History of Winneshiek and Allamakee counties, Iowa, Part 38

Author: Alexander, W. E; Western Publishing Company (Sioux City, Iowa)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Sioux City, Ia. : Western Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 772

USA > Iowa > Allamakee County > History of Winneshiek and Allamakee counties, Iowa > Part 38
USA > Iowa > Winneshiek County > History of Winneshiek and Allamakee counties, Iowa > Part 38

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The birds of this county are those of a large portion of North America, though we are more favored in numbers of varieties than many sections because of our varied topography -- a combination of prairie, valley, bluff, woods and water-affording breeding places for nearly all the species that inhabit this climate in North America. Several species are only occasional visitors; many others go southward during the winter; while a small num- ber remain here the year around. Among the birds of prey (Rap- tores) the bald eagle holds the first place, and may still be seen perched in solitary state in lofty trees, and is known to breed in this county. Among other species of this order which are sup- posed to nest in this region may be mentioned the buzzard, duck hawk, pigeon hawk, sparrow hawk, goshawk, Cooper's hawk, sharp-shinned hawk, red-tailed or hen-hawk, barn owl, great horned owl, mottled or screech owl, golden eagle, fish hawk, and barred owl. The great gray and snowy owls of the northern regions are often seen in winter.

Of the Scansores. or climbers: the red and the black-billed cuckoos, hairy woodpecker, downy woodpecker, the black wood- cock (rare), and the yellow-bellied, red-headed, golden-winged, and perhaps some other woodpeckers. It is an idea of some, but fast becoming exploded, that some varieties of woodpeckers do great injury to fruit trees, etc .; but the fact is that no more industri- ous insect hunter exists, and these species should be protected in- stead of exterminated. They seldom peck away any but decayed wood, and the good they do is vastly greater than the injury.

345

HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.

Insessores, or perchers. This order is represented by an in- numerable variety, so that we can mention but a few of the most common; such as: Ruby-throated humming bird, chimney swal- low, whippoorwill, night hawk, belted kingfisher, king bird, pewee or Phoebe bird, wood thrush, common robin, blue-bird, black and white creeper, Maryland yellow-throat, chestnut-sided warbler, scarlet tanager, barn swallow, cliff swallow, bank swallow, purple martin, shrike or butcher-bird, red-eyed vires or fly-catcher, cat- bird, brown thrush, house wren, winter wren, nut-hatch, tit- mouse or chickadee, horned lark, finch, yellow bird, white throat- ed sparrow, tree sparrow, chipping sparrow, sing sparrow, rose- breasted grosbeak, indigo-bird, chewink, bobolink, cow-bird, red- winged black-bird, meadow lark, Baltimore oriole, orchard oriole, crow black-bird, blue jay, etc. The mocking bird breeds here, rarely. The crow is not common, though far more so than twenty years ago. The snow-bunting is found in winter. The black snow bird is seen in countless numbers, spring and fall, as it migrates to the north or south. The rose-breasted grosbeak has increased in numbers wonderfully in the last fifteen years, since the advent of the potato-bug, of which it is inordinately fond.

The order of Racores, which includes many of our game birds, is represented by the wild or passenger pigeon, Carolina dove. pinnated grouse or prairie chicken, which is scarce compared with the early years, ruffed grouse or partridge, and the quail. The wild turkey is said to have been found occasionally when the country was new, but if so they have long since disappeared.

Among the Grallatores, or waders, we have the sand-hill crane occasionally, the bittern, green heron, golden plover, killdeer plover, king plover, black-bellied plover, turnstone, woodcock, Wilson's snipe, rail, and others.

Among the Natatores, or swimmers, we might mention a great variety of species that tarry in our waters a greater or less period in passing to and from their northern breeding grounds in spring and fall, including the wild goose, brant, mallard, green and blue- winged teal, midgeon, red-head, canvas-back, golden-eye, butter- ball, and other varieties of ducks and geese; and the great northern diver, or loon. The summer duck, and some other species of this order, breed with us. The swan is sometimes found; as is also the white pellican.

Reptiles are neither very numerous nor formidable, though, when first settled, several sections of the county were considerably infested by more or less dangerous specimens. The yellow rattle- snake and the massasauga or prairie rattlesnake were frequently encountered, and the former sometimes attained great sizes. It found a congenial habitat along the bluffs among the rocks, and there are traditions of dens of these hideous reptiles similar to that described by O. W. Holmes in "Elsie Venner," inhabited by

346

HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.

monsters of fabulous number and size. Single specimens, and some quite large, are still found occasionally, and their possible presence is still, to the timid, a terror in those otherwise delight- ful dells that break through the bluff wall. The water-snake sur- vives in the streams. The black-snake, the blue-racer, the ground snake and the garter-snake-the most common comprise the other species, and they are every year decreasing in number. There are three or four species of turtle, possibly one lizard, and one or two salamanders, besides the usual varieties of frogs and toads.

Fishes abound in all the streams of any size, ranging from the minnow to the gigantic buffalo and catfish. Among the more common are the perch, bass, pike, pickerel, sucker, sturgeon, eel, red horse, chub, gar-pike, dog-fish, etc. The only brook or speckled trout found in Iowa are caught in the cold, swift creeks that empty into the Upper Iowa. They were formerly very numerous in Patterson, Silver and French creeks, but these streams have been so persistently fished that comparatively few are now to be found. The other varieties are caught in great numbers in both the Mississippi and the Iowa.

Of the crustaceous, the crawfish, or crab, is our best known representative; and of the mollusks, the snail.

The insects include representatives of all the great families. The lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) have many species, varying greatly in size, from the great cecropia moth, five inches across the wings, to the tiny tinea, less than half an inch, which does so much damage to uncared for carpets, etc. The hymneoptera include the membraneous winged insects, such as bees, wasps, ichneumons, saw-flies, ants, and their allies; the dipterea, the two- winged insects, as flies, mosquitoes, etc .; the coleoptera, or sheath- winged insects, are numerous, and many of them large and beau- tifully colored. This class embraces the beetles, among the troublesome and destructive borers of many species, the scaven- ger bugs, and the potato bug. The beautiful and useful lady- bugs belong also to this division. Many of the borers are re- markable for the length of their antennic, and for the strange- ness and elegance of their forms. The apple-tree borer is about three-fourths of an inch long in its beetle state. It lays its eggs on the bark, near the foot of the tree. The larvæ are whitish, with small, horny, brown-colored heads. They remain in the larvæ state two or three years, during which time it is they do the damage. Their transformation is usually completed in June, when the perfect beetle emerges. The lady-bug is destructive to uphides, or plant lice, and should therefore be preserved. The Colorado potato bug first appeared in this county, we believe, in the season of 1867. It is a native of the Far West, and when making this "invasion" spread over the country to the eastward at an average rate of about sixty miles a year.

347

HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.

The hermiptera comprise bugs, cicadas or harvest-flies, and the like. In this division we find the chinchbug, which has been very destructive to wheat in this county for a number of years. It is of the same family and genus (cimex) as the bed-bug. The seven- teen-year locust" also comes under this class. It appeared in this county, or portions of it, in immense numbers in 1864, and again in 1881. There are several different broods throughout the country, so that in various sections they are found in different years. Entomologists tell us there is another variety which re- appears in thirteen years. They are short-lived and harmless, ex- cept that they injure the looks of the foliage where they are abundant.

Orthoptera are the straight-winged insects, like the grasshoppers, katydids, cockroaches, crickets, etc .; and the neuroptera are nerve- winged, like the dragon-flies, or "devil's darning needles," and their allies. The arachnida, or spiders, and the myriapoda, or cen- tipedes, are of course found everywhere in their accustomed haunts.

It will be seen that the geology and natural history of this county offers an ample field for the amateur collector, or for the naturalist who seeks to lay a broad foundation for future investi- gation by first acquiring a thorough knowledge of the local flora and fauna. It is far from creditable to the scientific spirit of the county, and especially to its high schools, that no better collec- tions illustrating local geology, botany, zoology, or entomology, exist within its borders. Teachers, especially the able principals of schools, could easily awaken an interest in the minds of their pupils that might not only result in the developement of en- thusiastic practical naturalists, but in the formation of collections that would be both of value in teaching and objects of interest through the future. Moreover, knowledge derived from the study of nature has a pecuniary value not easily estimated. The man who has a knowledge of botany is not liable to be tricked into buying worthless vegetable wonders. The existence of the borers, the potato beetle, the chinch bug, and the many other ene- emies of the horticulturist and the farmer, demonstrate the need of at least a passing acquaintance with insects and their habits, in order to the better combat with them, and teachers should lead in impressing on the minds of all the importance of such know- ledge. The loss annually sustained by Iowa farmers by the ravages of insects is several millions of dollars, of which Alla- makee county bears her full share; and a large portion of this immense sum might be readily saved by a proper popular know- ledge of them and the measures to be taken for their destruction.

CLIMATE.

In general, the air of this region is bracing, healthful and invig- orating. Miasma and malaria are not prevalent, except along the sloughs of the Mississippi where attacks of ague are imminent at

348

HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.

certain seasons. It is seldom that consumption is contracted here, although our climate is not now considered, as formerly, a specific for that disease. The prevailing winds are westerly-northwest being most prevalent, the southwest next, and southeast third in order. The annual precipitation of moisture averages about 36 inches; and the mean annual temperature is not far from 45 de- grees Fahrenheit. In general the winters are cold and long con- tinued, with plenty of snow, though exceptions are not infrequent. The open winter of 1877-78 will long be remembered, when mud prevailed and roads were nearly impassible for weeks. Flowers bloomed on the open ground the last week in December; bees were at work on Christmas day; and at Lansing an excursion by ferry boat on the Mississippi was indulged in. Peas and greens grew five inches high in gardens in early January, ducks were flying north, and considerable plowing was done. So, also, will be re- membered the severe winter of 1880-81, with its long continued and frequently repeated snow-blockades; and the winter of 1856- 57, when the deeply drifted snow was covered with a crust that supported ox teams in places, and deer were run down by men on foot because their sharp hoofs penetrated the crust which imped- ed their speed and lacerated their legs.

Friday night, April 27, 1877, an old-fashioned northeast snow storm set in, and continued almost steadily until Sunday after- noon. The roads were blockaded by drifts which rose in places to the depth of four feet. Very late heavy frosts are on record for the 11th, 12th and 13th of May, 1878, and ice formed to con- siderable thickness May 22d and 23d, 1882. Although these are exceptional cases, frosts hare been known in June and July. Aug. 22d and 23d, 1875, severe frost injured corn in low lands; and frosts are usually liable to occur after Sept. 10th. The beautiful Indian summer weather of late fall is one of the prominent fea- tures of our climate, though it is sometimes crowded out of the annual programme entirely.

Our county has so far since its settlement escaped the ravages of severe tornadoes to a great extent, the most serious storm of that character which has visited us entered the county from the southwest, on the afternoon of the 26th of September, 1881; pass- ing just north of Postville, it demolished the houses of several farmers in Post township, especially at Lybrand, and passed northwardly through Jefferson Township, unroofing houses and twisting off or uprooting trees in its course, finally disappearing east of Waukon. Undoubtedly had the storm struck a town there would have been loss of life as well as property. As it was, several were very severely injured in Post township and all their personal effects swept away. Sept. 24, 1872, several buildings were blown down at Monona, including the depot and the Catho- lic church, but no lives were lost.

349

HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.

Of the other severe storms, the following are the most note- worthy: A severe wind and hail storm destroyed the crops in its path in July, 1854, unroofing Scott Shattuck's large barn at Wau- kon, and blowing down the frame of the Makee school house. May 21st, 1870, a storm passed eastwardly through Union Prairie, Makee, Center and Lafayette, unroofing the West Ridge Catholic church, and the hail broke window glass all along its course. July 14th of the same season severe hail, rain and wind destroyed crops in Ludlow, the hail destroying a great deal of window glass and cutting the heads of people exposed to its fury. April . 29th, 1872, a severe storm visited the southern portion of the county, unroofing houses and blowing down trees. August 4th, 1872, a hail storm extended over a good share of the county, doing great damage to crops in Post and Franklin. One of the most terrible "blizzards" ever experienced in this region raged January 7th, Sth and 9th, 1873, when the snow was drifted to unprecedented heighths, the air was filled with the fine, cutting partieles so that travel was impossible, and the mercury ranged from 20 to 36 de- grees below zero. This was the time trains were snowed in for three days, in Winneshiek County, and passengers passed for- ty-eight hours of suffering therein. In the night of June 23d, 1875, a terrific rain flooded the valleys of Paint and Village creeks, the Iowa and its tributaries, sweeping away many county bridges, mill dams, etc. The Yellow river was treated to a similar des- tructive flood June 1st, 1878.

On the 10th of July, 1878, began our heaviest rain fall on rec- ord, raging at intervals from Wednesday evening until Friday morning, when the rain gauge showed 6.70 inches of rain in thirty- six hours (at Waukon), and on Sunday .66 in addition fell. This flood was general all over the county and did untold damage at Lansing and Village Creek; several had narrow escapes from drowning; almost every bridge along Village Creek was swept away, and the damage along the valley was estimated at $50,000. The valleys of the Iowa and Yellow Rivers did not escape with less injury.

But the rainy season of 1880 was more remarkable in many re- spects, though generally not so destructive, except on Yellow River where the damage was unprecedented. This series of rains began May 24th, and continued nearly through June, the months of May and June showing a rain fall of 14.68 inches at Waukon. The first storms was most severe in the northern portion of the county, while that of June 14th was particularly destructive along Yellow River, sweeping away crops, bridges, dams, and even mills. Great rains prevailed throughout the Upper Mississippi valley, so that river was higher than ever before known, during the latter part of June. Along our border it reached its highest about June 22d, nearly a foot higher than the previons high water mark of April, 1870.

350

HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.

June 24, 1882, the lower Village Creek valley experienced its highest water on record, from rains of that morning and the pre- ceding night. Families in the village of that name narrowly es- caped with their lives, and the wagon and railroad bridges at the mouth of the creek were both taken out.

AGRICULTURE AND MANUFACTORIES.

Allamakee County has always been classed as one of the best of agricultural regions, because of the diversity and fertility of its soil. The principle products have been wheat, corn, oats, barley and potatoes. But owing to the partial failure of what was for- merly the staple crop-spring wheat-continuing for several years in succession, the attention of the farmers have been turned to a greater variety of resources, having learned from dear experience how greatly the universal dependence upon the wheat crop will impoverish a region through impoverishment of the soil. Butter and eggs. hogs and cattle, etc., have always been produced for ex- port to a considerable extent, but have been more relied upon within a few years, with the addition of flax, sorghum, onions, etc. Fine stock and the dairy, especially, are beginning to receive that attention which they demand; and these, with the increase of manufactories, will prove the pecuniary salvation of our people.

There was not a creamery in the county until 1880, when one was established at Waukon, which has made this season (1882) as high as 2,000 pounds of butter per day, and ordinarily 1500 pounds per day. There are now five of these establishments in the county manufacturing from 400 to 1,500 pounds per day.

Our manufactures are not extensive as yet, but the many un- improved water powers and other natural advantages for that class of industries are a guarantee that they will one day become as important as our agricultural resources. They consist at pres- · ent of one large lumbering establishment, one foundry, one brew- ery, five creameries, numerous wagon and plow shops, brick yards, etc., and flouring mills, and last but not least, a woolen mill. The latter is situated at Village Creek, and was established by H. O. Dayton in 1865, the building being of stone, three and a half stories. It did a large business until October 28, 1868. when it was destroyed by fire, involving a loss of $35,000-nothing but the bare walls being left. It was rebuilt and new machinery put in, but on May 21, 1875, it was again destroyed by fire, at a loss of $25,000. In less than a year the mill was once more in operation, and has since continued to do a large business, notwithstanding the proprietors, Messrs. Howard, Carrolls & Ratcliffe, have met with many discouragements in the shape of disastrous floods, which have washed out the dam, time and again. causing great loss of time and expense for repairs.

Of the flouring and grist mills, they are between twenty-five and thirty in number, although all are not now in operation, ow- ing to the great decrease in the wheat crops in the last few years.

351

HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.

From the latest available statistics (the results of the census of 18SO not having been made public yet except in regard to some items) we have compiled the following tables relating to agricul- tural and manufacturing matters, and where practicable have given opportunity for a comparison of different years.

ABSTRACT OF CENSUS OF 1873.

Names of Townships

No. acres of Land

No. bush. Wheat

harv'sted 1872

No. bushels Corn

harv'sted 1872

No. bushels Oats

harv'sted 1872

No. bushels Bar-

No. pounds Wool

Horses.

Mules.

Neat Cattle

Sheep

Swine over six months old.

Center

7656

75601

28833|

239981

730

823 341

351

14|

857

230

235

Fairview

2499

7805

25402

5377

178

356

143

Franklin

5135

16430

38520

16252

3418

1488

343

628

344

382

Fren'h Cr'k

5072

49085

32550

16292

582

650

359

897

194

878

Hanover

3663

30543

39050

13827

561

953

202

652

378

487

Iowa

2537

10833

34300

3632

1807

223

683

279

332

Jefferson

10027

54378

61980

37330

5212

3072

497

836

567

668

Lafayette

7774

63992

39361

17804

218

548

425

989

161

611

Lansing

4248

51832

37915

23517

852

693

340

855

152

467

Linton

3368

13921

32210

13850

202

1241

267

646

245

389

Ludlow

12865

79647

69095

59172 12940

1770

571

970

455

701

Makee

9085

69178

53610

34690

3595

1611

633

972

405

355

Paint Creek

7136

54658

47710

32117

870

2410

416

918

752

702

Post

8213

32895

58950

25260

3018

2902

516

1102

529

940

Taylor

6400

46751

37725

20541

180

946

406

757

244

597

Union City

4525

36205

50590

14055

620

375

292

749

155

1040

Un'n Pra're

7878

65143

64875

39116

8426

1466

443

879

308

1284

Waterloo

6037

55634

45490

21963

1534

653

314

808

233

816

Lansi'g C'ty

131

132

Total

114118,814531 798166 418793 43034 23749 6897 114 14686 5697

ley harv'sted '72

shorn in 1872

Improved.

352

ABSTRACT OF CENSUS OF 1875.

TOWNSHIPS

AND

No. of Acres Iın-

Bushels of Wheat

Harvested in 1874

Bushels of Corn

Harvested in 1874,

Harvested in 1874.

Bushels of Barley

Bushels of Potatoes

Pounds of Wool

Horses.

Mules.

Meat Cattle.

Sheep.

Swine.

Acres of Natural

Acres of Planted

Timber

Center.

8816

85067

34385

26269

175

6663

1130

422

1590

279

786

1269

Fairview

2305

8851

22530

3749

6977

125

180

488

259

6128

. .

Franklin.

5743

23587

45465

13707

121

7885

860

372

876

204

811

7680

618

. .

Hanover.

4247

20206

40010

16645

350

4540

551

206

694

174

428

lowa. . . .

2414

13189

37860

3129

3620

1816

277

897

384

438

1508

300

Jefferson .

10244

60538

59227

39492

2443

7590

2323

558

938

434

1142

6944

. .

Lafayette

9361

73431

62022

20800

340

8723

611

518

1161

917

1333

5439

. .

9526

86575

55060

36757

2223

9424

2271

652

996

478

1166

315

. .

Paint Creek ...

9670

70086

50186

36728

1237

10604

2703

401

1724

837

2106

7723

Post. .

10213

45122

75439

27823

981

7311

1293

605

1551

191

1563

4503

Taylor. . .

6911

52112

44829

21335

130

8797

1177

323

. .

1042

363

1010

1756

Union City.

4734

35565

55490

11948

3830

1036

244

832

191

998-

1806

. .

Union Prairie.

10744

74420

56380

39904

4141

9539

927

430

852

1079

1531

1329

. .

Waterloo .

6921

62824

46286

21927

1742

4923

1758

354

909

396

1135

2663

. .

...

Total.

124973

946098

906620

443129

22315

134119

23809

7610

19652

73721

19770

61956

326

6968

57096

43770

19213

625

5699

942

432

. .

1297

241

1341

5707

. .

Linton. . .

4602

22706

36765

13333

12494

1066

299

1074

542

771

396S

. .

Ludlow

14783

85515

90792

65571

7072

7293

2500

823

2 1449

431

2032

2525

Makee.

6771

63813

50094

24795

570

8202

720

514

1273

182

920

Lansing . .

. .

HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.

TOWNS

proved Land.

Bushels of Oats

Harvested in 1874.

Shorn in 1874.

Timber.

French Creek.

353

HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.

In 1880 the amount exempt from taxation in Allamakee County on account of fruit and forest trees planted was $7,250.

LIVE STOCK IN ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.

Year.

Horses.

Cattle

Sheep.

Swine.

1867.

4864

15132

11657

*24956

1873.

6897

14686

5697

+11027

1875.

7610

19652

7372

19770

1880.

7921

16408

4055

22939

1882.

7365

17708

4774

17760

*All ages. ¡ Over six months old.

ABSTRACT OF CENSUS OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY FOR 1875- MANUFACTURES.

Number of engines

Horse power.

156

Number of wheels

Horse power.

240

Average number of hands employed in 1874.

199

Tons of pig and scrap iron consumed.

250

Cubic feet of wood consumed.

3,539,274

Pounds of Wool.

27,020

Pounds of leather.

8,000

Bushels of wheat

280,000

Bushels of corn.

10,400

Bushels of barley.

7,000

Value of goods made in 1874.

$745,072

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Agreeable to a notice signed by Geo. C. Shattuck, John Ray- mond, D. H. Gilbert, John A. Townsend, Thos. A. Minard and Robert Isted, a meeting was held at Waukon, on the 7th day of June, 1853, of which John Raymond was President and Joel Baker Secretary, and which resulted in the formation of the "Allamakee County Agricultural and Mechanical Society." The first officers of the society were:

President -- John A. Wakefield.

Vice Presidents-Robert Isted, John Laughlin, Wm. C. Thompson.

Recording Secretary-J. J. Shaw.

Corresponding Secretary-John Haney, Jr.

Treasurer-A. J. Hersey.

The original roll showed a membership of eighteen persons, as ollows:

John Raymond, John S. Clark, Robert Isted, M. B. Lyons, John A. Wakefield, Reuben Smith, C. W. Cutler, Absalom Thorn- burg, L. S. Pratt, M. Lashman, G. C. Shattuck, D. H. Gilbert, J. M. Cushing, Ezra Reed, A. J. Hersey, Scott Shattuck, Austin Smith, John Haney, Jr.

We quote from Judge Dean:

354

HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.

"June 23d at a meeting of the directors it was voted that there be a County Fair at Waukon on the 13th of November. At this Fair Ezra Reed and G. C. Shattuck took premiums on sheep. Robert Isted, John M. Cushing, and Shattuck, took premiums on swine. Patrick Keenan, John Raymond, D. H. Gilbert, Robert Isted, and Abraham Bush, took premiums on cattle. Jehial Johnson, J. B. Cutler, Moses Shaft, G. C. Shattuck, took premiums on vegetables. L. Abbott took premium on wheat. Moses Shaft on corn. John A. Wakefield on best ten acres of corn. Benja- min Beard, L. Abbott, Mrs. L. T. Woodcock, Mrs. J. A. Townsend, Mrs. J. M. Cushing, and Mrs. Prescott, took premiums on house- hold products. This was the first Agricultural Society or Fair ever held in the County, and for those early days was a grand suc- cess, although held on the open prairie."

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History of Winneshiek and Allamakee counties, Iowa, Part 38

Author: Alexander, W. E; Western Publishing Company (Sioux City, Iowa) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Sioux City, Ia. : Western Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 772

Author: Alexander, W. E; Western Publishing Company (Sioux City, Iowa)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Sioux City, Ia. : Western Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 772