USA > Iowa > Poweshiek County > The History of Poweshiek County, Iowa : containing a history of the County, its cities, towns, &c.,. > Part 38
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The honor of being the first settler has been claimed for more than one person; the writer, having carefully weighed all the evidence, concludes that this honor, without doubt, belongs tojRichard B. Ogden.
Mr. Ogden came from Morgan county, Illinois, and settled in the south part of the county in the fall of 1843. His claim was located on section 29, a little southwest of the present location of Forest Home Post-office. There at that picturesque location, then in the midst of solitude and enjoying the communion of nature, this hardy pioneer erected his humble cabin. There was the first beginning of a civilization which spread northward and unit- ing with settlements which in the meantime had been begun near the groves of Bear Creek, soon brought the entire country under its dominion. It is the privilege of but few men to make the beginnings of an enterprise of such immense proportions as the peopling and improvement of an en- tire county, and to be permitted to observe the growth of the enterprise for more than a quarter of a century, and from day to day note no back- ward movement, but from premises to conclusions to be conscious that the course has been onward and upward.
During the early settlements of this county, as in the settlements of other counties of the West, the population at first was largely composed of shiftless adventurers, who made of the country but a mere camping ground, ready to move at the first advance of civilization westward; the first settler of this county, as has been the case in nearly every county of the State, was a man of more than ordinary strength of will and force of character, and became permanently and prominently connected with the interests of the county. Mr. Ogden continued to reside in the county until the time of his death, which occurred at Montezuma, Febru- ary 22, 1875, age 67 years 9 months and 17 days. The Montezuma Re- publican, of Feburary 24, 1875, contained the following brief notice of his death:
Ex-County Judge R. B. Ogden, long a resident of this county, breathed his last at his residence in this city at five minutes past eleven o'clock A. M., on Monday last. The illness was brief, though severe, which ended his days on earth. His remains are to be interred to-day by the Masons, of which order he was a member.
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
At the time of his death, Mr. Ogden had been a resident of the county for almost thirty-two years, and during that time he held several import- ant offices. The first office to which he was elected, was that of member of the first Board of County Commissioners. He was elected to the office of County Judge, which position he held during one term of four years and one term of two years, six years in all. Upon being elected to the office of County Judge he left his original claim in Union township, and removed to Montezuma, where he continued to reside till the time of his death. If his . original claim was situated in section 29, as reported, he must have re- moved to another claim afterward, as we find that in October, 1848, he purchased of the government the east half of the northeast quarter and the east half of the southeast quarter of section 20, and this was probably the place of his residence at the time he filled the office of County Commission- er. This land is now the property of S. A. Allen, T. B. Farmer, John Farmer and N. Moore.
The next spring after the first settlement, came two brothers, Daniel and J. W. Satchell. They came from Logan county, Illinois, and arrived in this county on the 23d of March, 1844. It is said that Daniel Satchell lo- cated on section 34, and J. W. Satchell pitched his tent on section 28, where they began to open up and improve farms. Be this as it may, we find that in February, 1849, Daniel Satchell bought of the government the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter, and the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 26. At the same time he bought the north half of the northwest quarter of section 35. This land is now the property of G. J. Morgan, E. B. Morgan, and D. Garsuch. He continued to reside in the south part of the county, till 1863, when he re- moved to Mahaska county; from Mahaska county he again removed to Warren county, where he died a few years ago. Joseph W. Satchell, the other brother, removed several years ago to the vicinity of the town of Malcom, and from there he removed more recently to Grinnell, where he now resides, We are informed on good authority, that the two brothers, Daniel and Joseph W. Satchell, brought the first cattle, sheep and hogs to the county. Joseph Satchell, at present Deputy County Auditor, is a son of Daniel Satchell; although not born in this county, he was less than one year old when his parents located here, and he may properly be considered a native of Poweshiek county, and together with his uncle, Joseph W. Satchell, the oldest residents of the county.
During the same year, and about the same time in the year with the Satchells, came two persons, by the name of Cheesman, from Maryland. Felix Cheesman, in June, 1849, bought the south half of the northeast quarter of section 15; also the northeast quarter of section 21. To this
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land. now owned by Thomas McCoy and T. A. Marsh, were brought the first horses, as it is authentically stated there were no horses in the county until the Cheesmans settled there.
After residing in the county for some time, Richard Cheesman returned to Maryland. Felix Cheesman left the country many years ago, and after making an extended tour through South America, he returned to the county where died.
The region of country in the vicinity of Forest Home received many other accessions during the years"1845-46. Among others we note the name of William H. Barnes, who, in August, 1849, entered the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 20, and the north- east quarter of the northeast quarter of section 19. Mr. Barnes was a preacher, and is remembered by the early settlers of the county as one of the first Abolitionists in the county. He was firm in the faith, uncompro- mising in his views and expressed his sentiments on all occasions without fear or favor. He left the county many years ago.
Elias J. Williams was the first blacksmith in the south part of the county. He probably gave his entire attention to his trade, and did not take a claim for the purpose of permanent improvement, as we do not find that he en- tered any land prior to 1850. He died many years ago.
John H. McVey, at whose house the Board of County Commissioners first met, was one of the influential citizens of the county in early times. He was a thrifty and industrious man and became the owner of considerable land. Among other parcels we find that in June, 1849, he entered the southeast quarter of section 10, now owned by S. H. and H. P. Johnson.
William Butt, another old settler of this region, still resides in Union township, in the northeast quarter of section 17.
The following named persons settled during pioneer times: John Moore; still in the county; Elias Brown, gone to Kansas; Peter Morgan, dead; William H. Palmer, now resides in Deep River township; Samuel G. Dement, gone to Audubon county; Joseph Hall, still resides in the county; John McIntire, now resides in Montezuma; Robert F. Steele, still resides in the county; Stephen Moore, who was the first Clerk of the District Court, emigrated elsewhere.
Farther to the southwest, within the present bounds of Sugar Creek township, we notice the name of Joseph Robertson, who came in 1848, in company with Charles G. Adams, now in Montezuma. These two men had been comrades in the Mexican War and upon being discharged came to locate their land warrants which they had received as bounty upon enlist- ment. Mr. Adams first located in Washington township, but being elected
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clerk of the District Court in 1852, he became a resident of Montezuma, where he has since resided, with the exception of a short time when he was postmaster of Grinnell. Mr. Robertson, in the fall of 1848, entered the south- west quarter of the southwest quarter of section 25, the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 35, and the southeast quarter of section 36. Upon the last mentioned parcel of land he located his dwelling and there he continues to reside.
William English located in the county, within the present bounds of Sugar Creek township, at an early day; among the first entries of land, he purchased the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 22, and a quarter of section 26. He was the first Sheriff of the county, and has been dead some years.
John McDowell and James McDowell settled in the southwest part of the county prior to 1848. The former still resides near the place where he first erected his rude cabin; the latter erected the first flouring mill in the county; he emigrated to Oregon several years ago.
Among the other early settlers of this part of the county were the fol- lowing: Benjamin Snow, gone west; Richard Rivers, dead; Jacob Rivers, now a resident of Union township; Conrad Swaney, a very eccentric indi- vidual, died several years ago.
Among the first settlers of Jackson township were, J. S. Dalby, John Hall, Gideon Wilson, Isaac G. Wilson, James W. Wilson, Matthew Harden, John Cassidy, David Cassidy, William R. Cassidy, William Sandlin, Ben- jamin O. Payne, John M. Bryan, Martin Snyder, and Jesse Soey.
Martin Snyder erected the first cabin in the vicinity of Montezuma, not far west of the present site of the court-house, and probably within the present limits of the town. Jesse Soey had a claim in what is now the . southwest limits of the town; the cabin in which he dwelt was not far from the present limits of the Johnson House. Gideon Wilson, who was formerly one of the largest land owners, and the heaviest tax payer of the county, died a few years ago. Isaac G. Wilson, who entered the land upon which Montezuma is now located, erected the first house on the public square; it still occupies its original site on the east side of the square, but its repairs and additions have been so frequent and marked that the origi- nal builder would scarcely recognize it.
John Cassidy was formerly a wealthy citizen; he owned considerable land, and erected a business block on the west side of the public square in Montezuma. To him belongs the credit of bringing to the county the first steam engine. During war times he failed in business, and afterward he removed to the western part of the State. His two sons, David and Wm.
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R., are dead. Dalby is dead, and so is Matthew Harden, and William Sandlin. John Hall still resides in the county, and Benjamin O. Payne moved elsewhere several years ago.
The first settlements made in the southeast part of the county, were by A. L. Morgan and Robert Taylor, who located near the present village of Dresden in the spring of 1848. In 1852 but ten persons resided in that part of the county. Mr. Taylor is dead. John Sargood and James Light, two early settlers, still reside in the vicinity of their original claims. Dur- ing the years of 1854 and 1855, that part of the county settled very rap- idly, and in 1856, when Deep River township was organized, there was quite a respectable voting population.
Washington township originally included what is now known as Wash- ington township, and in addition to that, what is now known as Grinnell township, Chester, and the west half of Pleasant, Malcom and Sheridan. At the time it was organized, May 1852, there were, throughout that entire region of country, but fifteen voters. Their names were as follows:
Nathaniel Lattimer, Nathaniel J. Lattimer, William Lattimer, Porter Lattimer, D. M. Rutledge, James F. Robberts, Peter S. Pearce, Wm. Pros- ser, Sr., Daniel D. Prosser, Samuel Favour, C. G. Adams, George M. Beeler, R. C. Carpenter, A. H. Carpenter, William McNabb.
Mr. McNabb was killed by lightning several years ago; Mr. Pearce now resides in Grinnell; Daniel D. Prosser still resides in the county; William Prosser, Sr., is dead; and William Prosser, Jr., who still resides in the county, is regarded as one of the most enterprising and successful farmers in central Iowa.
Nathaniel J. Lattimer settled in the north part of a grove at the head- waters of Sugar Creek at a very early day. Upon the establishment of Fort Des Moines, a line of communication with Iowa City and Davenport was opened up across the county, and this grove, which was named, in honor of the first settler, Lattimer's Grove, became a favorite camping place. After the Western Stage Company established a line of stages across the State, Lattimer's Grove became one of the stations. It was on the direct line from Iowa City to Des Moines, and was also the junction of a branch line which ran across the county from the southeast through Dresden and Montezuma. Mr. Lattimer kept the stage station, and, by reason of the scarcity of settlements in that part of the county, he became a very noted character. He disposed of his property in the county a few years ago and removed to Kansas. The other Lattimers, who resided in early times in the same neighborhood, have likewise emigrated farther west.
At a very early time, shortly after the first settlements in the south part
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of the county, and possibly contemporaneously therewith, a settlement was begun on Bear Creek, near the junction of Big Bear Creek and Little Bear Creek. Originally an extensive belt of timber, some two miles in width, extended from the present site of Brooklyn eastward some five or six miles. It was at the eastern extremity of this grove that the settlement alluded to was made, by Henry Snook, and the place was for many years known by the name of Snook's Grove. Mr. Snook was a blacksmith, and owing to the heavy travel along the road which passed his house, he had quite a bus- iness in pioneer times, mending wagons and shoeing horses. Especially was this the case in 1849 and 1850 during the California gold excitement. Mr. Snook thrived during these days, and entered a number of choice pieces of land. When the travel along the dragoon trail ceased there was no longer a demand for Snook, the blacksmith, and Snook, the farmer, not being a success, he sold all his property in the county and removed West.
Another pioneer of this region was William Scott. In November, 1848, he entered the west half of the northeast quarter and the southwest quarter of section 23. Also the east half of the northeast quarter of section 27. A portion of this land is still marked on the maps in his name.
The first land in the county purchased from the government was entered by John I. Talbott, August 27, 1847. It was the east half of the northwest quarter of section 18. Mr. Talbott died many years ago. Robert Talbott and Joshua C. Talbott still reside near the site of their first settlements.
A number of persons by the name of Manatt settled in the vicinity of the Bear Creek Grove at an early day. They owned the original site of the town of Brooklyn, in the neighborhood of which they still have extensive possessions, and an addition to the town of Brooklyn is called Manatt's Addi- tion in honor of William Manatt, who formerly owned the land upon which that town is located. The Manatts were formerly from Holmes county, Ohio, whence they emigrated to this county during the year 1845 or 1846.
Robert Manatt is dead; James Manatt lives at the present time near Brooklyn; John M. Talbott has gone farther west; Thomas Fry, another old settler of that region, died years ago; Edward Griswold was also a pio- neer of that region, and died some years ago; Jesse Given has gone else- where.
The settlements on Bear Creek, in the vicinity of Snook's Grove, have prospered from the first. The dragoon trail which passed through there originally afforded the settlers a home market for their produce; in more recent times the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad has furnished them an outlet.
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
Near the east side of the county, on North English River, was formerly an extensive belt of timber. The first settlement made there was by Will- iam Harklerode, and the settlement was for a number of years known as Harklerode's Grove.
It appears that Mr. Harklerode, in November, 1849, entered the south half of the northeast quarter, and the west half of the southeast quarter of section 21, which is now the property of Ezekiel H. Bushnell. Mr. Harkle- rode emigrated to Oregon some twenty-five years ago.
Another pioneer of that region was John Houston, who died several years ago. He was a relative of Governor Sam. Houston, of Texas, and both he and Harklerode were from Tennessee. These two were for many years the only residents of that part of the county.
As far back as the memory of the oldest settler runs, there was a small grove on North English River, directly north of the Montezuma, and as far back as any one remembers there was an old log cabin in that grove. Owing to certain remains which the first explorers found in and near the cabin, it was supposed to have been the occasional dwelling-place of a no- torious gang of horse-thieves and counterfeiters, and on this account the place was known to the early settlers as Bogus Grove. The first settlement made there was by Matthew Harden, previously a resident of Jackson township.
Beside Mr. Harden there was living in the present bounds of Scott township, in early times, Levi Bryan and Eli Shook. This part of the county was not extensively settled prior to 1856.
Along Little Bear Creek, in the vicinity of the present town of Malcom, there was no extensive settlement prior to the year 1856. Among the pio- neers of that region who settled prior to 1850, were Robert Motherl and Church Meigs; Motherl left the country many years ago and Meigs is dead.
P. P. Raymond, at present a resident of Malcom, settled in that vicinity at an early day.
According to an account given by N. C. Condit, written in 1865, Will- iam L. Zinc, from Illinois, settled in the present bounds of Mal- com township, in August, 1853, and in April of the following year Mr. William Springer, from Seneca county, Ohio, located there. Mr. Zinc was located on the road leading from Iowa City to Des Moines, near the center of the county, and Mr. Springer was located on the same road in the eastern part of the township. During the year 1855 Edmund Cardell, from Illi- nois, formerly from Vermont, settled on the State road on the claim ad- joining Church Meigs. Mr. C. B. Martin came the next season and opened
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a farm on the said road opposite the premises of Messrs. Meigs and Car- dell, and resided there until the fall of 1859. In February, 1857, Sylvester Bates, from Vermont, having purchased the farm of W. L. Zinc, settled himself there, where he continued to remain. Not far from the same time Mr. H. D. Arnold came in and subsequently others, till the population of the territory was large enough to justify a township organization. In Sep- tember, 1858, L. E. Cardell was authorized to proceed to the organization of the township.
The first settlements made on Walnut Creek, in the north part of the county, were by James Brewer, Joseph Brewer, Norman Parks, and Nelson Parks. Norman Parks was quite a prominent citizen of the county, until recently, when he died. Daniel Winslow, another early settler of that part of the county, still lives, near his original claim.
About four miles northeast from Grinnell, in the present bounds of Chester township, there was originally a small growth of timber, which, on account of its smallness, and distance from other timber, was known as Lost Grove. The earliest settlers of the county found the remains of a cabin there, which was supposed to be an occasional residence of counter- feiters.
There were no settlements in the vicinity of the present town of Grinnell prior to the year 1854, at which time Hon. J. B. Grinnell, with several other gentlemen, established a colony there. Several of the first settlers of the county, who still remain, say that they often visited the site of Grinnell when the whole surrounding country was a bleak, uninhabited prairie. The thought of beginning a settlement there never entered their minds; they did not suppose it would be possible to exist in such a country, and, using their own language, would not have given ten cents per acre for the choicest parcels of land in that whole region.
An accurate and elaborate history of this thriving and euterprising city will be given at the proper place. At this stage of our work, we quote from Mr. Condit's narrative, written in 1865. He says:
"In the winter of 1853 and 1854, there appeared in the New York Tribune a notice, signed by Rev. J. B. Grinnell, then a Congregational minister in New York, stating his purpose of forming a Christian colony, and locating in the West. On the 8th of March, 1854, some four or five persons met, for the first time, at the Park House, in Iowa City, and con- sulted regarding this colony, and came to the conclusion that Iowa afforded greater advantages to such a colony than any other State.
"Three of those present, Rev. J. B. Grinnell, Dr. Thomas Holyoke, and Rev. Homer Hamlin, with a surveyor, a Mr. Cassidy, of Iowa City, having
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procured a team, started out on the Iowa City and Fort Des Moines road, with the consoling hint from the landlord that it was doubtful whether they found a stopping place short of Lattimer's Grove, seventy miles dis- tant. As they journeyed west, the country was carefully observed, and inquiries made for a large tract of vacant land, but none was found on the first day, and night found them hospitably entertained, with four beds in one room, more than they expected in so thinly settled a country. The next day, at noon, they arrived at Lattimer's Grove; having plats of all the land thereabouts, they proceeded at once to view the prairie where the town of Grinnell is now situated, and finding it in all respects most desir- able, determined there to plant the colony. As the neighboring inhabi- tants were suspicious of the colonists, believing them to be speculators, they determined immediately to have a shelter for new-comers, until the site of the town should be definitely located, and built a log camp.
" A considerable portion of the land in township 80, range 16 west, was entered by those present for their own use, and for that of others who were soon to join them.
" In the early part of May, 1854, the site of the town was definitely fixed and located, in the northwest quarter of section 16, township 80, range 16 west, and it was soon laid off into lots 75 feet by 165."
Such is a brief sketch of the first settlements in the various parts of the county ; a more definite and elaborate account of these beginnings will be given in the history of the several townships.
CHAPTER V.
PIONEER LIFE.
The Pioneer's Peculiarities-Conveniences and Inconveniences-The Historical Log Cabin -- Agricultural Implements-Household Furniture-Pioneer Corn Bread -- Hand Mills and Hominy Blocks-Going to Mill-Trading Points-The Pioneer Stock Dealer-Hunting and Trapping-The California Gold Excitement-The Western Stage Company-Claim Clubs and Club Laws-A Border Sketch-Surveys and Land Sales-The First Records- Growth of the Country-Table of Events.
DURING the decade which comprehends the first ten years of its history, Poweshiek county was in its earliest stage of pioneer life. All that can be known of this period must be drawn chiefly from tradition. In those days, the people took no care to preserve history; they were too busily engaged in making it. Historically speaking, those were the most impor- tant years of the county, for it was then the foundation and corner-stones of all the country's history and prosperity were laid. Yet, this period
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was not remarkable for stirring events. It was, however, a time of self- reliance, and brave, persevering toil; of privations cheerfully endured, through faith in a good time coming. The experience of one settler was just about the same as that of others. They were almost inva- riably poor, they faced the same hardships, and stood generally on an equal footing.
All the experience of the early pioneer of this county goes far to con- firm the theory that, after all, happiness is pretty evenly balanced in this world. They had their privations and hardships, but they had, also, their own peculiar joys. If they were poor, they were free from the burden of pride and vanity; free, also, from the anxiety and care that always attend the possession of wealth. Other people's eyes cost them nothing. If they had few neighbors, they were on the best of terms with those they had- Envy, jealousy, and strife had not crept in. A common interest and a common sympathy bound them together with the strongest ties. They were a little world to themselves, and the good feeling that prevailed was all the stronger because they were so far removed from the great world of the East.
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