USA > Iowa > Buena Vista County > Past and present of Buena Vista County, Iowa > Part 12
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Brooke was named after ITiram and William Brooke, two brothers who came to the township in an early day and are supposed to have been the first perma- nent settlers.
Coon was named after the Raccoon river, which flowed through the town- ship as it was first constituted.
Elk is of unknown origin, but perhaps from the herds of elk that onee roamed over our prairies.
Fairfield, a name given by one of the settlers when the township was first set off.
Grant, named after Gen. Ulyssus S. Grant, of Civil war fame, and after- ward president. The township was created about the time Gen. Grant was serving as president.
Ilayes was set off as a township in 1878 when Gen. Rutherford B. Hayes was serving as president.
Lee was named after William S. Lee, an early settler and for many years the leading man of the county.
Lincoln was named by the first settlers who petitioned for the creation of the township, and after the Martyr President.
Newell was named after the vice president of the Illinois Central railway.
Maple Valley, named after the river which Hows through the southwest part of the township.
Nokomis, from the Indian name, and also after Nokomis, Illinois, where some of the first settlers came from.
Providence, origin unknown.
Poland. from Poland, Ohio, where the Olney family, early settlers at Piekerel Lake came from.
Washington. named after the first President of the United States.
Scott, after Gen. Winfield S. Seott of Mexican war fame. This township was once called "Emma" but this was soon changed.
Marathon, named by the C. & N. W. railway after an old Greek battle field. Albert City was first called "Manthorp" after a village of that name in Sweden. But the similarity of that name and Marathon cansed the postoffice department to change the name to AAlbert City.
Truesdale, named after W. H. Truesdale, the railroad magnate, and was so called by the M. & St. L. railway.
Rembrandt was first called "Orsland" as the town was laid out on the l'arm of Barney Orsland. The name was changed to Rembrandt by the post- office department.
Alta. named after Altai Blair, daughter of John 1. Blair, the president of the Hlinois Central railway. It was also so named because of its high altitude. Sioux Rapids, named so by buther H. Barnes, who laid out the first town
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site. The first part of the name is evidently from the Little Sionx river, but there were no rapids there and Mr. Barnes nover explained why he added the last part. The place was known as "Hollingsworth's Ford" at one time.
Juniata was first called "Northam" but by order of the postoffice depart- ment the name was changed to Juniata, because of a similarity between the name first chosen and Marathon. It is prononneed "Ju-ne-at-ta." and does not bear the Spanish pronunciation of "Wanita."
Linn Grove was early called "Sweet's Mill," as it was the site of an early water mill. owned and operated by George Sweet. The settlement which grew up at the place was afterward known as Lin Grove, and when the C. & N. W. came through the name of Linn Grove was adopted.
Storm Lake was named by an old trapper in the year 1855. A party of United States surveyors was encamped upon the lake shore one night when this old dereliet drifted into their camp and asked to remain over night. Prior to this time the lake had borne the name of "Boyer Lake." as it was supposed it was the source of the river of that name. But when the surveyors discovered the error of this supposition the name was abandoned, although it shows on the old maps that this name was used. The old trapper asked Capt. Parker, who was in charge of the surveyors, the name of the lake, and when told it had none. and that his orders forbade him from naming the lake, as that was a privilege reserved to old settlers, hunters or trappers, the old man remarked that he would give the body of water a name the next day. That night a furious storm broke out, and the tent in which the old trapper slept was blown down. The next morning, mindful of the event of the night, the name of "Storm Lake" was bestowed, and it has been known by that name ever since.
DRAINAGE.
It has ever been true, and always will be true, that when men are approached in the direction of their pocket book they become short sighted and cantions. In 1903 a movement was started to reclaim all of the low and swampy lands of the county by a scientific and comprehensive system of drainage. For some years certain areas in Coon, Grant. Scott, Lincoln. Newell. Fairfield, Poland. Lee and Elk townships had been unfit for cultivation because of an overflowed condition at certain times in the year. Private tile drainage had not accom- plished what had been expected because of an uncertain and inadequate ontlet. E. D. Iloxsey, county anditor. undertook to interest the board of supervisors in the matter and upon petition of land owners who were affected a number of drainage districts were created.
The work thus commenced has grown to a great magnitude and the money expended and to be spent, will reach several hundred of thousands of dollars. Brooke's creek has been widened and straightened. furnishing an excellent ontlet for tile drainage for many miles. The deepening. widening and straightening of the Coon river has been undertaken, and several other extensive projects are under way at this time.
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All this has met with violent opposition by men who were sincere in the belief that the end did not justify the means employed, and by others who did not favor the system employed. The drainage cases that have resulted from this difference of opinion have been fought out in the courts and the result has been that the entire drainage laws of lowa have been entirely revised and enlarged.
New districts are being established constantly and it is a matter of but few years until every aere of land in Buena Vista county can be farmed in any season.
NOTABLE FACTS.
The first saw mill in the county was erected at Sioux Rapids in 1867, and was of the portable kind.
The first flouring mill in the county was built by F. A. Blake at Sioux Rapids in 1870.
The first bank in the county was opened at Storm Lake in 1870 by Barton & Hobbs. Mr. Barton conducted the bank and Mr. Hobbs conducted the real estate transactions of the firm. Through the mismanagement of the bank by Barton the institution failed in 1874 and Barton absconded.
The first newspaper in the county was issued October 26, 1870, by Vestal & Young, and was called The Pilot.
The first load of building stone was hauled from Fort Dodge by W. S. and 1. A. P. Harlan in 1869. These men lived southwest of the lake and up to the time the railroad was built through hauled their fuel from the timber on the Little Sioux river at Sioux Rapids or the Coon river at Sae City, twenty miles to the wood pile either way.
The first schoolhouse in the county was built on section 12 in Barnes town- ship.
The first sermon preached in the county was at the home of W. S. Lee, and was delivered by a Methodist minister. The apportionment of salary for the charge was twenty-five dollars, which was sometimes sadly in arrears.
The first church building erected in the county was a Catholic church built at Storm Lake in 1869, and was a small frame building.
The first teachers' institute held in the county was at Sioux Rapids Decem- ber 12, 1870. Fifty-two teachers were in attendance, many of whom were from out of the county. A teachers' association was formed on December 16, 1870. with J. D. Adams as president, William Sherman of Barnes, G. Hadden of Brooke, C. J. Hill of Coon, F. A. Blake of Lee, J. C. Kelso of Nokomis, S. Olney Jr., of Poland, and Alma Gates of Storm Lake vice presidents. S. II. Lander was recording secretary, Eliza R. Adams corresponding secretary and O. P. Warner, treasurer.
The first entry of land, as shown by the United States entry book, was made on June 21, 1858, and was of two hundred and forty acres on section 1, township 93, range 38, in Brooke township. It was made by Col. Charles C.
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Orr of Sae City. IFiram and William Brooke entered one hundred and twenty acres in section 24 of the same township on the same day, and at the same time other entries were made of two hundred and forty acres on section 4 and three hundred and sixty acres on section 10, all in Brooke township. The land taken prior to that time was by "squatter rights," the system then practiced.
PUBLIC PREFERMENT.
Because of their ability several Buena Vista county men have been honored by election or appointment to high political offices in the state and nation. In political conventions, both in state and district affairs, Buena Vista county men have always been reckoned with as shrewd managers and this fact has led to reward in a substantial manner.
The first man in the county to win high office was Hon. Gifford S. Robinson. who came here in 1870. Ile was born in Tremont, Illinois, in 1843, his parents being both American born. Te was reared on a farm, and educated in the dis- triet school. academy and the Illinois State Normal. Ile was a graduate of the law department of Washington University, of St. Louis. Judge Robinson was a veteran of the Civil war. Hle commenced the practice of law in this county in January,. 1870, and was county attorney for several terms. Later he went to the legislature, serving in the House during the sixteenth general assembly and in the senate in the nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-first general assemblies. He was elected judge of the supreme court in 1887 and served until December 31, 1899. After retiring from the supreme court Judge Robinson was appointed a member of the state board of control in 1900, was reappointed in 1906, and will serve until 1912. Judge Robinson is a scholarly man and while a resident of this county took a deep interest in its early history. From a sketch pre- pared by him in 1870 the editor of this work has gained valuable information.
Judge Lot Thomas is another figure of prominence in northwest lowa. Ile served as county attorney for two terms, and while engaged in the practice of the law was engaged on every important case that arose in the county. First a resident of Sioux Rapids, he removed to Storm Lake where he made his home for more than twenty-five years. In 1884 he was elected to the district bench of the fourteenth judicial district, comprising the counties of Buena Vista, Clay, Diekinson, Emmett, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Humboldt, and Kossuth, and won the enviable reputation of being one of the foremost trial judges in Iowa. In 1898 he won higher honor by being the successor of Ilon. Geo. D. Perkins in the National House of Representatives, and he filled that place, representing the eleventh district, for six years.
Hon. F. H. Helsell of Sionx Rapids, who had won a high reputation in lowa as a trial lawyer of great learning and skill. succeeded Judge Thomas on the bench, and held this place for two years. But the life of a judge did not suit Mr. Helsell, and he tendered his resignation, after having filled out his term. Ile returned to the practice of the law with added experience gained on the bench and is one of the leaders of the bar of northwest Iowa today.
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HISTORY OF BUENA VISTA COUNTY
Hon. A. D. Bailie of Storm Lake was the next Buena Vista county man to succeed to the judgeship, following Judge Helsell in 1899. He has served now with distinction for ten years and bids fair to remain in his present position as long as he desires to occupy that place of trust and confidence.
Ilon. Geo. L. Dobson, who lived at Newell, and who represented the eounty in the House of Representatives in the twenty-first. twenty-second and twenty- third general assemblies, was elected secretary of the state of Iowa in 1896 and held that place for four years. Ile was also appointed consul general to China by President Roosevelt, but the climate did not agree with him, and he returned to Des Moines where he has since resided. lle is now serving his first term as county treasurer of Polk county.
Ilon. F. F. Faville was appointed United States district attorney for the northern Iowa district in 1907, and is now holding that place. He is, moreover, making good, and will no doubt be retained in that position as long as his party remains in power.
Ilon. A. C. Smith was appointed revenue collector for the northern Iowa distriet in 1904 and held the place for three years when the fortunes of politics caused an upheaval in the appointive places and Mr. Smith retired.
C. E. Cameron of Alta served for ten years as director and vice president of the Iowa board of agriculture, and three years ago was elected president. This position carries with it the presidency of the Iowa State Fair. Mr. Cameron is a thoroughgoing fair man, and the success to which the State Fair has attained is in a great measure due to his careful and prudent management.
L. A. Clemons of Storm Lake has for some years held the position of director for the tenth district in the State Horticultural Society.
II. T. Saberson, of Alta, was in 1901 appointed to an important position in the office of the secretary of state at Des Moines, and he is there to this day, now filling the place of chief clerk, having charge of corporation matters for Iowa.
In the '70s D. C. Thomas was an attorney at Sioux Rapids. living here until 1878. Ile then removed to Dakota territory, locating at Watertown. H practiced law and entered politics, and was appointed and served for a number of years on a board similar to the state board of control of Iowa.
In legislative halls Buena Vista county men have also accredited themselves well. Hon. G. S. Robinson and Hon. E. E. Mack have served terms as state senator, while a list of the representatives, who have represented us, is found in another place in this volume. The men who have been sent to the General Assembly have had a conspicuous part in framing legislation, and have been honored with important committee assignments. Senator Mack also served as chairman of the republican state central committee for two terms.
COUNTY OFFICERS.
A list of the county officers has been given from the organization of the county up to and including 1866. The officers who have served since that date are as follows :
VIEW OF THE LITTLE SIOUX RIVER.
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HISTORY OF BUENA VISTA COUNTY
AUDITOR : George II. Turbett, 1868-1870; Ole JJohnson, 1870-72; W. B. Farrar. 1872-78; R. B. Cummings, 1878-84; JJ. W. Warren, 1884-94; J. H. LaGrange, 1894-1902; E. D. Iloxsey, 1902-09; O. L. Hesla, 1909.
CLERK: Abner Bell, 1867-69; Geo. Killam, 1869; O. II. Dahl, 1869-70; O. P. Warner, 1870-76; Edgar E. Mack, 1876-88; JJ. W. Deupree, 1889-93; S. C. Bradford, 1893-99; J. J. Jacobsen, 1899-1907; C. C. Colwell, 1907. .
RECORDER : James George. 1867-69; O. II. Storla. 1869; J. M. Iloskins, 1870-72; Tom W. bebo, 1872-74; T. P. Lee, 1875-77; W. F. Okey, 1878-81; Daniel Smith. 1881-85; J. W. Gilbert, 1885-89; A. C. Smith, 1889-99; Loren Ellis, 1899-04; L. E. Yerington, 1905-09; II. E. Roberts, 1909.
SHERIFF: O. H. Dahl, 1867-69; Ryon Hard, 1869-75; Ed. E. Evans, 1876- 78; W. C. Weddington, 1878-82; E. F. Farnsworth, 1882-84; W. C. Weddington, 1884-88; O. James, 1890-94; C. J. Dunn, 1894-98; E. L. O'Banion, 1899-1900; C. J. Parker, 1900.
TREASURER: II. Sanderson, 1867-70; M. Hollingsworth, 1870; N. W. Con- (Iron, 1870; L. A. Clemons. 1870-74; J. W. Ayers, 1874-78; M. D. Watkins, 1878-82; Geo. G. Espe, 1882-87; John Halverson, 1887-90; S. W. Hobbs, 1890- 91; (1. W. Moore, 1892-96; Geo. W. Austin, 1896-1902; S. E. Conch, 1902.
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS: O. HI. Storla, 1867-69; F. A. Blake, 1870; J. D. Adams, 1870-72; Jacob Davis, 1872-76; A. JJ. White, 1877-80; J. B. Peach, 1881-82; 1. C. Harlan, 1882-83; C. J. Conner, 1884-88; Thos. Walpole, 1888-95; J. E. Durkee, 1895-1907: J. E. Cundy, 1907.
SURVEYOR : Daniel Smith, 1871-76; S. W. Ilobbs, 1876-80; R. DeLoss, 1881-82; J. D. Adams, 1882-86; R. Olney. 1887-89; O. E. Bowers. 1889-95; F. M. Harding. 1895-1905; A. E. Brunson, 1905.
CORONER: Thos. Whitely, 1870-78; E. W. Foy, 1878-80; Thos. Whitely. 1880-88; L. M. Johnson, 1888-1900; R. H. Parker, 1900-06; C. W. Ellyson. 1906.
STATE REPRESENTATIVES.
The first mention that can be found of Buena Vista county in the proceed- ings of the General Assembly occurs in the Fourth General Assembly, which met at Iowa City on December 6, 1852. Joseph L. Sharp in that session represented a distriet not numbered, comprising twenty-nine counties from the western one-third of the state, of which this county was one. In the Fifth General Assembly the forty-second district was created, comprising sixteen counties in northwest lowa, of which this was one. Thos. B. Neeley held the certificate of election but a contest was instituted by Green L. Clark, and the same was
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HISTORY OF BUENA VISTA COUNTY
decided in favor of Clark, on January 5, 1856. In the Sixth General Assembly N. G. Wyatt represented the sixteenth district, composed of twenty-two counties in northwest lowa, embracing Buena Vista. In the Seventh General Assembly, which met January 11, 1858. Cyrus C. Carpenter of Fort Dodge represented the thirteenth district, comprising eighteen counties in the north central part of the state, of which Buena Vista was one. In the Eighth General Assembly John E. Blackford of Algona represented the sixty-first district, comprising seven counties. of which Buena Vista was one, the assembly meeting on January 8. 1860. Charles C. Smeltzer of Peterson represented the fifty-eighth district, comprising six counties, of which this was one, in the Ninth General Assembly which met JJanuary 13, 1862. James W. Logan represented in the Tenth General Assembly the sixteenth district, which was composed of the counties of Webster. Calhoun, Pocahontas, and Buena Vista. Mr. Logan's home was at Fort Dodge. In 1866 the county was placed in the fifty-seventh district, with Robert Alcorn of Homes, Webster county, as representative. The district then embraced Clay, Buena Vista. Pocahontas and Webster counties.
In the Twelfth Assembly Hon. Eli Johnson of Cherokee represented the fifty-seventh district, which was composed of Sioux, O'Brien, Buena Vista and Cherokee, and the unorganized counties of Lyon and Osceola. This was in 1868. In the Thirteenth General Assembly the county was placed in the sixty-eighth district, composed of Sac. Buena Vista, Cherokee and Clay, and Hon. Geo. II. In the Fourteenth Assembly
Wright of Grant City was the representative. which met January 8, 1872, Carroll county was substituted for Clay, and Hon. F. A. Blake of Sioux Rapids represented the district. the county was placed in the seventy-first district and Pocahontas, Buena Vista, Palo Alto and Emmett constituted the district. Eldin J. Hartshorn of
In the Fifteenth session Emmettsburg was the representative. In the Sixteenth Assembly the district remained as before and G. S. Robinson of Storm Lake was representative. In the Seventeenth Assembly, which convened in 1878, L. II. Gordon of Newell represented the seventy-second district composed of Cherokee, Buena Vista,
Pocahontas, and Sac. In the Eighteenth Assembly the distriet was the same as before and D. J. MeDaid of Sac City was the representative. In the nine- teenth the district remained unchanged, and the representative was Horatio Pitcher of Aurelia. In the Twentieth. Ida and Buena Vista counties com- prised the seventy-fifth district with JJesse Kennedy of Ida Grove as representa- tive. The Twenty-first Assembly saw no change in the district, but Geo. L. Dobson of Newell was the representative. He continued in the Twenty-second and Twenty-third Assemblies.
In 1890 Buena Vista county was set off into a district by itself and I. T. Saberson represented the county in the Twenty-fourth Assembly. The repre- sentatives since then have been :
Twenty-fifth. Il. T. Saberson. Twenty-sixth. D. C. Miller of Newell.
Twenty-seventh, D. C. Miller of Newell.
Twenty-eighth. A. JJ. Wilson of Marathon.
Twenty-ninth. A. J. Wilson of Marathon.
Thirtieth, F. N. Buckingham of Alta.
Thirty-first, F. N. Buckingham of Alta.
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HISTORY OF BUENA VISTA COUNTY
Thirty-second, HI. L. Pierce of Linn Grove. The district was at that time designated as the seventy-eighth district.
Thirty-second, E. H. Cunningham of Newell.
HIon. II. L. Pierce has the honor of being the ouly democrat who ever represented the county in the legislature.
STATE SENATORS.
Buena Vista county has formed a part of several senatorial districts_since its organization, and even figured before it was a separate county. The first record we find in the Senate is in 1856 when James D. Test of Council Bluffs represented the twelfth senatorial district. composed of the counties in the western quarter of the state, of which Buena Vista was one. This was in the Sixth General Assembly and since that time the Following men have represented us in the upper house of the Assembly :
Seventh Assembly, W. Il. Pusey of Council Bluffs.
Eighth, John F. Duncombe of Fort Dodge.
Ninth. John F. Duncombe of Fort Dodge.
Tenth and Eleventh, George W. Bassett of Fort Dodge.
Twelfth and Thirteenth. Theodore Hawley of Fort Dodge.
Fourteenth and Fifteenth. William II. Fitch of Lake City.
Sixteenth, Eldon J. Hartshorn of Emmettsburg.
Seventeenth and Eighteenth, Albert H. Lawrence of LeMars.
Nineteenth, Twentieth and Twenty-first, G. S. Robinson of Storm Lake. Twenty-second. O. A. Garlock of Rolfe.
Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth, E. E. Mack of Storm Lake.
Twenty-fifth and Twenty-sixth, G. W. Henderson of Rolfe.
Twenty-seventh and Twenty-eighth, Parley Finch of Humboldt. Twenty-ninth and Thirtieth, E. K. Winnie of Humboldt.
Thirty-first and Thirty-second. J. II. Allen of Pocahontas.
Since 1878 the county has been a part of the fiftieth senatorial district and as now constituted the district embraces Buena Vista. Pocahontas and Humboldt counties.
JUDICIAL DISTRICTS.
On February 13. 1851. the General Assembly ereated the Sixth Judicial District of Iowa which comprised thirty-two counties in the western part of the state. from Ringgold county on the south to Lyon county on the north. One judge was elected to act for this large but sparsely settled district. the first being .James Sloan, who qualified on April 7. 1851. He was succeeded by Allen A. Bradford on May 4, 1852, by appointment from Gov. Hempstead. Judge
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HISTORY OF BUENA VISTA COUNTY
Bradford resigned also and E. II. Sears was appointed by Gov. Grimes on Jannary 9, 1855 and was afterward elected by the people.
The Seventh District was created February 9, 1853. and also included a portion of the territory of the old Sixth. Samuel II. Riddle of Pottawattamie county was appointed judge on June 14. 1853, and was afterward elected. During this time Buena Vista county was attached for judicial purposes to Wahkaw (Woodbury ) county.
The Fourth Distriet was created March 20. 1858, and here we begin to figure as a county. Four judges served for this district and during that time Buena Vista county began to be honored by having a county court. Asahel W. Hubbard was elected October 12, 1858; Isaac Pendleton was elected October 14, 1862; Henry Ford was elected October 9, 1866 and C. J. Lewis was elected October 13, 1874.
The Fourteenth District was organized January 1. 1877 and Ed. R. Duffie of Sac City was elected judge November 7. 1876. Lot Thomas of Storm Lake was elected November 4, 1884. As constituted at that time the district com- prised eleven counties, eight of which are now in the present Fourteenth Dis- triet. The other three were Sac, Calhoun and Ida.
In 1887 the present Fourteenth District was created by the legislature, composed of the counties of Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson, Emmett, Palo Alto. Pocahontas, Ihumboldt and Kossuth. The judges who have served this district are :
George II. Carr of Emmettsburg, elected November 2, 1886.
Lot Thomas of Storm Lake, reelected 1888.
W. B. Quarton of Algona, appointed October 13, 1894, to fill vacancy caused by the resignation of Judge Carr.
F. H. Helsell of Sioux Rapids, appointed in 1898 to succeed Lot Thomas, resigned.
A. D. Bailie of Storm Lake, elected in 1900 and is now serving.
D. F. Coyle of Humboldt, elected 1906 and is now serving.
REMINISCENT.
On the following pages will be found a number of incidents of interest which have been taken from the writer's note book, as given by old settlers, and from the files of the newspapers :
"This is the most God forsaken country you ever saw" wrote one of the pioneers in 1876. "The grasshoppers eat you up in the summer and you freeze to death in the winter." Such a doleful wail sounds rather queer now, but it was no doubt very true when it was written as there were many discouraged people in all parts of northwest lowa. Many people left. but those who stayed were well repaid for their privation a few years later.
"We could always tell when our neighbors were getting supper by the puff of fire that would come from the chimneys where slough grass was being burned. And everyone burned it, as coal was too high, and money too scarce. Twisted
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