USA > Iowa > Fayette County > Past and present of Fayette County, Iowa, Volume I > Part 31
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eries in the county gather only cream, and the hauling of milk is a thing of the past. With the development of the creamery and the hand separator, there was a large reduction in the work for the women in the care of the milk and the butter; and with the lessening of these cares and responsibilities on the part of the farmers' wives, there was a gradual increase in the attention to poultry. For many years during the early settlement of the county, farmers only kept small flocks of poultry, which largely looked after themselves. The eggs and butter were sold at about the same price-of five or six cents per pound, for the butter, and about the same per dozen for eggs-when there was a market for them at all. After the establishment of the creamery, the in- crease in the amount of poultry and eggs produced on the farm was very rapid, until at this time it is one of the important industries and one of the regular sources of income. With the increase of poultry there was a gradual im- provement in the kinds of fowls kept on the farm, and the desire for more and better poultry grew very rapidly. The early pioneers, when they had only small flocks, were very rarely troubled with the many pests against which the poultry raiser, at this time, has to contend. There was but little trouble from mites, lice, roup, cholera and rats, and many other troubles incident to large flocks, and possibly to the more tender kinds of fowls now kept.
With the advancement from grain to other methods, there was a large improvement in the kinds of cattle kept, and a few of the more enterprising stock men built up improved herds: First a small herd of Short-horns and Herefords; later a few Devons, followed shortly after by a small herd of Holsteins ; these followed by Jerseys, Brown Swiss, Polled Angus and a few other breeds. Each of these strains have their good qualities, and the native cattle were gradually improved by the introduction of better blood and better methods of care for the stock, until today Fayette county is one of the great stock-raising counties of the state, with many herds of fine thoroughbred cat- tle. When cattle were few, and were neglected for the raising of grain, many died every year from exposure and lack of proper care, a loss which has been practically eliminated by the introduction of better cattle and better facilities for their care, until at this time the loss of an animal from exposure and neg- lect is very rare. With the increase of the stock industry, came the custom of dehorning, which at first was regarded as very cruel, but which soon came to be recognized as much more humane than the former method of keeping large numbers of cattle together with their horns on, for defense and mutual abuse. It took about ten years to introduce this custom generally, and now it is a rare thing to find cattle of any description with their horns on. Neither milch cows nor stock cattle are kept more than half as long as they formerly were.
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For the first fifteen years after the settlement of the county began it was not at all uncommon for stock cattle to be kept until they were five or six years old, before they were ready for the market, and some even reached a riper age. All of this has been changed with improved stock and improved methods, much to the advantage of the farmers.
Along with the improvement in the cattle and poultry, there was a like improvement in horses. For the first twenty years in the settlement of the county, the ordinary work horse weighed from nine to eleven hundred pounds, with the exceptional team that weighed as much as twelve hundred each. After the building of better barns, and the introduction of tame grasses, there begun to be a recognition of the fact that there was a better market and better service in the heavier horses. In an early day a good deal of attention had been paid to racing and similar sports, and a horse that could run was prized above the horse that could only work. After the running horses, came the trotting horse fever, which was a large factor in the raising of that class of horses for quite a number of years. But the draft horse gradually came into favor, and with the importation of heavier horses from other countries, there was a decided improvement. This improvement has been continuous, until the draft horse is the ordinary horse produced on the farm, and the weight has increased in the county from about ten hundred and fifty to sixteen or eighteen hundred pounds, with a good many that weigh a ton. This has given the farmers better teams for farm work, and a better class of horses for sale, to supply the demand in the cities for heavy freighting. This improvement in the kind and number of horses raised has gone on gradually until at this time it is one of the important industries among the farmers of the county. The growing of sheep has never been so much an industry as some other kinds of stock. There have always been some good herds in the county, however, some of them of very fine breeding; and during the war times there was quite a number of large herds of the Merino breed. But these were nearly all dis- posed of as unprofitable during the low price for wool, shortly after the war. But there has been a gradual growth in the number of small flocks of good sheep, in recent years, and they have been profitable for some time, but Fay- ette county has never been what might be termed an extensive sheep-growing county. The farmers of the county have given more attention to the raising of hogs, which came in, largely, with the development of the dairy. Before the failure of wheat, hogs were not raised very extensively, except by a few farmers ; but after the change to stock, and the increase in the amount of corn planted, the number of hogs was increased very much and their quality im- proved. The grade and uniformity of the hogs raised in the county is un-
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doubtedly ahead of any other kind of stock, and has been a source of very great profit. This part of the state has never been seriously troubled with hog cholera, like the southern part of Iowa and many other states, so that the net returns have been very satisfactory. Nearly all the well-bred hogs have about the same conformation and habits of growth, and there is very little difference in the breeds, outside of the color, as they are produced at this time. The time for maturing hogs, like the time for maturing cattle, has also been very greatly reduced.
Along with the improvement of different kinds of stock has been a very great improvement in the facilities for providing water and shade, in which the planted groves and the wind mills and engines have taken the place of the spring and its willow shade, and the old dug well is scarcely to be found. The soil of the county has proven to be fully as well adapted to stock raising and dairying as it ever was to wheat, and the excellence of its limestone water and the grasses growing on the limestone soil, have produced some of the best butter and cheese in the world. The county is well drained, has fine water, exceptionally good soil, and an abundance of building stone, sand, and clay for brick, and was fairly well supplied with a good quality of timber in an early day. Vast numbers of beautiful groves have been planted and grown on the prairies, and there are now probably fully as many trees growing in the county as were here when it was first settled.
Along with the other industries, farmers have not been neglectful of the planting of orchards and other fruits. For many years it seemed that fruit could never be grown successfully in the county. This resulted, largely, from the fact that the early fruit trees were brought from eastern states, from a different soil and different surroundings, and did not seem to do well in this county. But the principal mistakes were due to the want of adaptation of certain prolific eastern varieties to our soil and climate. These have been eliminated, in great measure, by intelligent experiments. Some persons with more persistence than their neighbors, and willing to give a little more at- tention and care to the raising of fruit, succeeded in saving now and then a tree and some particular kinds of small fruit. From these beginnings there has been a gradual increase in the number and variety of the fruit trees, which have been made to grow, and even do well in the county, and small fruit is raised in great abundance with very moderate effort. The fruit industry was very much improved by a few enterprising parties who established nurseries ; and by saving the best, which were distributed throughout the county, it came to be a fairly good fruit county, with not much more failure than is found in other sections of the country. It is likely that with the increase of population,
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more and more attention will be paid to fruit of all kinds, until the county will fully supply, not only its own needs, but will have a surplus.
It would be a great pleasure to mention the many enterprising citizens who have given of their time and money, and have shown special enterprise in the improvement of stock, grain and fruits, but the list would be too long for an article of this description. No doubt most of them will be properly credited with their efforts in the biographical portion of this work. They have contributed largely to the upbuilding and success of agriculture and horti- culture in the county, and deserve great credit therefor. Every fine herd of cattle ; every fine horse, and other animal; every beautiful grove, and every fine orchard, is the result of their pioneering ; and very much of the prosperity which has covered the county with lovely farm homes and splendid buildings, is due to their leadership. It is men like these who have kept up the county fairs and farmers' institutes, and have led in all that goes to make a prosperous and happy people in a great, rich and well developed county. Along with all the prosperity and greatness of the county, there has been a parallel develop- ment of its schools, its churches, its newspapers, its highways and towns, equal to that of any county in the state, and it has developed a large number of young men and women, many of whom have taken large part in the affairs of their state and nation, while others have gone out to assist in the develop- ment of other states and newer communities. This has always been a county with a very high order of citizenship, ready to take an active part, and give active assistance to any enterprise or movement for the public good and for the general uplift of its citizens. It sent a very large percentage of its pioneer citizens into the Union army at the time of the Rebellion, and has been proud to honor its veteran soldiers from that time to this. Most of its pioneer set- tlers have gone to their rest, but they are succeeded by sons and daughters and those who have joined them with the same high ideals; the same industry and enterprise ; the same respect for law and order, and all that contributes to good citizenship, which was so characteristic of those who took its native timber, and its native prairie from the hand of nature, and made it a great and prosperous community.
This being almost entirely an agricultural county, whatever of success has attended its development, is based on the labor, economy and industry of those who have tilled the soil. Every town; every highway, with its bridges and grades ; every public building ; its splendid farm homes, with fine houses, barns and groves ; its herds of cattle and growing crops, are the direct result of the development of agriculture in the county. It would be hard to find an equal population anywhere which was more abundantly supplied with the ma-
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terial wealth that should lead to happiness and contentment; and all this has been brought about within the life-time of many of those who were among its first few pioneers. All honor to those pioneers who laid the foundation of prosperity broad and deep, and who have been the guiding influence in building up a rich and prosperous people, in a great county, glad to be a part of a great state in the most advanced nation of the world.
FAYETTE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY AND MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.
Discussion as to the wisdom of organizing an association with the above title took tangible shape during the winter of 1854-5. Among the active pro- moters of the enterprise were Sylvester Underwood, late of Clermont, P. L. Hinkley, J. W. Rogers and William McClintock, of West Union (all dead), and the first meeting to ascertain public sentiment on the question was held at the Baptist church in West Union. Hon. R. A. Richardson, then of Illyria township, but since deceased, was called to preside, and Oliver Somers was appointed secretary.
The committee on constitution and by-laws consisted of P. L. Hinkley, George Murphy and John Gharky, and these gentlemen presented their re- port at once, and the documents presented were adopted by the waiting audi- ence without the change of a word. It was evident that the time was at hand when the people felt able and willing to sustain a county fair. March 5, 1855, is the date from which the society has existed, and from that far-away day to the present there has not been a year that an effort was not made to hold a county fair. Some of them were not as successful as the state of the treas- ury demanded, for debts had to be incurred and annual expenses were con- stantly multiplying; but with the increase of population, and the removal of depressions prior to and during the Civil war, the society began to prosper, and but for the expenditures necessary to keep abreast of increasing require- ments, it would long since have been out of debt. But the grounds have been twice enlarged since the first purchase, and there are but few fair grounds in the state that are better equipped with exhibition buildings, commodious and modern barns for horses and cattle, and swine, sheep and poultry buildings. A new office building has been added to the equipment within recent years, two large barns erected, and smaller buildings constructed along sanitary lines, which are not usually so constructed on county fair grounds. The half-mile track has been kept in perfect condition, not only during the fair, but at all times when it can be used for training purposes, or for the accommodation of automobile owners desiring to test their machines. The grounds are electric-
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lighted throughout during the fair week, and have an ample supply of pure water furnished, conveniently, by the city water plant, while the telephone in the principal buildings brings the visitor or fair official in close touch with home or business.
These, and many other features of convenience and comfort, have been established at large expense, and the society is practically out of debt, and is recognized as one of the most successful agricultural societies in the state. It has always been well managed by capable and honest officials, who have had not only the interests of the society in view but the people at large as well. The fair of 1910 was one of the most successful in the history of the Fayette County Agricultural Society.
OTHER FAIRS.
There have been exhibitions of stock and farm and garden products from very early times, under color of "fair associations." The first of these, we believe, was held in Illyria township, if we except the county organization previously mentioned. This meeting, known as the Illyria Township Fair, was held on the 28th of September, 1859, on which occasion numerous ad- dresses were made by local men, among whom were Hon. S. B. Zeigler, Col. R. A. Richardson and Judge Newcomb. The exhibitors who received pre- miums were Henry Wyckoff, John Herriman, Joseph Gibson, Jehiel Aber- nathy, William Pritchard, Dexter Follensbee, Samuel Holton, Walter Hum- phrey, Dr. Jonathan Cruzan, Rev. George Watrous, S. R. Eaton, William Morras, J. W. Fisher, Joseph Gibbon, John Sargent, William Welsh, F. H. Chapman, Thomas Kinsey, R. A. Richardson, Charles Evans, Joseph Hols- worth, Thomas Smith, Lester Graves, Mrs. Sargent, Mrs. S. R. Eaton, Mrs. Humphrey, Miss C. Eaton, Miss Cassie Kinsey, Mrs. C. M. Eaton, Miss Dora Eaton. Eighty-one premiums were awarded. Of the foregoing list of names, representing most of the early pioneers of Illyria township, twenty-two of the thirty-five are known to be dead.
This fair association did not survive the first effort, but was merged with the county association, in which most of the members took an active interest during their lives.
The town of Brush Creek, now known as Arlington, established a fair association in the eighties, called the "Tri-County Association," the patronage coming from Clayton, Buchanan and Fayette counties. This organization was quite successful for a number of years, though the ambition of its pro- moters was never fully realized. The management was always zealous in
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giving its patrons the kind of entertainment which they seemed to demand, and the Brush Creek fair was always popular with the people. But with the phenomenal development of the city of Oelwein, and the establishment of a fair association in that town, the Brush Creek fair association was absorbed by it. Both these towns being in the south part of the county, and not far distant, it seemed that the one could serve the purposes of both, and the Oel- wein association maintains a successful organization and gives an exhibition each year.
FINE STOCK BREEDERS' ASSOCIATION.
An organization with the above title was organized on the 15th of March, 1876, as an auxillary to the state association. The meeting was held at the office of C. R. Bent, in West Union, with G. W. Brown, late of Oelwein, in the chair. Mr. Bent was secretary of the meeting. This organization flourished for many years, and was probably one of the most effective agencies at that time necessary to the improvement of live stock on the farms. This matter is presented elsewhere in this article and needs but a casual mention here We find in the list of names of officers and members of this association the men whose timely efforts brought about a revolution in stock raising in Fayette county, particularly in horses, cattle and hogs. But we are pained to notice that out of a list of twenty-five organizing members, fifteen are dead and sev- eral others are removed from the state.
We notice that there was a disposition to criticise the Fayette County Agricultural Society for the liberality displayed by that society in promoting horse-racing for large purses, while the premiums offered for winning live- stock were not such as to justify the expense of entering it. During one or two seasons, resolutions were passed by stock owners declining to exhibit their stock, and one was adopted wherein it was declared that "horse-racing. at agricultural fairs is detrimental to the interests of agricultural societies, and drains their treasury." It is believed that this timely agitation had its effect in modifying and equalizing the purses and premiums, and also in securing recognition of meritorious articles not previously considered among those worthy of awards. It is gratifying to note the improvement along this line in the recognition of educational work, and the encouragement thereby given to teachers and students of all grades.
FAYETTE COUNTY FARMERS' MUTUAL FIRE ASSOCIATION.
This, one of the earliest mutuals organized in Iowa, and now ranking fourth in strength, was established March 24, 1874, with headquarters at the town of Fayette. The charter officers were : Andrew Ainsworth, president ; J.
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M. Lewis, secretary, and P. L. Champlin, treasurer. In order to comply with the insurance laws of the state, in 1894 it was reincorporated. The present offi- cers are : James Conrad, president (Maynard) ; John Jamison, vice-president (Oelwein) ; J. E. Holmes, secretary (Randalia) ; William H. Stone, treasurer (Waucoma). The board of directors includes the officers (save vice-presi- dent), and Chauncy J. Briggs, of Oelwein, D. W. Wilbur, of Hawkeye, Fred Sorg, of Hawkeye, F. Hahn, Oelwein, C. Miller, Clermont, James H. Wilson, Arlington, A. Kent, West Union, Q. C. Babcock, Fayette, and A. Garnier, Maynard.
There are agents appointed from each township within this county, to which territory the business of the company is solely confined. All kinds of farm property is insured by this mutual plan, and during its thirty-six years of existence its rate has never but one year exceeded the sum of twelve dollars and fifty cents per thousand for a five-year term of insurance. The company has never had any litigation ; pays no salary to its officers, and only one dollar commission for the agent who writes the policy. The adjusting is usually done by the township local agents, thus saving great expense. The company has a semi-annual meeting. It makes a two-mill assessment each year with which the losses and other expenses are met. The success of this mutual in- surance company is phenomenal, and has been patterned after by hundreds of like institutions throughout this country.
The Iowa state insurance reports show that January 1, 1908, this com- pany had in force four million, five hundred and fifty-four thousand two hun- dred and seventy-nine dollars worth of risks. For the same year, the total expenses of the company were (including all losses) eight thousand five hun- dred thirty-three dollars. The cash on hand was six thousand thirty-one dollars.
The following figures are taken from the books of the secretary and make a great showing for the company, which numbers among its policy-holders the rank and file of the best farmers in Fayette county, Iowa. Total number of losses paid since organization of company, one hundred fifty thousand dollars ; total assets of the company, four million seven hundred fifty thousand dollars.
In this connection it may be added that the State Mutual Tornado Asso- ciation was first organized in Fayette county, in 1884, and in 1890 was re- moved to Des Moines. Its present secretary is a Fayette county man, J. B. Herriman. This has grown to be a wonder to the insurance world. It now carries one hundred forty million dollars in risks.
CHAPTER XVIII.
AUBURN TOWNSHIP.
This was one of the original township organizations in the northern part of the county, and was noted in early days because of the location of grist mills at the town of Auburn and the close proximity of the territory to the Indian Reservation, just across the line in Winneshiek county. At the beginning of the settlement of Auburn township, the territory now embraced in Fayette county was attached to Hewitt township, Clayton county. The boundaries of Auburn township were somewhat indefinite prior to the reorganization of several of the northern townships (Auburn among them), October 8, 1850. It then was made to include all of the present township of Auburn and all of Windsor. It is not known that this township ever held an election while at- tached to Hewitt township, of Clayton county; but the reorganization pro- ceeding established the voting place at the house of Morris B. Earll, who, with Oliver Brown and James Austin, were designated as judges of the election.
THE TOWN OF AUBURN.
The first dwelling erected in the township was the home of James B. Earll, who, in 1849, began the erection of a saw-mill at the mouth of Little Turkey, and two years later he and his sons erected a flouring-mill, which be- gan business in September, 1851. The latter proved to be of great benefit to the people, in that the question of "going to mill" at Elkader or Dubuque had previously been a serious matter. The mill was liberally patronized by people from our own county, as well as from Winneshiek, and even from southern Minnesota. The success of this enterprise doubtless stimulated the building of a second mill in the town of Auburn, and both these industries were oper- ated with success for many years. In fact, it is probable that the early found- ing of the mills had much to do with building up the town, and making it for years one of the principal trading points in the county. The town of Auburn was once a formidable candidate for the county-seat, as appears elsewhere in this volume. There were few industries known to the pioneers that were not soon introduced into the town of Auburn, and it possessed an air of
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business thrift in keeping with the intelligence and high standing of the pro- moters. Saloons and a brewery were a part of the town's varied industries, and they and the Iowa House did a thriving business during the years that the settlers from distant points were attracted to the place by the mills. But mercantile establishments and mechanical industries were early introduced and such names as Hull and Hiram Hoagland, John A. Griffith, Samuel Hull, James Boale, Rev. S. D. Helms, Z. McJunkin, I. S. Lane, the Irving family, F. G. Carter, J. S. Pence, A. L. Dunn, Torode and Eastman, Augustus Turner (who was killed while undermining a bank of earth), the Billmeyers, Mc- Cleerys, the Belknaps and others, all remind us of pioneer days when beau- tiful Auburn was in her glory. But of the once prosperous and populous town, little remains save the beautiful natural scenery. The postoffice is still retained, known as Douglas postoffice, and there are two small stores there; but the hotel was long since abandoned, and later the building was burned ; the mechanics have found more profitable employment elsewhere, and most of the village residents have returned to their farms or removed to other towns.
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