USA > Iowa > Marion County > Pioneers of Marion county, consisting of a general history of the county from its early settlement to the present date. Also, the geography and history of each township, including brief biographical sketches of some of the more prominent early settlers > Part 18
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The first business was to send the constable (John Babcock) for Sigler. Not finding him at the claim pen, the officer went over the river to a certain place where it was understood he, (Sigler,) made his home occasionally. Here he (Babcock,) met a stranger of whom he inquired the whereabouts of Sigler, and the stranger informed him that Sigler was to be found at another house in the neighborhood. But upon inquiring at the place designated, the constable discovered that he had been deceived; and on returning to the place where he had seen the stranger he further discovered that the stranger was Sigler himself, and that, surmising the officer's business, had put him on a false trail till he could get safely out of the way.
Sigler was not seen in that neighborhood again, but the Wilson brothers having been put to some trouble and expense on his account, determined that they would not pay another lawyer's fee in a like case, but would take the usual means of ejecting an intruder.
An opportunity to carry out this determination occurred soon after. One day, being informed that an old man named Cannon was in the house with the apparent purpose of holding the claim, the young men immediately repaired to the place with the intention of driving him out, should he refuse to go voluntarily. But, in consequence of the intruder's age, they thought it would be scarcely proper to lay violent hands upon him ; so, after repeatedly ordering him to go, he persistently refusing, they moved his things out, and then put out the fire. The weather was quite cool, and Mr. Cannon, not having any means of renewing the fire, was compelled to seek shelter else- where. The Wilsons then closed the door, fastened it with a padlock, and went home.
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Next morning, whilst on the way to the claim, accompanied by David Ray, who was to assist them in some work they were going to do on the premises that day, they met three men, Wm. Cannon, a son of the old man, James Chestnut and Andrew Stortz, who rather abruptly informed them that the old man was in the house again, and that they meant to keep him there. This bit of intelligence roused the ire of the boys, and they instantly replied that they would oust him, even at the risk of their lives. The other party then made some attempt to drive them back, and in so doing Stortz made some demonstrations toward Scott, (the elder of the Wilson brothers,) with a club. But Scott being armed with an ax, stood his ground so threateningly that the Cannon party deemed it unsafe to make any further attempts, and left our heroes to go their way.
But it was now found to be advisable to obtain some help. They had ample reason to believe that the Cannon party would be reenforced to some extent; so Freeman Wilson immediately returned to invite a few of their friends to help them meet the emergency. About fourteen men responded to the call, and in a body, marched to the scene of action, where they met the enemy, seven in number. Scott thereupon proceeded to again remove the household goods without being resisted. After this was done a tin pan was found to be missing, but was very soon discovered in the possession of the notorious Dick Billops, who was seated upon it, on the verge of, and with his back toward, the steep bank of the river, giving utterence to some lofty phrases inspired by the presence of a well-known spirit to which he was most slavishly addicted. At this moment J. H. Mikesell, a member of the Cannon party, observing Dick's proximity to the bank, rushed upon him, and with the words, " don't say any thing, Dick," sent him a backward somersault into the river. Dick came up in a rage, and seized a rifle from the
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hands of James Price, and would have fired upon Mikesell, but for the interference of others.
This circumstance now seemed to be regarded as the signal for a general action, and something of a muss followed. Clubs and pistols were drawn; one man was badly gouged and another so severely punched in the side that he did not recover from the effects thereof for some time.
It now being evident that the Wilsons could not be driven from their purpose, the Cannonites withdrew. After their departure Scott, in acknowledgment of the services of his friends, told them to go up to Russell's and get something to drink, whilst he, with his brother George and Mordecai Yearns, remained on guard at the house till there should be no longer any danger of a renewal of the attack, for that day at least. It was, however, proposed by some of the leaders of the Cannon party, that if the Wilsons would remain upon and work the claim they should not be disturbed, which they agreed to do. About a year afterwards they sold the claim.
The above are related as the most important of numerous instances of claim difficulties, the narration of which would swell the number of these pages beyond the proper limits of a local history. We may only add that disturbances in relation to the rights of property were almost an every day occurrence, giving rise to arbitrations and law-suits almost without end, and to bitterness and enmity between neighbors that only time and a more settled state of things could obliterate. It was not till some time after the land sales, when most of the settlers had secured titles to their lands, and others who had been una- ble to do so had sold their claims and moved away, that peace was restored, with amity and good fellowship between the set- tlers.
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CHAPTER XVI.
Red Rock Township Continued-First Preachers-Pardo, the Missionary-His Adventure at Red Rock-Poor Suc- cess with the Indians-Anecdotes of Spurlock-First District School in the North Part of the Township.
Among the first regularly authorized ministers of the Gospel who first preached within the limits of Red Rock township, were Johnson, of the M. E. church, and M. J. Post, of the Baptist; both in '44 and '45. Mr. Johnson's regular appoint- ment was at the house of Joel Worth.
Another preacher, named Pardo, also came to Red Rock at an early date, and claimed to have been sent by the govern- ment as a missionary to the Indians. On his arrival he asked the white people of Red Rock village if they desired preaching. Being answered in the affirmative, and that they were even anxious for the gospel, he made an appointment, and prepara- tions were immediately made for the occasion. Seats were laid down, and a large goods box provided for a stand.
After having gone through with the ordinary preliminaries for preaching, the Rev. Mr. Pardo mounted his box and began his discourse, waxing warmer and louder as he preached. But suddenly, and to him most unexpectedly, in the midst of one of his most eloquent flights, down came the box, preacher and all, casing quite a sensation among the congregation. Think- ing it merely an accident, he remounted the box and resumed his discourse; but only got fairly going again when the acci- dent was repeated. This was too much for poor Pardo. He concluded that where such an accident could happen twice in close succession, it must have had help, and was not very anxious of his success there as a minister of the Gospel.
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He thereupon concluded to leave the people of Red Rock to their own destruction, and turn his attention to the real object of his mission-the Indians. But here it appears that he was destined to meet with little more encouragement than he re- ceived from the whites. When preaching to a party of them at the Phelps trading house, on Lake Prairie, relating the story of the cross, and exhorting his hearers to repentance, one of them interrupted by asking who killed the son of God, white man or Indian. "White man," said Pardo, who could not very properly avoid answering the question. "Then let white man repent," rejoined the Indian; " If God had sent his son to the Indians they would not have killed him."
At another time he was preaching to Keokuk's band, telling them that if they would repent of their sins and believe in God, when they died they should go to a land flowing with milk and honey. Keokuk, who entertained so little confidence in the promise that he was disposed to make it a subject of ridicule, replied that for his part he didn't like milk or honey, but if he, Pardo, would take him to a place where corn and whisky were plenty, he would go.
We know not if Mr. Pardo continued his missionary labors, in opposition to these discouraging evidences of unbelief; but if he did he must have been endowed with a full share of apos- tolic faith.
An anecdote of the notorious Spurlock is related as having transpired at Red Rock in the winter of '44 and '45. Spur- lock, it may be remembered, claimed to be a preacher of the M. E. Church, and in spite of frequent expulsions and imposi- tions of silence continued to preach occasionally. The princi- pal charges against him were: his reputation as a maker and vendor of bad money, a charge all but substantiated; and a weakness for whisky. With a certain class he was said to be quite popular as a preacher. When he wished to preach he would obtain a jug of whisky, and this would scarcely fail to
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secure for him a crowd of hearers of his particular class, who liked his preaching for the sake of his liquor. At the time referred to Spurlock was crossing the river at Red Rock, mov- ing west, when his wagon wheels cut through the ice so that he could get no further without help; so he applied to the citi- zens of the place, and a few volunteered. After the vehicle had been placed upon safe ground once more, the owner pro- ceeded to manifest his thanks for their kindness by bringing forth his jug. None were disposed to slight the offer, and he concluded the performance by a hearty drink. Then, having restored the vessel to its place in the wagon, he turned to his helpers, and with much apparent sincerity, told them if they would find him a house for the purpose he would preach to them that night. They answered that they would, and Mr. J. D. Bedell kindly opened his cabin for the occasion. The nov- elty of the circumstance drew quite a number together, and the Rev. Mr. Spurlock entertained them with a well-timed dis- course, in the course of which he took occasion to reply to some insinuations that had been made about his counterfeiting. Without denying it he said: "It is true that I make my own money, and I am not ashamed to acknowledge it. So far from that, if some of you will come to my wagon in the morning, I will show you the tools that I do it with."
This was fair, and uttered in such a plausable manner that some two or three persons, who believed confidently in the old fellow's reputation as a bogus manufacturer, thought they might have their curiosity gratified by a sight of the moulds, and, possibly, get an explanation of the process of using them. We have no right to say exactly what motive prompted this desire for knowledge. It may have been a good one. So, early next morning they waited upon Mr. Spurlock at his camp, and reminded him of his promise. And he proceeded immediately to fulfill it. Going to the back part of his covered wagon, he took out an ax, a maul and some iron wedges.
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" Here, gentlemen," said he, "are the tools I make my money with. I'm not ashamed nor afraid to let you see them."
Thereupon the curiosity seekers vanished, rather ashamed of their folly in supposing that the wily old rogue would be so indiscreet as to initiate them into the mysteries of a business scarcely safe for him to follow secretly.
Spurlock was a person of remarkably tender sensibilities in relation to some things, that made him amusingly eccentric. An instance is related of him that occurred during his resi- dence at a place called Brim's Point, Wapello county. He was the owner of a favorite cat, an animal that, for some cause or other, he was much attached to. But it came to pass that said cat died-died a natural death notwithstanding the seven lives reputed to belong to the species-causing its bereaved master almost inconsolable grief. In token of his love for the departed, he provided her a coffin, gave her a decent burial, and marked the place with a mound. To an acquaintance who chanced to stop at his house a short time after the funeral, he told with grief-choking utterance and swimming eyes, the story of his bereavement. He then took his visitor to the grave, and there, with the agony of one bereft of an only child beloved, he wept and related the history and virtues of the departed pussy.
Rev. Jas. L. Warren, whose history has already been given, was also among the pioneer preachers in this part of the county.
The first Sunday School, we may repeat, was conducted by Claiborn Hall, and the first district school in the northern part of the township, by Margaret Brown, (now Mrs. Pendray,) in 51, and in what is now district No. 5.
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CHAPTER XVII.
Red Rock Township Concluded-Saw and Flouring Mills -A False Alarm -- School Houses, Etc .- Census.
Among the more important enterprises established in Red Rock village and in the neighborhood, were four saw and one flouring mills. The first was a saw mill, built by Osee Mat- thews, junior, in 1846, on Mikesell's creek, about three-fourths of a mile north-east of town, The next was by Daniel Hiskey, in '48 and '49, on the same stream, about two miles north of town. In '54 two more were erected near town, to run by steam. The one on the east side of town was built and owned by Wilson Stanley; that on the west side by J. D. Bedel.
Only one of these mills-that of Mr. Bedel-is still stand- ing. ยท A few remains of those on Mikesell's creek are still visible; but of the Stanley mill, which was of a rather temporary con- struction, nothing remains.
The flouring mill, built by S. B. Matthews, in '54, stood in the northwest quarter of town. It was owned and run by Mr. M. till it was bought by Talbott and Setzer, who moved it to Otley, Summit township, in the fall of '69.
An anecdote is related in connection with the erection of the mill at Red Rock. It was at about the time it was finished, and preparations were being made to start it. The morning was calm, clear and frosty, and all sounds were conveyed through the air with comparative distinctness; when the settlers for miles around were suddenly startled by a terrific and prolonged scream that seemed to fill all the space, and reverberated far away. Then it would cease in a sort of die-away wail, till it would seem to recover breath, then peal forth in another
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unearthly scream, or succession of short, violent yells, totally unlike anything that had ever been heard in that region.
A young man, an odd genius, named Joe Copher, who hap- pened to be in the timber, some distance from home, hunting horses, when he heard the frightful voice ran home with all his speed and reported a panther or some other wild beast in the forest. So, as soon as the report could be circulated throughout the neighborhood, a number of men got together, mounted, armed and equipped, some carrying horns for blow- ing signals, and attended by a retinue of dogs to assist in the hunt.
For most of the day they scoured the timber in search of the game; but were unable to discover anything capable of giving forth such a voice; and it was not till toward evening that they returned home enlightened as to the cause, and feeling as though they had been badly " sniped."
At the same time another squad of persons imagined the mysterious voice to be of a heavenly origin. They had heard of the Millerite prediction of the end of the world, and supposed that this might be a preliminary blast from Gabriel's trumpet. Having collected together to take counsel on the all important subject, they felt that they were hardly prepared for such an emergency, and thought the only thing that could be done pre- paratory thereto, on such short notice, was to pray. So, strange as it may seem, they invited a rampant old sinner- one who had probably never even thought of such a thing before, to lead in the solemn exercise. There was apparently no time to be lost, so the old fellow began; but hardly had he got through with the short preface to his prayer, when the glo- rious tidings reached them that it was only Simp. Matthews' mill whistle. Simp. had fired up for the first time, and was trying his whistle under a strong pressure of steam. Of course the praying was indefinitely postponed, and the meeting adjourned sine die.
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Apropos to the foregoing we are tempted to relate an anecdote that transpired in the neighborhood of Red Rock at an early date. One of the settlers who happened to be hunting on the Des Moines bottom, not far from the river, was surprised at an unusual noise. He stood still and listened for a few minutes, when the strange sound grew louder and louder every instant, as though the monster was coming rapidly through the forest, from down the river. Its breathing resembled the labored respiration of a wind broken horse, only much louder and more boisterous, and seemed to be well nigh exhausted by a long run. Our hero listened till he thought the creature, by the rapidly increasing distinctness of its breathing, and the sound of its footsteps, was coming directly toward him. His fears thus excited, he could readily imagine that it was in pursuit of him; and so he thought it would not be advisable to remain there an instant longer. With the same reasoning that taught Falstaff that " discretion was the better part of valor," he fled, making his way home as rapidly as he could get through the trackless woods. Now and then he would halt a little to listen for his pursuer, whose terrible blowing seemed to indicate that it was gaining upon him; but much to his relief, after gaining the upland timber, fatigued and excited, the breathing of the mighty beast indicated that it must have taken another direc- tion. The sound was more distant, and rather past the point where the flight commenced.
He therefore pursued his way homeward more leisurely, and there related the adventure much to the surprise of the folks, who were as ignorant as himself of the character of the ani- mal. However it was not long after that they were enlight- ened. It was about, if not quite, the first attempt at steam- boat navigation of the Des Moines, and a little stern-wheeler was slowly making her way against the strong current of that stream during a freshet.
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These incidents were related to us as facts, though it may be supposed that they were more or less exaggerated. But, when the fact is known that some of the early settlers had never heard a steam whistle, nor seen a steamboat, nor were even advised of the existence of such wonders in their neigh- borhood, their mystification, if not actual alarm, is not to be wondered at. The story is, at least, not without a foundation in fact.
The first regular school house in Red Rock village, was built in 1854 or 1855, but was burned soon after. Since then the citizens have put up a large two-story building for the purpose and the schools are well attended. The place also contains several other good buildings, among which is a substantial brick church erected by the Methodists, in 1856 or '57. Two dry goods and one or two grocery stores receive the trade of a large extent of the surrounding country, on both sides of the river. Red Rock must ever remain a permanent crossing place. During low water the fording is easy and safe, and at all other times a good ferry boat is ready to accommodate travelers.
The population of Red Rock township by the U. S. census of 1870, is as follows:
Native
1308.
Foreign 26
Total
1334.
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CHAPTER XVIII.
Summit-Geography and History-Names of First Settlers -James Price-The Wilsons and Others -- A Conflict with Indians-A Veteran Coffee Mill-A " Settlers Rights " Difficulty-First P. O .- First Sunday School- Day School-Otley.
This township is technically known as town. 77, range 19, and is bounded on the north by Jasper county, on the east by Lake Prairie, on the south by Polk, and on the west by Red Rock. The larger portion of it, consisting of the north and east, is prairie, being the dividing ridge between the Des Moines and Skunk, commonly known as the "Divide." The largest body of timber is in the southeast quarter of the town- ship. There are no large streams in this township. The numerous small creeks take their rise on the " divide," and flow each way into the Des Moines and Skunk.
The coal fields of Summit are quite extensive. The princi- pal ones now worked are along a small stream in sections 21 and 28, about a mile south of Otley. The first mine was dis- covered and opened by John A. Scott, in 1849; and this was the only one that was worked for several years. The next opening was made by Wm. Fisher, some time in '61 or '62, since which time numerous openings have been made in this locality by Fisher, Durose, Price, Barnes, and others. The veins of coal average from four to seven feet in thickness, and is of a good quality. Much of that mined by Mr. Durose has been shipped at Otley for Des Moines and other localities west.
Summit was originally a part of Red Rock, till April 6th, 1854, when, in response to a petition of numerous citizens, it
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was declared by the county judge a separate township. The name first proposed and filed in the court record was Harrison; but Summit being the choice of a number of settlers from Summit county, Ohio, it was so named.
The first election was held soon after the township was organized, at the house of Jacob C. Brown, and the following are the names of the officers elected: John Ribble and A. F. McConnell, justices of the peace; Geo. Reynolds, I. N. Crum, and Ira Kelsey, trustees; Abram B. Scott, clerk; Ira Kelsey, assessor; and A. Donnel and P. P. Harp, con- stables.
Some changes were effected in the civil geography of this township, which, though they were the result of partizan wire- working, and occurred at a comparatively recent date, we shall take the liberty of sketching briefly. In 1862, in response to a petition of a portion of its citizens, the township was enlarged by the addition of that portion of Polk (town. 76, range 19) lying north of the river. This change not being agreeable to the Republicans of the township, they petitioned the board of supervisors to have the above mentioned territory, locally known as the " White Breast Settlement," re-attached to Polk, which was accordingly done at the September session, 1864. But, owing to the neglect of the clerk, John B. Hamilton, to transmit to the board of trustees an official report of the change, much embarrassment and partizan feeling resulted at the elec- tion that fall in relation to the admission of the vote of that district. A hot dispute was carried on for some time that very nearly resulted in personal violence. But the difficulty was finally settled by the admission of the challenged votes.
Soon after this the Democrats again petitioned for the attach- ment of the disputed territory, which act was received by the opposite party as an acknowledgment that it was not a part of the township at the time of the election. The petition was granted, and White Breast was now indisputably a part of
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Summit; and so it remained till 1867, when the board was again asked to return it to Polk, where it still belongs.
Prominent among those who settled in the township at the earliest date, are James Price, the Wilsons, David and Allen Tice, and Andrew Metz. Among those who came later, were, Joseph S. West, the Harps, I. N. Crum, James Dueese, S. S. Roberts, Alex. B. Donnel, and Allen Lanehead. Most of these are still residents of the township. Others who took claims at a very early date, but did not become permanent settlers, will be incidently mentioned as we proceed. Most of the first settlers located in and along the edge of the timber, and it was not till '45 that the divide began to be permanently occupied.
James Price was born in Clark county, Ohio, September 14, 1817, emigrated to Cass county, Michigan, at the age of thir- teen, and from thence to Burlington, Iowa, in 18 -. From there, early in the spring of '43, in company with Jonathan Donnel, he came into this county, and selected a claim where he still lives. The first cabin they built was a few rods below the coal mine owned by S. S. Roberts. Some slight remains of this pioneer building are still visible. This house he occu- pied with his family on the 22d of June.
That spring Mr. Price broke nine acres of prairie on his claim, planted it with corn, and realized from it a surplus of two hundred bushels, which he sold for fifty cents per bushel. On the following season he obtained some seed wheat from Fair- field, and obtained from it a fair crop. During the first sum- mer he went to Burlington to mill, and in the winter to the nearest mill on Skunk. On the occasion of his winter trip he had to ferry his load over that river in a canoe. On his return from a trip to Fairfield, it rained much of the time, then turned so cold that his clothing was frozen stiff on his body. On an- other occasion, returning in company with Ray and Samuel Wilson, from a milling expedition to Skunk, a heavy snow storm obstructed the way so much that it was necessary to make
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