USA > Iowa > Wright County > History of Wright County, Iowa, its peoples, industries and institutions > Part 5
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49
"I remember an incident connected with the raising of the first saw- mill, which was somewhat amusing at the time. We could not get much help. No one came from Belmond, and the work was a difficult undertaking
61
WRIGIIT COUNTY, IOWA.
for the men who had been assembled. One of the workmen said that he had figured it up and found that it would take just twenty-four quarts of whisky to raise the mill, but that Whitcomb (another workman) had made a cast of figures and found that twenty-six quarts would be needed. The twenty- four quarts were obtained, went around, and the mill went up.
"One Saturday evening ex-Governor Cyrus C. Carpenter came to my place (long before he ever dreamed of being a governor or congressman), but said nothing about his business until Monday morning. Then he paid me one thousand dollars in taxes. Tuesday morning was very cold and blustery, but he mounted his mule and rode away, remarking that if he was lost on the prairie we need not look for him, for the Ft. Dodge people would find him, as the coat he wore belonged to Judge Pease, the gloves to Meser- vey, the muffler to Morgan and the cap to John F. Duncombe. . They will find me if I am lost.' Carpenter was one of the best. men I ever knew- jovial, pleasant and a perfect example of strict integrity.
"Some of the Boone river settlers have given very good accounts of their experience during the Indian scare of 1857. I will relate a little of our experience on the Iowa. I had been plowing and I was turning out my oxen when a courier from Belmond reported that fourteen hundred Indians were on their way from the Des Moines river, and were last seen coming directly toward our vicinity, and that at Clear lake there were sev- enty mounted Indians, well armed. I had some goods for sale, and among them ammunition, but found that I had sold out everything in that line. That evening we called a meeting at MeNutt's house. Mr. McNeal and I were appointed to attend this meeting. I remarked on the way to the meet- ing that I had expected to be elected to office in the West, but never expected to be appointed Indian commissioner. At the meeting various plans of defense were proposed. Some wanted to flee down the river to older set- tlements, but a majority thought best to fortify the hewn-log house of Mr. McNutt and remain there. McNutt said we might stay, if we kept quiet so he could sleep. McNutt, we might say, did not believe in the Indian busi- ness. We finally went home and fastened all doors and windows. About fifteen men assembled at my house and two remained guard through the night. Many theories were advanced as to the cause of the Indian scare, but I believe that it was started by parties who wished to buy property at a low price. Some men sold land, corn, etc., for anything they could get and fled. One old gentleman on the Boone river never stopped until he reached his old home in New Hampshire. He did not wait to sell his land, and two or three years later his son came out and took charge of the farm.
62
WRIGHT COUNTY, IOWA.
"A second Indian scare occurred during the Civil War (about 1863). A meeting was called at Goldfield. Most of the people believed there was no danger. We told some Indian stories and broke up the meeting. The next day I took my two daughters to Webster City and returned to Gold- field. The Indians had been doing bloody work near the Minnesota line and I thought there might be danger of a raid by mounted Indians, and pre- ferred to take my family to a place of safety, but was willing to take my own chances with the rest.
"It was a part of my duty as treasurer to carry the state revenue to Des Moines, and a description of one of my trips to the capital city will close my story. I went from Horse Grove to Goldfield on foot and, after making a settlement with the school fund commissioner, I went on horse- back to Webster City, accompanied by the county judge, sheriff and clerk, who led my horse back to Goldfield. The next morning I started on foot to Homer. Morgan Everts volunteered to show me the way. I went on about one-third of a mile after he left me and there found a creek that somewhat creek about one mile and then waded through, finding the water waist deep. resembled the Boone river and that was high at the time. I walked up the
"I arrived at Homer about noon and waited till the next day for a stage. When the stage came it showed signs of having been flooded, but the driver thought we could get through. When we came to Boone river the driver unhitched one horse and rode into the river. He concluded that he could ford it, and gave me the privilege of crossing on horseback or in the stage (an open wagon). I chose the latter. When we drove into the river the wagon floated down stream, but the team finally took us out on the other side. Nothing of interest occurred on the remainder of the down trip, and at the close of the second day we arrived at Des Moines. I remained at the city three days, one of which was spent in waiting for the stage. On going down I was the only passenger, but coming back there were four of us. The fare was seven dollars and two dollars for a trunk from Des Moines to Ft. Dodge.
"It rained every day I was in Des Moines, and the mud was so deep that we made very slow progress. We found, on arriving at the Boone, that we could not cross at the ford, and went down the river two miles to a ferry. The boat was barely sufficient to carry one horse at a time. Five trips were made to get the stage and passengers across.
"At the last place where we changed teams below Ft. Dodge we found a new driver for that route, who refused to start with us that night. We insisted on going ahead, and, though the driver and his mules seemed to
63
WRIGHIT COUNTY, IOWA.
be of the same disposition, we finally succeeded in getting him to start with us. The mud was deep and the night very dark. When within about two miles of Ft. Dodge we drove into a slough and in the struggle to get out the mules fell. The driver told us that one mule was on top of the other and that he must have help or lose the bottom mule. Two of us waded in and rolled off the top mule. The under mule was too muddy to ride, but one passenger rode the other mule the remaining two miles, while the others walked. We got no rebate on the fare, however. We were three days on the road from Des Moines to Ft. Dodge (eighty miles). I waited here one day for a stage and then went to Webster City. The next morning I started on foot for Horse Grove, by way of Wall lake. I reached the lake about noon, inquired for dinner, but was informed that the only food on hand was hulled corn and molasses. I went to a house a short distance from the lake, hoping to find a dinner, but the house was locked. I went on, expecting to strike the Iowa at a point three miles below Horse Grove, but there was no direct track to this point and a fog, the thickest I had ever seen, settled upon me and I dared not leave the old wagon track which led to the vicinity of Horse Grove. About dark I found a house not far from the river and tried it thoroughly, as I found everything locked. I saw something through the fog, which proved to be a hay stack. I tried to pull out hay and make a hole large enough to sleep in, but gave it up and went back to the house. I finally succeeded in getting a window open and crawled in. I found some old clothing, with which I rubbed myself dry, and then went to bed in a fairly comfortable bed and had a good night's sleep.
"The next morning, after wading two streams about three feet deep, I arrived at Otisville and got a good meal, the first I had to cat for twenty- four hours. After breakfast Mr. Morgan ferried me across the river and I walked on home, fording another stream on the way, about three feet deep. About noon I arrived at home. I had been fourteen and a half days in mak- ing the trip and had expended thirty-one dollars and fifty cents stage fare and hotel bills, and the state auditor allowed me thirty dollars, so I was ont of pocket one dollar and fifty cents.
"This was one of the most interesting trips I made, but a fair specimen of many made by the pioneers of Wright county."
STORY OF O. C. MC INTOSH.
"The first saw-mill, with grist-mill attachment, on Boone river in Wright county was a water-mill built by Maj. Minter Brassfield. As custom trade
64
WRIGHT COUNTY, IOWA.
was light, he combined that business with farming. He had often set the sash-saw going in a twelve-foot log and then plowed three long rows of corn, returning to the mill by the time the saw had worked its way through the log. The mill did not prove a paying investment on account of the dif- ficulty experienced in controlling the waters of the Boone.
"The second mill was a steam-mill, with a circular saw, and was built by Judge Dean and sons on section 26, Eagle Grove township, in 1856. The next year it was moved to Goldfield, where it remained for fifteen years, and was then removed to the Des Moines river below Ft. Dodge. This mill did good work and sawed the greater portion of the lumber used along the Boone. Almost the first building timber sawed by the Dean mill was used in the construction of the Christy steam-mill, built by James Christy on the bank of Otter creek, in section 21 of Liberty township. The engine and all appurtenances were hauled from the Mississippi river by ox teams. It pos- sessed forty-horse power and had a sash or upright saw. It sawed but little lumber, although it remained where first located eight or ten years. It was then moved to the Des Moines river near Ft. Dodge.
"The first store on this side of the county was built by James L. Franks and Nelson Usher in the village of Sheffield, which was then an ambitious little town located on the northwest quarter of section 28, of Liberty town- ship, but in a few years the buildings were moved to Goldfield and the town plat abandoned. This store contained a large stock of goods, but was not very profitable as an investment on account of there being but little demand for many of the finer articles kept in stock. The first storekeeper in Gold- field was John Melrose, who located here in 1857 and opened a general store. The second store was kept by A. J. A. Nicols in the old court house. The first hotel on this side of the county was the Elk Horn hotel at Goldfield, owned by Jeptha Doty. The sign was a pair of large elk horns on a post in front of the building."
RECOLLECTIONS OF EDWIN BALLOU.
"I was born in Portage county, Ohio, in 1832, moved to Michigan in 1840, and to Cedar county, Iowa, in 1853. In April, 1855, myself and fam- ily, in company with Robert Rowen and family, moved to Wright county. We had a pleasant time until we reached Eldora, Hardin county, then came the sloughs. We attempted to cross one with five yoke of oxen hitched to one wagon. Down went the wagon to the axles, and the harder the oxen
65
WRIGHT COUNTY, IOWA.
pulled the deeper the wagon sank. We were obliged to wade in the water about two feet deep and carry our load out. This was my first experience with sloughs. Eldora is about forty miles from my place, but it was our nearest postoffice and blacksmith shop, and there was no mill within one hundred miles of us. We brought provisions enough with us to last till fall, then I went to Marshalltown, seventy miles distant, for flour.
"Upon our arrival at Horse Grove we selected our land, and on May 12 I started to the Ft. Dodge land office. It required about seven days to make the trip. I then began breaking and planting sod corn. I employed Horace Riley to cut logs for our first house. We moved into this house on July 4, 1855; it was a log cabin with shake roof, no floor, no door and no window. On July 6 there came one of the worst storms I have ever seen; the wind blew the water into one end of my cabin and out at the other. The cracks were too small to let my wife out, so she was obliged to remain in the cabin during the storm.
"I had two yoke of oxen with which to break prairie, but no driver, so I conceived the idea of driving them abreast. I think this was the first time oxen were ever driven in this way. Travelers often stopped their teams to watch this novel method of working cattle.
"The winter of 1855-56 was fair, but that of 1856-57 was the worst I have ever known. Snow fell in November, and on December I a heavy snowstorm began that lasted three days. Then the wind came from the north- west and drifted the snow fifteen feet deep. The last of December I started for Cedar county, in company with Charles Wilson and James Kent, for supplies. I came back in February, by way of Iowa City, and followed up the river. The many teams on the road had caused the snow to drift into the track until it formed a solid turnpike four feet above the ordinary level. I was two weeks in reaching Alden, where I left most of my load, and went home. A mill had been started at Marshalltown the fall before by a man named Woodbury. In the summer of 1855 a postoffice was established at Alden and in the summer of 1856 an office was established at Fryeburg, about one mile southwest of the present site of Rowan. William Hurd, from Fryeburg, Maine, was the postmaster and gave the office its name. James Riley carried the mail once each week from Alden. Robert Rowen, R. E. Train and myself represented this township on the first jury. District Judge Thompson, of Eldora, presided at the first court. We went to Liberty, the county seat, in a wagon drawn by oxen. We camped out and boarded our- selves, having brought provisions with us, knowing full well that the Boone (5)
66
WRIGHT COUNTY, IOWA.
river settlers had none to spare. I think there were no jury trials during this term, but we had a good time."
J. M. ELDER'S RECOLLECTIONS.
"The first settlement in the vicinity of the present town of Belmond was made in the fall of 1854, and until the following spring comprised Henry Luick, Anson Gray, Anthony Overacker, Mr. Wilse, with their fami- lies, and David Luick. During the spring and summer that followed, the number was largely increased by the arrival of Doctor Cutler, Archer Du- mond, Thomas Oliver, Stephen and Isaac Whited, W. E. Rogers, Warren Rankin, Charles Sheets, Washington Dumond, Amos Cummings, Joseph Dukes, Harvey Mack, and their families, and the young men, Andrew Du- mond, Aaron Dukes, Thomas Sheets, F. O. Brooks, Albert Cummings, Levi Whited, J. M. Elder, W. B. Walters, James Horder and others. This year work was commenced on the dam at Behnond.
"The winter of 1854-55 was mild and beautiful, almost without storm or rough weather, and caused the first settlers to believe they had found a veritable paradise, but that illusion was fearfully dispelled by the two win- ters that followed, which have since generally been regarded as the severest in the history of the state. The hardships and sufferings consequent from these terrible winters will never be told, nor can they be adequately por- trayed. Many were frozen to death, and the best protected were subjected to privations and discomforts. The hastily constructed log house or cabin, erected under favorable circumstances, was unfit for occupancy during an ordinary northern winter. The fuel was green wood obtained from the natural groves.
"Roads at this early day consisted of mere tracks, the route being decided by the first teamster who happened to pass that way. Bridges there were none, the streams being forded where encountered, and marshes avoided as best the unfortunate could. For several years the road from Belmond to Horse Grove was east of and around Franklin Grove, a distance of about fifteen miles, nearly double the length of the course pursued by a crow pass- ing between the same points.
"The nearest supply store was that of Boriah Wright, at Hardin City, where most of the mail was received until that town went into decline, after which, for a long time, Cedar Falls became the popular trading point and postoffice. For a long time Simeon Overacker carried the mail on foot, receiving therefor five dollars per trip, which amount was donated by the
67
WRIGHT COUNTY, IOWA.
individuals of the settlement. When a trip to market was contemplated by one of the settlers, nearly all the others contributed orders for goods of some kind, the aggregate of the errands amounting to quite a load at times. Many of the old settlers, on returning from a journey of that kind, well remember the outrunners who met them before the wagon reached town, seeking to be the first to get their share of the plunder.
"The present town of Belmond originally consisted of that portion on the west of the river, and was platted by Archer Dumond and Dr. L. H. Cutler. The name was adopted by a compromise. Doctor Cutler proposed the name Dumond, but Dumond wanted it called Crown Point, his native town in Indiana; but finally Belmond was hit upon.
"The new comers the next few years succeeding 1855 were numerous and comprised in part many of the worthy, influential citizens yet residents of the community ( 1892). The Barkers, Jenisons, Spragues, William and Fred Luick, Adam and J. W. Elder, Warner Butts, Luther Loomis, the White brothers and others that could be named, came, not only to stay, but to contribute a lifetime to the development and wealth of the county. While the hardships were great and the comforts few in those early years, these veterans may now be proud and thankful for the sacrifice they made. It was theirs to initiate the movement that has transformed a naturally beautiful country into one of wealth and magnificence. There is no land more delightful; no people more prosperous ..
"Few of the old settlers will forget the wet season of 1858. For the first time that year the Iowa river at Belmond was deemed fordable on the third day of July. The feat was accomplished though the beds floated off wagons. On the same night a tremendous rain transformed the river limits to the bluffs and not until September Ist could a team ford the stream. There was not a bridge on the Iowa river in Wright county. Necessity, and sometimes reckless men, developed results that would hardly now seem practicable. Teams as well as horses, attached to light vehicles, were daily driven across the swollen stream, where "ford there was none" nor bottom either; yet no serious accident or loss of life occurred. The small acreage seeded that year gave small returns. . The steam-mill of Cutler & Elder was surrounded by water nearly all summer, and boats landed passengers in doorways of all buildings on the west and including one on the site of the Kern House.
"In 1856 a man named Arnett, his son and son-in-law, one Summerell, settled at Twin lakes. During the winter following they hauled saw logs
68
WRIGHT COUNTY, IOWA.
to Belmond. On one occasion the old man accompanied the son and son- in-law to a point near Hickory Grove, when a storm arose and the young men concluded to retrace their steps and return home that night, which they did. They stated that the old man concluded to proceed to Belmond, but seemingly changed his mind as his body was found north of the stated place of separation, frozen to death. Foul play was suspected. The re- mainder of the outfit sold out soon and moved to Missouri. The truth in the case will never be known in this world."
FIRST EVENTS IN TOWNSHIPS.
Among the first events in the county is the following list, many of which were verified by pioneers in 1874, when the state atlas was published by Captain Andrews, of Chicago, who made diligent research at that time to have only facts stated in his elaborate work of the state. We have cor- rected a few of his errors, and believe what he states concerning the first settlement in various townships, as then constituted (numbering eleven in all at that date ), cannot be rightfully disputed.
The first settler in Wright county was William Stryker, of Troy town- ship, arriving July 5, 1854, soon followed by Steve Wilcox and others.
The second settler was Maj. Minter Brassfield, of Liberty township, arriving August 12, 1854, to make permanent settlement, though he had been a hunter in Wright county as early as 1851, but claimed his home, and in fact did reside, at Hooks Point, Hamilton county, until the date above given.
The third settler was W. H. Montgomery, Liberty township, in Sep- tember, 1854, about which date also arrived "Steve" Wilcox, who joined the Stryker settlement in Bach Grove, Troy township.
The first store opened in Wright county was that of James L. Franks and Nelson Usher in the village of Sheffield, in 1855-6. This stock was well selected for a larger town or city trade, and entirely too fancy and high- priced for pioneers in Wright county, at that date. On account of this, the business was not a success and a few years later it was sold and moved to near-by Goldfield.
The first store in Goldfield, probably the second in this county, was opened at Goldfield by John Melrose in 1857. The next was that of A. J. A. Nicols in the old court house at Goldfield.
The first hotel on the west side of the county was known as the Elk Horn, kept by Jeptha Doty, who had a pair of huge elk-horns as his sign.
INGEARLY DAYS.
69
WRIGHT COUNTY, IOWA.
The first school house in the county was built in Troy township, of logs, and its dimensions were twelve by fourteen feet.
The first religious services of a public character in the county were also held in this building.
The first newspaper in Wright county was the Wright County Free Press, of Liberty, established by G. D. Ingersoll, in 1861 ( see Press chap- ter).
The earliest postoffice in Wright county was established at Fryeburg in March, 1856, with William D. Hard as postmaster.
The first election took place in 1855, during the month of August, as did all annual elections at that date. It was held in the log cabin home of S. B. Hewett, Sr., of Eagle Grove township.
· The orginal county seat was known as "Liberty," but now Goldfield includes the territory of old Liberty.
The first birth in Wright county was that of Amanda Montgomery, (laughter of H. W. Montgomery and wife, born March 21, 1855. She be- came the wife of B. Bjornson.
The first marriage was that of Alexander Usher and Lucy Ann Brass- field, December 27, 1855, by Judge Dean, county judge of Wright county. The same season Squire Eggleson married William Paine, aged seventy and widow Murphy, at the house of Doctor Crapper in Liberty township.
The first fire-proof safe in Wright county was the one bought at Alden by County Treasurer R. K. Eastman in the fifties.
The first settlers in Pleasant and Belmond townships were a party of three families who came early in 1854, and were scared away by reports that Indians were near this county. They never returned to locate. This . colony included John Beebe, who entered the land later owned by Fred Luick, at the north end of Franklin Grove. He sold his claim to Henry Lnick and Anthony Overacker, who occupied it in September, 1854. Ford, Hill and Murdock, a half-breed, also settled at Horse Grove the same year. A. Dumond. T. Oliver and Dr. L. H. Cutler came in next and located where now stands the west side at the town of Belmond.
The first to become actual settlers in what is now Iowa township were Robert Rowen, Edwin Ballou and Horace Riley, who arrived in the spring · of 1855, and were soon followed by Robert Duffy and James Riley.
The first settler in Wall Lake township was E. P. Purcell, who located on the southeastern shore of Wall lake in 1855.
The original settlers in Woolstock township were Gilbert Perry, John Boring and Roll Brewer, in 1858.
) 1
"IN EARLY DAYS ..
Extract from Wright County 'Mont- tor of March 23/ 1875, entitled "Our County Newspapers." , The Monitor was at that time owned by F. A. Gates and George, or "Deacon" Hath- way, under the firm name of Gates & Hathway:
1 1
C
In the year of our Lord 1860; the census showed Wright county to be occupied by the whole sum total of 653 people. The central portion of the county was as yet an unoccupied ground that even the most sanguine hardly ever expected to see settled up. It was then less than five years since the county had been organized and Liberty (Goldfield) made the county scat.
In the month of May, 1861, two men named G. D. Ingersoll and E. P. Lovejoy appeared in the town of Liberty and annonced their intention of starting a paper. 'As a natural consequence the pepole favored the idea, and the same month the first, number of the Wright County Free Press was issued. Ingersoll was a young man and Lovejoy somewhat older and married, and it appears that tills firm had a somewhat hard V row to hoe with their new venture, for in September of the same year we find the paper had suspended and ' Ingersoll had enlisted. For some : cause to us unknown, the 'Liberty people had acquired a grudge against either the Free Press or its propric -~ tors, and the "Knuckles" of the old- fashioned, hand press were spirited - away in the night and never turned t up until the whole outfit had been re -! moved to Fort Dodge. So ended the first attempt, tof establish a news- paper in Wright county.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.