USA > Iowa > Monroe County > The history of Monroe County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., a biographical directory of citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion > Part 37
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It cannot fail to strike the careful observer that where the prairies occupy the surface, the soil and superficial material have been so finely comminuted as to be almost in a state of an impalpable powder. This is due, partially, to the peculiar nature of the underlying rocks and the facility with which they undergo complete decomposition, and partly to the mechanical causes which have acted during and since the accumulation of the sedimentary matter from the prairie soil.
If we go to the thickly-wooded regions, like those of the northern peninsula of Michigan, and examine those portions of the surface which have not been invaded by the forest, we shall observe that the beds of ancient lakes which have been filled up by the slowest possible accumu- Iation of detrital matter and are now perfectly dry, remain as natural prairies and are not trespassed upon by the surrounding woods. We can conceive of no other reason for this than the extreme fineness of the soil which occupies these basins, and which is the natural result of the slow and quiet mode in which they have been filled up. The sides of these depressions, which were lakes, slope very gradually upward, and being covered with a thick growth of vege- tation, the material brought into them must have been thus caused. Consequently, when the former lake has become entirely filled up and raised above the level of overflow, we find it cov- ered with a most luxuriant crop of grass, forming the natural meadows from which the first settlers are supplied with their first stock of fodder.
Applying these facts to the case of the prairies of larger dimensions farther south, we infer, on what seems to be reasonable grounds, that the whole region now occupied by the prairies of the Northwest was once an immense lake, in whose basin sediment of almost impalpable fineness gradually accumulated ; that this basin was drained by the elevation of the whole region. but, at first, so slowly that the finer particles of the deposit were not washed away, but allowed to remain. where they were originally deposited.
After the more elevated portions of the former basin had been laid bare, the drainage becoming concentrated into comparatively narrow channels, the current thus produced, aided, perhaps, by a more rapid rise of the region, acquired sufficient velocity to wear down through the finer material on the surface, wash away a portion of it altogether, and mix the rest so
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
effectually with the underlying drift materials, or with abraded fragments of the rocks in place as to give rise to a different character of soil in the valleys from that of the elevated land. The valley soil being much less homogeneous in composition and containing a larger proportion of coarse materials than that of the uplands, seems to have been adapted to the growth of forest vegetation ; and in consequence of this we find such localities covered with an abundant growth of timber.
Wherever there has been a variation from the usual conditions of soil, on the prairie or in the river bottom, there is a corresponding change in the character of the vegetation. Thus on the prairie we sometimes meet with ridges of coarse material, apparently deposits of drift, on which, from some local cause, there never has been an accumulation of fine sediment. In such localities we invariably find a growth of timber. This is the origin of the groves scattered over the prairies, for whose isolated position and peculiar circumstances of growth we are unable to account in any other way.
The condition of things in the river valleys themselves seems to add to the plausibility of this theory. In the district which we have more particularly examined, we have found that where rivers have worn deep and comparatively narrow valleys, bordered by precipitous bluffs, there is almost always a growth of forest; but where the valley widens out, the bluffs become less conspicuous, indicating a less rapid erosion and currents of diminished strength ; there decomposition takes place under circumstances favorable to the accumulation of prairie soil, and the result has been the formation of the bottom prairie, which becomes so important a feature of the valleys of the Mississippi and Missouri below the limits of lowa. Where these bottom prairies have become, by any change in the course of the river currents, covered with coarser materials, a growth of forest trees may be observed springing up, and indicating by their rapid development a congenial soil.
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY.
Monroe is the fifth county west from the Mississippi River in the second tier of counties from the south line of the State. This tier comprises only three townships in breadth, west of Henry County, hence its counties are, nearly all of them, of smaller size as compared with other Iowa counties. Mon- roe is one of these, comprising twelve Congressional Townships equivalent to 432 square miles, or 276,480 acres.
The southwest corner of Monroe County rests upon the great water-shed, while the northeast corner rests upon the Des Moines River. It, therefore, spans the basin of the principal river of the interior of the State from its cen- ter to its southwestern rim or boundary ; and its surface features are considera- bly diversified by the transition from the valley region to the high plain.
From a small portion of the southwestern township the water flows off toward the Missouri, but all other portions of the county are drained by the Des Moines River and its affluents, chief of which is Cedar Creek. Creeks and spring brooks are very numerous, traversing nearly every section of land. Many of them run upon beds of gravel or fragmentary rock. Their waters are clear and their currents rapid. The valleys are narrow, and the valley sides are often abrupt and sometimes steep and rocky. These narrow valleys and ravines branch and extend in every direction, but usually only for short distances before they are headed by the uplands. The county is thus thoroughly drained and has abundance of water for all farming purposes. The larger streams also afford good water power for mills and manufactories. This system of drainage is divided into two principal parts by a divide or branch of the great water-shed that enters the county on the south side a little east of the center, passes through Albia and then deflects westward, passing out of the county on the north side a little west of the center. West of this line the county is drained by Cedar Creek and its affluents, and the general direction of the water-courses is nearly north, although the creek mentioned takes its course eastward for eight or nine miles after entering the county and then changes to a northwest course. In the east half of the county the water-courses flow mainly in an easterly
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
direction, and find their way to the Des Moines by six or seven independent channels.
The uplands are usually beautiful rolling tracts of prairie, scarcely any of it so rough as to be unsuitable for easy cultivation. These prairies are usually small, for Iowa, being separated by the numerous valleys. These upland tracts are bordered by the somewhat broken surfaces of the valley sides. The county is amply compensated, however, for this small proportion of broken lands by the abundant quantity and favorable distribution of timber which generally occupies the valleys and broken lands upon their sides, and in many places en- croaches upon the adjacent uplands, and also by the valuable coal beds which are rendered easy of access by the same conformation that protected the growth of timber during the period of prairie fires.
RESOURCES.
The larger part of Monroe County is embraced within the region which is now considered the most valuable portion of the Iowa coal-field. It is all embraced within the area of the lower and middle coal measures, and it lies far enough within the limits of the coal-field to develop the formation fully. In the eastern and northern portions of the county, beds of coal belonging to the lower meas- ure, and from four to five feet in thickness, have been developed. These beds are not so thick as those opened in some other counties, but they are rendered highly valuable by the excellent quality of the coal which they yield. In the central portion of the county, beds of coal belonging to the middle measure have been opened. The coal is somewhat thinner than the beds previously men- tioned, but is of good quality, and from the fact that it lies in close proximity to the lower formation, it is inferred with good reason that profitable coal mines may be developed easily in nearly all parts of the county.
The soil throughout the county generally has all the elements of the highest fertility, being derived from the drift which deeply overlies the entire upland surface, richly intermingled with the vegetable mold accumulated for ages from the annual decay of herbage upon the surface. This is underlaid by a very deep subsoil derived from the same deposit of drift and the disintegrated shales of the contiguous coal measures. It yields abundant crops of most grains, corn taking the lead, oats and wheat being next in importance. From the ample production of native grasses, this has long been a prominent grazing county, and stock raising has formed a most remunerative and extensive branch of industry. The successful introduction of tame grasses, which thrive admirably, and the convenience of stock water have not in the least tended to diminish or discour- age the business of stock raising.
The county enjoys the general advantages possessed by this section of Iowa for fruit growing, and good orchards are met with quite frequently.
Stone, suitable for ordinary masonry, is obtained in many places, and also suitable stone for the manufacture of quicklime. Clay and sand for making brick are convenient to all parts.
POLITICAL SUBDIVISION.
Monroe County is divided into twelve civil townships, each of which consists of a Congressional Township. Ranges 16, 17, 18 and 19 west of the 5th prin- cipal meridian, and Towns 71, 72 and 73 compose the county. The townships are named as follows, beginning at the northeast corner and going westward to the limits, thence eastward by the middle tier, and again westward by the south- ern row : Pleasant, Bluff Creek, Union, Cedar, Wayne, Guilford, Troy, Mantua, Urbana, Monroe, Franklin and Jackson.
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY
IOWA AS IT WAS.
Dr. William R. Ross, an old and highly esteemed pioneer of the State, who came to this section when the country was without political division into even a Territory, furnished the following valuable papers to the Albia Union in 1869- 70. The information contained in his letters is unquestionably reliable.
"It may not be uninteresting," observes the Doctor, "to give some of the names of those who first explored Southern Iowa, in 1832, prior to making a permanent settlement in 1833. First, among others, were Major Joseph B Teas and Joseph Morgan, afterward citizens of Albia ; Col. William Morgan, William Stewart, John Ward, Isaac Canterberg, Lewis Watters, Isaac Cranshaw, Ben- jamin Tucker, Ezekiel Smith and sons-Paris and Lineas-John Bullard, Richard Sand, Thomas Dovrell, David Tethro, S. S. White, M. M. McCar- ver, Berryman Jenkins, William Wright, John Harris and Charles Teas, with others that were in Iowa when I camein July 1833. Mrs. Sarah Hilleary, wife of Alexander Hilleary, near Burlington, came with her father, Col. Wm. Morgan, in February, 1832, to do the domestic work while her father was im- proving his claim and building a house preparatory to moving his family, and was one of the families driven on the big island just below Burlington, by soldiers from Rock Island, as the Indian title had not been extinguished.
The title remained in the Indians until June, 1833. At this time. Richard Chaney resided at Fort Madison, and Dr. Garland and Mr. Campbell, and, perhaps, a few others on the half-breed track. After June 1, 1833, the country was settled very rapidly ; as every one then had the liberty of taking to themselves a claim of half a section of land, one-quarter of timber and one of prairie, and the right to purchase as many claims as he had the money for. This rule occasioned much disturbance by new immigrants coming into the country and finding one man holding more than one claim. It drove them back into the new region against their will. In the Winter of 1833-4, we were attached to Michigan Territory for judicial purposes, and the laws, with instructions, were sent me by the Legislature of Michigan to organize Des Moines County, by appointing special elections to be held to elect officers to discharge the duties of an organized county. Col. Wm. Morgan was elected Superior Judge, and Henry Walker and Young L. Hughes, Assistants, of Circuit Court, which was the highest court we had in Iowa at that time. Col. W. H. Chapman was Prosecuting Attorney ; W. R. Ross, Clerk ; Solomon Perkins, Sheriff; John Barker, Justice of the Peace ; W. R. Ross, Treasurer and Recorder, and, at the time, acting Postmaster in the only post office in the Territory. He was the only practicing physician in that part of the Territory, meanwhile carrying on a dry goods and drug store. In addi- tion to this, Mr. Ross inclosed, in 1834, 160 acres of prairie land with a stake and rider fence, grew eighty acres of corn, on another claim, and improved still another forty acres back of Burlington. He also improved some twenty acres, and erected buildings for a private residence.
"There was a settlement from near the mouth of Long Creek, northeast of Augusta, made by six or seven families from Indiana, in July 1833, eight miles west of Burlington.
"In regard to public improvements, in the Fall of 1833, Mr. Ross built the first school house, on his claim just back of the public square, at his own ex- pense, and in the Spring of 1834, Z. C. Ingraham was employed to teach. Mr. Ross boarded him free of cost. This was the first English school taught in Iowa. In 1834, Mr. Ross organized the first Sunday school in Iowa, furnish-
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
ing a library from Cincinnati, at a cost of $12.50, and taught the school himself. As the population increased, a new library was needed ; the old one was donated to Mt. Pleasant, where a school had been organized, and a new lot of books, costing $25, was put in. Of those denominations who joined in the work of maintaining the school Mr. Ross remembers : Mr. and Mrs. J. Edwards, W. H. Starr (then a lawyer, of the Congregational faith); George Partridge (who became a wholesale merchant of St. Louis), of the Unitarian faith ; David Rover, of the Presbyterian faith ; John B. Gray, of the Baptist faith. Mr. Newhall and Dr. John Campbell are warmly spoken of in this connection, also.
" The day school was taught by Mrs. Shelton and Mrs. Mayfield; and after the old Zion M. E. Church was built, Rev. E. M Scott, the tallest man in the neighborhood, lived in the basement of the church and taught school therein. Afterward a man named Townsend taught.
" Dr. Crawford, from Brooke County, Va., settled in Burlington in 1833; he practiced during the Winter, and then moved to Texas. In the Spring of 1834, Drs. Shuff, of Kentucky, and Center, of Indiana, located in Burlington, and formed a partnership. Center died within the year, and Shuff returned to Kentucky. Dr. Teas practiced in 1835. Dr. D. W. Hickock, of New York, located there in 1835, and remained until his death. Dr. S. S. Ransom, of Vermont, settled there about the same date. Dr. E. Lowe, of Indiana, came in 1836 ; he afterward removed to Omaha.
" The first court ever held in Southern Iowa, convened at the house of Mr. Ross, on the block immediately east of the public square, in the Spring of 1835. Judges presiding : William Morgan, Henry Walker and Young R. Hughes. Resident lawyers : W. W. Chapman, Robert Williams, Isaac Leffler, Joseph B. Teas. Visiting lawyers : Mr. Little of Carthage, Illinois, and James W. Woods, usually called 'Old Timber.' Mr. Ross owned the only law library then in Burlington, and that was a small one. In the Spring of 1836, David Rover began the practice of law; in 1836-7, M. D. Browning and J. W. Grimes, also. In 1836-7, Joseph B. Teas and Jeremiah Smith, Jr., represented Des Moines at the Legislature which organized the Territory of Iowa. In the Spring of 1838, Charles Mason moved to Burlington and began the practice of law. There was an exodus of lawyers from that place about then. J. C. Hall, William Thompson, J. B. and G. W. Teas and Van Allen located at Mt. Pleasant; Thomas and Springer at Wapello, Louisa County ; Daniel Miller and Rich at Ft. Madison.
"In 1837-8, the Territory was established, and Burlington made the capital. The first session was held in the old Zion Church.
"In March, 1834, Barton H. Cartright preached in Burlington. Asa Mc- Murtry preached for two weeks, shortly after. W. D. R. Trotter followed. In May, 1834, Peter Cartright held two days' camp-meeting near the public square. In the Winter of 1834-5, Seamen B. Stateter, of the Missouri Conference, formed the Burlington Circuit, and appointed John H. Ruble, preacher in charge. This circuit included all the territory south of Rock Island to the southern boundary, and west to the Missouri River. In 1835-6, Andrew Mon- roe held quarterly meeting. In May, Mr. Ruble died, and Peter Brown, of Quincy, Illinois, preached his funeral sermon. Wilson Pitner supplied the place for a short time. Nicholas S. Barton next preached, and in 1837, Moses McMurtry had charge. In 1839, Asa West followed, and in 1840, J. Arving- ton, as preachers on the Circuit. Isaac S. Stewart was located preacher in charge of the Burlington Church."
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
In 1838, Gen. Joseph Street was transferred from the Agency of the Win- nebagoes at Prairie du Chien, Wis., to Iowa, for the purpose of establishing a military outpost for the protection of the general interests of the Government. He made a barrack at Agency City, in Wapello County, and may be esteemed the first white man to open the onward march of the pale-faces toward Monroe County.
In a dense wilderness he built up for himself a home of as comfortable a character as the times and circumstances would permit. He improved a farm and availed himself of such opportunities as lay within his reach. Joseph Smart, the interpreter, and a man named Baker, who was a blacksmith by trade, were the only white persons, beside the garrison, in the settlement. A trading post was soon established by Messrs. Ewings & Phelps, near the Agency.
In 1841, J. P. Eddy, from St. Louis, opened a trading post where Eddy- ville now stands, near the northeast corner of Monroe County. He at once secured the friendship of the Indians.
Wabekeshiek, the prophet of the Sacs and Foxes, built his village on the right bank of the Des Moines, a mile above Eddy's post. The Indians grew corrupt after the passage by Congress of the bill granting annuities, growing out of the Black Hawk treaty of peace. They would not hunt or fish, and sub- sisted on their grants from the Great Father. The Indians became so demor- alized by the freedom from labor thus secured that the mortality of the tribe was greatly increased. The prophet told them that the cause of all their woes arose from the relinquishment of their lands to the Government. There is something sad in the spectacle of a once powerful race of men thus driven to the extremity of extinction. In 1845, the Indians were removed entirely from the State, to reservations in Kansas.
John Goodell, the interpreter of Hardfish's band, was the next to move toward Monroe County. He improved a farm not far from the line between Wapello and Monroe, known as the Ogden place, located some four miles below Eddy's post.
"In 1843," says Dr. Ross, " I visited the country as far up as where Eddy- ville now stands, at that time an Indian village called Hardfisher. J. P. Eddy was located there as a trader with the Indians. I found a few old friends, who had made claims on both sides of the river ; among them, John B. Gray, who had located about three miles west, on Gray's Creek, in Kishkekosh County."
Having thus traced the gradual movement of white men westward into this county, let us take up the thread of the narrative where Mr. Ross lays it down.
SETTLEMENT OF KISHKEKOSH COUNTY.
The settlement of Kishkekosh County furnishes an ample illustration of the progressiveness of the white race. By the provisions of the last treaty made with the Sacs and Foxes, October 11, 1842, the territory now embraced in the limits of this county was ceded to the United States. Before the ink was fairly dry on the documents, and more than one month prior to Congres- sional ratification of the treaty, the Territorial Legislature of Iowa passed an act " to establish new counties, and define their boundaries, in the late cession from the Sac and Fox Indians, and for other purposes."
As the treaty referred to is given in full in the State History, which pre- cedes this County History, and as the subjects of the Indian occupation, the gradual encroachment of white men, the organization of Territorial government
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
and the settlement of this land of Iowa-" this Beautiful Land"-is given elaborate attention in the opening pages, we shall not dwell upon any cotem- poraneous history, but begin where the county of Kislikekosh first was endowed with a local boundary and a name.
Chapter 34 of the Revised Statutes of Iowa, 1843. contains the following : An Act to establish new counties and define their boundaries in the late cession from the Sac and Fox Indians, and for other purposes.
SEC. 4. The following boundaries shall constitute a new county, to be called Kishkekosh. to wit : Beginning at the northwest corner of Wapello County, thence west on township line dividing Townships 73 and 74 to Range 20 west ; thence south on said line to the northwest cor- ner of Appanoose County ; thence on the township line dividing Townships 70 and 71; thence east to the southeast corner of Wapello County; thence north to the place of beginning, which county, with that of Wapello and the territory lying west shall be attached to Jefferson County for judicial, revenue and election purposes.
Sections 12 and 13, of the same law, provide for the surveying of the counties named in the bill (eleven in all) as soon as the Indian treaty can be ratified, and also empower the Governor to appoint Justices of the Peace therein, under the existing general law.
Section 14 provides for the appointment of Constables by the Justices appointed by the Governor.
Section 15 provides for the refunding of all moneys due older counties by the ones newly defined.
The extinction of the Indian title occurred May 1, 1843. The lands were opened to claimants at that date, as was anticipated in the bill to define the boundaries of the counties given in the foregoing paragraphs. The excitement attending the opening of these lands to settlement was intense. Judge Nourse, in his Centennial Address at Philadelphia, gave a most graphic description of the scene in Wapello the few hours preceding the dawn of May 1st. The reader is referred to this selection in the chapter headed "The Boundary Question," in the General History of Iowa, which opens this volume.
KISHKEKOSH.
The name decided upon for this county was Kishkekosh, in honor of a sub-chief of the Sacs and Foxes. George Washington Kishkekosh (whose last name means cut-teeth, or savage biter), was a sub-chief, and had accompa- nied Black Hawk as one of his suite of braves during the tour of that renowned chief through the East as a prisoner of war. With his leaders, he had been hospitably entertained at hotels and other places, and had a high appreciation of the sumptuous and cleanly-looking fare that was set before them. How he was enabled after such an experience to return with a good stomach to the fru- gal diet and indifferent cooking of his own people, we are left to conjecture. At all events, he retained his partiality for clean victuals, and was even over- fastidious in this respect, as the following instance will show :
One night, he, with his company of three or four braves, slept at the house of a white man with whom he was on very friendly terms, and were to remain at breakfast. Kish had an eye on the preparations for this meal, and observed one neglect that his tender stomach rebelled against. The lady of the house (it is possible she did it intentionally, for she was not a willing entertainer of her savage guests) neglected to washı her hands before making up the bread. Kish thought he would rather do without his breakfast than eat after such cooking, and privately signified as much to his followers, whereupon they mounted their ponies and left, much to the relief of their hostess. Arrived at a house some distance from the one they had left, they got their breakfast and related the circumstance.
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