USA > Iowa > Boone County > The history of Boone County, Iowa, containing biographical sketches war records of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, history of the Northwest, history of Iowa, map of Boone county etc. > Part 39
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M. Hoffman was born in Indiana in July, 1827. On arriving at majority he came to Iowa and located in this county in 1848. His first claim was in section 15, township 83, range 26, and which he entered some time after, this being the first land entered in the county. He returned to In-
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diana the same year, and in the following spring removed with his family , to his claim in this county. The claim was improved as rapidly as circum- stances would permit. By patient industry and economy Mr. Hoffman has become the owner of six hundred acres of well improved land, and now in mature age holds the position of being one of the leading farmers and stock raisers of the State. The only capital Mr. Hoffman had on coming to Iowa was two hundred dollars which his father gave him on arriving at his majority.
In June 1846, Benjamin Williams took a claim near the present site of Swede Point. His claim was in section 34, township 82, range 26. When he moved on this claim Mr. Williams found part of it occupied by a band of Pottawattamie Indians. The claim contained a fine grove of maple trees, which was a favorite resort of the Indians in the spring of the year. They had just suspended their sugar-making operations when Williams arrived, and as stated elsewhere, he in later years utilized their implements in the manufacture of sirup. Mr. Williams further states that the Indians having committed some depredations upon the stock of a certain settler, the case was reported to an officer of the dragoons, who came to inquire into the matter, and finding the Indians all drunk selected two of the leaders of the band and tied them up to an elm tree until they should become suffi- ciently sober to give an intelligent account of affairs. Mr. Williams still resides in the county and is one of the best representatives of that class of Iowa farmers who have become justly renowned in the history of the State. A native of Ohio, he emigrated to Illinois at a time when that country would have been sufficiently new for most of people, but finding that it was settling up very rapidly, and that he was too late to take full advantage of an unsettled country there, he set out in a short time for Iowa, and having visited several localities along the Des Moines river, returned to Illinois and informed his neighbors that he had found a much better country. He soon inade arrangements to remove to this county, where he arrived, as before stated, in June, 1846. He immediately set about the work of improving his claim but was not satisfied with confining his ex- ertions there. Hearing that preparations were being made to build a fort at a point further up the river, he employed two men with teams, and taking these, in connection with his own team, set out for the present site of Fort Dodge. Upon arriving there he found that Capt. Johnson, with a detach- ment of dragoons, had but recently arrived and that he was just in time to get a job, for which, as he now remarks, he knew he would receive the cash, and that, too, not in depreciated currency of State banks but in the genuine yellow eagles of the government. He was not long in concluding a bargain with Capt. Johnson to haul the logs for the construction of the fort, the compensation to be three dollars per day for each of his teams. After a sufficient number of logs had been hauled Johnson inquired for lumber and Williams informed him that a saw-mill had been recently erect- ed at Elk Rapids, where a sufficient amount could be procured. Johnson authorized him to procure the lumber, and Williams set out with his three teams for that purpose. He proceeded to Elk Rapids and returned with the lumber, which was received by the officer, the latter paying Williams five dollars and giving him an order for the remainder of the bill. A short time afterward Col. Armsted arrived with some more dragoons and took charge of the garrison at the fort. Col. Armsted was an insolent and over-
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bearing individual, and when Williams asked him for the money due him the Colonel turned upon him and said:
" You can have no money, sir; and what is more I want you to load up the lumber and take it away, as I will have none of it."
Williams knew that his order was good and, what was more, a quantity of the lumber had already been used by the garrison, the very table and benches at the Colonel's headquarters having been manufactured out of it. He therefore informed Armsted that the lumber would lie where it was till the judgment day if not removed until he handled it, and as for his pay he had an order from Capt. Johnson, which the Government was good for. When the Colonel saw that Williams was not to be intimidated and that he had an order for the money, the irate officer toned down wonderfully, invited Williams into his quarters, where he divided with him the contents of a black bottle, and then paid the bill entire. The lumber was just what the garrison needed and Armsted had no intention to part with it, his object evidently being to brow-beat Williams, whom he deemed to be a timid in- dividual and, after having frightened him, compromise the matter by pay- ing a small sum for the lumber.
The mill where Williams procured the lumber was on the Des Moines river, and the first one erected in the county. The few settlers who were in the county joined together and put in the dam. Trees were cut out the proper length and dragged into the river; upon these brush and stone were piled until the dam was constructed. The mill was at first con- structed simply for the manufacture of lumber, but in the course of a few years an arrangment for grinding wheat and corn was added. The burs were made out of some large round sandstone, commonly called nigger- heads, found on an adjoining prairie.
Mr. Williams tells some interesting stories about his first trips to Des Moines and to Parmelee's mill, in Warren county. He was in Des Moines when there were but two business houses in that place and says he could have hauled all the goods away from there at one wagon load; could liave had his choice of lots in the present Capital City at the rate of fifteen dol- lars apiece. He went to mill down in that country once and, when arriving there, found the dam out of repair and the mill crowded with grists from all parts of the country. Not knowing what to do he walked off a few rods, where his team was feeding, and began to meditate. During his meditations he chanced to see two men wheeling rock to be used in repair- ing the dam, and the idea immediately suggested itself that the best way to get his grist ground would be to assist in repairing the dam. He im- mediately threw off his coat and went to work. When supper time came he followed the men and when they sat down to eat he sat down, too. When night came he undertook to sleep in his wagon, but the musquitos were so troublesome he slept none that night; so, on the following evening, when the other laborers went to bed, he followed them and sought to share their bed. They informed him that it was too hot for three in a bed, but he put them off with the remark that he was very fond of company and the more the merrier. Finally, the mill started, and some of the employes informed the proprietor that they had better grind Williams' grist for he was an intolerable bore and they wanted to get rid of him. Upon making inquiry, the proprietor ascertained what work Williams had performed, ground his wheat, paid him for his work, and the latter departed in high spirits. On his way back through Des Moines he saw one of the two mer-
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chants, which that town then supported, laboring very hard to manufac- ture stove wood from some drift which had been brought down by the cur- rent of the river during the high water of the preceding spring. Williams saw that cutting wood was hard work for the knight of the yard stick, and, · accosting him, inquired what he would pay to have the wood cut up. The latter offered one dollar, which Williams accepted, finishing the task in about one hour, and again set out for home.
Mr. Williams, at an early day, came into possession of the parcel of land upon which is the town of Boonesborough; that is he owned the claim, but had no title from the government. When the county seat was located upon it, the county commissioners entered the land, and Williams got nothing for his claim. He had paid the original owner of the claim one hundred dollars in cash for it, which was quite a sum of money to lose in those days. Mr. Williams' first claim consisted of three hundred and twenty acres, all of which was timber. His opinion was, that timber being scarce would always be valuable; while there was such an abundance of prairie land, that it would be comparatively easy to secure that at any time. His wife, Mrs. Elsie A. Williams, died the next year after coming to the county, and was buried on section 34, where a portion of ground was afterward set aside as a burying-ground. Although Mr. Williams is nearing his three-score years and ten, he is still enjoying comparatively good health.
The first settlement at Swede Point was made in 1846. In September of that year Mrs. Anna Delander came direct from Sweden with a family of four sons and three daughters, and settled upon the land where Swede Point now is located.
During the following year, 1847, quite a number of settlers came, among whom were the following: Jesse Hull and John Hull, already mentioned; William Sawyer, John Dobson, Richard Green and William Holston. These located during the months of May and June of that year in various parts of what is now Douglas township.
It was in this neighborhood that the first marriage and the first birth oc- curred. The first marriage was that of Henry Holcomb to Mary J. Hull, in 1848. The first birth was that of Henry, son of John and Sophia Hull.
This part of the county was early settled by Swedes. They have always had the reputation of being an enterprising, industrous class of citizens, and most of them have well improved farms.
Montgomery McCall settled near the present site of Boonesborough early in February, 1847. For a year or more his family lived nearer the source of the Des Moines river than any other white family. Mr. McCall was a man of more than ordinary force of character, and being a radical Demo- crat was for years considered one of the leaders of the party, although he does not seem to have held many, if any, important offices. He was one of that type of pioneers, who were so numerous in early days, partizan from principle rather than from policy. He was greatly exasperated at the Hull party for their coalition with the Whigs, and although he was a kind hearted man, and by his general demeanor in affairs of business and politics, drew around him hosts of friends, it is not clear that he ever fully forgave the Hulls for their union with his political enemies. Mr. McCall at one time owned the land where Moingonia is now situated, but he parted with the land and probably died without once dreaming of the immense mineral wealth of which he was possessed. Two sons, John McCall and William
John AM Farland
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McCall, still reside in the county on the west side of the river, with one of whom the aged widow of Montgomery McCall now resides. S. B. McCall, another son of Montgomery McCall, emigrated further west several years ago. He it was who lead the "Boone Invincibles," or "Tigers," as they were sometimes known, against the predatory Sioux who, under the lead of the chief Ink-pa-du-tah, ravished the stricken settlement of Spirit Lake.
Some amusing as well as pathetic incidents are related of Capt. McCall's command against the Sioux. It seems that the great difficulty in fitting out the "Tigers," was the scarcity of fire-arms. After the company had been quickly organized, upon the receipt of the news, it was found that there were barely enough arms, including old flint-lock muskets, squirrel rifles, shot guns and horse pistols, to furnish each "Tiger" with a piece. Some of the citizens, fearing that the settlement might be attacked, refused to loan their fire-arms for the use of the expedition. So it happened that upon the eve of their departure some of the "Tigers" had not so much as a flint-lock musket. Prof. Couch, of Greene county, of late years a writer and lecturer of considerable reputation, was then a citizen of Boonesboro. He had just arrived from the East a few days prior to the Spirit Lake massa- cre, and when the "Tigers" organized, his Yankee blood rose to the boiling point. He joined the "Tigers" but was unable to procure a gun; those who were the fortunate owners of rifles or muskets had either already loaned them or persisted in holding them for self-defense. When the com- pany were on the point of departing, Couch heard of a musket which for years had been stacked away among some old rubbish in the corner of a lawyer's office. He rushed up into the office, and finding that the disciple of Blackstone was not in, searched out the musket and carried it away in triumph without consulting the owner or so much as examining the piece. Thus armed he joined the company and rode away in triumph. Owing to the excitement and haste which attended the organization and departure of the company, no examination had been made of the arms and ammunition. This oversight suggested itself to Capt. McCall on arriving at Hook's Point, in Webster county, whereupon the Captain called a halt and pro- ceeded to make an examination. Upon examining Conch's equipments it was ascertained that this doughty soldier had no ammunition, and that his musket had neither bayonet, ramrod nor lock. Prof. Couch, however, pro- ceeded with the expedition, notwithstanding his indifferent ontfit, and the result of the expedition proved him to be one of the bravest "Tigers" in the herd, and the old musket, notwithstanding its dilapidated condition, did as much execution as any Sharp's rifle in the outfit.
S. B. McCall was the first sheriff of the county by appointment of Judge Mckay. The order for his appointment will be found at another place.
When the old board of county commissioners was legislated out of cx- istence and the county judge system was established S. B. McCall became the incumbent of that office.
David Hamilton, another one of the first settlers, located further up the river and laid out the town of Milford.
R. S. Clark first located about three miles south of Boonesboro. He afterward removed to a claim west of Boonesboro now known as the Zimbleman farm. He emigrated to Missouri some years ago.
John Gault settled near Swede Point; he afterward removed to Oregon. Richard Greene went to Arkansas and William Holston to Missouri.
20
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John Castle settled near Swede Point, where he still lives.
The first settlements included about twenty families, few representatives of which now remain in the county.
In 1848 emigration set in so rapidly and new settlers came in so fast that it would be impossible to give even a passing notice of each of them. In 1851 the county was organized and in 1854 there was a great rush of emigration; also in 1865. It will be proper to give a brief account of a few of the more prominent ones who settled in the county during these times. In doing this we have experienced some difficulty as well as in tracing out the date and location of those who settled in the county at an earlier day.
The historian experiences no difficulty in ascertaining the date of battles and sieges, the discovery of continents and the coronation of kings, for by common consent these are important events, worthy of a place in the mem- ory of men then living, who transmit the same to their children. The date of a settlement on the frontier, however, is not deemed so important, and is sometimes forgotten by the parties themselves.
At the time referred to settlements were scattered at regular intervals along the east side of the Des Moines river, but there were few on the west side, and scarcely any on the prairie at a distance from the timber which skirted the river. Nevertheless in that portion of the county which was settled affairs which heretofore were in an unsettled and chaotic condition now began to take shape, and the county settled down in a state of perma- nent prosperity. Pioneer times had not yet ended, and there were many hardships to endure and sacrifices to make. The persons already men- tioned as early settlers, while they were the first, and probably endured the greatest hardships, they by no means controlled the future policy of the county; they had their share in these matters, and the names of sev- eral of these first settlers will be found on the public records as county officers, yet the men who did most to shape legislation and stamp their characters on the permanent institutions of the county, were those who came subsequent to 1849. In 1846 Iowa became a State. All that was done prior to 1849 was simply preparatory or introductory. From 1849 to 1855 was the formative period of the State, and what may be said of the State is likewise true of the county. In many respects these six years were the most important in the history of the county. It was during this period that constitutions were adopted, churches organized and school- houses erected. Owing to the difficulty with the Indians the growth of the county was slow from 1846 to 1849, at which time the inhabitants numbered 419. The Indian difficulties having been disposed of by the new purchase, and there being much available timber lands, the growth during the next two years was more rapid, the per cent of increase in pop- ulation during these two years being probably greater than during the same length of time in the history of the county. In 1851 the population was 890, or an increase of over one hundred per cent in two years. A great many of those who settled during this period were only temporary, and again removed westward, while nearly all of them settled in the timber, thus leaving the best part of the farmning lands nnimproved. The settlers who came between the years 1849 and 1855 not only settled on the best lands but came to stay. As a general thing they were men of good sense, well educated, industrions, thrifty and in many cases were men of consid- erable means; men not driven from the older settlements by want, but who
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came to better their condition. The per cent of increase during these years was not so great, but it represented a more permanent population and a more thrifty class of people. In 1852 the population was 1,024 and in 1856 it was 3,518.
During this period there settled in the county many persons who after- ward became prominently identified with the history of the county, and some of whom are still residing in the same neighborhood where they first settled. Special efforts have been taken to gain information with regard to the leading men of the county who settled during this formative period of the county's history, as well as of some of the more influential citizens who came since. The most interesting facts are those relating to date of birth, nativity, occupation, place of residence, positions of honor and trust held now or in times past, time of coming to the county, date of mar- riage, names of children, etc., all of which will be found arranged in alpha- betical order in a biographical record further on.
It is the object, however, at the present stage of the work to mention the names of certain ones who came to the county from 1849 to 1855, and show what part they performed in the development of the material resources of the county and point out their influence in originating, directing and con- trolling the moral, intellectual and social enterprises which constitute the distinctive characteristics of the county and distinguish it as being the most radical and progressive in the State. It is admitted that this stage of our work brings us down to a period in the memory of many now living. Many events of that period, however, are becoming indistinct; these we hope to rescue from the confusion of speculation and place them, arranged in analytical order, in the imperishable receptacle of the printed page. The importance of this is all the more apparent from the fact that the number of those who lived here in those times is rapidly diminishing and the memory of such becoming, year by year, more indistinct.
It is generally admitted that a higher moral sentiment and intellectual culture prevail in this county than in most. of the counties of the State. This is not accidental; it is the necessary and legitimate result of some canse which must be sought for in the formative period of the county's his- tory. It is universally admitted that nothing is so potent in its influence to shape the moral, social and intellectual condition of a people as schools, churches and newspapers. It will be found in reading the subsequent pages that the persons who came during the period referred to were from those localities in the East where the greatest attention had been paid to these mighty forces of civilization. Many of them had been educated at the best colleges of the East, and with a few exceptions they had all availed themselves of the liberal facilities furnished by the best common school system in the world. The ancient Grecian and Roman prided himself on his devotion to his household gods, and while he might lose on his journey a father, mother, sister or even wife without a great pang of grief, yet it was a mark of unpardonable folly or cowardice to lose his gods. Those who have read the story of Æneas fleeing from the ruins of his native Troy, leaving being him in the devouring elements his beloved Creusa, and stop- ping on the way to bury the aged Anchises, yet amid fire and sword, amid shipwreck and famine, still clinging to his trusted gods. But there is no account of the heroes of antiquity clinging to their lares and penates with any greater tenacity or hastening with any greater alacrity to set them up on the soil of the new found home than did the first settlers of this county
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cling to their churches and free schools and hasten to establish them in the goodly land which they had found west of the Father of Waters.
Clark Luther, who now resides on section 35, township 83, range 26, was born in Randolph county, South Carolina, in 1823. When yet an infant his parents removed to Clay county, Indiana, where he grew into manhood. In the spring of 1849, he removed to Story county, this State, where he remained for two years. In 1851 he disposed of his interests in Story county and removed to the place where he now resides. In the first place he entered a half section and immediately went to work improving it. During his residence in Boone county he has devoted his energies almost exclusively to the management of his private affairs of business, leaving to others the arduous and often thankless business of looking after public affairs. He now owns a home farm of eight hundred acres, and twenty- five hundred acres in an adjoining township. The fact that he employs over over fifty head of work horses, affords some idea of the extent of his farming operations.
John Long was born in Virginia February 3, 1812. When about ten years of age his parents went to Lawrence county, Indiana, where they remained three years; then removed to Clay county, where they remained until young Long grew into manhood. He emigrated to Iowa in 1850, and settled in the neighborhood where he now resides. When he came to Iowa he was poor, having scarcely enough money to defray the necessary expenses of his trip here. He now owns about one section of land, and has given to his children, who have married and left the parental roof, over eight hundred acres of choice land. Mr. Long is a quiet and unassuming man, and is a good representative of that class of persons who are known by their actions, rather than their words. He is of Welsh and Irish an- cestry, his grandfather having been a native of Ireland and his grand- mother being from Wales.
W. M. Boone was born in Harrison county, Indiana, May 30th, 1822, where he continued to reside until 1851, when he removed to the tract of land in this county where he now resides. He was of the same family as the renowned hunter and pioneer, Daniel Boone, and consequently a con- nection of Capt. Boone, who first explored the county and from whom it received its name. It was probably owing to this fact, in part, that Mr. Boone selected this county as his home, and the circumstance will afford additional interest to this sketch. Although many years have elapsed since the illustrious Kentucky pioneer closed his eventful career, his name is still familiar to every school boy. Mr. Boone resides on section 23, township 83, range 26. He has a farm of about two hundred acres, is a conscientious and upright citizen, and enjoys the confidence of all.
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