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 22
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For some years Marysville remained in a partially dormant condition, but since the discovery of vast quantities of coal lands in its neighborhood, and a railroad company organized on the basis of these lands, the place has had an upward ten- dency in the way of enterprise, and is now rapidly building up. The most prominent building in the place is a large woolen factory, by Welch & Co., erected last spring, '72. There is also a weekly newspaper published here, called the " Marysville Miner," by David C. Ely, and to its descriptions of the country, advertisements, and stirring appeals, much of the prosperity of the town may be attributed.
The "Miner" was first issued Feb. 7, '71, by a company, with J. W. Ragsdale as editor, from a press brought from Albia, Monroe county. In his salutatory the editor said, " As to
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Pioneers of Marion County.
politics, we are personally Republican, but this paper shall be independent, out-spoken, and ever ready to condem that which we deem to be wrong, even though it be in high places. As to making fair promises, we will not. We can only say to our readers that we will TRY to do our duty, and that we expect them to do the same." With the next issue of the paper D. C. Ely took editorial charge of it, and has so continued since. In his bow to the public he says: " As stated in the salutatory, this paper shall be neutral in politics, and devoted to the best interests of this section, by giving information in regard to our natural advantages over our sister towns."
In '56 Mr. D. B. Dixon caused to be surveyed on land owned by him, and now owned by Abram Pack, about two miles north of Hamilton, a town that he called Dixonville. To this place he brought and erected a store house that had been used for this purpose in Monroe county, and stored it with goods. But, unfortunately for the proprietor, the goods soon after fell under execution, and a sheriff was sent to levy upon them. It was late in the evening when the officer arrived, and he concluded to postpone the execution of his official duty till next morning. But, on going to the store next morning, he found the shelves empty. The goods, apparently appre- hensive of falling under the ban of legal authority, had taken their flight during the night. Soon after this Mr. Dixon aban. doned his town, and it never prospered.
Population of Liberty township by the U. S. census of 1870 :
Native 1499
33
Foreign
Total 1532
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Township Histories.
CHAPTER XXV.
Indiana Township-Its Geography and Early History- Names of Early Settlers-Alexander May-A Milling Expedition-Eleven Miles to borrow Meal-George Henry -Out of Provisions and Money- Working on Sunday- In a Storm-Mush and Milk-Only Potatoes-A Peril- ous Adventure.
This township is technically described as town. 74, range 19. It is a southern township, and its exact location may be defined as the south-west quarter of the south-east quarter of the county. It is bounded on the north by Knoxville, on the east by Lib- erty, on the south by Monroe county, and on the west by Washington township.
Off the streams the prairie is almost level. The prairies are not large, and timber is abundant and convenient to any part of them. Coal is plentiful along many of the small streams, and the veins are from three to six feet thick. Those worked most are on the lands of Daniel Sherwood and Alexander May.
Indiana was declared an organized township by the board of county commissioners at their regular session, January 6, 1847, and the place for holding elections was appointed at the house of Alexander May, which was about a mile east of the center of the township.
The first election held in this township, (of which there is no preserved record,) took place at Mr. May's cabin, August 1st, 1844, which, it will be observed, was a precinct election. Benj. Sherwood and John Riddle served as clerks. The first named person was elected township precinct clerk; Alexander
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Pioneers of Marion County.
May and John T. Pierce, justices, and Allen Lowe and Samuel C. Nicholson, constables.
At this election, and just previously thereto, there was a strife between parties in favor of Pierce and Lowe on the one hand, and May and Nicholson on the other, as to which pair of constables should receive the largest number of votes. Knowing the beneficial effects of something good to drink in the way of winning friends, Alonzo Smith and Samuel Coolly had prepared a barrel of "mathoglin" as a treat to the supporters of Pierce and Lowe, and won the victory by three votes.
The first election of which there is any preserved record, was held at the house of Benj. F. Williams, in Barkersville (now Attica,) April 5, 1852. Fifty-three votes were cast, and the following officers elected: Harvey Manners and W. T. Smith, justices; Nathaniel Coclerece, Samuel M. Cooly and Jacob Bonebreak, trustees; Noah Bonebreak, clerk, and Allen Lowe and John Camplin, constables.
Indiana was so named in consequence of a large majority of the first settlers being from that state. The following is a list of their names and date of settlement: Alexander May, Noah Whitlatch, Wm. Carlisle, George Henry, Allen Lowe, Samuel Coolly, Wm. Shanks, Samuel Nicholson and John Riddle in 1843; Jeremiah Gullian, Benj. Sherwood, David Sweem and Jas. Cade, in 1844; Isaac Kelsey and Lewis Pierce in 1845, and John Bonebreak in 1846.
Alexander May, who still lives where he originally settled in the township, and, with several others mentioned in the above list, formed what was known as May's Settlement, was born in Henry county, Kentucky, January 5th, 1801, immi- grated to Orange county, Indiana, in 1816, to Fountain county, same state, in 1827, and from thence to Montgomery county, same state, in 1831, and from thence to his present place, arriv- ing there June 22, 1843.
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Township Histories.
In relating his first year's experience in pioneer life here, Mr. May says in a letter to us:
" In the fall, having to lay in our provisions for the winter, John Riddle and I took my ox wagon and four yoke of oxen, and drove to the old purchase. Having to work for our grain, we put in three weeks of steady labor, by which we paid for forty-five bushels of fall wheat, and thirty bushels of old corn, one barrel of salt, one side of sole leather and one of upper. We got our grinding done at Meeks' mill, Bonaparte. No roads from Agency till we got home, only as the emigrant had made them. We were thirty-five days from home.
" The first grain we raised was threshed in the old-fashioned way with horses, and fanned with a sheet. Soon as it was ready we took it to Farmington to mill, the trip occupying fifteen days. The first wheat we got ground at Haymaker's, we bolted through book muslin stretched over a hoop. The first meal we borrowed, my wife got at Joseph Tally's on the north side of the Des Moines river. In this trip she went alone, forded the river at what is now Bellfountain, with a team of horses and wagon, the water being flank deep to the team, borrowed three bushels of meal and bought seven chickens, and returned the same day, a distance of eleven miles. These were the nearest neighbors from whom we could obtain such accommodations."
George Henry, who now lives near Knoxville, was originally from Pennsylvania. First moved from that State to Ohio, from Ohio to Missouri, and from thence to Lake Prairie, in the fall of 1842. Here, in company with Jas. Carnilius and another whose name is not remembered, they took claims and erected three cabins. But not being permitted to make per- manent settlement, they returned to Missouri and remained till the spring following. Finding that the cabins had been destroyed by dragoons, Mr. Henry took a claim in what is now the northeast corner of Indian township. This was near
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Pioneers of Marion County.
Wm. Carlisle's, whose family cleared a small patch of land in the timber, on which they planted some corn and potatoes. But towards fall provisions ran short, and Mr. Henry started to mill in September, leaving but little for his family to subsist on during his absence, expecting to return in a week. Having no money to purchase grain or provisions with, he hoped to obtain some due him on the way to Keosauqua, where he intended to get his milling done. But being disappointed in getting the money, he tried to get some grain on credit, and after traveling three or four miles from Keosauqua for this purpose, was again disappointed. There was now no other shift but to look for work, and if he could get it to do, earn the means to buy his breadstuff. Luckily he obtained a job of making rails, and his employer kindly furnished him a house to live in and food till he should finish the job. The contract was made on Saturday evening, and will any one censure Mr. Henry for going to work next morning? With thoughts of his family at home in an almost destitute condition, and really in danger of suffering ere he should be able to return to them with food, could he have spent the day more religiously than he did ? So Mr. H. went to work on Sunday morning, and by Tuesday evening made six hundred rails, for which he received seventy-five cents per hundred, in an order to the mill, and this secured a little flour and few bushels of meal at fifty cents per bushel.
Having secured these articles, Mr. Henry set out for home with all possible haste. After going six miles, he was over- taken by a violent storm of wind and rain. He was near a house when the storm came upon him; so he concluded to go no farther, but unhitched his horses, put them into an enclo- sure near at hand, and took shelter in his wagon. In this frail shelter he passed the dark tempestuous night alone. Next morning, on going to look for his team he found the dead tim- ber thickly strewn over the pasture, prostrated by the storm,
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Township Histories.
and his horses luckily, and we might add miraculously, unin- jured.
Mr. Henry now proceeded on his way, and being too eager to reach home to carefully regard the strength of his horses, they failed within twenty miles of their journey's end. He then went to a house near by to get some feed for them and for himself, and obtained some shelled corn; but the house could afford nothing in the way of human food but milk. He, however, made an arrangement with the family by furnishing a sufficient quantity of meal for mush, and they all supped jointly and heartily on a mess of mush and milk. By next morning the horses were refreshed for a renewal of the jour- ney, and our hero reached home in safety, to find his family reduced to nothing but potatoes for a diet.
Just before Christmas, '43, Mr. Henry and a son of Noah Whitlatch, took two loads of flour barrels to Keosauqua. The weather was cold and stormy when they started, and a deep snow had fallen the day before. When they reached the Des Moines river, a little below Talley's ford, they found it frozen over strong enough, they supposed, to bear them and their teams, and drove on. It proved to be a dangerous venture. The ice bent under the weight of their wagons so much that the water gushed up in jets. But once started it would be as dangerous to return as to go on, and the safest plan was to make all possible speed, and they succeeded in reaching the opposite shore. On their return they found the ice gone, and had to ferry their wagons over on a canoe, and swim their teams.
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Pioneers of Marion County.
CHAPTER XXVI.
Indiana Township Continued-David Sweem-Straitened- Circumstances-A Night in the Wilderness-Unknown Remains-A Lost Traveler-Indiana P. O .- First School -First Preaching-First Wedding-A Romantic Inci- dent-A Claim Difficulty-Attica-James Barker-He fights the Dragoons.
David Sweem was born in Ohio, in 1819, moved to Indiana and from thence to this county and township in the autumn of '44.
Mr. S. was first an exhorter, and during his residence here, an itinerant preacher in the M. E. Church. He also took a somewhat active part in politics, by which he became well known in the county. His residence was near Attica, where he died Jan. 15th, '68. His widow resides in the village.
Like many of his fellow immigrants he came to this country poor, and suffered many of the privations of poverty and of a new country combined. At one time he and Jeremiah Gullian went to Keosauqua to get work for money to buy breadstuffs. Just previous to this they had lost their only cow; and, as this cow had been half the support of the family, their circum- stances were much straitened by the loss. Work for wages was scarcely to be had, and all that Mr. Sweem could get to do was a well to clean out. With the wages for this job, and half a dollar he already had, he bought two bushels of meal and returned home.
Instances have been related of the scarcity of tools and such other articles, the use of which could scarcely be dispensed with, and the distance sometimes traveled to obtain the loan of them. Mr. Samuel Coolly relates to us an instance of his
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Township Histories.
own experience in borrowing. Good water could not be had without digging for it; and this could not be done without a spade or shovel to do it with, and there was no such tool in the country nearer. than twelve miles. It belonged to Amos Strickland, who lived in what is now Monroe county. Mr. Coolly went and obtained a loan of the spade, (the handle of which was about 18 inches long,) and started on his return, intending to make the trip in one day. But, on reaching the timbers of North Cedar, the night came on and gradually grew into impenetrable darkness. Mr. C. became bewildered, but the horse he rode -- a white one, and about the only object he could see-carried him to the bank of the stream. To attempt to tord it in that unknown and dark place required a stronger nerve for adventure than the wanderer possessed; so he con- cluded to remain there till morning. Having tied his horse, he laid down by a tree near at hand. But neither to rest nor sleep. All night he heard the prowling of wolves and other wild animals in the vicinity. The horse evidently saw or scented them, for he was desperately restless, snorting, paw- ing and neighing continually. Added to this trouble were great swarms of musquitoes that were bolder and more blood- thirsty than the wolves. Morning came at last, and Mr. Coolly found his way across the creek and reached home without meeting with any other serious adventure.
The above story revives the recollection of one relating to a like adventure of less fortunate termination. In '44 or '45, Allen Lowe was driving some cattle across a trackless prairie, near the western line of the township, when some of them shied off, as though frightened at some object. Going to see what had been the cause of it, Mr. Lowe found a coat and pants, and, upon further search, the bones of a human being, scattered over several rods of ground. The bones were gath- ered up and buried, and the clothing was taken to Alexander May's where it still remains to be identified by whoever
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Pioneers of Marion County.
might come in search of the lost one. It was woolen stuff, and had been somewhat crisped by prairie fire. Evidently some poor wanderer had become bewildered, perhaps overwhelmed by a snow storm, and there alone, exhausted and dispairing, had given himself up to the sleep of death and his flesh to feed the ravenous wolves.
The liability of becoming bewildered on the prairie was much greater in the winter than in the summer, owing to snow storms, the dreary sameness of the landscape, and the obliteration of all paths by the snow. One night in the winter of '44 and '45 a man and team came to Allen Lane's and begged for shelter and food. He was from Bloomfield, and had been on a tour of observation through the country, had been bewildered and without food for two days and nights. His appearance and that of his team proved the trath of his state- ment of his famished condition, and he was readily provided for till sufficiently recruited to go on his way.
The first post office in this township was kept at Alexander May's, but at what date we have been unable to learn. Benj. Sherwood, P. M .; mails from Knoxville weekly.
The first school was taught by Fletcher Cain, in a little cabin near where Attica now is, in '45. Number of scholars, 16. Harvey Manners taught near the same place in '47-8. John B. Hays taught two miles south of Attica the same year. Hessey May also taught a school at her own house at an early date.
The first gospel preaching was done by Rev. Jas. L. War- ren, in the summer of '43, at the residence of Noah Whitlatch. On this occasion the Dr., having sent an appointment to preach there at 11 o'clock A. M. on a certain Sabbath, walked the dis- tance between his residence, in Lake Prairie, and the place appointed, but arrived too late. The people had collected, waited a long time, and then dispersed. After they were all gone the Dr. made his appearance, weary and heated with his
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long journey. After having come so far he was not disposed to return without accomplishing his mission, so he announced that he would preach at night if the people could be notified of it. Thereupon runners were sent abroad to notify them, and he was enabled to hold forth to a goodly number of hearers.
The first persons married were Samuel Nicholson and Eleanor May, daughter of Alexander May, at the residence of the latter, June 1st, '44. A little romance is connected with this matrimonial transaction, that, as it was the first may as well be related here:
The wooing had been going on for some time, and had ripen- ed into an engagement; after which Samuel, with a view to improve his worldly circumstances preparatory to assuming so responsible a relationship, went down the river to work for higher wages than could be obtained at home. He was accom- panied by Samuel Coolly, and the two Samuels hired as deck hands on a steamboat bound for St. Louis. In April Coolly returned, expecting Nicholson soon. But weeks passed, and no Samuel came. The month of May-that period so congen- ial to the sentimental influences of the spirit of Cupid-passed day by day and week by week, bringing no intelligence from the absent lover to his waiting and more than anxious bride elect. Whether he had been drowned, murdered, died of sickness, or had intentionally deserted her, were questions that tortured her to a degree that any reliable intelligence of the worst would have afforded some relief. At length, having abandoned all hope of his return, the sorrowing Eleanor and her father took up their luggage and started for a visit to the place and friends of their nativity in the State of Indiana. But, to their surprise, and to the happy relief of the affectionate girl, ere they had gone half a days' journey, they met the truant lover on his return. The intended visit was instantly aban- doned, and the trio returned, and the union of the happy pair was consummated at the date above mentioned.
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Pioneers of Marion County.
The next wedding was that of a sister of Eleanor, to Tyler Overton, in December, '44, on which occasion Mr. Overton made an adventurous winter trip to Oskaloosa for the license.
After the township began to settle up more rapidly, the peo- ple clubbed together, as described in the fore part of this book, for the government and protection of their claim interests; and out of this arose a little neighborhood trouble that might be worth relating:
In '47 a man named Jaobs, who had been employed as sur- veyor in this part of the county, but who now resided at Fair- field, sent to Lewis Pierce for several numbers of unclaimed land. Pierce responded by sending several numbers, but, either intentionally or by mistake, included several of claimed lots, among them those of Alex. May, Benj. Sherwood and Isaac Kelsey. These, with others, Jacobs entered at the land office. So soon as this was discovered a great excitement was manifested among the aggrieved parties. A meeting was called, and a committee appointed to arrest Pierce and bring him to trial. In case he was proved guilty of intentionally violating the rules of the club in this transaction, and should refuse to make full reparation, his punishment should be refer- ed to the decision of Judge Lynch.
The committee went and found Pierce; but he evidently had anticipated being sent for, and had prepared himself for the emergency; for, on being invited to accompany the committee, he promptly refused, and backed his refusal with the presenta- tion of a revolver. The committee consisted of only three persons, and they were not rash. They respected his backing, returned to head quarters and reported progress. The report was necessarily accepted, but the progress was not deemed sat- isfactory, so a reinforcement was sent and Pierce was persuaded to honor the meeting with his presence.
Finding himself in close quarters, Pierce, though the evi- dence was strong against him, plead innocent of any intentional
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wrong, and promised to have it righted. With this promise, he was released for the time being; and it is probable that he immediately set about fulfilling this promise, for it was not long after that that Jacobs received intelligence of the state of affairs, and was also informed that the club would visit him at Fairfield. At such a distance he might scarcely be supposed to fear an attack; but such was the terror inspired by threats of the organizations-they having proved themselves capable of fulfilling them in a number of instances-that distance was not deemed safety. So Jacobs wrote to the claimants that he would deed them their land on the receipt of the entrance money, and interest on the same at the rate of six per cent. annually. The club agreed to this proposal and peace was restored.
On the 26th of July, '49, James Barker and Nathaniel Cochreece caused to be surveyed on the northwest quarter of section 11, a town that was called Barkersville, in honor of one of the proprietors. Surveyor, James Rousseau. James Bar- ker erected the first house on the survey, a one-story brick, that is now occupied by Wm. Thomas. Barker also sold the first goods, and was, at the same time, first postmaster. Mail once a week. It was first carried from Knoxville, in a pocket handkerchief, by M. M. Marks. B. F. Williams afterwards bought Barker's store, and also took charge of the postoffice. Present post master T. S. Cathcart. Mails daily. The first hotel was kept by a German named Michael Himmelhaver. Fare, ten cents per meal. The house still stands, near the Attica House.
The first school in town was taught by Hessey May and the Rev. Mr. Neur organized the first M. E. society there.
Not long after Barkersville had been in existence, its princi- ple proprietor, James Barker, for whom the town had been named, became so infamous in a criminal attachment for another man's wife, that the name was regarded as a disgrace to the town, and by common consent it was changed to Attica.
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Pioneers of Marion County. .
Attica now has three stores, one hotel, and three potteries. The clay for the manufacture of the ware is obtained from land near by, owned by Wm. Sharon.
James Barker was noted as a desperate character in this locality. After having acted upon the free love principle by deserting his own family and domesticating himself with another man's wife, with whom he lived for some time, he dis- appeared altogether, in such a way that his disappearance is still shrouded in mystery. It is supposed by some that he met with a secret and violent death at the hands of an enemy.
An anecdote is related of Barker that we may as well close this chapter by recording, though we are not able to give the exact time or place :
With a wagon stored with articles for trade with the Indians, including whisky, he came into the new purchase long before the time stipulated for settlement, hoping to evade the notice of the dragoons and do a good business. But one day he dis- covered a squad of these prowling guardians of the treaty ap- proaching at a distance. Quickly as possible he drew his wagon into a brushy hollow, then took a jug of whisky and went out to meet the troopers. On meeting them the captain told him he must get out of the territory or he would have his wagon and team confiscated. Barker swore he wouldn't.
" What will yo do?" asked the astonished captain.
" Fight," answered Barker.
" How? "
" With my jug," said Barker; " and I'll whip you too; " say- which he gave the weapon a swing and landed it on the pom- mel of the captain's saddle. Barker's tactics were invincible, and the regulars soon fled, rejoicing in their defeat as much as Barker did in his victory.
Population of Indiana by the U. S. census of 1870:
Native. 1321
Foreign. 11
Total 1332
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Township Histories.
CHAPTER XXVII.
Perry Township- Geography and Early History-Lead Ore-Names of Early Settlers-Asa Hughs-The Brans Family-A Wild Cat Adventure-Hezekiah Gay-Ben- nington-E. H. Baker-Some of his Peculiarities-Lucky Duck Shooting-A Woman's Adventure with a Deer- First Preachers and School Teachers-Census.
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