USA > Iowa > Buena Vista County > Past and present of Buena Vista County, Iowa > Part 7
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 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66
BROOKE'S RECOLLECTIONS.
As has been stated elsewhere in this work. Hiram and William Brooke came to the county in the month of September, 1857, and remained here. Hiram Brooke died some years ago, but William is still living on the old place on section 14 in Brooke township.
Mr. Brooke's memory is clear on the events of the first years he spent in the connty. When he settled on his farm the Indians were not living in the county, but were in Southern Minnesota and around Spirit Lake in great numbers. They frequently came down along the Little Sioux river to hunt and fish, and camped in the timber in this county for days at a time. Trapping was good, and great quantities of mink, beaver, raccoons, an occasional otter and any quantity of musk rats could be canght. This helped ont the new comers wonderfully, as fur buyers came around at intervals to buy the pelts. These traders also carried clothing, shoes and other articles of barter and found a ready market, at exorbitant prices. for all they could carry with them.
This was providential as it was far to market and there was no way to go but to walk. Horses were not plentiful, most of the settlers having one or two vokes of oxen with which the stubborn prairie sod was broken.
There were traces of an Indian village to be found on section 11 in Brooke township, and Mr. Brooke believes a good sized village had been located there. The location of tents could be seen as stones had been piled up all about them, and these were still there. Pottery of Indian make was also found, as well as other evidences of the existence of the village.
The wandering Indians who came occasionally were a thieving lot, and stole horses and cattle at every opportunity. They were insolent to isolated settlers but when they met a considerable party of whites showed deference and wanted to be known as "Good Indians." willing enough to be friendly.
Many people came to the county during the years after Mr. Brooke first came, but few remained. They seemed to be restless and if they were not suited by the land that could be taken they moved on to another location. As there were very few settlers anywhere in northwest lowa desirable land was plentiful. A good body of timber and water- these were the two desirable things that must be in sight before the moving pioneer would consent to become a "squatter."
59
HISTORY OF BUENA VISTA COUNTY
Ambrose Mead and Gus Kirchner lived at Peterson, or near the present location of the town. Enoch Taylor also came early and located near the present site of Linn Grove. Mead and Kirchner did not leave at the time of the Spirit Lake raid, but all the other settlers along the river left the country.
The nearest mill was at Fort Dodge. There was also one at Webster City and for some years settlers went there for their grist. This was a long trip with a yoke of cattle and the trip was the event of the year with most families.
The early storms were terrific. Snow in huge quantities came early in the fall and stayed on the ground until late in the spring. The blizzards were severe and it was ahost certain death to be caught in the fierce winter storms if away from home. Mr. Brooke built his home in the shelter of the timber, having learned from experience of the difficulty of living where the wind had full sweep of the country.
William Sluyter was the first settler at the site of Linn Grove but did not remain. Iliram Hulbert bought the grove from Sluyter and was probably the first man to remain. George Sweet came shortly after and erected the first saw mill and grist mill at the place where the town now stands. The place was known as "Sweet's Mill" for some years. Sweet planned the town where it is now situated.
An occasional wandering preacher came up from Smithland during the `60s and held services at the Mead home in Brooke township.
Morris Metcalf was perhaps the first white child born in the county, in 1858. The Metcalf family lived on section 10, in Brooke township.
For more than twenty years after he came to the county Mr. Brooke never hauled to market a single load of produce raised on his farm. Farmers from a radius of many miles came to his place and bought everything he had to sell. During the war prices were very high, gold scarce, and the needs of settlers many. Mr. Brooke always .disposed of all he had. even in these times, as he won a reputation early for honorable dealing.
Ile says he could have bought all the land he wanted in the early days, out on the prairie, away from timber, for from twelve to fifteen cents an acre. But he did not want it, for two reasons. as he naively puts it. "One reason was that we must have the timber from which to build our houses and for fuel ; the other reason was that we often did not have the twelve or fifteen cents to spare for a useless luxury of land. The first question a man asked when look- ing for land was 'How far is it to timber ?' "
He remembers well when settlers came to the south part of the county in 1868 and 1869, before the railroad eame through. In the fall they came to the river for wood, coming up one day and cutting huge loads of poles, camping all night and returning the next day, and repeating the process until they had a winter's supply.
Sioux Rapids was the big town in those days, even if it was a small frontier village, and in the early '70s Mr. Brooke says James M. Iloskins, who is also still living at Sioux Rapids, was an invaluable help to settlers in going to the Sioux City land office and getting them located.
Mr. Brooke was often nominated for county offices and on one occasion
60
HISTORY OF BUENA VISTA COUNTY
was elected, but he never qualified. He always attended strictly to his farming on his large farm, to raising hogs which he hanled to market at Alta, a distance of sixteen miles, after the railroad came through, and in his old age it is good to know that he has a competence.
THE SECOND ERA OF THE COUNTY. 1866-1878.
The first entry in the minute book of the board of supervisors is dated November 12. 1866. and is interesting in showing how completely the county was cleaned out by the absconding county officials in that year. 6 The writing is in the hand of some one who assisted Abner Bell. clerk of the board, as Bell's chirography was something fearful to behold. and the complete record is as follows :
"Be it known that on this 12th day of November, 1866, the Board of Super- visors of Buena Vista county, Iowa, met pursuant to law for the purpose of - transacting the business of the said county at the home of Ilubbard Sanderson.
Present : William H. Trusty, Lars J. Suckow and Michael Hollingsworth, being all the supervisors of said connty.
And it appearing to said Board that Mordecai S. Jamieson. clerk of the District Court of said county and of the Board of Supervisors thereof, had removed from said county, said offices were declared vacant. William II. Trusty, chairman of said board, moved that Abner Bell, a citizen of said county be appointed to fill the vacancy in said office caused by the removal of said Mordecai S. Jamieson from said county, which motion was unanimously a- dopted, and said Abner Bell was declared Clerk of said District Court and said Board of Supervisors to hold until the next election, at which said vacancy can be filled by a successor to be elected and qualified. Said Bell qualified immediately.
Lars J. Suckow. Michael Hollingsworth.
Abner Bell. Clerk of the District Court of Buena Vista connty and Clerk of the said Board of Supervisors, appointed to fill vaeaney as stated in the fore- going appointment. appeared before the Board and qualified according to law, and filed his bond as clerk of the District Court in the penal sum of two thous- and dollars with Richard Ridgway, Hubbard Sanderson and Christian JJohnson as his sureties, which was approved by the Board.
Ordered that the clerk of the Board make an inventory of the books be- longing to the county. in his possession. The clerk of the board returned an inventory in pursuance of the foregoing order as follows, to-wit: forty-eight volumes Session Law of the Hth General Assembly. thirty-five volumes of the Session Laws of the 10th General Assembly, four copies of the Revision of 1860, six copies of the Report of the Adjutant General, two copies of the Towa
61
HISTORY OF BUENA VISTA COUNTY
Reports, two copies of the Session Laws of 1862, sixty-five copies of the Road Laws of 1864. one Tax Sale Book. two Assessor's Books, one Record of the Dis- triet Court, one Treasurer's Warrant Book, one Road Record, one Fee Book, one Judge's Warrant Book. one Register of Tax Receipts. one Court Docket, one Judgment Docket, one Tax List and one Judge's Warrant Book.
And it appearing to said Board that the books and record of said county had been destroyed or carried away by the former clerk and treasurer of said county and a search warrant having been issued therefore to the sheriff of said county, and he having made return that said books and records could not be found and there being no record of the taxes levied by the board for the year 1866. evidence was taken before the said board to the contents of the record thereof so carried away or destroyed as aforesaid, by which evidence it appeared that the following taxes were levied by the board and that the action of the board in relation thereto was properly ordered in the record aforesaid, viz: State Taxes, two mills to the dollar ;
County Taxes, four mills to the dollar;
Teachers' Fund two and one-half mills to the dollar ;
Road Tax, two mills to the dollar ;
Bridge Tax, two mills to the dollar ;
Relief, two mills to the dollar.
Wherenpon it was ordered by the board that the same be entered in the proceedings hereof as aforesaid.
And it was ordered by this board that the following taxes be levied and collected for the year 1866. viz:
County Contingent, two mills to the dollar;
Schoolhouse Fund, as ordered by the District Board of Barnes township for the year 1865. five mills to the dollar;
School Contingent, one mill to the dollar ;
Poll Tax, fifty cents.
Ordered that the clerk of the board procure at the expense of the county the following books, viz: one Bond Book, one Minute Book, two Justice's Doek- ets, one Tax Sale Book, one Receipt Book and one seal of the District Court. Envelopes to the amount of ten dollars and paper to the amount of ten dollars.
And it appearing to the board that various persons have from time to time assumed to act as the officers of the county and to bind the same by issue of warrants and bonds as issue of the county and it further appearing that the same were issued wholly without consideration and in fraud of the county,
It is ordered by this board that the clerk hereof enter upon the minute book the repudiation by this board of all such acts and the issue of said war- rants, bonds or other obligations and that the Treasurer be directed not to receive said warrants or other obligations or to pay the same without further action of the board.
Ordered that this board adjourn to meet at the house of Abner Bell on the 22d day of November, 1866.
Lars J. Suckow, Chairman. Attest,
Abner Bell, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors."
62
HISTORY OF BUENA VISTA COUNTY
The period from 1866 to the present time may be said to have been an era of honesty and good faith in the county. The new officers, elected in the fall of 1866, took their places at the opening of 1867 and affairs began to run more smoothly. The time of extravagant contracts for publie improvements was past, and few new obligations were assumed. These were necessary and were administered with care and caution on the part of the officials, who had the lesson of the profligate expenditures of the past few years before them. The lands were settling up and the county enjoyed a liberal revenue for that time. Much of the money that was paid into the treasury was for supposed tax levies on the swamp land that was sold by Mr. Lee. None of this land was ever taxed, although the treasurer always received all the money that was offered and carried it to the use of the county. Some of the holders of the swamp titles paid their money in good faith, believing they had a legal interest in the land, while others, mostly speculators, paid the money not as a duty but to obtain the treasurer's receipt which they desired to use in effecting sales, as evidence of title and good faith on their part. County warrants rapidly increased in value until they were worth their face in greenbacks, and the public. finances were in flourishing condition.
As shown by the record, one of the first acts of the new administration, by advice of Bell and others, was to repudiate all bonds issued prior to October 16, 1866. A great many of these bonds were afloat, it has been estimated that they numbered hundreds of thousands of dollars. and were held all over the northern states, wherever credulous men would buy them or hold speculators would take them at great discount. They were invalid on a technical ground, the seal of the District Court. instead of the County Seal, having been used in their execution. Notwithstanding this. judgments for something like nine thousand dollars were obtained against the county through the connivance of interested parties within the county, who desired these judgments to effect future sale for new issnes.
In 1867 two new schoolhouses were created. of which one was built at Sionx Rapids and the other, one and one half miles east of town.
In the fall of 1868 W. S. Lee returned from the cast where he had been selling his swamp lands. Some of his old enemies made things decidedly un- pleasant for him and he soon left again. He remained away for a year (' more. but came back in 1869 and made his home at Storm Lake where for many years he conducted the city hotel which was known all over the northwest as the most famous hotel in this section. Mr. Lee did not participate in public affairs, after his return but attended to his private affairs which were extensive. He lived at Storm hake for some years and later returned to Sioux Rapids where he made his home until his death.
W. S. Lee. in his time, was easily the foremost citizen of Buena Vista county. He was shrewd and had more ability than the average carly settler, therefore he dominated affairs. He took many contraets, some of which were highly profitable, but those who knew of his operations say he was always open and above board. Hle no doubt had much infinence with the officials but it is not on record that any of the contracts he made were ever repudiated by the 1
63
HISTORY OF BUENA VISTA COUNTY
voters of the county, when they were up for ratification at an election. So, if the county ever got the worst of the bargain it was the fault of the citizens. who approved the action of the officials. If Lee ever engaged in questionable (leals in his publie contracts that fact was never susceptible to proof in a court of law. Ife was wise enough to engage counsel and prepare his moves with caution. For years John F. Duncombe of Fort Dodge represented him and Mr. Duneombe was then the leading lawyer of this part of the state. Some years ago Mr. Lee left his notes with James M. Hoskins, and Mr. Hoskins prepared a series of papers dealing with early history in the county. from Mr. Lee's standpoint. which were published in the Sioux Rapids Republican. Many facts related in this work are gleaned from Mr. Lee's recollections, as set down by Mr. Hoskins, and form the authority for which statements are made.
During this year Hubbard Sanderson was county treasurer and trouble arose which threatened to involve the county into difficulty. It was charged that Sanderson refused to honor certain classes of connty warrants, also with permitting his son to act as his deputy without having qualified. Suit was commenced and the treasurer resigned. Suddenly. however, the suit was withdrawn. L. F. Clark, who had been appointed to fill vacancy. also resigned. the old treasurer was reinstated and peace hovered over the county once more.
Two new school houses were built in 1868, one at Linn Grove and the other near by, at the residence of O. H. Dahl.
FIRST SETTLEMENT AT STORM LAKE.
During the year 1867 an event happened which is important. It was the first settlement in the south part of the county. In the spring of that year Daniel B. Harrison located on what was afterward known as the L. J. Chamber- lain place, at the west end of the lake. and built a house. That fall George Holt eame and made his home near Ilarrison's. These two houses were the only ones in the vicinity until the following year when W. S. and J. A. P. Harlan came. locating southwest of the lake. John Endington came the same summer and settled north of the lake. The Dubuque and Sioux City railroad was sur- veyed through that spring. and the only thing visible on the prairie northwest of the lake was a series of stakes marking the railroad and the stakes at th section corners. Not a house or a sign of human habitation of any kind. But the settlers were coming. Many prospectors came during the summer of 1868 and by the middle of the following year there were ten families about the lake and many more settling in the country west. along the line of the coming rail- road.
In the summer of 1869 the settlers about the lake organized a school distriet with J. A. P. Harlan as sub-director. Mrs. W. S. Harlan taught the first school that winter in a schoolhouse that was erected and a census taken revealed twenty persons of school age. Rev. Thomas Whitely preached the first sermon
64
HISTORY OF BUENA VISTA COUNTY
on October 14, 1868, at the home of D. B. Harrison and soon afterward organ- ized a society.
Rev. Thomas Whitely was a circuit rider who had a territory of more than fifty miles up and down the Little Sioux river. He had heard of the settlement at the Lake and desirous of extending his already large territory came to see what could be done toward organizing a church. Twenty-two persons were present at the time he preached his first sermon and deep interest was taken in his efforts to organize a church. In July. 1869, he organized a class consisting of seven people, consisting of Elkney Andrews, leader, and Mrs. Andrews, Ann Whitely, Daniel Smith, Elizabeth Smith, Laura Clemons and Clara Clemons. This class continned until October 2, 1870, having in the meantime increased to twenty-two persons, when it was divided into two classes, one holding serviees at Storm Lake and the other at Alta. Mr. Whitely located here in 1868 and lived here for many years.
The country in the meantime was settling up fast. During the fall there were several pre-emption claims taken in Nokomis and Maple Valley townships, but the real rush came the following year. In Nokomis J. D. Adams took the first homestead, on section 14, and W. B. Farrar the first pre-emption on section 36. This was afterward changed to a homestead. Rev. J. C. Kelso, T. W. D. Orswell, Wilson Weddington, Chester Ilunt. Alfred Winters, John S. Maggs, Moses and J. S. Zeigler. W. R. Page. E. IT. Andrews, C. W. Petlon, Capt. J. W. Fee, J. E. Barnes, S. T. Porter, M. V. Davis, Robert Rolf, A. Bradfield, R. E., C. W. and A. W. Garberson. Geo. G. Espe and Hosea Bennet and sons came on during the year 1869 and the spring of 1870 and settled in Nokomis and Elk townships.
In Maple Valley. L. Gustine, Unele John Hollingsworth and sons, George and William. Jonathan and Emory Gustine, W. T. Phillips and HI. G. ITiggins came in 1869, with many others.
At Newell William Wart, L. T. Sweezey. Jesse J. Allee, and Mrs. Piper and sons settled about the same time, while in Coon township, north of Newell, M. D. Watkins. Jacob Davis, and the Cushman. Doxsee. Richardson, Speneer and Browne family located.
It has been stated that the railroad was first surveyed through in 1867. The first grading was done in 1869, and in 1870 the road was completed between Alta and Storm Lake. Such an event was of so much importance that it must be observed with proper ceremony. and on the 8th day of July, Messrs Barton, Vincent, Phelps and Carson drove the spikes that fastened the last rail, and traffic was opened between Sioux City and Dubuque.
An interesting incident of 1868 and '69 is timely here as showing one reason why the stream of settlers came so fast in these two years. During these years a great tide of immigration set out from Ohio, Indiana and Ilinois, and even farther east, for Kansas and Nebraska. During the war these two states had been heard much of because of the border warfare and their part in the abolition movement, just before the war. The names of these two states, be- cause of the stirring times, were household words and had been exploited in all the newspapers when the Kansas-Nebraska bill was being considered. It was
HIGH BRIDGE, SIOUX RAPIDS.
66
HISTORY OF BUENA VISTA COUNTY
of the county, wishing to establish roads and build schoolhouses. asked the board of supervisors to divide the county into townships. Up to this time the county was, for township purposes. included in one township, viz: Barnes. The supervisors promised to do something at a future meeting. In July they held a meeting in the upper room of the building to be used by the Gilbert, Halvorsen & Jacobsen store, yet unfinished. The supervisors used a work bench for a desk and saw horses for chairs, and were earnestly engaged in wrestling with problems of county government. The board was composed of Gardner Clough, chairman and David Evans and L. F. Clark, supervisors. George II. Turbett was auditor and acting clerk of the board. A delegation from the south part of the county attended this meeting composed of D. B. Harrison, J. D. Adams
and W. S. Harlan. At Struble's Hotel this delegation fonnd W. S. Lee and Dr. Stephen Olney seated at a table with a map of the county nearly completed before them, which divided the county into seven townships. After discussing the matter with the committee Mr. Lee. Dr. Olney and the committee went to
the board meeting. The committee proposed that the county be divided into four townships. each one of which would contain four congressional townships, but this proposition did not suit the people in the north part of the county who were jealous of their prestige on the board and wanted to keep a majority of the members of the board from that part of the county. As the law then stood each township elected a member of the board and by proper exercise of division a majority of the members could still be elected from the country which had been settled since 1856. The board plainly intimated that they did not propose to permit the newcomers to have too much anthority.
Dr. Olney finally showed the board his map, and from that it appeared that Coon had almost four. Storm Lake two and two-thirds and Nokomis one and two-thirds congressional townships. In comparison. Lee, Poland, Brooke and Barnes were small, but in spite of the protests of the committee Dr. Olney's map was adopted as the division of the board, and four districts were given to the north, while three districts divided the south half of the county.
The first township was named "Lee" in honor of William S. Lee, by the board. Harrison and Harlan were called upon to name their township and they suggested the name of "Storm Lake." Dr. Olney named the northeast township "Poland." his family having come from a place of that name in Ohio. J. D. Adams requested the name of "Nokomis" for the township from which he came, and "Brooke" was named in honor of William Brooke. Geo. W. Struble named the southeast township "Coon," from the name of the stream which flowed through it. "Barnes" was retained as the name of the township in which the county seat was situated. The names suggested were duly recorded and the division then made was retained for two years before any changes were made.
Three new towns were soon laid out along the new line of railway, Newell, Storm Lake and Alta. Newell was established as a town in 1870, Storm Lake, the same year and Alta in 1872. The postoffice at Newell was established in 1870, and at Alta the same year. The postoffice department readily granted the petitions which asked for these offices.
67
IIISTORY OF BUENA VISTA COUNTY
Newell was the most important town in the county. It had the advantage of being on an established road between Sionx Rapids and Sae City, and its trade with the northern part of the county. and Clay county as well, was extensive. Its business men were ambitious and cast longing eyes at the county seat, which had been held by Sioux Rapids since 1856. In 1872 an effort was made to change the location of the courthouse, and so certain were the business men at Newell that they could land it that a fine brick building was erected as an inducement to the county. But through shrewd manipulation by the Sioux Rapids business men the ambitions of Newell were defeated and the courthouse remained where it was. Storm Lake was more centrally located and also had a desire to some day seenre the county seat and the supporters of that ambition voted against Newell, and to keep the courthouse where it was for the time being.
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.