USA > Iowa > Allamakee County > Past and present of Allamakee county, Iowa. A record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. I > Part 40
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Forty years ago one of the great Iowa orchards was that belonging to Dudley W. Adams, Waukon, Allamakee county. Mr. Adams was a very prominent man of his day, being secretary of the Iowa State Horticultural Society, and master of the State and National Grange. He was a man of ability, and of property. He removed to Florida some thirty years ago and died there, about the beginning of this century. The evidences of his life and his influence are still thick at Waukon. But of his orchard, planted in hope and tended with faithful care, there is but a remnant left. There are about one hundred trees, now some fifty years old, scattered over a great pasture lot. The land is now in timothy and evi- dently has been kept in this state for some years. The trees are gnarly, many of them show dead branches and other evidences of decay, but as a whole it is re- markable how much vitality remains. There was but little fruit at the time of my visit last September, and the specimens to be found were inferior. But they seemed to be of the varieties recommended for the North fifty years ago-Perry Russett, Rawl's Janett, Plumb's Cider and Talman Sweet, Sops of Wine and Willow Twig.
The remarkable fact is that any of the trees have survived the long years of neglect since the orchard has passed into careless hands. Those who are familiar with the rewards of good care for trees-proper surgery and feeding -will concede at once the probability of paying crops from that orchard if it had been rightly treated.
Mr. Adams became early interested in the Patrons of Husbandry, and assisted in organizing the Waukon Grange in the winter of 1869-70, the third grange in the State. In 1872 he was elected Master of the State Grange, and a year later of the National body. At that time there were but about 1,200 subordinate granges in the United States, but at the expiration of his term of three years there were nearly 23,000 granges spread over nearly all the States and Territories. His industry and tact are still further exemplified in his persistent advocacy of the establishment of rail communication with the outside world for Waukon, by the Paint Creek route; his active participation in the organization of the company ; and, upon his election as its president in 1875, his energetic propulsion of the work to a successful realization of the hopes of the community during the twenty years preceding. In January, 1876, he re-engaged in his favorite occupa- tion of horticulture in his winter home in Florida, by setting out a small grove of orange trees. Later he was the fortunate possessor of over a thousand acres in that state, largely in orange grove. Mr. Adams was married January 31, 1856, to Miss Hannah Huestis, who was an able co-laborer in his horticultural avoca- tions, and an associate in his honors, having occupied the position of Ceres in the National and State Granges, as well as various offices in the gift of her home subordinate grange.
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Mr. Adams died February 13, 1897, in Florida. Mrs. Adams continued to make her home at Waukon, though traveling a great deal all around the world. Her death occurred Angust 6, 1904.
Another of the Waukon pioneers was Balser Fultz, who came in 1850 or '51, and made this his home most of the time until his death, which occurred March 17, 1910, in his eighty-second year. For many years he owned and operated the farm just north of Hon. J. F. Dayton's fruit farm, opposite the fair grounds, and claimed to have broken up most of the prairie sod on the site of Waukon.
David Alonzo Sackett, popularly called "Lon" Sackett, was a picturesque character never to be forgotten by those who had any acquaintance with him. l Ie settled about two miles southwest of town in 1852, but soon became indenti- fied with the village, and as a justice of the peace exhibited qualities of mind that might have made him a high name, had he been ambitious for education in youth. Rough and uncouth in appearance and speech he possessed a keen intel- lect and a love of argument that indicated natural power. His habits were such that he did not prosper, and dying in 1875 he left a widow with little means, who survived until February 3. 1895.
Of the Herseys and .Pratts who settled near town in 1850-51, mention is made in another chapter. They all came to Waukon soon after and made a deep impress of good character and enterprise on the village. A. J. Hersey was a close second to Woodcock in opening up a stock of merchandise in town, in a two-story frame building begun in 1853 on the site of the present Allamakee Hotel, and which was moved to the rear and now forms the west end of that hosteiry, encased in brick. A. Il., Augustine and L. W. Hersey, all engaged in mercantile pursuits in Waukon for many years. The mother of these four, Mrs. Phoebe ( Howard ) Hersey, widow of Noah Hersey who died in 1833, came to this county with one of her sons in '52 and died April 15, 1881, aged ninety, Lewis Washburn Hersey was born at Foxcroft, Maine, March 14, 1826, lost his father at seven and at fifteen began providing for himself. At twenty-five he came to Allamakee county and located on the east half northwest and east half southwest, section 17, Makee township (including a large part of the present iron mine), but soon after became interested in Waukon property and affairs. In 1856 he built his residence on the northwest corner of Allamakee and Pleasant streets which he occupied until replaced by the modern building, when C. O. Howard bought the substantial old house and moved it to his addi- tion in the north part of the city, where it now forms a part of the Ellison Orr home. In '53 Mr. Hersey was appointed clerk of the District court, and then was elected for a term of two years. In '58 he went into the boot and shoe business with A. G. Howard. In the fall of '59 with his brothers Augustine and A. J., and D. D. Doe, he started in general merchandise in the new frame building for years known as Hersey's Hall, now being razed in this summer of 1913. The later biog- raphy of Lewis Hersey is written in the history of his bank, the Baptist church, Masonic lodge, the railroad, and all public enterprises of a character beneficial to the community. He died January 6, 1903,and his wife, B. Ann ( Brayton ) Hersey, survived him five years. They were married July, 1856, but had no children.
Hersey's Ilall occupied the second story over the two south stores in the frame building alluded to. The building occupied lot 8, block 10, sixty-six feet north
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and south. A. J. Hersey bought this lot of the county in '55. In the fall of '58 he sold the north third of the lot to Hosea Low, and the middle third to Augustine Hersey, for $67 and $69 respectively. The building was erected in '59 and in October, 1860, he sold the south third to D. D. Doe for $1,200, and Augustine Hersey sold his middle third to Howard Hersey for a like sum. The sign, "D. D. Doe & Co.", in big letters on the south gable, which endured as long as the building, was painted by James Holahan, it is said, who came in 1863. Mr. Doe sold his lot to J. N. Eddy in '65 for $1,500.
Deacon Azel Pratt built many Waukon homes and business houses, his indus- trious four o'clock A. M. hammer, disturbing the slumbers of an entire generation. He raised a large family, and all his sons were industrious and patriotic, several of them serving their country through the Civil war. Two remain with us now, Hersey and Emory Pratt. The youngest, Jas. L., has conducted a newspaper at Elkton, South Dakota, for many years, and likewise has a fine large family.
John W. Pratt, nephew of Azel, served through the war in the 27th Iowa Infantry, as a lieutenant. He was afterward clerk of the District court for six years, and his remaining years were occupied in trade, until his death in 1897. All the foregoing named (and their wives) departed this life from homes in Waukon, except A. H. Hersey and wife, who had lived a while with their daughter in Illinois.
Mention has been elsewhere made of the pioneer physician, Dr. J. W. Flint, who settled on Makee Ridge soon after the Pratts, and later followed the flock into town. He was elected superintendent of county schools in 1858. He practiced in Waukon,during the Civil war.
The first physician in the village was one Dr. Burnham. He made an assault on Judge Williams, and shortly after left the country.
Dr. Isaiah H. Hedge located in Waukon in 1855, coming from Maine, where he was born in 1812. He was in active practice here for twenty years, until his health failed in 1875, after which he traveled a good deal, and spent his winters in Florida, his wife having died in 1879. He died August 2, 1888.
Dr. Thomas H. Barnes was a native of Ohio, born in 1832, and graduated in medicine at the Iowa State University in 1855, when he settled in Allamakee county for practice. In July, 1861, he raised a company of cavalry for the war, we believe the first company to go from this county, Company K, Ist Iowa Cavalry Volunteers, with which he served until December 16, 1864, when he resigned on account of physical disability and was mustered out with the rank of captain. He then returned to Waukon and resumed the practice of his pro- fession. In 1870 he was elected to the Board of County Supervisors, under the new law providing for three only, and was by them chosen chairman, serving thus for three years. In 1880, a particularly hot campaign, he was elected State Representative from Allamakee on the republican ticket. He later removed to Nebraska, where he died June 2, 1889.
Francis H. Robbins and Alvin Egbert Robbins were natives of Wyoming county, New York, coming to this county in '55 and settling first at Columbus, later on a farm near Waukon. Frank H. served through the war in Co. I, 27th lowa Infantry, becoming second lieutenant of that company. After the war the brothers engaged in the drug business at Waukon, and became prominent in business affairs and all public enterprises, as well as a power in political circles
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on the republican side. Egbert died January 12. 1892, and Frank, December 7. I908.
Mrs. Damon Whaley observed her ninety-third birthday in January, 1913. assisted by some of the ladies of the Waukon Methodist congregation, of which she is a member. She came to the vicinity early in the fifties, Mr. Whaley first going onto the Abe Bush place north of town, then to the Andy Ross place a few miles east. About 1861 they bought a small farm a couple of miles south of Waukon, where he died April 28, 1881, and Mrs. Whaley continued to live there until some twelve years ago when she moved into town.
SOME OF THE F. F. ALLAMAKEES
George M. Dean, well and familiarly known as Judge Dean, died at his home in Waukon, Monday, January 4. 1909, in his eighty-fourth year. Judge Dean was a prominent figure in the early history of Allamakee county, of which he was a resident for fifty-six years. About the year 1880, foreseeing the importance of gathering some records of the pioneer days for preservation ere the earliest settlers should have all passed to the beyond, he was influential in organizing an early settlers' association. He then set about collating the facts which, wielding a facile pen, he was well prepared to put into shape, and produced a series of very entertaining and reliable papers for the society, which were published in the local press and formed the nucleus of the county history prepared by E. M. Han- cock and published by W. E. Alexander in 1882, and from which liberal quo- tations are made in the present work.
Mr. Dean was born in South Glastonbury, Connecticut, February 22, 1825, of sturdy New England stock, several brothers attaining prominence in public affairs, one serving with distinction as congressman from Connecticut. He was brought up to the business of manufacturing cotton goods, and at the age of twenty-five came west to Quincy, Illinois, where he built and operated the first cotton factory with power in that state. In the fall of 1853 he came to Iowa, and bought a farm in section 23. Union Prairie township, this county, now the property of J. E. McGeough. In 1857 he was elected county judge, and served as such until January 1, 1860. During his term the present courthouse was contracted for, and built under his supervision, by C. W. Jenkins and J. W. Pratt, being completed in 1861. In 1863 he recruited a company of one hundred men and was mustered into service with them as captain, Company E, Ninth Iowa Cavalry Volunteers, serving as such until mustered out at Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1866.
At the close of the war Captain Dean located in business at Waukon, where for over thirty years he was engaged in the sale of wagons and farm implements, meanwhile taking influential part as a public-spirited citizen in the shaping of pub- lic affairs, both of the town and county. His was a capable and resourceful character. Positive in his convictions, firm and unyielding for what he believed the right, he was withal of a gracious and companionable nature, and left an unstained record both in public and private life. He was a charter member of both the Lansing and Waukon Masonic lodges. October 26, 1851, Mr. Dean was married to Miss Jane E. Hollister of his home town in Connecticut, to whom were born two sons and two daughters, one of each surviving him; George, in
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South Dakota, and Mrs. May Getchell, of Scappoose, Oregon, with whom the venerable widow makes her home.
The writer of these lines cherishes his memory as a kind employer, having earned some early dollars in the employ of Mr. Dean and his brother, John, at lettering of signs and painting wagons, in the little shop over the old bowling alley, on the west side of West street (where Johnson's machine shop now stands), in 1865 and '66.
William C. Thompson was born at Buffalo, New York, November 4, 1816, which continued his home until he was about nineteen, when he came west and lived for a time in or about Quincy, Illinois. He afterwards when to Rock Count, Wisconsin, and to Monroe, Green county, where in May, 1849, he mar- ried Miss Sophrona ( Reynolds) Thomas. In the same year he came to Alla- makee county and located a home at what became later known as Thompson's Corners, in Lafayette township, returning to Wisconsin that fall. In the spring of the following year, 1850, he again came to this county, with his family, and soon began to take an active part in public affairs. At the August election in 1851 he was elected sheriff, serving during the term of 1852-3; and again he was elected to this office for the term of 1860-1. In 1871 he was elected to the office of county auditor, and reelected thereafter three times in succession, when in 1880 he was succeeded by his son, Samuel R. Mr. Thompson was at one time in the mercantile business at Columbus, the first county seat. In June, 1853, he was one of the organizers of the "Allamakee County Agricultural and Mechan- ical Society" at a meeting held at Wantkon. In September, 1853, he was granted a license by the County court to establish and operate a ferry across the Missis- sippi river from "Red House Landing" in Fairview township. He was a life- long democrat, politically, and was one of the prime movers in the organization of that party in this county, at a meeting held for that purpose at Waukon, De- cember 24, 1853. Mr. Thompson resided at Waukon from about 1858 until his death, which occurred February 2, 1899.
Col. John A. Wakefield, referred to in the reminiscences of Mr. Raymond, was a man of considerable ability and diversified talents, as will be seen by the following condensed sketch of his life. Born in South Carolina in 1797. his fam- ily removed in 1808 to Illinois and settled near the present Lebanon, St. Clair county. Though but a lad Wakefield served as a scout in the war of 1812-15. Afterwards he studied medicine both in Cincinnati and St. Louis, but abandoned that profession for the law, was admitted to the bar in 1818, and the same year settled at Vandalia, where one of his acquaintances was young Abraham Lincoln. He enlisted in the army, raised for the Black Hawk war, and was later appointed surgeon because of his medical knowledge. He served throughout the war and was slightly wounded at the battle of Bad Axe. Returning home he wrote a "History of the Black Hawk War" from his daily journal and his fresh recol- lections, which was published at Jacksonville in 1834, and is considered good authority. The work was republished in 1907 under the auspices of the Caxton Club, of Chicago. Three years later (1837) he removed to Jo Daviess county, and in 1846 to Iowa county, Wisconsin. In 1849 he settled at St. Paul, where he was chosen judge, but finding the winters too severe in 1851 he removed to
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Allamakee county, Iowa, building a home on the north part of section 2, Makee township, which he had entered from the government the year before, and which later became the Ilugh Norton place. He also took land in section 9, later the Benedict Troendle place. He remained here three years, and in 1854 removed to Kansas, settling at Lawrence, where as a strong anti-slavery man he took active part in the struggle over that territory. He died in Kansas, June 18, 1873, after serving his adopted state in many capacities.
Robert Crawford was born in Crawford township, Coshocton county, Ohio ( the township was named after his father ), February 17, 1828, and at the age of nine years was left an orphan. When he grew up he learned the trade of wagonmaker, having been apprenticed for a term of three years. At the age of twenty-two he married Sarah Shannon, born also in Coshocton county, February 1, 1830, near Keene. After their marriage he worked at his trade for a short time at Bloomfield, Ohio, and in 1853, with one child, they came to Iowa as pio- neers, and settled in Franklin township, Allamakee county, on government land which he had selected a year or two previously. Here they engaged in farming. building a home and raising a family.
Robert and Sarah Crawford believed in the great importance of the home, the school, and the church. They were members of the Presbyterian church, and liberal in their contributions towards its maintenance. They stood for law and order, and took an active interest in the building up of the public schools not only in their own vicinity but in the county at large, and of their children several en- gaged in teaching at various times: Mr. Crawford held local offices, and was for three years a member of the county board of supervisors, always using his influ- ence conscientiously for the promotion of educational interests and good govern- ment generally. These good people of Scotch-Irish ancestry left the stamp of their character upon the formative period of our county's history in more ways than one for its welfare. They believed that one of the best legacies they could leave the world would be an intelligent, industrious, honest family; and their success in building up such a legacy is attested by, and is the reason for, this sketch.
Their children numbered fourteen. Two died in infancy before they came to lowa, the others grew to young manhood and womanhood-three girls and nine boys. James S. Crawford, the oldest son, was born at Bloomfield, Ohio, Decem- ber 20, 1851, but grew up on the farm in Franklin township. He attended the common schools at Volney, and in Bear Hollow, and later taught. For a short time he attended the Upper lowa University, and later the State University, and after two years again engaged in teaching, in Minnesota and lowa. He became superintendent of schools of Cass county, Iowa, and a member of the state edu- cational board of examiners. He represented Cass county in the General Assem- bly of lowa, in 1892, serving with Hon. J. F. Dayton of this county. He en- gaged in the newspaper business at Atlantic, Iowa, and later at Cherokee. He was an untiring and able writer, as he was a student and a thinker. In 1900 he was one of the custodians of the United States exhibit at the Paris exposition, his specialty being "The Education of Europe to Corn as a Food." He visited European countries before returning and studied at first hand their industrial conditions, the better to prepare for the working out of economical questions at home. He was employed during the Louisiana Purchase Exposition with the
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committee on exploitation. in 1904, where this writer last met him and briefly renewed an old acquaintance. He was called suddenly, March 2, 1913, while in Chicago, and buried at his home, Cherokee, Iowa. He leaves one son, an only child.
John Cliff Crawford, born in Franklin township in 1854, started out for him- self at the age of sixteen, his father consenting, and worked at farm work for a few years, and jat various kinds of labor, but kept up his reading and went to school as opportunity permitted. When he became prepared he began teaching. and has taught school for sixty-two months of his life. During this time he was acquiring a practical education himself, traveling about and becoming acquainted with men and affairs, and doubtless figuring out the whys and wherefores of conditions as he found them, with that love for investigation and reasoning which marks the man. Finally he entered the medical department of the Northwestern University of Illinois, from which institution he graduated in 1882. Locating at Waukon he began practice with Dr. T. H. Barnes, a pioneer physician; and for thirty years now he has held steadfastly to the practice of his chosen profes- sion in this town and surrounding country. The doctor is an advocate of the home as being the largest factor in the solution of many public questions. He has positive convictions, and the faculty of expressing them with clearness and force. He married Miss Flora Newell, a daughter of another large pioneer family, and their family consists of one son and two daughters.
Coe I. Crawford has been an untiring worker, and is a graduate of the Iowa State University Law School. In his young manhood he located in South Dakota, and has ever since been more or less prominent in Dakota politics : first, as county attorney for Hughes county ; second, as member of the senate in the last ter- ritorial council; and next a member of the constitutional convention for South Dakota. When the territory was divided and entered statehood he was elected to the first state senate of South Dakota. Then he was elected to the office of Attorney General for the state, for two terms. Following this, by a combination of circumstances he was defeated for Congress; but after a short rest from politics he was elected Governor of South Dakota, and from that position he was chosen United States Senator, his term expiring in 1915.
Nate S. Crawford, the sixth child, in his twenty-second year arranged to enter the State University at Iowa City, but the same year, October. 1881, he was cut off by an attack of typhoid fever, at Webster City, and his book of life unduly closed. He was the athlete of the family, of splendid physique, and his mother said he was never known to cry when a child-a characteristic of his make-up. He was a fine singer, an excellent student, and contemplated a course in medicine.
Joe H. Crawford is a successful agriculturist in Pipestone county, Minnesota, where he started by entering a claim about the year 1880. He has been tenacious and hung onto his land while the country developed, until now he has a fine farm home, is a member of the county board of supervisors, and identified with several business enterprises. Both he and Coe have families, and both are strong school men.
Lieut. R. T. Crawford was a graduate of the Iowa State College, also of Iowa Teachers College-then a State Normal. He enlisted as a private soldier in the Spanish-American war, was advanced, and at the close of the Cuban war was
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mustered out. Soon after this he was commissioned a second lieutenant of the Provisional Volunteer Army, and assigned to the 32d Regiment, with which he went to the Philippines. He served his term, and when he was expecting his discharge he received instead a commission as captain in the regular army. He accepted the position, and shortly afterward lost his life, on the island of Samar, while attempting to save his men from drowning. He succeeded in saving most of them, but the exertion was too great for even his remarkable physical strength, and he went down.
O. S. Crawford has made the cattle ranch business quite successful in South Dakota, and has the banner family, twelve children. He too, as may be inferred, is an active school man.
Effie and Allie were inordinately ambitious in school life, overworked, and passed away in early life. Jennie is a successful farmer's wife. Rollo, a very ex- cellent young man, was claimed by heart trouble at the age of twenty-one; so another promising career was shortened.
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