USA > Iowa > Mahaska County > The history of Mahaska 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 > Part 38
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83
For some reason the size of the rivers has been very decidedly lessened since pioneer days. Formerly a saw-mill was run by water power on the Muchakinock during four or five months of the year, where now, probably, the supply of water is insufficient for as many weeks. The Des Moines was once twice or three times the river it is at present. Boats ascended far beyond Mahaska, and for a considerable portion of the year. The win- ters, too, are quite perceptibly warmer than they were formerly-so ma- terially has the advance of civilization changed the climate and physical features of the country.
AN EARLY HUNT.
In the fall of 1842, before the treaty of that year had yet been made with the Indians, a party of seven hunters came from Jefferson county up to the Narrows on a two weeks' hunt. Judge Comstock, with his two sons, A. J. and Samnel, and William Pilgrim were of this party. Most of their hunting was done between two streams now known in Oskaloosa township as Spring creek and Painter creek. These names were given them by this hunting party-Spring creek, because the season of '42 had been very dry, and this stream was fed by several springs of more than ordinary strength; Painter creek, because the hunters heard what they sup- posed to be the cries of a panther on this stream. In blazing a ronte across the timber from the Narrows to Skunk river, about a mile this side of the river the blazing party sat down on a fallen linn tree to rest. The party, while sitting there, noticed bees centering in toward the top of the prostrate trunk, and, upon examining the log, found it to contain quite a colony of honey bees. These robbers in human shape took from a nine foot cavity about ten gallons of strained honey. In all, between the two creeks above mentioned, this party found thirty-six bee trees, and secured therefrom two barrels of fine, strained honey. They killed five deer and a number of fowl. Wolves were quite numerous, and shot without difficulty.
299
HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
A bear and two cubs were killed in 1844, by Samuel and Elijah McMur- ray, on Painter creek, the only bears ever killed within the present limits of Mahaska, since its occupation by white men.
Judge Comstock and Wm. Pilgrim, during this hunt, prospected for a mill site, and decided upon the location of the present "Warren mill," northeast of Oskaloosa, as a suitable place for a mill, when the country should come into possession of the whites.
The following spring Judge Comstock and Matthew D. Springer set out from Fairfield with a surveyor's compass, and finding, as nearly as possible, the geographical center of the county, in May, 1843, laid out a town about three miles north of what is now Oskaloosa, hoping to secure the county seat on their claim. Of the failure of this location to secure the decision of the commissioners we have already made mention.
During this same month, May, 1843, Judge Comstock and Wm. Pil- grim, having associated in partnership with themselves a practical mill wright, Alex McCleery, they commenced building a mill upon the site chosen the previous fall. This was an odd structure-an open shed covered with clapboards, furnished shelter for the machinery. Everything was made on the ground save some bolts and nails. The gearing and wheels were all of wood, made for the most part, with plane, chisel and ax. The dam was made of brush anchored in the stream and covered by rock; then a layer of rock and another of brush. This was filled in above with dirt. The result was quite a substantial structure, and one which stood for years. In the dry season of the year, when the fish sought deep water, they would attempt to come down over the dam, and would frequently become entan- gled in the brush. Though this is a "fish story," we are assured that many fine specimens of the finny tribe were caught in this cage by hand. The mill was completed as a saw mill in Jan., 1844, having what was known as sash saw, which would rip twenty-five hundred feet of lumber in twenty- four hours, the mill being operated night and day. This lumber sold at that time for from $1.50 to $2.00 per hundred.
A corn cracker was attached to the gearing of the mill-a pair of nigger head burrs, being brought from Cincinnati, capable of grinding about five bushels of corn per hour. A run of French burrs was put in the mill in the fall of 1845, when the proprietors were able to grind flour. To this mill men came from beyond Des Moines. A register was kept of applicants for grists, and each awaited his turn on the list of names. Men have been known to wait eight days for a single grist, so crowded was the work of the mill.
Judge Comstock died in the fall of 1848, and the mill was sold to John White, who, in 1850, sold to D. M. Colville. In 1860 it passed into the hands of Baker and Warren, who took down the old structure, and at a cost of $15.000 built a fine new mill with three run of stone. Two years later N. Smedley bought this mill, which burned in 1864 with 5000 bushels of wheat. John H. Warren bought the site, and in 1868 built what is now known as "Glendale Mills." This mill is still conducted by Mr. Warren. Ilis three run of stone does both custom and mercantile work.
A MAHASKA COUNTY ROMANCE.
During the winter of 1841-2 there appeared at Iowa City a stranger who
300
HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
gave his name as Col. Win. Johnson, and who was accompanied by a young woman whom he represented as his daughter, and whom he called Catha- rine, or, usually Kit. Both were of more than ordinary strength of charac- ter, and well educated. Johnson claimed to have been the hero of the Can- dian revolt, which took place in 1838, and was the occasion of considera- ble diplomatic correspondence, and came so near causing war between Great Britain and the United States. The girl, he stated, was the " queen of a thousand isles," and authentic history so far corroborates his story as to mention the fact that on the St. Lawrence there was a certain young woman who gave aid and assistance to the patriots in this border trouble. John- son succeeded in entting quite a figure in Iowa City during the session of the legislature. He was honored by a seat on the floor of the house, and was toasted and banqueted by some of the law-makers of the then State Capital. In 1842 Johnson located at the geographical center of Buchanan county, where he proposed laying out a town, and expected by his fame and prowess to draw around him a band of followers, and secure the county seat. This excited the jealously of the first settler of that region, Wm. Bennett, a notorious character, who had laid out a village where Quas- queton now stands, and where he hoped to enrich himself by securing the county seat of the new county. Bennett gathered a few congenial spirits about him, went over to Johnson's, loaded up his effects for him, then tied him to a tree and flogged him, though with what severity is unknown, as accounts differ. Johnson went to Marion where he lodged complaints against his persecutors, and the sheriff of Linn county rode up to Quasque- ton to arrest Bennett. The latter awaited him at his cabin door, armed with his rifle and a pair of pistols. The sheriff modestly retired and went back for a posse. Bennett and his companions became convinced that they had better leave Qnasqueton for a while. On their way to a place of escape they suffered terribly from intense cold. Some of the parties perished, and others were frozen so as to be mutilated for life. This of course aggravated Bennett still more and he and Johnson became deadly foes.
Soon after, Johnson, losing his popularity, left Buchanan county, got in with a gang of horse thieves, and fled to Mahaska county to escape the law, bringing with him the girl Kit, and another man and woman. Johnson seemed to have this girl entirely under his control, and in his fits of passion it is said threatened to kill her, in consequence of which she was in mortal fear of him. Johnson located on Middle Creek, about eight miles northeast of Oskaloosa, in a grove now owned by James K. Woods. He there built a shanty. In the spring of '43, a family by the name of Peck came to a point on Skunk river, abont four miles from Oskaloosa, where Russell Peck with his son-in-law, Geo. N. Duncan, built a grist mill. Johnson and his daughter, so-called, lived for some time with the Pecks and Duncans. Several times, it is related, during the time he staid with them, strangers from the north came there and asked to stay over night. They were kindly treated, lodged and nothing charged them. This made Johnson very angry, the reason for which being, as was afterward learned, that these were of Johnson's enemies in Buchanan county, who for some reason did not get an opportunity to accomplish their purposes, i. e., revenge on Johnson. Dur- ing this time an attachment sprung up between Kit and Job Peck, son of Russell Peck, a young man of about 21 years. Johnson was grealy enraged on discovering this, and removed to his own cabin above mentioned, taking the girl with him. Wmn. D. Neeley was engaged to Peck's sister Sarah.
301
HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
An elopement was planned. While Johnson was away one evening, about dusk, Kit was stolen away, and the two couples started in an easterly direc- tion. The following day they reached the house of a relative of Peck's, about four miles from Fairfield, where they were married and lodged for the night. Upon his return home Johnson set out in search for them, came to the house where the fugitives were, near one o'clock at night, entered the house, and with drawn revolver dragged Kit from the bed, compelled her to dress herself and mount behind him and ride thus to his home.
The following evening about seven o'clock Johnson was shot dead, through a crevice in his cabin, while standing in front of the fire. Job Peck was arrested on charge of the murder, taken to Washington county and lodged in jail. His lawyers were J. C. Hall of Mt. Pleasant, and Colonel Tomp- son. These gentlemen learning that a warrant was out from the northern part of the state, for the arrest of " Kit," as being an accomplice of John- son's, it was arranged that the girl should be secreted, until she could be provided for. This was done, and a young law student of Hall's, named Wamsley, was sent with a buggy to Mahaska county, to the girl's hiding place. This Wamsley, while fording the Skunk river, a short distance from Oskaloosa, met a man on horseback in the midst of the stream. The stranger stated to Wamsley that he was in search of a girl, giving her description, being the same one that Wamsley was after. The latter, to throw the offi- cer off the track, told him that he had seen such a girl in a certain house in the direction in which he had come. The officer started in pursuit, and Wamsley proceeded about three miles and a half to "Kit's" hiding place. She was taken to Burlington, put on a steamboat and sent by Hall to Pitts- burgh, Pennsylvania. Job Peek was acquitted, having proved an alibi. Sometime after the murder, and during Peck's imprisonment, a stranger stopped at Duncan's and informed them that his name was Bennett; that he was one of the men who had stopped with them, and whom they had so kindly treated; that he and Johnson had been deadly foes. He told the Duncan's that they need not be alarmed in regard to Job's acquittal, as he (Bennett) knew Peck was not guilty, and gave the Duncan's to understand that he knew who was.
If we are correctly informed, and we have good authority, the most romantie part of this story is yet to come. During the time that he was imprisoned Peck knew nothing of his wife's whereabouts, nor was he in- formed by his lawyer until some months after his release. Finally her address was given him and he set out for Pittsburgh. There he found her living with people of the highest respectability, in most elegant style. Peck himself stated to our informant that the house was furnished with a grandeur that he had not dreamed of; that his wife was a fine musician; that she had played for him on a piano in that honse, and that he had these evidences of her accomplishments which he had not before conjectured. She was ready to come away with him, did come, and for several years lived near Oskaloosa with him. Parties now living remember her well; say that she was a woman of fine education, of refinement and unblemished character, wrote a beautiful letter, and gave every evidence of a good "bring- ing up." No one believes-she herself denies-that Johnson was her father; but who she was, or who Johnson was, possibly her husband, certainly her husband's family never knew. She lived happily with Peck in California, until the latter's death. She has a noble family, and is again married to a devoted husband. Her portrait of late years has nothing of the romantic
302
HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
in it, but every lineament marks her intelligence and happiness. To-day this " Queen of a Thousand Isles " is queen of a happy household in a far western home.
Since writing the above we have been cited to an article in Scribner's Monthly for April, 1878, entitled "Among the Thousand Islands." From this article we make the following extracts.
" Of late years perhaps no event cansed such a stir of excitement in this region as the so-called Patriot war in 1838, a revolt of certain Canadians dissatisfied with the government of Sir Francis Bond Head, then Governor- general of Canada, which was joined by a number of American agitators, ever ripe for any disturbance.
* * *
*
* *
" It was a wild, insane affair altogether, and after some time consumed in petty threats of attack, finally reached a climax in the burning of the Canadian steamer 'Sir Robert Peel,' one of the finest vessels upon the St. Lawrence. The most prominent actor in this affair was Bill Johnson -- a name familiar to every one around this region-whose career forms a series of romantic adventures, deeds and escapes, followed by his final cap- ture, which would fill a novel. Indeed, we understand that a novel has been written by a Canadian Frenchman on this theme, though we have not had the good fortune to find any one who has read it.
* * * *
"Johnson was originally a British subject, but turned renegade, serving as a spy in the war of 1812, in which capacity he is said to have robbed the mails to gain intelligence. He hated his native country with all the bitter- ness which a renegade alone is capable of feeling. He was one of the earliest agitators upon the American side of the border, and was the one who instigated the destruction of the 'Peel.' A reward was offered by the governments of each country for his apprehension, so he was compelled to take to the islands for safety. Here he continued for several months, though with numbers of hair-breadth escapes, in which he was assisted by his daughter, who seems to have been a noble girl. Many stories are told of remarkable acts performed by him, of his choking up the inlet of the Lake of the Isle with rocks, so as to prevent vessels of any size entering that sheet of water; of his having a skiff in which he could outspeed any ordinary sailing craft, and which he carried bodily across necks of land when his enemies were in pursuit of him, and of his hiding in all manner of ont-of-the-way spots, once especially in the Devil's Oven, previously described, to which his daughter, who alone was in his confidence, disguised as a boy, carried provisions. He was finally captured and sent to Albany, where after suffering a slight penalty for his offense, he was subsequently released, although he was always very careful to keep out of the clutch ot the indignant Canadians."
AN OLD IOWAN.
We have met older residents in Mahaska county, but do not remember seeing anyone who has a longer Iowa record than William B. Street, Esq., of Oskaloosa. His father was Gen. J. M. Street, so well known as the humane and christian Indian agent among the Winnebagos. Gen. Street read law with Henry Clay, was appointed Indian agent by Adams, and re-appointed by Jackson and Van Buren. He established the Winnebago
303
HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
Mission among one of the most unpromising tribes of the Mississippi valley, and through the early seed sown they are now in northern Nebraska, perhaps the most civilized of the native race of the country.
Gen. Street died in 1840. William B. came to Iowa in 1834, being a youth of fourteen or fifteen summers, and was constantly among the Indians till 1843, part of the time near what is now known as Agency City. He is perhaps as thoroughly posted in Indian customs, history and language as any man in the state, and has been already mentioned in connection with the early history of Mahaska county. He can give the scalp raising whoop of the Sacs to perfection, and can even yet, at almost seventy years of age, be sometimes induced to give the Indian war dance, for the benefit of his particular friends. He possesses a number of Indian antiques, and is a very entertaining talker on Indian matters. He settled in Oskaloosa in 1844, built the first frame store building within the city limits, being located on the west side of the square. He was engaged in merchandising until 1857, went into banking, met with some reverses, and has since been engaged in railroading on various roads.
At present (187S) he is enjoying the leisure merited by a life of toil and usefulness, and we wish him the continued blessing of a green and happy old age.
MAHASKA IN 1850-1852.
At this time Mahaska had grown to be quite a county, and Oskaloosa bore the appearance of a thrifty town. Upward of 45,000 bushels of wheat had been harvested in 1849, and the county was in a prosperous condition. July, 1850, the Herald had been started as a weekly county newspaper, and though, in comparison with its present size and appearance, it was an insignificant sheet, yet it no doubt was one of the best papers in Iowa at that day. Little attention was given to local matters for some years by the newspaper men, as then political and national affairs were considered more properly as the province of the editor.
In 1851 we find upward of one thousand votes cast in the county, elect- ing a Whig judge and Democratic sheriff. At the Presidential election of 1852 the vote of the county stood: Scott, 599, Pierce, 541-a Whig majority of 58.
The assessed valuation of property in Mahaska in 1850 was $754,170. The population of Oskaloosa two years later is estimated at one thousand persons. There were at this time probably a score of saw-mills within the limits of the county, and the work of improvement was going rapidly for- ward. In both town and country houses were springing up, bridges and fences were built, and the work of sowing and reaping was on the increase. The virgin soil of the prairies and the untouched alluvium of the bottom- lands yielded a ready reward to the plowman's labor, and produced with a richness and abundance which later tillage cannot rival.
Even at this day great difficulty attended the carrying of the mails and necessary supplies at certain seasons of the year. Though Oskaloosa had an eastern and western mail daily, yet letters from St. Louis not unfre- quently occupied ten days in transit. As an illustration of the business and intelligence of Oskaloosa we give the following items:
Letters received at the post-office for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1852 .. 13,958. Letters mailed during same time. 15,762.
Subscribers to newspapers and periodicals. 429.
304
HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
Printing paper was also very scarce at this period, and the Herald was at times delayed as long as three weeks awaiting a supply, which was then usually obtained from St. Louis.
We give the annexed market reports, which will prove interesting by comparison. The reader will be struck by noticing the similarity in prices between that of 1851 and the present time, July, 1878. These reports are taken from the files of the Herald of the different dates named:
OSKALOOSA PRICE-CURRENT.
NOV., 1851.
MAY, 1857.
JAN'Y, 1865.
JULY, 1878.
Flour @ bbl.
$5.40@6.00|
$ 9.00
$ 10.25 $
6.00@7.50
Wheat # bu. -
60@75
1.25
1.35@1.50
80@90
Oats # bu. -
16@20
75
40
17@18
Corn # bu. -
20@25
1.00
60@70
25@30
Potatoes ? bu.
-
45@50
1.00@1.70
1.50@2.00
15@20
Butter # 1b
-
10@12
20@25
35@40
7
Eggs ? doz.
5
8@10
30@35
5
Hay & ton
4.00@5.00
15.00@20.00
13.00@15.00
Sugar # 1b -
9@11
28@40
Coffee # 1b
12@15
40@55
Salt # bu. -
90@1.00
1.65
FOURTH OF JULY.
The 4th of July, 1852, came on Sunday, and the Saturday preceding was the date of a considerable celebration in Oskaloosa. About 2,500 persons were present. The Declaration of Independence was read by M. T. Wil- liams. The laying of the corner-stone of the normal school building was a part of the ceremonies of the day, and in the hearts of the people were mingled the memories of the past and the anticipations of times to come. The orators of the day were Wm. Loughridge and W. H. Seevers. After dinner were numerous toasts and responses, among which we note the following temperate sentiment by S. S. Stewart:
May the toper's bottles speedily be broken, And the cause of temperance thrive; May the old maids soon get husbands, And the old bachelors wives.
FLOOD OF '51.
The year 1851 is known in Mahaska county as the year of the flood. The rainfall throughout Iowa in that spring was unprecedented, and the smaller rivers of the State attained a high water mark which has not since been reached. The overthrow culminated May 29th, and is thus described in the Herald of the 30th:
"One of the heaviest rains we were ever privileged to witness occurred on Wednesday of last week. The rain literally fell in torrents for over an hour, causing the face of the whole country to present the appearance of one vast lake of rushing waters. Much damage has been done in conse- quence by the floating away of fences, bridges, etc. It is said that scarcely a bridge or foot-log remains.over a stream in the whole county.
305
HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
" The usually staid and sober Des Moines has been taking a regular 'swell,' literally tearing down and carrying off everything that happened to come in its current. Not satisfied with keeping in its own channel, it has made free to invade every man's premises in the vicinity, in many cases literally driving away families domiciled in the neighborhood. It has left its 'mark' on the land near the shore so that the settlers may hereafter know how much is claimed by it. It is in many places from two to four miles wide. A number of dwellings were carried entirely away. This calamity will be doubly hard on the sufferers, as it has not only destroyed the present crops, but has taken away the old crop that was in store for the present season.
" The Skunk, too, not having the fear of men before its eyes, has been spreading itself in every direction, taking along with it every obstacle that could not withstand a perfect rush of sweeping waters. Judging from ap- pearances one would suppose it determined to declare itself navigable (with- out any act of legislature) by removing, without the aid of civil law, every- thing calculated to hinder small crafts from taking an uninterrupted voyage to the Father of Waters.
" On Saturday, a man named Sandert De Yong, a native of Holland, was drowned near Union Mills. He and a number of others were engaged in replacing the flooring of the bridge when he slipped through and perished in the waters without the bystanders being able to assist him.
" A young man was drowned in the Des Moines near Ft. Des Moines on Friday, and two small boys near Red Rock a few days since."
During this season flour or meal was very difficult to obtain, even in Oskaloosa. A pair of burrs or corn crackers were brought upon the front carriage of a wagon from Agency City, and attached to the gearing of the saw-mill, which stood on the present site of Prondfit's mill, and here was meal and hominy made for the settlement in the midst of this western sea of mud and water.
RELIGIOUS.
You raised these hallowed walls; the desert smiled, And Paradise was opened in the wild .- Pope.
In this day of missionary and benevolent spirit, the Gospel in the West rather precedes than follows the settlement of the country. But in the earlier days of frontier lite the progress toward public worship was of necessity slow. Yet the devotional spirit of those who had left godly homes opened up here and there an organized body of worshippers, many months before they had a regnlar building for their services. It is claimed that the first religious organization in Mahaska county was in the Six Mile Prairie settlement, where, in the winter of 1844, a Methodist class was or- ganized and Mr. Chestnut chosen as class-leader.
In Oskaloosa religions services were frequently held in the frame court house mentioned elsewhere in this work. Even as late as Angust, 1851, we find the following advertisement:
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.