USA > Iowa > Iowa County > The history of Iowa County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. > Part 54
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By the way, it should not be forgotten that Mr. Groff is himself a minister of wide spread reputation and long standing. Although he does not boast of being a D. D., nor even write Rev. before his name, he proba- bly has done as much hard and efficient work as any one in the moral vine- yard of Iowa county. He relates the following incident attending one of his missionary tours:
"There is not a school-house within five miles of Marengo, Iowa, in which I have not occasionally held meeting or Sunday-school, on foot or hired teams at my own expense. I have had some curious experiences among the primitive settlers.
"I tried to return to town one Sunday afternoon; there had been heavy rains; streams were swollen beyond their banks. It was still raining but I started; 1 climbed a leaning tree, swinging myself completely over; I was then told to take the ridge road and I would have no more creeks to swing over; but I got completely lost in the woods, I found I was surveying round a circle, for I struck a fence three times before that fact was knocked into my mind.
"I struck for a house across a wheat-field, I went into the yielding soil nearly to the tops of my boots at each step; I got to the house completely soaked; I found it unoccupied; I raised a window and slipped in to get out of the rain. Nice clean people lived in it for it looked so fresh and nice. I had not a dry thread on my body; was chilly and cold and no fire. I found some matches but could get no dry wood; I found some oil, poured that over the wood and soon had a rousing fire.
The creek had expanded to a river; I was imprisoned there alone in the house. The occupants could not get to me nor I to them; I cooked some po- tatoes, fried meat, made some biscuit, had a good supper, occupied one of the soft clean beds, saying, ' blessed be the man that invented sleep'. Forded the creek to a narrow bridge, passed over safely, and got home without seeing or knowing the occupants of the comfortable house."
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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
Mr. Groff says that the churches of the county were established in the following order:
First. Methodist Episcopal.
Second. Methodist Protestant.
Third. Presbyterian.
Fourth. German Reformed.
Fifth. Christain or Baptist.
Sixth. Catholic.
Seventh. United Brethren.
At present nearly all the church denominations are represented in the county : they will be more carefully and fully treated in connection with the history of the several townships in which they are located.
The date of organization of each church, names of original members, names of pastors, date of election and cost of church buildings, number of present membership will be given as fully and accurately as possible from the facilities furnished us.
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
The Iowa County Agricultural Society was organized in May, 1857, and the first fair was held at Marengo in October the same year.
The following were the first officers of the society:
President-Alex. Hutson.
Vice-Presidents-A. T. Cross, Wm. H. Messenger, Wm. Moerschell.
Recording Secretary-Robert McKee.
Corresponding Secretary -J. C. McConnell. Treasurer-James Miller.
The beginings of the society, like all other organizations of the kind, were not of a very pretentious character. Money was scarce and of course there were no elaborate arrangements for the exhibition of stock, machinery and products of the farm.
The first fair of this society came off Wednesday and Thursday Oct. 7 and 8, 1857. The ground selected was just east of the old bridge between the house of Robert McKee and Iowa River. The fair was well patronized by the people of the county, and the show of stock and produce was good. Considering the youthfulness of Iowa county and the lateness of the season, the fair was excellent. There was a fine exhibit by the ladies consisting of fine needlework, drawings, knitting, quilt-making, butter, preserves, jellies, etc. Stock, honey, vegetable and other products of the farm, together with many specimens of mechanical skill and genius were on exhibition.
At present the society has extensive grounds which are well fitted up for the purposes of the society. The grounds consist of forty acres situated immediately east of the city of Marengo. The grounds, buildings and other improvements are valued at three thousand dollars.
Since the organization of the society annual exhibitions have been held every year except the years 1858 and 1862, making in all twenty-two an- nual exhibitions.
The last or twenty second annual exhibition was held at the grounds of the society at Marengo, September 28, 29, 30 and Oct. 1, 1880. The ex- hibition was a very creditable one even for a society which has the age and experience of this one. The premiums offered for speed in horses were
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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
liberal for an ordinary county agricultural society. The following were some of the premiums for fast time:
Sweepstakes trot. . purse $300
Stallion trot.
70
Double-team trot 66 - 45
Running race
35.
The following are the rules and regulations of the society.
1. When there is an article in a class deserving of merit and no competi- tion, the preminm will be discretionary with the committee.
2. Should any individual enter an animal or article in another name than that of the bona fide owner, the person making such entry shall not be al- lowed a premium should one be reported by the judges.
3. Articles for which no premiums, are offered will be entered in the- class to which they naturally belong, and will be passed upon by the com- mittee on the classes, they recommending such premiums as their judgment may dictate. Such recommendation, however, will be subject to the ap- proval of the executive committee.
4. When there is no competition, or nothing in a class deserving a pre- mium, judges may withhold it at their discretion.
5. Competitors for premiums wishing to enter the same animal or article- in more than one class, must pay ten per cent of the premium offered in each class.
6. The diploma of the society shall be considered the highest honorary award, and shall be given only as, or in connection with a first premium.
7. The society will pay its premiums pro rata, contingent upon the re- ceipts; first deducting the expenses of the present annual fair.
8. No member of the executive committee will be appointed on award- ing committees, or as superintendent of any class.
9. The executive committee will use all diligence to insure the safety of stock and articles after their arrival and arrangement on the grounds, but will not be responsible for any loss or damage that may occur. It is. desired that exhibitors give their personal attention to their property, and at the close of the fair take charge of the same.
10. No animal or article shall be taken from the ground until the close- of the fair without consent of the president.
11. Forage will be provided to actual exhibitors free of charge, and grain can be procured on the ground at the usual rates.
12. Premiums not called for within thirty days after the close of the fair- shall be deemed donated to the society.
13. In classes were speed is the test, it will require three entries and two. to start. A winner distancing all competitors receives the first premium only the second going to the society.
14. All animals and articles must be marked with cards, furnished by the society, designating the class and number; and these cards must not be. removed until the close of the fair.
15. Red ribbons will be attached to animals and articles receiving the first: premiums; blue to those obtaining the second, and yellow to those receiv- ing the third.
16. Persons renting refreshment booths will not be permitted to sell in- toxicating drinks.
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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
17. Any person found intoxicated on the fair grounds or acting in a dis- orderly manner, shall be ejected from the grounds.
18. No betting allowed on the grounds.
The following are the officers for 1880:
T. J. Talbott, president, Marengo; S. Sherman, vice-president, Marengo; Lemuel Patteson, secretary, Koszta; O. Dillin, treasurer, Marengo.
Executive Committee-T. J. Talbott, Marengo; S. Sherman, Marengo; Lemuel Patterson, Koszta, O. B. Bolton, Marshal.
Board of Directors-C. Moerschel, Amana; Henry Sinks, Cono; El- vin Tilton, Dayton; A. G. Lockridge, English; Wm. Popham, Fillmore; Thos. Boyle, Greene; C. F. H. Bohstedt, Hartford; James Conroy, Hilton; Mason Ingraham, Honey Creek; John Donaldson, Iowa; Thomas Maud- lin, Lincoln; C. O. Vette, Lenox; J. S. Swaney, Marengo; J. C. Springer, Pilot; H. A. Morse, Summer; H. T. Ogden, Troy; G. W. Titler, Wash- ington; O. Harrington, York.
OLD SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION.
It has already been stated that the hardships and trials of the pioneers were calculated to make the first settlers of the county unusually friendly and sociable with one another. In those early days it was frequently the case that Mr. A. was out of provision, and having undergone the bitter ex- perience of want, his heart melted toward Mr. X. whose ox team had just arrived from the East, and he immediately lights his cob-pipe and saunters over to the place where the latter is encamped, and inquires if there is any- thing he can do for him. X. in the course of a few years gets comfortably fixed, and when W. arrives from Indiana he remembers the kindness of Mr. A., and prompted by that philanthropy which is common to humanity, when humanity is called upon to assert itself, Mr. X. calls upon Mr. W., and affords all the encouragement and help lie can.
And thus was laid the foundation af a friendship, which by the force of circumstances was strengthened from year to year. A., X. and W. are prac- tically communists, for what one has the other has also. They grind their coffee on the same mill, hull their corn on the same hominy block and when the new man of speculative turn of mind attempts to jump A.'s claim, X. and W. are on hands with the tar and feathers.
In the course of years old age comes on. By industry and economy all three become comfortably fixed, they enter upon the enjoyment of what they laid by in times of sunshine for a rainy day. Having leisure to con- template the past, they think over and talk over old times, and while there is no hypocritical display of friendship, these old settlers do love each other, and the tie which originated in necessity is voluntarily strengthened by age.
When A. dies and is buried in the old graveyard located on the very piece of ground he entered away back in '46, the bond of friendship becomes still more binding on the two remaining members of the confederacy. And, thus as time goes on the early settler's of the county become more closely united, and thus it is that during recent times in many counties have been forined Old Settlers' Societies ..
Several years ago the Iowa county Old Settlers' Association was organ- ized. A constitution and by-laws were adopted and officers elected. This is about as far as the enterprise was carried. Some of the old settlers, who
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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
in this instance proved to be among the most influential, were opposed to the plan of operations and owing to their opposition the association suf- fered an untimely collapse.
The old settlers of Iowa county owe it to themselves and the county that an association of this kind be formed and kept in operation.
One of the most important results arising from societies of this kind is the preparation and preservation of early historical facts and reminiscences which will otherwise be lost. The writer has been accustomed to find such an organization in the various counties, and he has sadly felt the lack of this county in that particular.
CHAPTER IX.
INCIDENTS, ACCIDENTS AND CRIMES.
Two Brothers Drowned-Horse Thief Overhauled-Club Law-Horse Thieves-Supervisors in Limbo-Drowned in Iowa River-Accidently Shot-Incendiarism-Self-destruction- Melancholy Affair-Claiborne Showers -- Sad Termination of a Boat Ride-Fatal Burning -Suicide of Jacob Haas -- Destructive Fire-Railroad Accident-Fatal Spree-The Tay- lor Defalcation-Shot by an Officer.
TWO BROTHERS DROWNED.
Two brothers, Anthony and Edward Morley, were drowned in a bayou of the river just north of Marengo, January 14, 1866. They were coming to Marengo and thinking the ice sufficiently strong attempted to cross, but the ice gave way and before help could reach them they were lost. Messrs. Dorr and Paine who were in the vicinity narrowly escaped with their lives while endeavoring to render them assistance. The unfortunate boys clung to the edge of the ice until chilled and benumbed with cold they sank to a watery grave. Two days later their bodies were recovered. One was twenty-two, the other twenty-five.
HORSE THIEF OVERHAULED.
R. B. Groff says:
" Charles Irish came into my office in Marengo, stating his father, Cap. Irish of Iowa City, had lost a horse, and that he had traced the thief to Cedar Rapids and the Dutch colony, and that he must have come this way. After a description was given me of the horse and thief, I came to the conclusion that the man had called on me a few hours ago in search of land, and left on the Des Moines road.
" I strapped on a revolver, ordered out my horse, and accompanied him in pursuit. We followed up about six miles, near where Kimne lived, or on the rise just beyond the cemetery; saw the man. We followed when he got out of sight over the hill, and came up to him; yet as he dismounted near Bears, Irish knew his father's horse, seized the man, accused him of horse stealing. I found the thief could not understand English; I explained to him in German our business; told him he would have to go to Iowa City and stand a trial. He was willing because he said he had bought him of responsible parties.
" He was arraigned next day; I defended; Woodin, now of Sigourney, prosecuted; bound him over and had him sent to Fort Madison for five years. He gave his name as Christian Genesku."
442
HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
CLUB LAW.
R. B. Groff says that the Kitchens were generally blamed as leaders of the club law. They claimed large tracts of the best land and sold it to actual settlers at high figures.
Horace H. Hull was the first to break into this arrangement and incur their displeasure. He pointed out to men their lands, had them enter it, and thus drew down on himself the incendiary crew. His stable, contain- ing a span of beautiful young horses was burned. A large rick of stacked wheat, of which J. E. Stoner claimed half, growing on the farm of R. B. Groff near by, was next given to feed the devouring flames. A fine lot of growing timber was girdled and deadened while the owners were celebrating the fourth of July. In the fall the dry sear grass accidentally took fire around the actual settlers. The grand jury was usually made up of mem- bers of the gang. They would not condemn theinselves and their own homes to destruction. The city and county lost many good settlers on ac- county of these deeds of violence.
HORSE THIEVES.
, Mr. Groff also relates the following:
" Three brothers, by the name of Rhodes, came here in 1856 from Mis- souri. They brought with them a nice span of bay m'ares which they sold to a man by the name of Tart, now living near the city, and a span of heavy iron grays. These were sold to Mr. Norton. Men came and proved property to the last span, and critically examined the former span. In a few days after a man came and took the mares from Tart, for which he paid $180 in gold, and had peaceable possession for eleven months.
"This raised the community against them. Information was sworn out by Dr. North on Sunday morning, July 16, 1858. Two fled, one was arrested, bound over, and sent to the penitentiary. If the others had been caught, they would have found their stock in trade reduced to a single halter, and the trees would bear up something more than bitter acorns.
"A man by the name of Bunker came among us passing counterfeit money on the Onedia County Bank, New York, in the fall of 1854. He was pursued by the sheriff and posse, was seen in the distance to dismount, tie his horse and disappear in the thicket north of town. When the crowd came up they searched the bushes and found two hundred and fifty dollars in counterfeit money, supposed to have come from his pocket. The county regulators made him leave. A few days after a tree near Toledo, in Tama county, had an appendage.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IN LIMBO.
In 1858 the county of Iowa, in common with several other counties ly- ing in this latitude, was bonded by a vote of the people in the sum of one hun- dred thousand dollars to aid in the construction of the Missouri and Mis- sissippi, now the C., R. I. & P. railroad, the details of which transaction have been given elsewhere.
The bonds drew ten per cent interest, annually, and the county default- ing in payment of the same, suit was brought by the bondholders, which being carried into higher courts, a mandamus was issued ordering the board of supervisors to levy a tax to pay the interest on said bonds. .
443
HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
The board refused to comply with the order of the Federal Court and thereby were guilty of contempt.
The board, consisting of Charles Carter, William Long, J. H. Smith, J. P. Sivard, W. S. Franklin, W. A. Patrick and William Whitchell was in session Thursday, October 21, 1869, when they were arrested by the United States Marshal and taken to Des Moines.
Upon being brought before the court they were released on promise to go home and levy the requisite tax. Judge Love stated, in delivering his de- cision, that litigation had been carried through all the judicial tribunals of the land and had now come to an end, beyond the power of any remedy known to law, and that the decision of the Federal Court would have to be sustained and the bonds paid, even if it came to the grave necessity of call- ing out the military force to compel obedience.
In consequence of this decision the supervisors returned home, called a special meeting of the board and levied the tax.
DROWNED IN THE IOWA RIVER.
On the afternoon of June 29, 1869, two young men, members of the Amana society, left Amana in a skiff for a boat ride on the Iowa River: about four o'clock they were seen below the bridge on the road leading from Amana to Homestead, and again about five o'clock they were seen about two miles further down the stream. This was the last seen of them alive. Not returning that night search was made for them, but owing to the high stage of water the search was carried on for sometime in vain. On Tuesday, July 6, the body of one was found in a slough with a large quan- tity of drift-wood packed around it. On the following day the body of the other unfortunate man was found on the south bank of the river, where it had been left by the receding flood. The bodies were greatly disfigured and could not have been identified but for the clothing.
ACCIDENTALLY SHOT.
On Sunday, November 29, 1871, a young man named Christopher Renz, and who resided south of Homestead, was visiting some friends in the neighborhood of South Amana. It seems that Renz with a number of others had crossed the river in a skiff, and upon returning young Renz jumped outof the skiff and proceeded to take his gun out, which was lying in the boat. He took hold of the muzzle and drew it toward him when it went off, discharging. the contents into his right breast. A brother who was in the boat asking him if had shot himself, he replied, " My God, I'm dead!" and immediately expired. It is supposed that the hammer caught on some projection of the boat.
INCENDIARISM.
. An attempt was made to destroy the Presbyterian church, in Marengo, in December, 1871. The circumstances were as follows: There had been a festival in the church, Friday evening, December 15, and on Saturday morning, about one o'clock, shortly after the crowd had dispersed, Mr. E. E. Alverson discovered the building to be on fire, which he succeeded in subduing with great difficulty. Some person had procured a paper-box,
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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
which he filled with old papers and then saturated them with kerosene. He then tore off the wire covering of the air-vent and placed the box under the floor. The scoundrel then set fire to the paper and escaped. When discovered the fire had already burned through the floor. A reward of $100 was offered for the apprehension of the incendiary, but his identity was never discovered.
SELF-DESTRUCTION.
The citizens of Marengo were startled one beautiful May day by the re- port that a woman had been drowned in the Iowa River below the factory. The unfortunate woman was Miss Susie Allman, who had come to Marengo from Monticello, on the Blairstown coach, on Saturday, May 5. On the day first mentioned, Tuesday, May 8, she wended her way from the house where she had been stopping to a point on the river some distance below the woolen factory, where she deliberately divested herself of hat and shawl and leaped into the river. Some persons who saw her make the fatal leap, endeavored to rescue her, but the drowning woman refused all assistance and perished amid the foaming waters. People from the city rushed to the river and rescued the body but not till life was extinct.
MELANCHOLY AFFAIR.
John G. Macy, an old and much respected citizen of Cono township, committed suicide by shooting himself through the head with a revolver, on February 22, 1867. The circumstance of the tragic affair was as follows: He had been unwell for some time, being confined to his bed most of the time. A day or two before the sad event he apparently was much better, and on the evening of the day mentioned persuaded the rest of the family, to retire without him. After waiting for some time after retiring, and Mr. Macy not yet having appeared, his wife became alarmed and arose and went to find him. The light being extinguished she went into the kitchen for some matches and upon returning noticed him lying upon the sofa ap- parently asleep. She went to him and endeavored to awake him when to her great astonishment she found that he was dead. He had written the fol- lowing lines in his diary before cominitting the deed: "I can't live long. Farewell. Forgive me." Mr. Macy had emigrated from Ohio, in 1852, and had lived in the county some fifteen years. At the time of his death he was the member of the board of supervisors from Cono township.
MURDER OF CLAIBORNE SHOWERS.
Late in April, 1863, two young men, named respectively Kirk G. Vin- cent and Claiborne Showers, came through Marengo on their way west. They stopped all night in Marengo and left early next morning. Nothing more was heard of them for some time.
About the 6th or 7th of May following the town of Brooklyn, Powe- shiek county, was thrown into great excitement resulting from the finding of the dead body of a young man, a short distance east of that place. The head was severed from the body, and was subsequently found a few rods away covered with leaves and bark. This head was recognized by John and Sampson Manatt, as being that of one of two boys who had stayed at their house a few nights previous, and who were as they said then on their way
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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
to the gold mines. The boys left Manatt's together on Saturday morning, May 2d, with a dun colored team and covered wagon, in the direction of Brooklyn. It was remembered by the citizens of Brooklyn that on the morning of the 2d of May, a team answering the description of the one they had stayed at Manatt's, came to town accompanied by one young man, who left his team in Brooklyn and hired a livery horse for the purpose, as he said, of going to a grove where he had encamped the night previous to get a hatchet which he had forgotten. He was gone about two hours, came back, took his team and drove out of town toward the west.
Public opinion immediately fastened upon this young man as being the murderer of his companion. He was described as being a tall, well built and well dressed young man, about twenty-two years old, good looking, a keen eye, and of sharp, shrewd appearance. Diligent search was made by the officers of the law, but as some time had elapsed no trace of the supposed murderer could be found further than a few miles west of Brooklyn. The head of the murdered boy was taken in charge by Dr. Conway and pre- served.
Three years and more had passed by when one morning in the latter part of May, 1860, a stranger took passage on the stage coach from Newton to Monroe, and took a seat on the outside beside the driver, Gaines Fisher. In their conversation on the way, the subject of crime came up and Mr. Fisher related the circumstances of the murder at Brooklyn. The stranger became interested, inquired the description of the boys, their team, etc., and instead of continuing his journey south, returned to Newton, and thence to Brooklyn, where he procured all the information possible in re- gard to the tragedy. The result of this was that Kirk G. Vincent was ar- rested a few days subsequently at Cambridge, Illinois, on the charge of committing this murder in Poweshiek county. An examination was had before Judge Hinman, which resulted in defendant being held to answer a requisition from the Governor of Iowa. In July he was brought to Brook- lyn on the requisition of Gov. Stone. A preliminary examination was had before Justice Walter. The prisoner was bound over to appear before the grand jury, who found an indictment against him at the December term, 1866.
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