USA > Iowa > Allamakee County > History of Winneshiek and Allamakee counties, Iowa > Part 44
USA > Iowa > Winneshiek County > History of Winneshiek and Allamakee counties, Iowa > Part 44
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But to return to the mining operations. The company pene- trated the side of the bluffs on Mineral Creek and took out ore in such quantities that they felt warranted in erecting a smelting furnace, which was done some fifteen rods south of the bridge which was built at a later day, and smelted a considerable quan- tity of ore-how much we cannot tell-but it did not pay. The ore was mostly in the shape of floats, but they kept on, hoping to strike a paying "lead," In this they were disappointed however, as no well defined lead was developed, and the store part of the venture was the only thing about it that paid. In the spring of 1857, Tichenor had run through what little means he had invest- ed in the concern, and Moulton and Lee, disappointed in their bright expectations, were inclined to blame him for the result of the enterprise, and so cast him off. The elder Moulton took to
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HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.
drink; and sometime in the course of a year the whole thing col- lapsed under the stress of circumstances. The creditors got what they could out of the property, and we believe Moulton and Lee returned to the east. Tichenor, it seems, could not give up the idea of getting riches out of a mine, and sought the mines of the west. Only a year or two ago he was heard of in connection with a fraudulant mining concern, shares of stock in which he had sold to the extent of $20,000 or $30,000, and having been dis- covered in his game, had skipped out.
Among our county records we find the "Articles of Association of the New Galena Lead Mining and Real Estate Company," en- tered into on the 18th day of August, 1857, and to continue twen- ty years with the right of renewal.
"James Thorington, James T. Moulton, J. Arthur Moulton, Aug. F. Lee, Wm. L. Easton, Leonard Standring, Warren Ballou, James I. Gilbert, Grant Telford, Milo C. Fuller, Alanson H. Barnes, D. B. Defendorf, L. B. Defendorf, S. H. Kerfoot, James L. McLean, Robt. L. McClelland, Horatio Hill, Solomon Good- rich, E. E. Cooley, and their associates, and such persons as may hereafter become stockholders in the Company by these articles incorporated," formed themselves into a body corporate under the name and style above mentioned, "for the purpose," the document goes on to say, "of mining, smelting, and manufacturing lead, and for the purpose of acquiring, by purchase or otherwise, any lands in the State of Iowa, or any other State or Territory in the United States; and for laying out such lands into towns or vil- lages, additions to town or villages, and disposing of the same at private or public sale; and also for engaging in internal improve- ments, manufactures, agriculture and commerce, and in any or all financial or monied operations not inconsistent with the laws of the State of Iowa," etc., etc. The document further provides that the capital stock shall consist of $200,000, of $20 a share, with power to increase to not exceed $500,000. The principal place of business was to be the village of New Galena; and "the directors shall cause semi-annual dividends to be declared out of the profits of the Company." About how many dividends were declared may be readily imagined. We believe this company did continue to operate the diggings for a time, but they were finally abandoned entirely. The diggings mentioned by Prof. Hall as located on the southwest quarter of Sec. 13, 99, 6, were doubtless the ones operated by this Company; the land is now owned by the Fitzgeralds. The first lead taken out was probably near by the smelting furnace.
Wexford-By right of priority of settlement, this community. situated in the southern portion of Lafayelte Township, some three miles from the Mississippi, on Priest Cooley (or creek). should have been mentioned earlier in the list of villages, having been settled in 1851. In the spring of that year Father Thomas
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HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.
Hare, the first Catholic Missionary in the county, came here di- rect from Ireland, and with material said to have been brought from Dubuque, erected a frame church, supposed to have been the first church built in the county, and called the place Wexford. This church, we understand, was built at Father Hare's own ex- pense. In earlier life he had been a missionary in Virginia, but had returned to Ireland. He was independent of the Bishop, and operated on his own responsibility. His field of operations reached over a wide extent of country. He was a genial and influential man, and drew to this county a large immigration of his country- men, who settled around him at this point.
Union City-Is the name of a settlement on the north side of the Iowa, above the mouth of French Creek, which was to have been platted as a village and so gave its name to the township in which it is located. It was never laid out, or, if it was it was never platted and entered on record.
CHAPTER VII.
History of Post Township; Location; Early Settlements; Vill- ages; War Record, Miscellaneous Incidents and Reminiscences.
BY A. R. PRESCOTT.
"Our fathers to their graves have gone, Their strife is past-their triumph won, But sterner trials wait the race Which rises in their honored place."
-Whittier.
Post Township occupies Congressional Township No. 96 north, range 6, west of 5th principal meridian: is the southwest corner township of Allamakee County, Iowa, and contains 22,491 acres.
The surface is undulating, and in the northern part, bluffy. Yellow River runs easterly through the entire township, some- what north of the middle sections, and is formed from two branches, one coming from the northwest through sections 6 and 7, the other from the southwest through section 18, meeting on the southwest corner of section 8, and almost immediately disap- pearing in the lose limestone formation of its bed, running under- ground for about two miles, then suddenly gushing out at the foot of the bluff, in one huge spring, on the northwest quarter of section 3. Thence onward, the river is rapid, clear, and in its descent affording numerous mill sites, and from the influx of other
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HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.
large springs, very characteristic of this valley, scarcely freezes in winter. The south bank is skirted by a belt of heavy forest, ex- tending completely through and beyond the township lines, in width about one and a half to two miles. On the river bluffs pine was found in considerable quantities, though long since con- verted into early buildings. The belt of forest on the south of the river consists of the best varieties of oak, walnut, butternut, ash, hickory, maple, with basswood and poplar, and though more than thirty years have passed since the white man's ax began its destruction, the same forest still furnishes its regular supply of fire wood and building materials, and in much greater quantities as time passes, than at the first settlement of the country. The north bank of the river affords but little forest in this township; local groves of small timber and scattering oaks and hickory trees, with the heaviest portion on section 8, constituting the amount on the north side.
The soil on the north is a stiff yellow or light clay subsoil, with a top of thin-but very rich-black loam, which has pro- duced the best specimens of spring wheat grown in the west. Con- siderable alluvial bottom lands lie along the river of excessive rich- ness, producing the largest crops of all kinds raised in this lati- tude, including sweet potatoes.
One species of the old forestry seems nearly annihilated-the bee tree. In early days so frequently was this variety felled, that every settler, up to about 1853, of common enterprise had his bar- rel of honey as a part of his winter food supply, and as many as two hundred pounds were frequently taken from one tree in Yel- low River woods. The sugar tree still yields its crop as of yore- in considerable quantities.
In these woods, bears, wolves, panthers and wild cats were nu- merous in the early days, and red deer fairly flocked on the prairies up to about 1857, when in that winter a deep snow and thick crust prevented them from traveling, and they fell easy victims to the hunter. This snow and crust prevailing over the entire north- west, deer were almost totally annihilated, as but very few have been seen since.
Bear hunting was a favorite pastime up to about 1854, when the last town hunt, in October, culminated in a law suit against some outsiders who happened to be "in at the death" of a wounded bear, and who had the bear skinned and the 400 pounds of meat di- vided and quietly taken away before the regular hunters arrived on the ground to dispatch him. The cause was tried before John Laughlin, J. P. Hon. John T. Clark, attorney, for plaintiff's (the regular hunters), and James & J. D. Mckay for defendants. Car- ried to District Court, then to State Supreme Court, and finally decided adverse to plaintiffs.
The settlement of Post township, by permanent white people, was begun by Joel Post, a millwright from Caughnawauga, Cat-
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HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.
taraugus county, New York, who obtained permission to occupy the government "log shanty" or "half-way house," built by the United State troops half-way between Fort Crawford, Wisconsin, and Fort Atkinson, Iowa. The document has been preserved, and reads as follows:
"Joel Post is hereby granted the privilege of occupying the house and stable, belonging to the public, on the military road from Fort Crawford to Turkey River (I. T.) during the pleasure of Gen. Brooke, or the commanding officer at Fort Crawford.
"The said Joel Post has permision to make such additions to house and stable as he thinks proper, and the use of the buildings are to be always open, free of charge to the use of the public; a supply of wood for the use of one fire is also to be furnished free of charge. The said Post will also be required to take charge of and be responsible for all public property placed under his charge at that place.
"The privilege of cutting a sufficient supply of hay for the use of the public, at the nearest point at that place, is reserved; and the said Post has the privilege of cutting what wood and timber, for building and fuel, as he may find necessary for his own use and travelers. He has also the privilege of breaking ground and planting, and is always to be subject to the orders of the com- manding officers at Fort Crawford.
"It is hereby further contracted by the said Post that he is not to keep spirituous liquors in his house, on any pretense whatever; neither is he to sell liquors, either directly or indirectly, to In- dians or United States soldiers, under the penalty of being im- mediately removed; and, farther, that he is not to trade with the Indians, unless by permission from the Indian Agent. It is also stated that the said Post may build nearer to the spring, as being more convenient, but at the same time must be responsible for the public buildings now erected, and also all other public property placed under his charge.
"GEORGE M. BROOKE, "Brev. Brig .- Gen. Com'g 1st Dept. W. Div.
"FORT CRAWFORD, January 12th, 1841.
"I, Joel Post, do hereby bind myself to observe the above order, in all respects, under all the penalties prescribed.
JOEL POST."
FORT CRAWFORD, January 12th, 1841.
Witness: John Robertson, Thos. Buyber.
Note .- The power reserved by the commanding officer of Fort Crawford, in the above instrument, is also to be held by the com- manding officer at Turkey River, when a senior officer to that at Fort Crawford.
The document is not a model in grammar or punctuation, but is given above precisely as written and punctuated.
.
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HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.
The "shanty" then consisted of a log house, 16x20 feet, and a log stable somewhat larger, and was located about sixty rods east from the one-fourth post, on north side of Section 33. The occu- pation of the family was a kind of hotel keeping, and the promise of good business in this line was the chief inducement for Mr. Post to risk himself so far from civilization. But the business grew, and proved both profitable and pleasant, and increased so fast that in the next winter Mr. Post and one Richard Only built a more commodious and hotel-like house, which on completion af- forded comfortable quarters for Government and military officers, Government teamsters, etc., and proved quite remumerative for about two years, when these teamsters, who were mostly from Ill- inois, planed a scheme to cheat Mr. Post out of their unpaid bills; it being the custom for them to pay their bills on their return from Fort Atkinson, where they were paid for their services.
They did this by constructing a new road, or route, which could be traveled by unloaded teams, across the bend of the road; begin- ning near the southwest corner of Section 33, and keeping near the county line. They could thus pass by the "half way" unseen, avoiding the "north bend" and the hotel bill at once. This new "cut off" received the name of "Sucker Chute," these new devel- opments led to a removal of the "Half Way House" to the west end of "Sucker Chute" by special permission of the commanding officer of the military department, then Major Edwin V. Sumner, in June, 1843. This house proved a nucleus, around which set- tlements were made, and travelers found a quiet home and resting place, and Postville, a local habitation, and a name. A number of the men who have since become famous in the civil and military history of the country, were accustomed to visit this house and partake of its cheer, among whom are the names of H. M. Rice of Minnesota; Dousman and Bisbois; of Wisconsin; the late John Haney, and son John, Jr., of Lansing, Iowa; Capt. Nathaniel Lyon E. V. Sumner, Patterson; Capts. Miller, Schuyler, Hamilton and Lieut. Alfred Pleasanton, all since Generals, high in command and fame in the military history of our country. A story is told by Mrs. Post of the first appearance of Lieutenant Pleasanton at her house in 1844 or 1845, She describes him as a very pleasant young man, of a keen sharp eye, restless when not employed, al- ways driving his own business with great energy. Coming to the Half Way House in a horse and buggy, he said to the hostler. "give the horse his rations which you will find in the buggy." Quite a goodly number of people at dinner were surprised by the appearance of the son of Erin, of the barn, with: "If yes plaze, Misther Liftenant, will I bees after fading yer nag wrid the banes, or the pork or thim square crackers first?"
The Commissary instead of Quartermaster had put up the Lien- tenant's rations, and feed for man instead of horse. The Lieuten- ant explained and the company enjoyed a smile with him.
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HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.
Settlements of a permanent nature began as soon as the lands were surveyed and the Indians removed, which took place in the fall of 1847. The first one was 'Squire Crossly, from Galena, Ill., who settled on section 32, half a mile west of Mr. Post's, in June; the next one. Josiah Reed, from Ohio, half a mile west of Crossly, in October: John Reed, on section 30; Thomas Newberry. north- west quarter of section 28, all in 1847. A number had also set- tled over the line in Clayton County, so that in the summer of 1848 a school was started with twenty scholars in one of the chamber rooms at Mr. Post's by a Mrs. Quinn.
The first religious services were also held at Mr. Post's, by Rev. Eldridge Howard, a M. E. preacher, in June, 1848, and later by one Stevens, a Presbyterian.
The principal settlers of 1848 were Henry Noble and Elias Topliff, both locating in October or November on section 30.
A school was taught at Mr. Post's in the winter of 1848 and 49 by a Mr. Bliss.
On New Year's day, 1849, was held the first social party in the new settlement, at the "Half Way House," by Mr. Post. Having spent eight years in frontier life with few neighbors, the time had come when all should meet and learn the names and ways of men and women, who were to build up the new community with him. It is related that every settler within eight miles was present, the most of them bringing their wives, and in not a few cases the whole family appeared at the New Years feast. Sev- eral uniforms were present, and the repast was spoken of as one of luxury and bountiful to excess. The festivities were kept up by the few youngsters to a late hour, and at that gathering an en- gagement was ma e which resulted in the first wedding ever cele- brated in Allamakee County, viz: Elias J. Topliff and Anna Reed, married December 6th, 1849, by Grove A. Warner, Justice of the Peace.
A postoffice was established in the same month of January, called Postville, and Joel Post appointed postmaster. He, however, dy- ing on the 24th of the same month, never knew of the appoint- ment, as it did not arrive for some days after his decease.
Several settlers arrived in 1849 whose names and locations are as follows: James H. Penny, a soldier just discharged, on sec- tion 16; Reuben Smith, section 11; Thomas Newberry, on section 28; Constantine Hughes, section 12; William Callender, section 9; Hiram Jones, section 15; Moses Hostetler, also on section 15; Anderson Amos, section 14. In 1850 came David W. Lyons, a Presbyterian clergyman, to section 16; Alexander J. Breedlove and Thomas Saucer on section 25; John Minert to section 21; James Mather, section 16; Wm. Fewell and Charles Bowman, on section 23; Jeremiah Prescott and Truman Stoddard, on section 36; also S. P. Hicks, L. R. Herrick, John Clark, Anderson Few- ell, on section 34; David Jemison on section 28; Wm. H. Carith-
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HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.
ers on section 10; P. F. Schwartz, on section 3; Jacob Lybrand, on section 10; In 1851 came P. P. Cady to section 36; Asa Chudle to section 10; John Laughlin to section 27; Sylvester Dennis bought M. Hostetler, on section 15. In 1852 came N. J. Beedy, to section 35; Samuel Dobson, section 22; and many others.
Post Township was organized by the county board in 1851, ac- cording to the memory of the oldest settlers, but there are no records of officers elected that year., The election in April, 1852, was held in a blacksmith shop near the house of Chas. Bowman. Thirty-one votes were cast, and Reuben Smith, Chas. Bowman, and A. J. Breedlove were chosen trustees; Jas. C. Thompson, township clerk; John Laughlin, Justice of the Peace; Anderson Amos, constable.
The next record is that of November 4, 1856, when ninety-four votes were polled. The records from this election are perfect. P. P. Cady was township clerk, and procured a book at his own ex- pense, hunting over all the papers of the several officers, in vain for complete records. Much that is valuable, is lost to the com- piler from the absence of such important items, compelling us to rely upon the memory of the few early settlers left among us, and whose memory, at the lapse of thirty years, will disagree, thus rendering all attemps at exactness abortive.
At the November election, 1860, W. H. Carithers was chosen as first township supervisor on the county Board; Timothy Stiles, Township Clerk; P. P. Cady and Emery Higbey, Justices; James Patterson and Stephen Thibodo, Constables.
The year 1861 was eventful as changing the future prospects of so many families in our land, and was felt largely in Post Town- ship, when, with a population entirely rural, it furnished more than forty men to the Union Army, distributed and named as follows:
Company K, 1st Iowa Cavalry-Charles T. Prescott 1st (enlist- ment in the township), Moses A. Bollman, Moses Early, Benton Bowman, Ed. Hanan, John S. Post, Stephen Harris, David M. Minert, Wm. H. Saucer.
Company I, 9th Iowa Infantry-John S. Mather, 'Squire Math- er, Geo. S. Rice.
Company B, 12th Iowa Infantry-Wm. Maynard, Elias Repp, Chas. Russell, Stephen Thibodo.
Company B, 13th Iowa Infantry-Jesse P. Prescott, Elza San- ders, David Vickery, Julian D. Miller.
Company B, 21st Iowa Infantry-Wm. T. Hays.
Company A, 27th Iowa Infantry-Caleb I. Bishop, Daniel Cole, Warren Clough, Elisha Curry, Saul Dobson, Theodore Granger, C. C. Marston, Darius C. Mather, Meredith McGee, Calvin McMul- len, Hiram Hawkins, Andrew J. Patterson, James Patterson, War- ren R. Reed, Truman Stoddard, Geo. W. Topliff, John Pixler, A. I. Stiles, Alonzo Thornton.
Company -, 38th Iowa Infantry-John L. Johnson.
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HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.
Co. I, Engineer Regt. Mo. Vols .- A. R. Prescott, William R. Johnson, John F. Jones, George W. Wheeler, William Harris. Co. B, 18th Mo. Infantry .- Dennis A. Harden.
Fifteen of these perished on the field of battle or hospital, and but few of the others are whole and sound. They returned to their homes to begin where they left off-at the plow, bench, store or shop.
POSTVILLE VILLAGE.
General A. C. Dodge, when Senator of Iowa, recommended that a postoffice be established at the "half-way house," on the Mili- tary road in Clayton county, Iowa, to be called Postville, and that Joel Post be appointed the postmaster; dated January 19th, 1849. Elijah Stevenson, however, was the first postmaster, as Joel Post died January 24th, 1849. A store was opened in 1851 by Josiah D. Reed & Co. The village plat consisted of four blocks of eight lots each, 4x8 rods, and was laid out at the crossing of the Mili- tary road, with the west line of section 33, by S. P. Hicks, county surveyor, in June, 1853.
A blacksmith shop was started by one Draper, in 1851, but busi- ness did not increase till 1855. A few dwellings had been built, when James Roll succeeded Draper in the "smithy," and also built a small frame hotel. Samuel J. Russell succeeded Reed & Co. in the store in 1856. The new and commodious "National Hotel" was completed by Mrs. Post in 1857. H. B. Hazelton put in a stock of goods in 1859. Webster & Stevenson succeeded S. J. Russell in 1863. Several dwellings and trade shops had been built on the main street (i. e., the old military road.) Stores had been enlarged and repaired.
Business received a fresh impetus by the building of the Mc- Gregor Western Railway, and its completion to this place, the first arrival of a train taking place on the 8th day of August, 1864. The landing of freight and mails began on the first day of Sep- tember, 1864. At once the place put on new airs. An addition of 100 acres was laid out in lots by Mrs. Post, John Lawler, Joe Reynolds and J. T. Stoneman. A station house was soon erected, and John S. Grohe, agent, began business for the railroad. A large and commodious grain elevator was built by Lawler & Reynolds at a cost of $26,000, 50x90 feet, with seventeen bins; whole capacity, 51,000 bushels. Boiler and engine room, 16x24; boiler, 20-horse power. Aggregate pay roll of employes, $500 per month. Finished about September 15th, 1864. E. D. Holton and Hall Roberts put in an extensive stock of merchandise near the elevator. Other merchants and trades people who located in Postville since that time, may be mentioned, as C. VanHooser, National Hotel; James Perry and Leithold & Poesch, merchants; A. W. McDonald, harness maker, in 1865.
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HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.
Passing over the events of a few years, which were prosperous ones for the township, we mention that in 1871 the assessed value of the total amount of property was $255,026. The village had increased to correspond with the rural districts.
The Northeastern Iowa Agricultural Society, was organized here in March, 1871, embracing four counties, banded together for the mutual improvement of all branches of industry.
The Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railway Company began business on the Milwaukee division of their road in Post- ville, about September 5, 1872, James Perry, agent.
The village was incorporated March 11, 1873-John S. Mott, Mayor; A. P. Abbott. C. P. Darling, J. N. Leithold, J. H. Sanders, Trustees; D. T. Smithwest, Recorder.
Hall Roberts purchased one-third of the Lawler & Reynolds ele- vator in 1875. The company (known as Hall Roberts & Co.) han- dled one hundred and eighty-five thousand bushels of grain the same year. W. S. and Hall Roberts started the Postville Bank also this year .
SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL HOUSES.
The township has built thirteen school houses, distributed on the several sections, as follows: The first, on the east side of Sec- tion 36, was built of oak logs, 16x22, in the fall of 1849, mainly by the efforts of Leonard B. Hodges, of Hardin, who also taught the first school there. The last school in the house was taught by Wm Larrabee, of Clermont.
Second, also of oak logs, was built in 1852, near the southeast corner of Section 28.
Third, called "West Grove," was the first frame school house in the township, built in 1854, near the northeast corner of Section 22, and was removed in 1860 to Section 24.
Fourth, "Postville Sub. District," a frame, built in the south- west corner of Section 33, in 1858.
Fifth, "Lybrand," a frame built in 1860, on the north side of the northwest quarter of Section 15.
Sixth, "Minert," a frame, built in 1862, near the southeast cor- ner of Section 3, to replace the log house, No. 2.
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