given) was the first to attempt to break it. He coveted the whole, or part of the claim of a neighbor, but the members of the organization convinced him that they would compel an obedience, and he acquiesced. In this way difficulties were avoided, and their claims preserved to the pioneers till they could secure them by purchase. Some of the members were not able to enter their lands until a year or more had elapsed after the lands of Northern Iowa had been in market; but under this compact they felt a degree of security that now seems strange even to them.
MORE DETAILS
have accumulated as the material for this chapter have been col- lected, but they will be given where they belong in the township histories, or in a collection of miscellaneous facts relating to county history, in succeeding pages.
A chronology of dates of early settlements, coming of first settlers, and leading events in the history of the county, will be given in one of the succeeding chapters.
CHAPTER V.
Political History; County Organization; First Election and First Officers; Salary Grabbing; Votes Cast in Successive Years; Voting Precincts; Final Division into Townships; Position of Townships and Villages; Successive Elections and County Officers, Legislators, etc .; Levi Bullis and E'. E. Cooley; Politi- cal Contests; H. C. Bullis, G. R. Willett, T. W. Burdick, and other Legislators and Representative Men; County Officers (con- tinued) to Present Time.
The particulars of the organization of this county, and of the county seat becoming permanently fixed at Decorah, are given in the preceding chapter. Let us briefly review these two events. The organizing act was approved by the Governor January 15, 1851, constituting John L. Carson the organizing sheriff, and Winneshiek an organized county after March 1, 1851. By the election held April 7, 1851, Decorah was chosen as county seat. Freeport's struggle to obtain the county seat culminated in 1856, resulting in its final and permanent location in Decorah, which was made more certain by the commencement of the building of
191
HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
the court house in 1857. and by the impetus given to Decorah by the location of the land office, which was opened here on the day before Christmas, 1855. These events are narrated more at length in previous pages, and in the sketch of Decorah.
Very soon after the organization of the county, steps were taken for the election of officers. According to the best infor- mation obtainable, a well attended cancus was hield in the log cabin of the late Nelson Johnson, in the southeast corner of Decorah township. The election was held on the 4th of August, 1851, and resulted in the following officers being chosen:
David Reed over J. R. Morse, as county judge.
George Bachel over James F. More, as sheriff.
Francis Rogers over William Vail, as supervisor.
John N. Kline over R. G. Nuvland, as surveyor.
Daniel Kuykendahl over P. Morse, as Recorder and Treasurer. E. W. Aldrich over D. Bender, as coroner.
Isaac Underhill, F. Joseph Huber and Joseph Brown served as judges of election, the first two certifying to the result as justices of the peace, whether by appointment, or as elected in the spring, is uncertain; eighty-two ballots, all told, were cast, and Mr. Huber, still a citizen of Washington township, is with us to personally attest the validity and fairness of the first vote. In April follow- ing John McKay was elected school fund commissioner, and W. F. Kimball clerk of the courts.
It seems that at first the amount that the officers received on their salaries depended on the amount of fees received; for from the first the Judge, Clerk and Treasurer were accustomed to meet at stated intervals, each reporting the fees that he had received, and then the money would be divided between them. The Treas- urer would also report the cash in the Treasury, which would be divided with equal impartiality; then County Judge Reed would issue county warrants to each one for the balance found due. As soon as taxes were levied and collected this system ceased, and the county officers have generally, since that time, drawn their salaries with commendable regularity, although there may have been times when they have been compelled to wait a little before getting their warrants cished.
Of Judge Reed, Mr. Bailey in his address said: David Reed was the first County Judge. He was born in June, 1799, and con- sequently was 52 years of age when first elected County Judge of Winneshiek county. His regular term of service covered four years-years, too, of the stormiest character, in which, as the autocrat of the county, he could share the responsibilities with no one, and shirk no duties. Of course his conduct was sharply criticised. and in his time he bore his share of public obloquy.
Judge Reed held the office of County Judge by the suffrages of the people, continuously, from 1851 to 1855.
192
HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
In the election of 1853 Joseph Gibbons and J. T. Atkins were candidates for the office. Gibbons received ten more votes than Atkins. Jas. B. Cutler, on behalf of himself and others, contest- ed the election; a court was found to hear the case, Judge Reed presiding, with C. L. Childs and J. D. Jenkins assisting by choice of the parties. A hot contest ensued, no less than twenty-seven witnesses being examined. The case was this:
The trustees of Bloomfield township had changed the place of voting from Moneek to Castalia without giving the required legal notice. Thirteen persons testified that they went to Moneek as usual, to vote, and not hearing of the change were unable to do so. They also said that if they had voted it would have been in favor of J. T. Atkins as County Judge. The lawyers were heard, of course, and the whole case gone over most profoundly. That an informality existed in the vote of the township is quite clear; its effect upon the main vote was the question. We, at this day, would decide promptly, that at most only the vote of Bloomfield township should have been thrown out. The Court decided to set aside the entire election, as to Judge, and declared no one was elected. One of the assistants has explained to me that instead of being satisfied with this, there were some who 'cussed the Court like pizen,' because they did not declare the entire election void. The result was to continue Judge Reed in office for two years more, during which time he built and left as his legacy, the (for the times) splendid court house, which is only now becoming too cramped for public use.
Information with regard to these first officers is not now readi- ly obtainable, and of some of them we can give nothing further than that they were elected and held office as above stated.
Geo. Bachel, the first sheriff, was for years an active, influential citizen of Jackson township, and died much respected, a year or two ago.
Francis Rogers, the first supervisor, was one of the oldest resi- dents of the county, and was noted for the many litigations he had with his neighbors.
Daniel Kuykendahl, the first recorder and treasurer, had his of- fice at his home, which was a log house situated under a bluff near a large spring, about a half a mile out of Freeport, on the Lansing road. The duties of his office at that time were not very arduous, and his mode of keeping the records was somewhat prim- itive. He had not even a decent desk at which to write. It was his custom to record his deeds, and then pigeon-hole them between the cracks in the logs.
The number of votes cast at these early elections is one of the best indices of the incoming of early settlers, and a few words will give these data. At the first election there were. as has been stated, 82 votes cast; in April following, there were 180; in Aug- ust, 1852, 150; in April, 1853, 224; in 1854, 280; in 1855, 521; in
193
HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
1856, 816; in August, 1857, 894; in October, 1858, 1,288; in the Presidential election of 1860, 2,162. The increase since that time is indicated by the fact that in the Presidential election of 1880, 4,086 votes were cast.
As previously noted, there were three points recognized at the very commencement as having claims to prominence in the coun- ty. These were Decorah, Lewiston and Moneek. Polls were held for each of these three first elections at these places only, and they were called precincts. It was not until 1854 that even a single name appears on the records to show that any other title than that of precinct was given to them. March 8th, 1852, it was ordered by the county court that elections should be held in the ensuing April, at the following places:
In Precinct No. 1, at house of Wm. Day, Decorah.
In Precinct No. 2, at house of Francis Rogers, Lewiston.
In Precint No. 3, at house of John DeCow, Moneek.
This is our only information as to the first division into what we have since known as townships. Their boundaries we can only infer from subsequent entries. In July, 1852, the division line between precincts 2 and 3 was changed, and made to run be- tween ranges 7 and 8, thus throwing, as the record says, one more tier of townships into the third precinct. From this I infer that the third precinct originally consisted of what is now known as Bloomfield and Frankville townships, and was six miles wide, east and west, and twelve long. Precinct No. 2 covered three times as much territory, and was eighteen miles wide, and twelve long. This left all the remainder of the county-now comprising twelve organized townships-in precinct No. 1. March 1, 1852, the latter was so divided up as to make what is now Canoe, Bluff- ton and Orleans townships, with the townships north of them, precinct No. 4. February 5, 1854, what are now Military and Springfield, were divided from Washington (now named for the first time) and created township (not precinct) No. 5.
March 6, 1854, township 98, range 7, was separated from "De- corah Precinct," and was called township No. 6. It is now known as Glenwood.
March 11, 1855, "Burr Oak Precinct" was divided, and the en- tire tier on the north line of the county was called Burr Oak. The remaining part of the precinct was named Canoe. At the same session of the county court, township 99, range 10, was set off and given the name of Pilot Grove.
On the tax list of 1855, proper names are given to cach of those precincts. Precinct No. 1 had become Decorah, Glenwood, Canoe, Burr Oak and Pilot Grove; township No. 2 appears as Bloomfield and Summit (now Frankville), and No. 3 had been divided in- to Military and Washington; but no record other than I have quoted appears upon the court minutes as to these and subsequent changes. According to the tax lists, in 1856 Pleasant township
1944
HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
took its name and place; in 1858 Summit had become Frankville, and Pilot Grove, Orleans; Springfield had been separated from Military, Calmar and Sumner from Washington, and Hesper and Fremont from Burr Oak. In 1860 Madison was taken from Decorah, and Highland divided from Pleasant; and in 1862 the symmetry of all the townships was completed by the division of Lincoln from Sumner, and Jackson from Washington.
The location of these different precincts, and more particularly of the twenty townships of the county after this final division, will be more fully understood by the following diagram, showing the positions of the townships of the county as they now stand, each township being six miles square:
N.
Fremont.
Burr Oak.
Hesper.
Highland.
Orleans.
Bluffton.
Canoe.
Pleasant.
W.
Lincoln
Madison
Decorah
Glenwood.
E.
Sumner.
Calmar.
Springfield.
Franklinville.
Jackson.
Washington.
Military.
Bloom field.
S.
195
HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
The city of Decorah is a little west of the centre of Decorah Township, while Freeport is about two and a half miles directly east of Decorah, and also in Decorah Township, about three- fourths of a mile from its eastern boundary.
Calmar is near the southeastern part of Calmar Township. Conover being near the centre and Spillville in the western part of the same township.
Fort Atkinson is toward the northwestern part, and Festina a little southeast of the centre of Washington Township.
Ossian is about midway between the centre and northeastern part of Military Township.
Ridgway is nearly two miles cast of the centre of Lincoln Town- ship and Kendallville and Plymouth Rock, respectively, toward the southwestern and southeastern parts of Freemont Township.
The villages of Bluffton, Burr Oak, Hesper and Frankville are in the several townships of the same name.
The positions of all these places will be seen by reference to a map of the county, but this data is given here as a matter of con- venience for reference in connection with the foregoing sketch of divisions of the county.
The second election held in the county after a permanent organ- ization had been effected was April 5, 1852. The total number of votes polled at this election was 180. This election, as the records show, gave the county its first School Fund Commissioner and District Clerk. The successful parties who first bore the honors of these offices were, respectively, N. S. Gilbert and W. F. Kimball. Ont of 180 ballots cast for School Fund Commis- sioner, N. S. Gilbert had 4 majority over his opponent, John D. McKay. There were 156 votes cast for the office of District Clerk, of which number W. F. Kimball received 88, and his oppo- nent, James B. Schenck, 68. Kimball was declared elected by 20 majority. The vote for Coroner stood as follows: J. B. Chase had 66 votes, and his opponent, Wm. Painter, 44. James B. Chase was elected Coroner. At this election, for the first time, the new county helped elect a District Judge, and it showed its steadfast faith and high appreciation of Judge T. S. Wilson, by giving him 162 votes.
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