USA > Iowa > Muscatine County > The History of Muscatine county, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. > Part 51
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Were it possible to do so, we should be glad to record here the innumerable anecdotes connected with Judge Williams' public life ; but no memoranda were preserved. and even his address, delivered before the Old Settlers' Society in 1869, is but a mere recollection. His fund of incident and story was inex- haustible. He was a genius in his way, benevolent to the extent of personal injury to himself, and plain and unassuming in an extreme degree. He was a Christian man, and joined the little band of Methodists in forming the first class, of which his wife was also a member. He also aided in the establishment of the first Sunday school in Bloomington. He was an able jurist, an incorrupti- ble Judge, an honest man. Mrs. Mary Williams, his wife, died September 10, 1871.
Judge W. G. Woodward was born in Hanover, N. H., May 20, 1808. In 1839, he removed to Bloomington. His education was acquired at Dart- mouth College, from which he graduated in 1828. He was admitted to the bar by Rufus Choate, in 1832. He was a highly-educated, polished gentleman, and, with his accomplished wife, added greatly to the society of Bloomington. He was chosen Prosecuting Attorney of the county at an early day. In 1855, he was elected by the Legislature Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. In 1861, he was chosen State Senator, and became one of the most active members. In 1862, he was appointed Clerk of the United States Circuit Court, and retained the office until 1869, when he retired to private life. His death occurred February 24, 1871.
Isaac Magoon, a pioneer of 1839, died in 1846. Mrs. Hannah Magoon, his widow, died October 12, 1871, aged eighty-three years. Mrs. Magoon was universally respected for her many excellent qualities.
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY.
Gen. J. E. Fletcher came to Bloomington in the summer of 1838. He was a native of Thetford, Vt., and from that State he brought his wife. In 1839, he purchased lands about six miles from the county seat, and located thereon. His public life dates back to the Territorial days. He was one of the delegates, who framed the State Constitution, and, in 1846, was appointed Indian Agent for the Winnebagoes, which office he filled for eleven years. The location of the agency was twice moved during his administration. He first had quarters at Fort Atkinson; thence he moved to Mankato, on the Minnesota River ; thence to a point above St. Paul. During his official term, the Winnebagoes, Sioux and Chippewas were frequently at war; but by his brave and judicious management, he generally averted disastrous results. During all those years of wild life and arduous duties, the General was accompanied by his wife, who rendered him great assistance. Mrs. Fletcher also devoted much time to the education of the Indians. The General, Mrs. Fletcher and their son, Dr. Fletcher, then a mere lad, became proficient in the Indian tongue. In 1858, the General returned to Muscatine County with his family. He was a man of noted character, of energy and industry. His death was mourned by many friends. He died in April, 1872.
David R. Warfield was born at Eastern Shore, Md., March 19, 1816. Hc became a resident of Bloomington in December, 1837. In the summer of that year, his cousin, Charles A. Warfield, in exploring the country from St. Louis up the river, decided to locate at Bloomington. He accordingly purchased the Bartlow claim, and two or three others, embracing, in all, that tract of land north of the east part of the city, from Eighth street for one mile back, and from a few rods west of the Iowa City road, a mile east, including about one- half of the Chester Weed farm. Mr. Suel Foster relates the following incident connected with Mr. Warfield's arrival: "In December, 1837, I think it was near Christmas, I returned to Bloomington, from a temporary trip, and was told that three men had been on the other side of the river for several days, and were anxious to get over. The ice was running so thick, that no one could cross. I found two men, who were willing to venture in a skiff, to bring the three new settlers to Iowa. By this means, A. O. and D. R. Warfield and Capt. Dunn were brought across in safety, and from that day became residents of the county. A. O. Warfield remarked, that he and David had been in Bloomington a few days before the period of which I write, having walked from Burlington, the boats having stopped running. They had crossed over into Illinois, for provisions, preparatory to setting up bachelor's hall. They were on their return, laden with pork and other necessaries, which they had obtained of Stanton Prentiss, near the mouth of Copperas Creek, when the ice prevented their crossing. A. O. and Charles A. were brothers. D. R., the cousin, became interested with them in the valuable tract referred to. In the spring of 1838, Asbury and David built a saw-mill on Mad Creek, near the northeast corner of the town plat, where considerable lumber was sawed. During the ' Missouri War,' Maj. D. R. Warfield was called out to defend his country, and he and I were messmates. In 1841, the Major married Miss Josephine Steinberger." The notices of the Major's life and death are uniformly eulo- gistic of a man who ever exerted a wide and beneficial influence. The last
years of his life were devoted to farming. He died in April, 1872.
Mrs. D. R. Warfield, wife of the pioneer, died January 8, 1875. She was one of the Steinberger sisters, a niece of Gov. Lucas, and filled a most enviable and admirable place in the society of early times. She came to Bloomington in 1840.
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY.
. George Bumgardner, the original County Surveyor, came to Bloomington in 1837. His name is inscribed on the pages of all the early records relating to deeds and plats of property in the Recorder's office. He it was who laid out and defined the line of Bloomington, after the formal purchase. Not only did he establish city boundaries, but he also laid the foundation of the Methodist Episcopal Society, in company with John A. Parvin, Joseph Williams, and others.
Dr. Eli Reynolds, the founder of the extinct town of Geneva, a few miles above Bloomington, and the first Representative from the region in the Belmont Legislature, located at New Boston in 1835. In 1836, he planned Geneva, and right manfully did he labor to secure the seat of justice there. As a mark of his ability, it is shown that two townships are attached to Muscatine County which might naturally belong to Scott. Those eastern towns were placed where they are still found in order to give a more central location to Geneva. How- ever, the best laid plans sometimes fail, and, when the news of the Doctor's intent came to the ears of the residents of Muscatine. there was a hurrying to and fro. and petitions were sent to Gov. Dodge in protest against the proposed change. The bill, meanwhile, had passed the Legislature of 1837-38, at Burlington, and needed but the signature of the Governor to make it a law. But that signature was never given. The measure failed of approval, and Bloomington was retained, in the amended act of organization, as the county seat. Geneva is no more. Dr. Reynolds resided in the home of his creation for about twelve years. Subsequently, he lived at Fairport and at Moscow. He died at S. R. Drury's house, at Drury's Landing, May 10, 1873. For fifty-six years he was a practicing physician.
William St. John, one of the 1836 pioneers, and for many years of the firm of Ogilvie & St. John, died April 18, 1874, in Morrison, Ill .. where he had resided for about nine years. Mr. St. John was associated at an early day with many of the schemes of improvement then in vogue. and was a highly- esteemed citizen.
Gen. Ansel Humphreys came to Bloomington in the spring of 1840. He was born in Hartford County, Conn., June 1. 1792, and from his youth up he was possessed of great activity and energy. By the exercise of those mental and moral attributes which nature had endowed him with and qualified him for, he soon became a leading spirit in this community. He gained his title by a commission of Major General in the Connecticut militia, which he resigned to move West. He served with distinction in various civil offices in his native State, and held a commission as United States Commissioner for the State of lowa from 1851 to the date of his death, which occurred April 21, 1873.
John H. Pigman, a pioneer of 1840, died April 4, 1874, aged seventy-three years. He held the office of County Surveyor at the time of his death, and served, in 1854, as member of the State Legislature.
Hon. Jacob Butler was born at Franklinton, opposite Columbus, Ohio, in 1817. In 1841, Mr. Butler removed to Bloomington, and formed a law partner- ship with Judge Lowe. His early education was acquired through his own untiring exertions, and that fact serves as an index to his character. From the first year of his residence in lowa he began to exert a wide influence upon the growth and history of the town of his choice. No citizen received prompter or more generous recognition of merit. His first appearance in official life fol- lowed his election to the General Assembly, in 1863, at which session he was elected Speaker of the House. He was again brought into prominence as President of the Northwest Conference of the Congregational Association, held
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY.
at Chicago. He was Trustee of Iowa College, Director of the American Mis- sion Society, President for more than three years of the Muscatine National Bank, President of the Muscatine Gas Company, and President of the Iowa Railway Construction Company. In 1872, he represented the Liberal party on the electoral ticket of Greeley and Brown, and, at the time of his death, was Vice President of the Marine Company Bank of Chicago. Mr. Butler married for his first wife Sarah, daughter of Rev. Charles Cummings, D. D., of New York, and sister of Mrs. Dr. J. S. Horton, of Muscatine. His second marriage was with Esther, daughter of Judge Maynard, of Corning, N. Y. In religious sentiments Mr. Butler was liberal, but he maintained an honorable connection with the Congregational Church from 1854. In many things he was eccentric, but that characteristic was rather the outgrowth of a strong mind and determined purpose. His death occurred April 23, 1874, in Mt. Pleasant, of acute meningitis. The citizens, the bar and the pulpit united in expressions of profound regret at his death. For many years, he won and retained the admiration of his fellow-citizens by his eloquent tongue and his powerful intel- lect. The fate which brought him to a mental condition the reverse of his normal state was most deplorable. His memory will ever be fresh among those who knew him in his manly health and vigor.
Chester Weed was one of the most generally known and respected men in this region of the State, as a merchant and public-spirited man. For thirty years, the firm of Weed & Bridgeman (the latter a brother-in-law of the for- mer) was known and respected. He was a native of Connecticut, and imbibed the characteristics of the race from which he sprang, in all their better nature. His father, Dr. Benjamin Weed, came to Bloomington in 1839, and, in 1841, the son followed. In 1843, after having acted as clerk in the store of Joseph Bennett for some time, Messrs. Weed and Bridgeman formed the mercantile copartnership which became, in the course of years, so extensively and favorably known. He was identified with the most beneficial interests of the place, and was ever a generous citizen, a thoroughly respected man. In 1873, Mr. Weed was married to Miss Cora Chaplin, and the bridal couple made an extended European journey, the second enjoyed by Mr Weed. He loved the good and the beautiful, and left his impress on those with whom he came in contact. The local press, in speaking of his sudden demise, remarked that there was " no one on whom his mantle could fall."
William Chambers, Sr., was born in North Carolina, June 5, 1793. He served with distinction in the war of 1812. In the spring of 1836, he came, with his family, to Muscatine County, whither he was preceded a few weeks by his son Vincent, with whom he settled on a farm about six miles from town. In 1866, he took up his residence, with his son, in Muscatine City. His death occurred in December, 1874. The bereavement to the family was augmented by the sad coincidence of the death of Mrs. Mary Chambers, wife of John, one of the pioneer sons. The wife was the daughter of John S. Lakin, who came to Bloomington in 1840. She was married July 13, 1854, and, about 1871, removed, with her husband, to Leavenworth, Kan. The body was brought to Muscatine, and the funerals were solemnized at the same time. Both father and daughter were respected by the entire community, and the dual affliction created a profound impression upon the society which knew them so long.
J. B. Dougherty, Sr., a pioneer of 1842, who purchased the first drug store of W. H. Hollingsworth at that time, and continued in the business until 1875, died July 14, 1875. He was identified with the growth of the town, and always took a deep interest in its prosperity.
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY.
William E. Leffingwell died October 23, 1876. He came to Muscatine County in 1836, where he at once began the labor of improving a farm in Wapsinonoc Township. In 1844, he became a resident of town, and was repeatedly honored by office at the hands of his fellow-citizens. He served as County Commissioner, Clerk of the County, Justice of the Peace, City Treasurer, and Mayor. He left behind him an honorable record, and is remembered with affectionate regard by all who knew him.
Col. George W. Kincaid, accompanied by his wife, came to this region in 1839, and located in what is now Seventy-six Township. Col. Kincaid, although past the age of military duty, was foremost in the cause of the Union in 1861, and was the prime mover in the effort to raise a regiment of old men. The Thirty-seventh Regiment, known as the famous Gray-Beards, was mustered in under his supervision, and he commissioned Colonel thereof September 17, 1862. He was Vice President of the Pioneers' Association of Muscatine County.
Gen. John G. Gordon, who acquired the title by commission from Gov. Briggs, of Iowa, in 1847, came to this county in 1844. He was never a seeker after office or notoriety, and held no place of prominence ; but, as an earnest worker in the ordinary methods of life, his rank was among the foremost. He died in 1877.
Samuel Lucas located four miles west of Bloomington in 1838. He resided upon the same farm continuously until the time of his death, in 1878.
The foregoing pages contain but briefest mention of such names only as the Pioneers' Association records contain, who now are numbered among the dead. Of the host of other men who, coming at a later period, have helped to build up the city of Muscatine and form the character of the county, we cannot speak in detail. If names are omitted which should appear in these pages, the cause of the delinquency lies not with the writer. Many more might, doubt- less, be added to the list, and the historian who comes after us will find mate- rials for a greater work.
THE NYE TRAGEDY.
The tragic ending of the life of Benjamin Nye, who disputed titles with Err Thornton as to first settlership, forms one of the few dark pages in the history of this county. The story is thus told by one who remembers the facts in the case:
"Nye was a type of the rougher sort of pioneers, and a worthy man and one who possessed the confidence of his neighbors so far as to elect him County Commissioner, and to other local offices, was fearless as a lion and implacable as an Indian. It is stated that in some way becoming involved in a controversy with a noted border desperado known as Maj. Gordon, Nye attacked him, and in the fierce fight with 'bowies' which followed both were supposed to have been fatally wounded. Nye, at least, recovered, and first came into contact with George McCoy as a farm hand in his employ. McCoy wooed the daughter of his employer, but had to run away with her in order to get married, which Nye never forgave to be on speaking terms thereafter. In 1840, McCoy was elected Sheriff of Cedar County, serving as such several terms ; but getting the fever, in 1849 he started for California, leaving his wife and children living in Tipton, in a house that stood where Casad's coal office now is, and under the shadow of that same old cottonwood, which was placed there by McCoy's own hands. Leaving suddenly, McCoy placed all his affairs in the hands of an old personal and political friend, S. A. Bissell, afterward known as Judge Bissell, who was then a very important figure in local affairs of all kinds, and held a high
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY.
official position, especially enjoining upon him care for his wife and children. The latter injunction was alleged to have been too literally obeyed-at all events when McCoy had been in California about a year the news came from his far- away home in Iowa that the family cradle had just been re-occupied and the census at his hearthstone increased by one. He dropped everything and hastened back with vengeance in his heart.
But the journey was a long one in those days, and time was given for much reflection-so much so, that instead of doing hasty murder on his arrival, he avowed his only object to be, to obtain his own children and take them back to California with him. The friend in charge, on hearing of McCoy's arrival, took to his bed and was sick for some time, but no doubt was greatly relieved, when McCoy finally sent him word that he might go to and from his official duties without fear, even if the permission was coupled with such a threat, in case he should be found elsewhere, as kept him most religiously to the pre- scribed line of march. In the mean time the wife and children were at Ben. Nye's, in Muscatine County ; and, although McCoy was reminded of the char- acter of his father-in-law, and advised to proceed by legal process only, he took a wagon and a couple of trusty men-one of whom is a resident of Tipton to-day-and, learning that Nye would be in Muscatine on business, on the 3d of March, 1852, made a raid on his premises, got the children in the wagon and was away without hindrance. But it so fell out that Nye soon returned ; and, learning the situation, sprang into his own wagon, and drove at racing speed, until he overtook McCoy eight miles on the road toward Tipton. Pass- ing the team of the latter, he turned his own across the road, handed the lines to his companion, and jumping out demanded the children. McCoy produced a revolver, and warned him that death would be the penalty of interference ; but the old borderer advanced to the wagon without flinching, and actually seized one of the children, although the pistol had twice been fired at him meanwhile. But being unarmed, he then suddenly changed his tactics, and rushing to the fence, seized a heavy stake, and again advanced. McCoy, by this time, had jumped from the wagon, and stood with his pistol leveled. He waited an instant too long, however, and down came Nye's club, and the pistol went whirling into the road, while the arm that held it fell disabled at its own- er's side.
But this time the old grizzly had met his fate! Without hesitation, ยท McCoy drew a huge bowie-knife with the other hand, and springing upon his antagonist, twice buried it to the hilt in his body-the last time actually turn- ing it in the wound. Either gash was sufficient to let life out, but still Nye's determination defied death for several days. McCoy, on his part, put his chil- dren in a place of safety, and went at once to Muscatine and surrendered him- self to the authorities. He was examined before Judge Williams, and released upon the plea of having acted in self-defense, and is, to-day, a Justice of the Peace and prominent citizen in a flourishing California village.
Mrs. Azuba Nye, widow of Benjamin, and the first white female settler in Muscatine County, died on the original claim made in 1834, March 4, 1879.
SOME PIONEERS.
The county was formally organized in the year 1837, as is shown in detail elsewhere in this work. It is impossible to give a list of those who came to the county in 1837, for the number reached far up into the hundreds. The year following, a census was taken, which showed the population of Muscatine County to be no less than 1,247.
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY.
It is a fact which cannot be denied successfully that all new countries attract a certain element of society which is far from desirable. The "floating popu- lation " which hangs upon the outskirts of civilization does no good to a region infested by it ; but its presence is almost sure to be made manifest by an era of lawlessness which retards the material growth and improvement of the country. Fortunately, Muscatine County was soon rid of that idle, speculative class. The leaders in the community were men of such stanch determination and honest purpose that idlers found the locality an unpleasant one for them, and moved further West. The opening up of still new regions, during the ten years succeeding the first improvements in this county, induced many to select homes along the Iowa Valley and elsewhere, with a view to making themselves leaders and original proprietors in the towns which sprang into existence, and also to become large owners of the fertile prairie-lands of the interior. These causes. among others not so apparent, produced a marked change in the population of this county, in 1846. The census returns taken under the Territorial govern- ment were as follows : 1838, 1,247; 1840, 1,942; 1844, 2,882; 1846, 1,485.
We are able to give some of the prominent names in the roll of settlers who came prior to 1840, and are recorded in the Old Settlers' Society's register. We do not pretend that the list is a complete one, but we give all whose names have been furnished us by reliable parties. The settlements in the several townships are spoken of more in detail in the chapters devoted especially to the towns and villages. We give the names appended in about the order of their coming, by years only.
Beginning with the assumption that settlement was made in 1834, we have: Err Thornton, Lott Thornton, Benjamin and Azuba Nye.
1835-James W. Casey, John Vanater, John McGrew, Arthur Washburn, Dr. Eli Reynolds.
1836-Suel Foster, Moses Couch, William Gordon, John J. Huber, Thomas Burdett, H. Burdett, Addison Reynolds, Samuel Gilbert, Hiram Gil- bert, William St. John, Thomas B. Holliday, John H. Miller, John Holliday, Samuel Holliday. Elias Holliday, Levi Thornton, J. H. Benson, Edward E. Fay, J. Craig, John Reece, Henry Reece, Joseph Reece, Harvey Gillett, William Beard, William P. Wright, L. C. Hine, Mr. Higley (the pioneer peddler), and his son Jonas, Joshua Stearn, Browning Stearn (first settlers on Muscatine Island), Frank Casey, W. H. Sams, Solomon Bair, William Hunter, John Cobb, John Marble, Daniel Edginton, Samuel Kinney, R. C. Kinney, Aaron Blanchard, Samuel Parker, Giles Pettibone, Jonathan. Pettibone, John Champ, Silas Maine, Charles Maine, Norman Fullington. Adam Ogilvie, T. M. Isett, Mr. Norton and wife, William Chambers, Sr., and his sons Vincent, William, Isaac, Anderson and John Aaron Brewer, James Chambers, S. C. Comstock. J. H. Franklin, Henry Mockmore, Robert Bamford, Charles Drury, who laid out Moscow in 1836.
1837-Joseph Bridgman, Richard Lord, Silas Lathrop, Isaac Lathrop, Samuel Shortridge, John Briggs, Asa Gregg, Henry Funck, Adam Funck, William Sparkes, Thomas Starks, S. Clinton Hastings, Robert Davis, H. Wiley, Silas Goldsbury, George Bumgardner, William G. Holmes. Addison Gillett, Samuel Stormes, John Frierson, John Main, Ahimaaz Blanchard, George Storms, Jeremiah Fish, Charles H. Fish, Pliny Fay, H. H. Hine, John Miles, David Kiefer, Robert Smith, Jacob Kiser, Wilson Wright J. Richman, Robert Gra- ham, John Lawson, Martin Sutherland, Alexander Ward, L. T. McGrew, Amos Walton, Isaiah Davis, Alexander Ward, Myron Ward, John Kindler, Dr. Maxon, A. Whiting, William Todd, H. Sany, S. Richardson. F. Richardson,
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY.
C. Rayburn, A. Cone, Daniel Mauck, Isaac Mauck, S. C. Trowbridge, Giles Pettibone, John Morford, J. Berg, J. C. Cole, J. S. Yates, J. G. Morrow, Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Vandever, John Miller, S. Colver, Dr. H. Lee, Jacob Long, James Bidwell, Peter Bidwell, John S. Abbott, Robert McClaren, Benjamin Baston, John Shefrey, A. L. McKee, Luke Cunningham, Joseph Mounts, Thomas J. Starke, Nathan Parsons, James Davis, Samuel Parker, Christopher Burns, Levi Chamberlain, Samuel Starr, the Coombs family, Anderson Pace, Aaron Usher, Niles Higginbotham.
1838-T. S. Parvin, Judge Joseph Williams, M. M. Berkshire, A. T. Banks, J. E. Fletcher, Samuel Lucas, Thomas Morford, D. R. Warfield, A. O. Warfield, Josiah P. Walton, John W. Walton, S. W. Stewart, W. D. Viele, Peter Jackson, Henry W. Moore, Abraham Smalley, J. A. Reuling, A. M. Winn. Andrew McCurdy, J. Williams, Jr., William Morford, R. Morford, B. T. Howland, J. W. Brady, George Barney, Mr. Hawkins, Irad C. Day, D. R. Petriken, W. S. Ayers, A. West, James Beatty, John M. Kidder, J. M. Brock- way, A. Brockway, W. Tebow, Charles Browning, James Phillips, A. Farns- worth, Samuel Bamford, Horace Deming, John Isler, Amos Lillibridge, Azel Farnsworth, Benjamin Lilly, Alonzo Standard.
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