USA > Iowa > Keokuk County > The history of Keokuk County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. : a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men > Part 37
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HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
either side of the river. When the dragoons arrived they rode up to the side of the stream on the south bank of the river, and there hitched their horses. Thereupon the whole squad crossed upon the ice, each man having girted at his side an immense sword, which trailed on the ground at his side. The officer, in a very pompous style, started up to Mr. Wimer and said :
"Do you know, sir, where you are?" Mr. Wimer met his gaze firmly, and in a very decided manner replied: "I think I do, sir."
The officer then stated to Mr. Wimer that the mill was on the Indian's land, and his instructions were to destroy it, and his imperative duty was to obey. This was a critical moment for the millwright. He had invested all his means in the mill, and looking at the building and then at the officer, scarcely knew what to say. He could not for a moment entertain the thought that years of toil and labor should be in vain, and that this structure which represented that toil and labor should be demolished merely to satisfy the caprices of a few savages, and that too at a time when it was known that they would, as they did, sell out as soon as a treaty could be concluded. After exhibiting his machinery to the party, and making himself as agreeable as his unsafe condition would permit, he cooly requested the dragoons to accompany him about one hundred yards west of the mill, where, pointing to each side of the river, he called atten- tion to marks and notches on the trees, and turning to the commander re- marked:
" You see, sir, I knew where I was, and we need not disturb one another," at the same time he gave him a look which seemed to say: "Do you com- prehend my meaning?"
Whether the dragoon captain believed this to be the true line or not, at least he pretended that he did, and venting a few oaths upon the swarthy faces for causing them a cold and needless ride, called off his men and de- parted, to the great relief of the mill owner.
Soon after this circumstance Mr. Wimer sold the mill to Mr. L. B. Hughes, and removed to a mill-site on North Skunk river, where he began the erection of what was afterward known as the " Whisler Mills." After these mills were nearly completed, he sold an interest in them to Mr. J. B. Whisler. Shortly after the mills were completed he sold the remainder of his interest to Mr. Whisler, and removed to Mahaska county. where he commenced the erection of the Union Mills, on North Skunk, finishing them about two years afterward. Some time having elapsed, he sold this mill, and returned to Keokuk county, and built what was known as the Wimer Mill, on South Skunk. A sawing attachment was put up in this mill by Mr. Abrams soon after. Mr. Harvey Ray, of Burlington, who, up to this time, had furnished burrs for most of the mills in southeastern Iowa, said that this mill was the best grist-mill in the State.
In 1857 Mr. Wimer moved to Ray county, Missouri, and erected another large grist and saw-mill, and also conducted a large farm. In 1859 he again returned to Keokuk county, having sold out in Missouri, and this time pur- chased the Goodheart mill, on North Skunk, about one mile from Lancas- ter. After Mr. Wimer bought this mill he repaired it and remodeled its machinery, and then sold it to Mr. Austin Jacobs. He then moved to a farm near Lancaster, declaring his intention of retiring from the milling business, but subsequently removed to Oregon, where he was at last ac- counts following his old business.
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HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
Mr. Wimer was a man of great benevolence, and many still living in the county have reason to remember him with feelings of gratitude. In all public enterprises, whether for a charitable object, a church building, a bridge, or any other thing to enhance the general good, Mr. Wimer was always among the most liberal; and yet modest, not taking one-half the alms he gave to keep the other half sounding. Soon after he purchased the last mill there was a great scarcity of breadstuffs; just preceding the harvest many of the best prepared farmers were closely pushed to obtain the staff of life. During this time Mr. Wimer freely distributed to the more necessitous class all the toll and other grain he could control. It is gratifying to know that Mr. Wimer is but one representative of a large class of nien who lived in this county at an early day, and who did so much to mould the character of the people and develop the resources of the country.
We have been thus concise and yet explicit in the account of these rep- resentative men because we deem it important, and the reader can judge from the history of one of them, so graphically and intelligently given in his own language, what manner of men they were. It will be observed that we have here no rude adventurers, driven out from their fellows by crime or melancholy; nor hunters or fishermen, too indolent to work; but we see intelligent, industrious men, who felt the lack of all those blessings which adhiere to older civilization, yet strong enough to break away from them. Men who were ambitious to make their own future, and thus make the future of the country in which they settled. It will be perceived from what has been said of them, that they immediately upon their arrival pro- ceeded to work; that they broke prairie, built mills, erected houses, exter- minated noxious animals-in short, they were the forerunners of that thrift and industry and content which have made the county great and populous and wealthy, as well as intelligent and progressive in all the arts of higher civilization. The first settlers of Keokuk county were, therefore, men who were worthy to be among her citizens of to-day. The forerunners who car- ried civilization into the wilderness were of such a cast, of such a nature, of such strength and industry, of such ability and such a character, that the best of to-day might yet follow where they would lead, confident that they would work for the upbuilding of the county, and that nothing of dis- honor would come to them through their leaders.
It would be interesting could we but go back, even in fancy, to the con- dition of affairs when these men first saw this county in 1839. Could we but have seen the sublimity of this great and fertile region, where but few, even of the red men, were then living; could we but imagine what were the thoughts, hopes, ambitions, purposes of these pioneers, as they recalled the rocky hills and mountains of their native States, and compared them with these prairies, waving with naught but the luxuriant growth of wild grasses, the noble forests, of these water-courses, all fulfilling the natural conditions of comfort and wealth for man, and only waiting his advent to blossom as the rose with the productions of a civilized race, we might have seen, as they saw, that here, " wild in woods, the noble savage ran," with all that there could be of nobility in liis untaught, or rather ill-taught, and treacherous nature, and that suddenly the face of the white man was seen in the forest, surveying its unimproved wealth, and preparing the way for a mightier and greater people. The taciturn, grunting savage heard the unwonted sound of laughter in regious where that melody might not have
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HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
been heard since the long-forgotten days of the mound builders, and he pre- pared to move further afield, away from his aggressive and more powerful brother. The sound of the ax and the crash of falling timber spoke of new life and animation. For the new-comer in all this wild region there was in every bubbling spring a music sweet as the voices of children. The ripple of the lonely river, flashing against its sides, gave prophecy of towns to spring up amid the sterner sounds of daily toil for a rich reward, in which all natural forces must become tributary to man's well-being.
The first white child born in the limits of Keokuk county was probably J. F. Searcy, who was born December 15, 1840. An older son of Mr. Win. Searcy was but three months old when brought to the county.
A NEW DEPARTURE.
From the time of the first settlement of the county in the vicinity of Richland, there was a steady and continuous growth, and what is com- monly known as the " old strip," became well settled for those days. Not all the land was taken up by any means; not even a large part of the best land was secured, but such portions as offered the greatest inducement to settlers were pre-empted; and all along the boundary line here, as else- where, were gathered many prospecters, who impatiently awaited the night of April 30, 1843, when they would have a right to pass over and possess the land.
Those expecting to make settlements on the " new purchase " were for- bidden to come to the reserve until the time of its delivery into the hands of the government by the Indians, May 1, 1843. Dragoons were stationed all along the border, whose duty it was to keep the whites out of the coun- try till the appointed time. For some weeks previous to the date assigned, settlers came up into the new country, prospecting for homes, and were quietly permitted to cross the border and look around, so long as they were unaccompanied by wagon, and carried no ax. This latter weapon was sometimes placed, without a handle, in the knapsack of the traveler, and an impromptu handle fitted in by a penknife when necessity called for its use. During the last few days of April the dragoons relaxed their strict discipline, and an occasional wagon slipped in through the brush. The night of April 30 found some scores of new-comers on the ground, who had been prospecting the country, who had decided mentally what claims they would make, and had various agreements among themselves.' These settlers were mostly along or near the river, it then being thought that prairie land was not half so desirable as the river and timber country.
As it neared midnight on the morning of May 1, settler after settler took his place upon the border of his claim with his bunch of sharpened stakes and lantern, or his blazing torch, and when it was thought twelve o'clock had arrived, there was some lively surveying by amateur engineers in the dark. The claims were paced off, and strange to say there were few cases of dispute, the matter having been pretty generally understood on the preceding day. Some of the claims were pretty large, more, in fact, than the law suffered the claimants to hold, some of whom were not un- mindful of the wholesome advice of a mother in Hoosierdom, who possibly lived in a later day, but who counseled, "git a plenty while you're gittin," to which the settler added, " and git the best."
The memorable midnight of that " last day " of April, 1843, dark as it
L. Hogia
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HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
may have been, opened to the welcome dawning of a glorious " May day " in the prosperity of this heaven-favored land as the crowds of anxious em- igrants, so long held in check by the old boundaries, began to cross the line in multitudes and press forward to "possess the land " and secure their claims of 320 acres each in goodly heritage. It was a rapid, successful movement in the advancement of emigration and civilization, which gave evident and assuring proof of the wisdom of the government in promptly securing the title to this valuable territory. It is estimated that before the nightfall of May 1, 1843, there were nearly one thousand of such claims occupied by pioneers, and including in the count the families and attend- ants of these, in so short a time an aggregate population of about four thousand souls, had crossed the old limits to find homes in the new posses- sions, and convert the Indian's hunting ground into the white man's earthly Eden.
Thus had come at last the much desired day, bringing to the unsettled pioneer the welcome privilege to choose, from all the goodly land before him, his future home. When the last barrier of restraint was thus removed, the tide of' emigration so long held in check be- gan to come in at a rapid rate over these prairies, and thus has it continued to roll, wave after wave, in rapid succession, until it has reached the West- ern shore, carrying with it the energy and talents and enterprise of nations, and washing to the surface the gold from the mountains and valleys on the Pacific slope, it has enveloped our land in the mighty main of enterprise and civilization.
After the way had thus been opened by that memorable treaty, emigra- tion began at once to pour in and spread especially along the river; claim after claim was taken, cabin after cabin was erected, settlement after settle- ment was made, and the enterprising sound of the white man's ax was heard echoing from every side, as with busy stroke he felled the trees, and prepared logs for his humble cabin home.
Before many days had passed the curling smoke was seen rising through the tree tops from many such hopeful, happy pioneer homes in the west- ern wild; and within these rustic walls were found thankful hearts, cheer- ful faces, welcome voices and liberal hospitality, which displayed on every side an air of prosperity and contentment, and made "assurance doubly sure " that the great work of the settlement and cultivation of this fertile land was actually begun by the white pioneer, even within the present ter- ritory of Keokuk county, and that it would be thoroughly carried on to the western territory.
In order to the improvement of a pioneer home in the West, in those days, timber for fuel and fencing and shelter was considered the material thing in importance, second only to the " staff of life," and therefore the timber lands and tracts of prairie adjoining were almost invariably taken first, since these were considered by the early settlers to be the cream of the country.
But in this regard, experience, the effectual teacher, soon worked a radi- cal change in the minds of men. When they began to test the fertility and richness of the prairie soil, they soon found that it was much easier and cheaper to haul timber and prepare shelter and dwell in the fresh, pure air on the bleak, yet fertile prairie, feeling sure of an abundant crop with less labor from a large acreage, than it was to have the best advantages of
19
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HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
a timber location, and spend time, labor and money in clearing and grub- bing and fertilizing, and then fall short in the yield per acre, and be con- fined to a limited area of farming land.
The timber settlers slowly but surely became convinced of the fact, and began to reach out and secure, in some cases, large tracts of the prairie land adjoining them, thus combining these two important elements in one large estate, and securing some of the very finest farms in the country. While, on the other hand, very many of the first settlers on timber claims, from want of means or fear of failure in speculation, did not become awake to the real importance of this until the best sections adjoining them were all taken. and they were compelled either to go out, perhaps miles from their homes, to secure more farming land for their increasing families, or to remain shut in upon their original claims.
In different localities throughout our State, many of the first settlers, . and best of men, have thus been compelled to sell their comfortable, hard- earned homes when " the boys grow up," and "move out west for more land," or they have found out at last, perhaps, that they are " timber poor," with limited income, and meagre support in return for the faithful, ardu- ous labors, while many of their wealthy prairie neighbors, who only a few years before were the hired hands working by the month or the day for small wages, are now prosperous and independent on their large prairie farms, which yield them bountiful incomes.
Others, again, soon discovering their mistake in choosing river or timber locations for agricultural pursuits, disposed of the claims as soon as possible at reasonable profits, to their adjoining neighbors, or later arrivals, and moved on toward the front, better prepared by experience to make new and more judicious selections.
In treating of the early settlements of the county, the reader must bear in mind that at that time none of the present artificial organizations of townships, or even of the county itself, were then in existence. Geograph- ical distinctions, after the removal of the Indian boundary line of 1837, were only such as were made by such natural boundaries as rivers. The township organization, as it now exists, was not made till 1847, and such distinctions as are made by reference to township lines cannot be spoken of till further on.
From the older settlements in the southeastern part of the county, the work of permanent improvement spread west and north. South of South Skunk river we find some of the first settlers of Richland taking the best claims. The Rock creek district, now in the bounds of Jackson town- slip, had the reputation of being a goodly land; and there, especially, was a speedy increase of settlement during the fall of 1843. Among the early settlers in that neighborhood we notice the names of such as Aaron Miller, William Scearcy, Robt. Blacker, William Webb and Richard Quinton, most of whom had come over from the Richland settlement on the night of May 1st, while at least one of them, Mr. Scearcy, who had a good many things to move, and to be sure that he would be in time had started a day or two be- forehand. Settlements still further west were made the same day that legal possession was given. Among some of these settlers we mention the names of William Hutton, G. W. Hayes, Christopher M. Wood, and a Mr. Mc- Nutt, who was the first white man buried in that section. Still further west, at a later period, claims were taken and settlements made by D. P. Helm and J. W. Palmer.
295
HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
Among the first settlers in these neighborhoods south of the river, there was manifested a spirit of enterprise and a desire for the establishment of all branches of industry, as well as the foundation and maintenance of re- ligious and educational institutions.
We have already spoken of the mill erected by Mr. Wimer, near the forks of the river, and completed in February, 1843. Farther west, some time afterward, Cornelius Hurley and Benjamin Hollingsworth erected a flour- ing mill. It was started with one run of burrs, in the spring of 1846, and is now known as the old " Clapboard Mill." A tannery was erected, in 1845, by R. B. Whitted. The first mercantile enterprise started was in Richland, some time in 1843, by L. J. Smith, the merchandise consisting of groceries and liquors. The first dry goods store was opened by Beriah Haworth, in the year 1844; followed by William A. Jordan, who established a dry goods and grocery store the following year. Mr. Wil- liams was the first postmaster, followed by William Tingle, who, it seems, was a doctor, and the first one to locate in the county. He-that is, the doctor-was followed by Drs. Jones, Fidler, Efner, etc. Farther west, in 1852, a post-office was established by the name of Olean. It was kept at
the house of Samuel Bowman, who was the first postmaster.
Previons to
this time, the nearest post-office was at Richland, or Fairfield. The office of Olean was removed to Ioka six years later. As is the case of other times and other places, schools and churchies followed, but in a different or- der from that in which we find them elsewhere. It is usual for school- houses to be erected first, and here the people meet for public worship until they are able to erect church buildings. The early settlers in the neighbor- hoods now referred to established their church buildings and organized churches before they built school-houses and organized schools. "For sev- eral years the schools were taught in the houses of public worship, or in private dwellings," is the account which the chronicler gives of early school matters in those parts. In 1851 John Davis erected a school build- ing in Richland, which was known by the name of "The Seminary." Zachariah Trueblood and John Callet taught the first school in this build- ing. Since then "The Seminary " has had quite a career of usefulness, to which we allude more fully further on. In the Rock creek neighbor- hood, the first school taught was by a teacher of the name of Brown, in a cabin near where John Dare afterward resided. As we shall refer to church buildings and church organizations at length under a special topic, suffice it to say here that churches were erected as early as 1848, and organ- izations were formed long before that time. Among the early pioneer preachers we mention the names of Andrew P. Tannehill, Elder Kirkpat- rick, Elder Gilmore, and Elder Hutton.
North of the river we find that quite a settlement had been formed prior to May 1, 1843; after that date settlements spread rapidly north and west. In taking up these claims, some very exciting contests took place between parties whose rights to the same claims interfered. We give the following account of one of the most exciting incidents growing out of one of these contests :
A valuable water-power had been found on the Indian side of the line, on North Skunk river, about two miles above its mouth. The settlers ob- served this, and two of them, each having his adherents, intended to claim and occupy it as soon as they could be entitled to cross over into the new territory. . One of these men, L. B. Holmes, as early as February, 1843,
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HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
built a cabin at the mill-site and moved into it with his family, although the whites were not legally entitled to settle before the first day of May. The other party, composed of the Messrs. Hendersons, arrived on the ground at dark on the evening of April 30th, and proceeded without delay to smoke out Mr. Holmes. This resulted in the burning of the cabin. Mr. Holmes, then, apparently defenseless with his family, suggested that they should all wait till morning, and then decide who should hold the claim, the other party agreeing to wait till midnight. After that hour, the first claim made was the legal one, according to the rules of the settlers, and the other party, finding that they had force enough to keep Mr. Holmes a prisoner and make the claim too, agreed to an armistice for a few hours. They were totally unaware that Mr. Holmes had a choice squad of friends concealed, who were quietly noting all that was being done. His direction to these men before night was : " Keep quiet till twelve o'clock ; after that make the claim as soon as possible. If you are pushed for time, close your lines inside of theirs and make the claim good if you don't get more than ten acres."
At 12 o'clock, the Henderson party started with their torches, leaving a guard with Mr. Holmes. The party, having the advantage of the lights, kept ahead, and by a signal agreed upon announced that they had sur- rounded the claim. Mr. Holmes cried out, " Boys, have you closed your lines ?" " We have," was responded with a whoop, and the new party now made their first appearance. The guard lost no time in informing his comrades, who returned without so much as closing their lines, saying they were resolved to have the claim. Mr. Holmes proposed to settle the dis- pute by paying or receiving $280, which the other party agreed to take and quit-claim the premises. In the fall of the same year Mr. Holmes sold the property to Mr. Cooley. Mr. Cooley put up a dwelling house and mill, surveyed lots and called the place Rochester. In the spring of 1845 Rochester contained the families of Cooley, A. H. Haskell, and Charles Frisbie.
Frisbie was from the town of Richland, and brought with him an old bachelor by the name of L. J. Smith, who sold whisky and tobacco. The lands were not yet in market but were subject to pre-emption, and Smith and Frisbie thought to make a good thing of it by pre-empting the mill tract, as they resided on it, and which they actually did. Information of this fact was soon received from Fairfield, and the country for miles around turned out to have Cooley reinstated in his title to the claim. Smith and Frisbie fled to Richland, where the company forthwith marched. On hearing of their approach, Smith took his gun and made for the brush. The company soon surrounded the spot. Smith was induced to surrender, and, with Frisbie, was escorted by the company back to the mill. On the route, Frisbie complained of feeling faint and wanted to get off his horse, but the company only regarded it as a ruse to get away, when Holmes, . upon looking closely, saw blood on his clothes and inquired, " why, Fris- bie, have you stabbed yourself ?" "Yes," said Frisbie, "and a mortal wound, too ; and I am dying a perjured man." The company came to a halt. The wound was examined and found to be a dangerous thrust in the side, near the region of the heart ; it was dressed as well as the circum- stances would permit, and the wounded man made a full statement of the villiany by which he and Smith had pre-empted the mill. His knife was then taken from him, and a litter was constructed, on which he was carried
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