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 42
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For a long time the post-offices at Richland and Sigourney, receiving a mail twice a month, afforded all the mail facilities there were in the county, and from these offices the mail was sometimes taken in bulk to the country store, and kept in a dry goods box-marked, as likely as not, "Smith & Co., Burlington, Iowa," from which the gentlemanly shop- keeper distributed the precious missives to the anxious inquirers, who had traveled, perhaps, many weary miles on foot to receive from the rude box the long delayed letter that brought a message of love from the dear ones far away.
The towns which had been laid out being so small, and the means of transportation to them being so limited and irregular, they were unable to supply, regularly, the now increasing demand from all around them, and settlers in these parts thought themselves happy if they were not compelled to go on far beyond there to Keokuk or Burlington to obtain the necessa- ries of life.
In order to secure many of the necessaries of life they were often under the necessity of going to Burlington and Keokuk to supply the wants of their pioneer homes. After stores and trading-points began to be estab-
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HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
lished in this county, the merchants for many years were in the habit of going to these distant points on the river to purchase their stock of goods and bring them through by wagon transportation.
Occasionally a number of families in a community would club together, make out a list of what they needed, and send off to the trading-post as many men and teams as necessary, or as could be obtained, to procure and bring home supplies for all; and thus to a great degree they worked together,. and to one one another's interest as one great family.
In this way, also, they took turns in going to mill, to the stores, for the. mail, etc., and when a cabin was to be raised, or a neighbor assisted in any way, all within reach or hearing turned out with one accord, quite willing to lend the helping hand, and enjoy in common the feast and frolic that was sure to accompany all such gatherings.
In this isolated condition, pioneer life here, as elsewhere, was one of stern realities and serious trials, especially for the sick and aged ones, while so far removed from points of supply, and almost completely cut off from communication with the outside world. If a stranger from any distance came into the new settlement he was treated with unusual cordiality, and questioned with unabating zeal with regard to the great world-matters- without; and if he saw fit to accept the urgent invitation of the settlers to- share their humble hospitality in welcome for many days, he might rest. assured that he must pass through that long siege of innocent questioning by the inquisitive settlers, from which he would often derive as much. pleasure and profit as they.
TRAPPING AND HUNTING.
The sports and customs of the early settlers were not so numerous and varied as at present, but they were no less enjoyable and interesting.
Hunters now-a- days would be only too glad to be able to find and enjoy their favorable opportunities for hunting and fishing; and even travel hun- dreds of miles sometimes, counting it rare pleasure to spend a few weeks among the lakes and on the wild prairies and woodlands, in hunt and chase and fishing frolics, where not half so good. hunting and fishing sport was- furnished as was in this vicinity twenty-five or thirty years ago. There were a good inany excellent hunters here at an early day, too, who enjoyed the sport as well as any can at the present.
Wild animals of various kinds were found here in abundance during the time of the early settlement. The prairies, and woods, and streams, and various bodies of water, were all thickly inhabited before the white man, and even for some time after the white man came.
Serpents were to be found in such large numbers and of such immense size that some stories told by the early settlers would be incredible were it not for the large array of concurrent testimony which is to be had from the most authentic sources.
Deer, turkeys, ducks, geese, and various other kinds of choice game,. were plentiful, affording freely and at the expense of killing what are now considered the choice and costly dishes in the restaurants. The fur animals, also, were abundant, such as the otter, beaver, mink, muskrat, raccoon, pan- ther, fox, wolf, wild-cat and bear.
Deer and elk were quite numerous on these prairies for some time after the first settlements were made. These various kinds of game afforded not
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HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
only pleasure, but profit, for those among the early settlers who were lovers of hunt and chase; and skillful hunters were not scarce in those days in proportion to the number of inhabitants. Many interesting incidents and daring adventures occurred in connection with these hunting excursions, which the old settlers who still remain seem never tired of relating, and we here propose to insert a few of these reminiscences, related in the language. of the actors in them.
A gentleman who formerly lived on South Skunk, near the forks of the river, says that in early days the grass and weeds along the river were so. tall and the wolves and rattlesnakes so plenty that it was necessary to pro- ceed with great care, and it was not prudent to even start out to hunt the- cows without being provided with a large club or other weapon of defence. against these noxious animals. "Often," says he, "have I gone through the Skunk river bottoms in search of my cattle with a large club in one. hand and a bowie-knife in the other, the wolves howling on either side and for miles not out of the hearing of the rattling and hissing of snakes." Mr. Adams informs us that he once stopped over night with two old batch- elors, who were living near the Washington county line, that during the day had killed two hundred twenty-five rattlesnakes, and who were not in the least damaged in their numerous encounters save as to their appetite, the remembrance of the slimy reptiles, after returning from the slaughter, interfered with the enjoyment of their frugal evening meal. Capt. Baker- says that there was formerly a rattlesnake-den in Richland township where. the serpents of all sizes and species seemed to congregate. On a certain occasion a number of persons undertook to exterminate them; they put in an entire day and in the evening they had three large piles which resem- bled brush heaps, the rattlesnakes in one heap, the black-snakes in another heap and a third heap composed of common garter-snakes. Mr. James re- lates the particulars of an encounter he once had with a rattlesnake. It was in the summer of 1843, about three miles northwest of Sigourney. He was assisting one W. R. Harrison in digging a well. They had gone to the depth of fifteen or twenty feet when night closing in they suspended their labors till the next day. No settlers and no stock being in the vicin- ity the well was left quite uncovered. On the next morning it was the lot of Mr. James to first descend into the well. Before being lowered he dis- covered that the well had fallen in all around for a few inches above the bottom and that in spots water was visible. Taking, therefore, only a tin cup he was lowered to see the state of affairs. When he arrived at the- bottom he directed the bucket to be hoisted out of the way in order that he- might make a fuller and more accurate inspection. There were good indi- cations of plenty of water and Mr. James fancied that he heard the gurg- ling of water coming in at the side. Turning his gaze in the direction from which the sound proceeded he beheld the curled up form of an im- mense rattlesnake, the gurgling noise proceeding from the snake's rattles. The rapidity with which the reptile revealed and concealed its malicious tongue convinced Mr. James that in its fall it had not lost its. deadly power of attack. For some time he stood and viewed his- adversary. But one short step could be taken in retreat and he did not thing best to take it. Without taking his eye away from the serpent Mr. James directed the bucket to be lowered with the spade. This was promptly done. He then took hold of the rope with one hand and the spade in the other and requested to be raised a short distance. As soon as he:
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HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
came in reach of the snake he dealt it a blow with the spade which severed its head from the body. The prairie rattlesnake never grew to be very large; this one was three feet long and had seven rattles.
Wolves were very numerous and troublesome. It was impossiable to raise sheep, and hogs as well as larger animals were not safe from the at- tacks of these gaunt and ferocious wild beasts. On account of their many and persistent depredations, as well as the fact that the State offered a pre- mium on their scalps, systematic and continued efforts were made by cer- tain indivduals to capture them. In some instances poison was used, in other cases steel traps, and others had resort to their dogs and guns. In 1844 Mr. A. Covey invented and manufactured a wolf-trap which proved to be quite successful in its way. During the month of February, that year, Covey caught in that trap sixteen wolves and among the number a very large one which had made itself notorious for years and which many hunters had vainly tried to capture. The trap was on exhibition at a recent Old Settlers' reunion and will probably be well cared for during the life time of the inventor.
"Quincy" Adams, John W.Snelson and G.B. Cook were the most renowned deer hunters. Mr. Adams says that it was no unusual occurrence to see from forty to fifty deer within a radius of one mile from Sigourney. In those days Mr. Adams never thought it worth his while to leave the shop for a hunt unless he brought down at least four or five deer. Mr. Cook had a peculiar way of shooting deer; his plan was to climb a tree and await the coming of the game, when he would fire upon them from the tree. He is said to have been very successful in this manner and seldom returned from the hunt without bringing home an abundant supply of venison.
Samuel Hardesty, who, since 1843, has resided on the divide between the two forks of Skunk river, says that for many years his cabin was never without a good supply of venison. He regarded it a very easy task, at any time, to take his rifle and kill three or four deer. He generally went on foot, and when a deer came in range it generally was his meat; it was im- material whether the animal was standing still or running. Sometimes, especially when there was snow on the ground, he would go on horseback, and when he killed a deer it was lashed to his horse's tail, and then, mount- ing the horse, the rider set out for further conquests. When another ani- mal fell before the unerring aim of his rifle, it was tied on to the other deer, and some times he might be seen returning from the chase dragging three or four deer, all lashed to the caudal appendage of his horse. Mr. Hardesty also frequently took part in the circle-hunts. The plan was for some two or three hundred men to surround a considerable area of country and gradually close in, thus driving the wolves into a very small area, where they were slaughtered by the hundred. These circles frequently had for their centre a point in the Skunk river bottom not far from the place where Mr. Hardesty now resides, and said ravine proved to be the last ditch for hundreds of these predatory quadrupeds. It was not long after the State offered a premium on wolf scalps that these troublesome representa- tives of the canine species were exterminated.
GROWTH OF THE COUNTY.
The official act of the Territorial Legislature naming Keokuk county and defining the boundaries thereof, bears date February 5th, 1844. So it
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HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
appears that the county was not named and laid out until nearly a year after the first settlement had been made west of the treaty line of 1837,. and five years after the first settlement had been made on the " Old Strip."
The Indians had left, and the whites had not yet appeared in large num- bers. Although the county contained but few citizens, yet the white man had marked it for his own.
During these years the county was in an undefined state of existence, or non-existence. In one sense it was a county, in another it was not. It was. namned and laid out. So that, in point of fact, there was a region of terri- tory described as Keokuk county, in the then unorganized State of Iowa, as- early as January, 1844. But there was no county organization proper, no county government, and not even many citizens for several months. In a few months, however, the new county gained citizens, but in other respects it continued for some time in the same undefined state.
The work of organization was only begun when the county was named and laid out. It remained to hold an election, and organize a county gov- ernment.
Thus the early settlers were for a time in a peculiar situation. They dwelt in, but were not properly citizens of, Keokuk county, since there were no county courts or other authority to control their actions, and they were still, in these respects, under the discipline of another county.
For judicial and other purposes the new county was still a part of Wash- ington county, and so continued until its formal organization was com- pleted. It does not appear that there was much call for the exercise of this authority, or that the loose and ill-defined county government produced any bad results. "The laws are for those who need them," and the early settlers dwelt together in harmony that did not call for the interference of sheriff or judge. This is a somewhat remarkable feature of Keokuk county, and contrasts vividly with the early experience of some other counties.
The county seems to have prospered well during this period of loose, half- formed organization. The settlers were too busy with their own affairs to. intermeddle with those of others, and so had little occasion to call for the. authority of the law. But it was soon apparent that the business affairs. of the community called for a county organization. Roads should be laid out, a county-seat located, and other preparations made for a thriving and prosperous future. So in 1844 the county was formally organized in the. manner spoken of more fully under the head of "organization."
The people in the county at the time of the organization were mostly Germans, or native born Americans, and from that time to the present the- population has been mostly of that character. The county filled up steadily and rapidly. Nearly always the new-comers were poor in purse. Few men of ineans came to Keokuk county in the early days. But, although they came almost without exception poor in pocket, they brought with them industry, economy and intelligence, so that, in the course of years, wealth has been the result. The growth of the county never slackened or- came to a stand-still, except for a very short time, but continued steadily year by year. The brunt of the pioneer battle was borne by the very early settlers, for within a few years the great hardships of pioneer life had dis- appeared, and the people lived in comfort.
At the time of the organization in 1844, the county contained less than 1,000 souls. In 1847 there were 2,918, which shows an increase of about.
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HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
one hundred per cent each year for the three years following the organiza- tion. In 1849 the population had increased to 3,953. In 1850 the popu- lation was 4,822, and in 1852 it had reached the number 5,306. In 1854, which ended the first decade of the county's history, the population had reached the remarkable number of 7,299. This certainly shows a remark- able degree of progress and prosperity.
Passing over the next ten years, which include the war period, it will be interesting to note the increase of population a decade later. In 1865 the population had grown to 13,996, and in 1867 to 15,429. In 1870 the county numbered 19,434. In 1875 the population was 20,488, and at this present time it is estimated that the number will approximate 21,500.
But the rapid increase of population is not the only datum whereby we may estimate the rapid growth of the county. In 1850 there were in farms 21,075 acres of improved land, and 62,263 acres of unimproved. In 1856 there were in farms, of improved land 52,517 acres, of unimproved 163, - 725. In 1875 there were 208,125 acres of improved land in farms, in addi- tion to 98,999 acres of unimproved land in farms in connection with these lands.
In 1850 there were 24,990 bushels of wheat raised, 346,650 bushels of corn, and the value of the live stock was $103,285. In 1856, 64,113 bushels of wheat, 983,097 bushels of corn; the value of live stock was $108,073, and the value of cattle alone which were sold that year was $79,390. In 1875 there were harvested in the county 368,528 bushels of wheat, and 3,327,282 bushels of corn.
In 1865 the total value of the personal property in the county was $1,056,328, and the value of farm lands was $1,909,794. In 1875 the value of personal property was $1,473,649, and the value of farm lands was $3,087,215.
In 1850 there were in the county 820 dwellings and 857 families; in 1856 there were 1827 dwellings and 1889 families; in 1875 the number of dwellings was 3,690, and the number of families 3,763.
The church and school statistics also afford a datum whereby we may estimate the growth of the county, and these statistics give even a more striking illustration of its unparalleled development than the facts and figures relating to material prosperity.
In 1850 there were 39 schools, 39 teachers, 1015 pupils; $200 were raised by taxation for the maintenance of these schools, $640 from the public fund and $1,800 from other sources. In 1875 there were 128 un- graded schools, S graded schools, 218 teachers, and the number of pupils in these schools was 8,042; this does not include 4 private schools, employ- ing 6 teachers, with an enrollment of 151 pupils. To carry on this educa- tional system for one year, the county expended the sum of $46.911 ..
In 1850 there were 16 church buildings, valued at $3,450; they were as follows: Baptist, 4 churches, valued at $900; Christian, 3, valued at $800; Friends, 2, valued at $450; Methodist, 7, valued at $1,300. At present, there is probably not a township in the county but what contains better facilities for religious meetings than the entire facilities of the county twenty years ago.
The total value of the property of the county in 1865 was $3,071,126, against $4,845,323 in 1875, showing an increase in ten years of $1,774,197, or more than 55 per cent.
Thus, from the very first, the history of the county shows a steady career
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HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
of thriving, prosperous growth. The following table of important events shows the general landmarks of the county's growth and history to the present time:
TABLE OF EVENTS.
First settler, Aaron Miller, March, 1838.
Oldest settler still residing on original claim, William Bristow.
County laid out, 1844.
County formally organized, 1844.
Sigourney located, May 10, 1844.
First white child born, J. F. Scearcy, December 15, 1840.
First marriage license issued in county, April 5, 1844, Nelson Green and Elizabeth Warner.
First term of court, July 22, 1844.
First land entered, 1846.
First land transfer, February 15, 1845,
First mill erected, commenced June, 1842; finished February, 1843.
County-seat removed to Lancaster, August 7, 1846.
First newspaper published, "Western Friend," June 1, 1854.
First mail received at Sigourney, February 7, 1845.
County-seat returned to Sigourney, April 12, 1856.
Gold excitements, 1849, 1859, 1876.
Old court-house built, 1844.
Old jail built, 1848.
New court-house completed, 1858.
New jail completed, 1875.
First railroad train in Sigourney, April 9, 1872.
This brief table represents a large amount of history, and will be very instructive to those who may "ponder it fittingly."
Speaking generally, the growth of the county has been steady and con- tinuous, although there have been, of course, times of ebb and flow. The first period of the county's growth was one of much hardship and priva- tion. The California emigration, however, brought golden days to the ·county, and prosperity continued in high tide until the panic a few years before the war. These were evil days for Keokuk county, there was very general discontent, and many business men in the county were ruined. A slow recovery followed and introduced the war-period. From the close of the war up to the panic of 1873, Keokuk was again in a prosperous condition. The county did not suffer in this directly so much as indirectly, in the general derangement of the business of the country. But the ex- perience was much the same as that in the former period of high times. Property depreciated and become unsalable, and general discontent and uneasiness spread among the people. There has been nothing peculiar to Keokuk county in this experience-it has been that of the country in gen- eral. At the present time the county is fairly started again on a career of prosperity.
So, in Keokuk county, good times have followed close upon evil times, and vice versa all through the period of its growth. It would seem that old sage's thought would be a good thing to keep ever in mind, both in prosperity and distress: "Even this shall pass away." Such a lesson is taught by the experience of the county, from the organization to the pres- ent time.
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HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
COUNTY ORGANIZATION.
It was not long after the first settlement of Keokuk county before the necessity of county organization in the interests of good government, good roads and the proper management of other local affairs was fully appreci- ated and agitated. Indeed, steps were taken toward organization during the year 1843, but were not carried out for some time thereafter.
With regard to the origin of dividing individual States into county and township organizations, which, in an important measure, should have the power and opportunity of transacting their own business and governing themselves, under the approval of, and subject to, the State and general gevernment of which they each formed a part, we quote from Elijah M. Haines, who is considered good authority on the subject.
In his "Laws of Illinois, Relative to Township Organizations," he says the county system, originated with Virginia, whose early settlers soon became large landed proprietors, aristocratic in feeling, living apart in almost baronial magnificence on their own estates, and owning the labor- ing part of the population. Thus the materials for a town were not at hand, the voters being thinly distributed over a great area.
"The county organization, where a few influential men managed the whole business of the community, retaining their places almost at their pleasure, scarcely responsible at all, except in name, and permitted to con- duct the county concerns as their ideas or wishes might direct, was more- over consonant with their recollections or traditions of the judicial and social dignities of the landed aristocracy of England, in descent from whom the Virginia gentlemen felt so much pride. In 1834 eight counties were organized in Virginia, and the system, extending throughout the State, spread into all the Southern States, and some of the Northern States; unless we except the nearly similar division into 'districts' in South Carolina, and that into 'parishes' in Louisiana, from the French laws.
"Illinois, which, with its vast additional territory, became a county of Virginia, on its conquest by Gen. George Rogers Clark, retained the county organization, which was formerly extended over the State by the constitution of 1818, and continued in exclusive use until the constitution of 1848.
"Under this system, as in other States adopting it, most local business was transacted by those commissioners in each county, who constituted a county court, with quarterly sessions.
"During the period ending with the constitution of 1847, a large portion of the State had become filled up with a population of New England birth or character, daily growing more and more compact and dissatisfied with the comparitively arbitrary and inefficient county system. It was main- tained by the people that the heavily populated districts would always control the election of the commissioners to the disadvantage of the more thinly populated sections-in short that under that system, 'equal and exact justice' to all parts of the county could not be secured.
"The township system had its origin in Massachusetts, and dates back to 1635.
"The first legal enactment concerning this system, provided that, whereas, 'particular townships have many things which concern only themselves, and the ordering of their own affairs, and disposing of business in their own town,' therefore, 'the freeman of every town, or a majority part of them,
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