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 40
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S. C. Wood was born in Kentucky in February, 1823. When he was eight years old his parents removed to Illinois. When sixteen years of age he commenced the study of civil engineering, which he pursued for two years, when he went to Wisconsin to engage in his profession. After remaining in Wisconsin for one year, he returned home and continued his studies till 1848, when he came to Des Moines, in this State. Shortly after arriving at Des Moines, he took the contract of sectionizing a portion of Dallas and Madison counties. During the fall of 1849, he made a journey up the Des Moines river and selected for his future home the land upon which he now lives. After locating in the county, Mr. Wood was honored
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at several successive elections with the office of county surveyor. His terms of service in this office extended over a period of ten years.
In 1851 two brothers by the name of McFarland settled in the town of Boonesboro. This town had just been selected as the county seat and although about the only title it had to being called a town, was the certifi- cate of the locating commissioners, yet it was a place of great expecta- tions, and offered great inducements to professional and business men. These two men came up the river from Keokuk by boat, as at that time a somewhat uncertain and hazardous navigation was maintained on that river at certain seasons of the year. During this trip the boat met with some kind of a catastrophe, whereby one of them lost a quantity of household goods and the other his law library. They finally arrived at Des Moines, where they stopped for a few years, and then removed to the incipient town of Boonesboro, where one of them opened up a store of general mer- chandise and the other entered upon the practice of law. The lawyer be- came the Hon. Judge McFarland, whose fine personal appearance and natural talents, no less than his numerous eccentricities, won for him a wide-spread reputation. The other has become a banker and financier of State-wide reputation. Shortly afterward, R. W. Sypher, of Des Moines, formed a partnership with S. B. McCall in establishing a store of general merchandise in Boonesboro, and placed the management in charge of James A. Black, a young man who had just come to the county from Terre Haute, Indiana. R. J. Shannon also came to Boone about the same time and engaged in the mercantile business, with other parties, under the firm name of Shannon, Sheets & Co.
The aforementioned persons may properly be termed the pioneers of Boone county mercantile and professional enterprises, and were, in many respects, men well-calculated to lay the foundation, upon which not only they, but hundreds of others, have so well builded. These men came West, not because they failed to find employment for their varied talents amid the busy scenes of their Eastern homes; such rare talent for business as they possessed finds employment anywhere. They came West because they believed that there was a better opening in the new and rapidly developing country west of the Mississippi. It was well for this country that such men did come. Amid the stirring, active and almost reckless push of busi- ness speculation, every community necded just such enterprising yet safe men of business, with cool heads, yet active brain, who could safely pilot the finances over this stormy sea of speculation and yet keep up with the ownward march of improvement.
John A. McFarland was born in Knox county, Ohio, in July, 1819. There he remained until the breaking out of the Mexican War, following in the meantime the occupation of farming. When war was declared with Mexico, he enlisted in the second regiment of Ohio volunteers, and served throughout the war, first under Gen. Morgan then under Taylor. As be- fore remarked, he came to Des Moines at the close of the Mexican War and shortly after located in Boonesboro, where he engaged in mercantile business. His store consisted of general merchandise and was the first established in Boonesboro. Prior to that time there were no stores in the county north of Swede Point and Elk Rapids, while much of the trade of the county went to Des Moines and other points still farther down the river. After carrying on a successful business for several years, Mr. McFarland retired from the store and opened up a banking institution.
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He followed the banking business in the old town until it became evident to his mind that the business would eventually be transferred to the new town of Boone, when he transferred his banking business and erected the elegant and commodious block in which the bank, with which he is now connected, is located. This was the finest brick block erected in the town of Boone. It is now, and is likely to remain, a building creditable to the enterprising town where it is situated. Ever since he embarked in the banking business Mr. McFarland has conducted his financial affairs with great care and prudence and, by this course of procedure as well as by a liberal and progressive spirit, has won for himself the confidence of all the people with whom his business brings him into contact, and given him an enviable reputation among the leading financiers of the State.
R. J. Shannon came to the State in the fall of 1856 and settled at Boonesborough. He opened a store of general merchandise the same year, and although the business partners with whom he was connected changed at stated times, he continued in the business till 1861, when he disposed of his business and entered the army. When he returned from the army he embarked in the grocery business at the new town of Boone. As was his experience at the old town so at the new, and Mr. Shannon succeeded well. He retired from the grocery business some time since and is now engaged in settling up the business of the house.
James W. Black arrived from Indiana at Boonesboro in May, 1855. He was a characteristic representative of that large class of enterprising and adventursome young men who in early days cut loose from the the re- straints of home and sought fields which offered a wider range for their ac- tive powers. Upon arriving at the town of Boonesboro he was em- ployed by the firm of McCall & Sypher as clerk McCall not being a bus- iness man and Sypher being at Des Moines, the management af the store was confided to the young clerk. Here Mr. Black measured calico, weighed out sugar and coffee, negotiated for the purchase of valuable pelts, bartered for butter, eggs and 'coon skins, constantly in the store by day and slept on a dry goods box at night. At the expiration of four years the firm of McCall & Sypher dissolved partnership and the business was closed out. Mr. Black then went to Fort Dodge where he remained for some time, when he went into the army. On returning from the army he opened up a hardware business in Boone which he followed for a while, giv- his attention the same time to shipping stock. He then sold out his hard- ware business and since then has turned his whole attention to the stock business. There is not a more popular stock buyer in the State than he and no better proof is required by the majority of Boone county farmers for the statement that hogs or cattle are worth a certain price than the fact that "Jimmy " Black says so.
Judge McFarland was probably one of the most eccentric gentlemen who ever occupied the bench in this or any other judicial district of the State in early or later times. He was a man of fine personal appearance and one who would have attracted attention anywhere. He had a luxuriant beard which he permitted to grow at full length, and always wore it in that style. He was a delegate to the convention at Cincinnati which nominated James Buchanan for president. It appears that McFarland was foreman of the Iowa delegation, and as such acted a very conspicuous part in the deliberations of that convention. A correspondent for a St. Louis paper, in giving account of the proceedings of the convention, took occasion to *
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criticise the several delegations, alluding in rather a facetious way to the personal characteristics of some of the more prominent men. In speaking of the Iowa delegation he referred to McFarland as a man with a flourishing crop of whiskers, whose extravagant luxuriance, doubtless, exhausted such a large proportion of nutriment as to greatly impoverish the nerve centers of the brain. When McFarland saw the criticism he vowed vengeance against the incorrigible reporter, and doubtless would have given him a thorough castigation could he have found him.
Many anecdotes, relative to the eccentricities and peculiarities of this gentleman, are repeated by the early members of the Iowa bar. He first became judge by appointment of the governor, on the resignation of the Hon. Wm. Mckay, judge of the 5th judicial district. This district consisted of quite a number of organized counties, among others Polk, to which was attached for revenue and judicial purposes a large tract of unorganized territory to the north and west, including what is now Boone county. Before the expi- ration of the term of office which Judge McFarland held by appointment Boone county became organized. It seems that the act providing for the organization of Boone county failed to make any change in the relation which all that unorganized territory northwest of Boone county originally sustained to Polk; consequently as far as the statutes were concerned that territory was still a part of Polk, while practically it was totally cut off from Polk by the organization of the new county of Boone. The jurisdic- tion of the civil officers of Polk county could not extend across the terri- tory of the newly organized county of Boone, neither could the jurisdic- tion of the civil officers of Boone extend into the unorganized territory north and west. Thus matters stood when Judge McFarland went before the people for election to the office of judge on the expiration of the term which he held by appointment. There was quite a number of settlers scattered throughout the unorganized territory north and west of Boone county, and according to the provisions of the legislative enactment they belonged to the 5th judicial district, and being of proper age and citizens of the United States, they had a right to vote. When the day of election came no provisions had been made by the authorities of Polk county for the opening of the polls in this territory; there were no places designated for holding elections, no judges nor clerks of election, and no poll-books. Notwithstanding this the settlers gathered together by neighborhoods and voted; those who were in favor of McFarland took their position in a row on one side of an imaginary line, and those opposed to him took their places on the opposite side of the line. Nearly all the people throughout that region voted for McFarland, and although the election was conducted with- out any of the forms of law, the result was nevertheless transmitted to headquarters, by the board of canvassers and was counted the same as re- turns from the regularly organized counties. The result of the canva ss showed that McFarland was elected, counting the vote of the unorganized territory, but by throwing out that vote his opponent was elected; he was declared elected, however, by the board of canvassers, and received his commission from the governor. Steps were taken to contest the election, and J. A. Hull, Esq., of this place, in connection with other counsel, carried the case before the proper tribunal. It was shown that the vote in the territory in question had been cast without any form of law, but the judges decided that unless the contestants could show fraud the vote must be counted, even though it was informal. It seems that a short time prior to this election,
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J. A. Hull had borrowed a barrel of lime from the judge. When the latter ascertained that Hull was taking active measures to defeat him the latter sued him for the lime. Hull paid the bill to the justice, but in the mean time the irate judge was somewhat pacified and refused to receive the money from the squire; Hull, also, refused to take it, and the proceeds of that judgment still constitute a portion of the assets of that justice or his heirs. On one occasion D. O. Finch, of Des Moines, and a certain attor- ney, were trying a case before McFarland. It was a warm afternoon and the trial was proceeding at a slow and tedious pace when the judge fell asleep. Finally Finch and the opposing lawyer got into a quarrel, concern- ing the filing of a certain motion, and the former, in rather loud and bois- terous language was threatening to commit personal violence on the latter for alleged breach of professional faith in filing the motion. In the midst of the dispute the judge awoke, and starting from his seat informed the two quarrelsome lawyers that if " they didn't quiet down immediately he would lick h-1 out of both of them."
On another occasion a certain lawyer, who was noted for a too extensive use of his nasal organs in articulation and also for the elaborateness with which he discussed questions of law, was at great length endeavoring to impress some legal technicality upon the mind of the judge, when a cer- tain animal anchored to a post in the vicinity of the court of justice begun a most vociferous braying; the Judge immediately called the lawyer to order informing him that " one jackass at a time was enough. "
Notwithstanding his peculiarities Judge McFarland was a man of more than ordinary natural ability and possessed a most generous disposition. He would make any sacrifice of personal ease in order to accommodate a friend. The great fault of the Judge was an inordinate use of that which inebriates as well as cheers. His fondness for the cup grew on him with age and from the effects of intemperate drinking he was brought to a frightful death and an untimely grave.
Hon. I. J. Mitchell was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1829. When yet a youth his parents removed to a farm in Clermont county, Ohio, where they remained for a number of years, after which they removed to Brazil, Indiana. When he grew into manhood young Mitchell taught school and studied medicine. In 1855 he came to Boonesboro and established a drug store. Neither the practice of medicine nor the drug business prov- ing congenial to him he entered upon the study of law and in 1857 was admitted to the bar. In 1858 he was elected a member of the State board of education, which office he filled for two years. In 1868 he was elected to the State Senate and in 1870 was appointed trustee of the State Agricul- tural College at Ames. In 1874 he was elected judge of this judicial dis- trict, his official term expiring in January, 1879. Besides these positions to which he has been elevated by the vote of the people, Judge Mitchell ยท has held at least two other important offices by appointment of the gen- eral government, that of draft commissioner and assessor of internal rev- enue. As draft commissioner during the war he was called upon to dis- charge some very arduous and unpleasant duties. These duties he discharged with such care, impartiality and fidelity that there never was a breath of suspicion nor so much as an insinuation bearing upon his official integrity. The same is true with regard to the discharge of his duties as assessor of internal revenue. There are few men who have held such im- portant trusts in the State and nation who have commanded such a large
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share of public confidence or who have greater reasons for congratulating themselves upon their past record. Judge Mitchell is a man of more than ordinary culture, possessed of fine sensibility. His idea of official dignity and political honor forms a striking contrast to the common and estab- lished code of the present day. He does not believe that working up dele- gations or packing conventions are consistent with the proper estimate of the self-respect of the candidate. Hence he has made no organized attempt to obtain the nomination for any office. He is and always has been an ar- dent admirer of the principles of the party with which he is identified and when designated as the' standard-bearer in any campaign has entered the field and given his best energies to bring about a victory; the position of standard-bearer, however, whenever he did receive it was received nnso- licited on his part. His connection with the early history of Boone county is merged into the present, and he is now actively engaged in the practice of his chosen profession. We conclude that in pursuing his private busi- ness he has as wide a field of usefulness, and as much real enjoyment as he ever enjoyed while engaged in public and official duties, and should he again exchange the former for the latter it will be not of his own choosing but from a sense of duty to his constituents.
Among the professional pioneers of Boone county there are none more familiarly known in this and adjoining counties than John A. Hull. He is a member of the numerous Hull family before referred to, but owing to the prominent position which he has occupied at the bar for more than a quarter of a century, and the important part he has played in the politics of the county and congressional district, it will be proper to give the fol- lowing additional facts :
He was born at Terre Haute, Ind., in 1831; graduated at Asbury Uni- versity at Greencastle, Indiana; studied law, was admitted to the bar and engaged in the practice of his profession at Madison, Tennessee. He emi- grated to Boone county in 1854, and immediately opened a law office in Boonesboro. The town was then yet in its infancy, but, as is usually the case in western towns, the bar was already well represented, and Mr. Hull had for competitors some of the ablest lawyers then in the State. As far as the practice of his profession was concerned, Mr. Hull was quite sur- prised to find that there was quite a difference between the theory and the practice, and, notwithstanding the fact that he had previously received a thorough preparation and had passed a most creditable examination before being admitted, he found that there still remained much to learn. How- ever, he readily adapted himself to his new surroundings, and from the first procured a large share of legal business. The prominent position which he first took at the bar Mr. Hull has kept till the present time, and he still is regarded as one of the leading lawyers of the county. Mr. Hull is no fanatic, but has always proved himself to be possessed of positive convic- tions. During the heated campaign of 1854, when the chief question be- fore the people of the State, was the adoption of the prohibitory liquor law, he took a decided stand in favor of that measure, and it was largely due to his influence that the law was indorsed by a majority of the voters of this judicial district. In politics, he has always been a pronounced Democrat of the Jeffersonian and Jacksonian school. It is partly on this account and partly from the fact that he has not been an aspirant for office that Mr. Hull has never been elected to those positions which his integrity and ex- perience have so well fitted him to occupy. Though not an old man, hard
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work and the cares of business are beginning to tell on his constitution, and he contemplates, at no far distant day, to abandon the practice of his pro- fession and give his entire attention to the cultivation of his farm, located near the city of Boone. He was raised a farmer's boy and, in returning to that occupation, he will gratify a long cherished desire and will be doing what hundreds of other professional men have done before him.
A. B. Holcomb came to Boone county in 1855. He located in Boones- boro, and although he gave some attention to the practice of law he was chiefly engaged in real estate transactions. At the time the town of Boone was laid out he owned a large portion of the land upon which the town was located. Long before the railroad was surveyed, and even before the town of Boone was thought of, he, with almost prophetic vision, seemed to comprehend what was to come to pass. Mr. Holcomb was from Con- necticut, and some of the letters which he wrote to friends in his native State, bear unmistakable evidence of his remarkable sagacity. Previous to his death, which occurred but a short time since, Mr. Holcomb became involved in a lawsuit with some parties in the East, during the progress of which it became necessary to introduce as evidence certain ones of the letters referred to. Through the kindness of J. A. Hull, Esq., we have had access to these letters, and as they contain many facts which properly belong to the history of the county, we shall take the liberty to make fre- quent extracts. From the first letter written we take the following:
"BOONESBORO, Iowa, July 24, 1855.
"E. HOLCOMB, EsQ .:
"Turned up at last at this place; 'tis the geographical centre of Iowa, the county seat of Boone county, and one of the points of great interest to land operators. Everybody seems wild with the excitement of entering government lands. Benton's mint drops fly freely, and fortunes are made sure, and no mistake., Forty per cent interest is the lowest sale last week. I got one quarter section; it was run up to $1.30 per acre. I bought a land warrant, so that the lot cost me $202.50.
" The town is now in the third year of its settlement; is the county seat; public building is not built yet; courts are held in the log school-house. It has about forty houses and 200 inhabitants."
He then proceeds to speak of the manner in which lands were sold and the prices which they commanded, and then speaks as follows of the char- acter of the soil:
"Of the fertility of the soil here, it cannot be excelled. The prairie is rolling, a most magnificent sight; it reminds me of the handsomest Hartford meadows in June, fresh and green. Where it is broken up, you pass corn fields of one hundred acres in extent, yielding from fifty to one hundred bushels per acre. The labor of one man with a pair of horses will easily produce 10,000 bushels of-corn, so that we produce the supplies for family wants, and a man has nothing to do. I think it would make some of our Granby farmers' eyes blink to look at a farm here in corn, wheat, oats, etc., and all comparatively with no labor. Corn is planted by horse-drill; it is never hoed, and never fails to produce as much as above stated per acre."
In a letter dated June 30, 1856, he proceeds to answer some questions with regard to the natural resources of some land he had bought:
"1. What is the quality, thickness, and width of the coal beds?
"Answer. The indications are that it underlies the most of the 140 acres.
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The mill stream crossing the lot is below the general surface from sixty to one hundred feet. The stream runs on a bed of blue limestone. The broken banks of the bluffs, where the stream washes them, show the formation above the limestone. On the limestone lies potter's clay, say six feet thick. Upon the clay lies a stratum of coal from three to six feet thick, and in one place where the coal crops out it is six feet above the surface of the bottom, and how far below we have not yet ascertained. At this place the coal and clay alternate to the height of fifty feet above the bed of the stream. One time I saw cropping out of the bank, at least fifty feet above the stream, four feet thick, and of the best quality. The coal is usually a stratum of coal, slate two feet thick lying on it. I am satisfied that this place indicates about the general appearance of the bluffs elsewhere when you uncover them; in fact, we have seen coal in other places on the lot, cropping out as high above the stream as that. The blacksmiths here are working coal from these beds, and say it is the best they find here, and of the quality of the best Ohio coal.
" 2. The dip is from one to three degrees southerly, and will be drained with little trouble. The coal burns freely in the ordinary cooking stove, making flame and a hot fire, and generating steam much more rapidly than wood.
"3. It is about one-half mile from the river, with good county road list. In the spring arks can be floated down the river, say two or three months in the year.
" 4. The market now, of course, is very limited., But taking into consid- eration the immense quantity that will be required for steam purposes for railroads, mills, factories, and fuel as the county fills up, we can hardly imagine the immense demand for it in a few years. It must be of great resource here; and then who can imaging the value of these coal beds? I think sandstone overlays the whole. I see it cropping out over the coal usually, but I have not satisfied myself of that yet.
" 5. There has never been any salt yet found in the State. I do not know that anybody has ever bored for salt. The idea is new to me. I think that it is possible that by boring through the limestone salt water may be reached, and if so, it would be worth more than the Mariposa grant of Col. Fremont.
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