USA > Iowa > Wapello County > The history of Wapello 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, general and local statistics history of the Northwest, history of Iowa > Part 46
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This mode of preparing the grain for flouring was so imperfect that it is not to be wondered at that a considerable amount of black soil got mixed with it, and unavoidably got into the bread. This, with the addition of smut, often rendered it so dark as to have less the appearance of bread than of mud; yet upon such diet, the people were compelled to subsist for want of a better.
Not the least among the pioneers' tribulations, during the first few years of settlement, was the going to mill. The slow mode of travel by ox-teams was made still slower by the almost total absence of roads and bridges, while such a thing as a ferry was hardly even dreamed of. The distance to be traversed was often as far as sixty or ninety miles. In dry weather, common sloughs and creeks offered little impediment to the teamsters ; but during floods, and the breaking-up of winter, they proved exceedingly troublesome and dangerous. To get stuck in a slough, and thus be delayed for many hours, was no uncom- mon occurrence, and that, too, when time was an item of grave import to the comfort and sometimes even to the lives of the settlers' families. Often, a swollen stream would blockade the way, seeming to threaten destruction to whoever should attempt to ford it.
With regard to roads, there was nothing of the kind worthy of the name. Indian trails were common, but they were unfit to travel on with vehicles. They are described as mere paths about two feet wide; all that was required to accommodate the single-file manner of Indian traveling.
An interesting theory respecting the origin of the routes now pursued by many of our public highways is given in a speech by Thomas Benton many years ago. He says the buffaloes were the first road engineers, and the paths trodden by them were, as a matter of convenience, followed by the Indians, and lastly by the whites, with such improvements and changes as were found neces- sary for civilized modes of travel. It is but reasonable to suppose that the buffaloes would instinctively choose the most practicable routes and fords in their migrations from one pasture to another. Then, the Indians following, possessed of about the same instinct as the buffaloes, strove to make no improve- ments, and were finally driven from the track by those who would.
395
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
When the early settlers were compelled to make those long and difficult trips to mill, if the country was prairie over which they passed, they found it com- paratively easy to do in summer, when grass was plentiful. By traveling until, night, and then camping out to feed the teams, they got along without much difficulty. But in winter, such a journey was attended with no little danger. The utmost economy of time was, of course, necessary. When the goal was reached, after a week or more of toilsome travel, with many exposures and risks, and the poor man was impatient to immediately return with the desired staff of life, he was often shocked and disheartened with the information that his turn would come in a week. Then he must look about for some means to pay expenses, and he was lucky who could find some employment by the day or job. Then, when his turn came, he had to be on hand to bolt his own flour, as in those days, the bolting machine was not an attached part of the other mill machinery. This done, the anxious soul was ready to en- dure the trials of a return trip, his heart more or less concerned about the affairs of home.
These milling trips often occupied from three weeks to more than a month each, and were attended with an expense, in one way or another, that rendered the cost of breadstuffs extremely high. If made in the winter, when more or less grain feed was required for the team, the load would be found to be so con- siderably reduced on reaching home that the cost of what was left, adding other expenses, would make their grain reach the high cost figure of from three to five dollars per bushel. And these trips could not always be made at the most favorable season for traveling. In spring and summer, so much time could hardly be spared from other essential labor ; yet, for a large family it was almost impossible to avoid making three or four trips during the year.
Among other things calculated to annoy and distress the pioneer, was the prevalence of wild beasts of prey, the most numerous and troublesome of which was the wolf. While it was true in a figurative sense that it required the ut- most care and exertion to " keep the wolf from the door," it was almost as true in a literal sense.
There were two species of these animals-the large, black timber wolf, and the smaller gray wolf, that usually inhabited the prairie. At first, it was next to impossible for a settler to keep small stock of any kind that would serve as a prey to these ravenous beasts. Sheep were not deemed safe property until years after, when their enemies were supposed to be nearly exterminated. Large numbers of wolves were destroyed during the early years of settlement -as many as fifty in a day in a regular wolf-hunt. When they were hungry, which was not uncommon, particularly during the winter, they were too indis- creet for their own safety, and would often approach within easy shot of the settlers' dwellings. At certain seasons, their wild, plaintive yelp or bark could be heard in all directions, at all hours of the night, creating in- tense excitement among the dogs, whose howling would add to the dismal melody.
It has been found, by experiment, that but one of the canine species, the hound, has both the fleetness and courage to cope with his savage cousin, the wolf. Attempts were often made to capture him with the common cur; but this animal, as a rule, proved himself wholly unreliable for such a service. So long as the wolf would run, the eur would follow ; but the wolf, being appar- rently acquainted with the character of his pursuer, would either turn and place himself in a combative attitude, or else act upon the principle that " discretion is the better part of valor," and throw himself upon his back, in token of sur-
396
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
render. This strategic performance would make instant peace between these two scions of the same house ; and not infrequently dogs and wolves have been seen playing together like puppies. But the hound was never known to recog- nize a flag of truce ; his baying seemed to signify " no quarter," or at least so the terrified wolf understood it.
Smaller animals, such as panthers, lynxes, wildcats, catamounts and pole cats, were also sufficiently numerous to be troublesome. And an exceeding source of annoyance were the swarms of mosquitoes which aggravated the trials of the settler in the most exasperating degree. Persons have been driven from the labors of the field by their unmerciful assaults.
ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY.
So rapid was the settlement of this region after the 1st of May, 1843, that immediate steps were taken to effect an independent organization of Wapello County. The records of the early business and official transactions all bear evidence of one fact, namely : that the men who made the first venture in this region were of more than average ability. It is natural to associate crude men with new countries, and to expect to find imperfect records of early events ; but in the case of this county, one is agreeably surprised to find evidences of clear minds, well-drilled business habits and methodical ways. This good im- pression is due in no small degree to the care and experience of Judge Paul C. Jeffries, the first Judge of Probate, a leading member of the Appanoose Rapids Company, and a prominent citizen for years.
It is appropriate that, side by side with the Judge's name, should be men- tioned those of James M. Peck, the Organizing Sheriff named in the original act of the Legislature ; Joseph Hayne, the first elected Sheriff, and for nearly a quarter of a century an active official of the county; and Thomas Foster, the first Treasurer, and a prominent man in many ways. These three men are still living, the sole survivors of the first official group.
Herewith is given a copy of the organizing act by which Wapello County was created :
An Act to organize the county of Wupello :
SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Council and House of Representatives of the Territory of Iowa, That the county of Wapello be and the same is hereby organized from and after the 1s day of March next ; and the inhabitants of said county shall be entitled to all the privileges to which, by law, the inhabitants of other organized counties of this Territory are entitled ; and the said county shall constitute a part of the First Judicial District of this Territory.
SEC. 2. That, for the purpose of organizing said county it is hereby made the duty of the Clerk of the District Court of said county. and in case there should be no such Clerk appointed and qualified, or, from any cause, said office should become vacant on or before the 10th day of March next. then it shall be the duty of the Sheriff of said county to proceed immediately after the 10th day of March to order a special election in said county, for the purpose of electing three County Commissioners, one Judge of Probate, one County Treasurer, one Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners, one County Surveyor, one County Assessor, one Sheriff, one Coroner, one County Recorder, and such number of Justices of the Peace and Constables as may be directed by the officers ordering said election, the officer having due regard to the convenience of the people, which special election shall be held on the first Monday in the month of April next; and that the officer ordering said election shall appoint as many places of holding elec- tions in said county as the convenience of the people may require ; and shall appoint three Judges of Election for each place of holding election in said county, and issue certificates to said Judges of their appointment ; and the officer ordering said election shall give at least ten days' notice of the time and place of holding said election, by at least three printed or written advertisements, which shall be posted up at three or more of the most public places in the neigh- borhood where each of the polls shall opened as aforesaid.
SEC. 3. That the officer ordering each of the elections aforesaid shall receive and canvass the polls, and grant certificates to the persons elected to fill the several offices mentioned in this
397
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
act ; and in all cases not provided for by this act, the officer ordering each of said elections shall discharge the duties of Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners, until there shall be a Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners elected and qualified for said county, under the provisions of this act.
SEC. 4. Said election shall, in all cases not provided for by this act, be conducted according to the laws of this Territory regulating general elections.
SEC. 5. The officers elected under the provisions of this act shall hold their offices until the next general election, and until their successors are elected and qualified.
SEC. 6. The officer ordering the election in said county shall return all the books and papers which may come into his hands by virtue of this act, to the Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of said County, forthwith, after said Clerk shall be elected and qualified.
SEC. 7. That James M. Peck be and he is hereby appointed to discharge the duties and functions of the office of Sheriff of said county, who shall exercise the duties and functions of said office until the first Monday in the month of April next, and until there shall be a Sheriff elected and qualified for said county ; and the said James M. Peck shall give bond and security, and shall take the same oath of office that is required to be taken by Sheriffs, which bond shall be approved, and the necessary oath of office administered by the Clerk of the District Court of said county ; and in case there should be no Clerk of the District Court of said county on the first day of March next, then it shall be the duty of the Clerk of the District Court of Jefferson County to approve the bond and administer the oath required by this act. And the said Sheriff shall be allowed the same fees for services rendered by him. under the visions of this act, that are allowed by law for similar services performed by the Sheriffs in similar cases.
SEC. 8. That the Clerk of the District Court for the said county of Wapello, may be ap- pointed by the Judge of said district, and qualified at any time after the passage of this act ; but shall not enter upon the discharge of the duties of said office prior to the first day of March.
SEC. 9. That all actions at law in the District Court for the County of Jefferson, com- menced prior to the organization of the said county of Wapello, where the parties, or either of them, reside in said county of Wapello, shall be prosecuted to final judgment, order or decree, as fully and effectually as if this act had not been passed.
SEC. 10. That it shall be the duty of all Justices of the Peace residing within said county, to return all books and papers in their hands, appertaining to said office, to the next nearest Justice of the Peace which may be elected and qualified for said county, under the provisions of this act; and all suits at law. or other official business which may be in the hands of such Jus- tices of the Peace, and unfinished, shall be completed or prosecuted to final judgment by the Justices of the Peace to whom such business or papers may have been returned, as aforesaid.
SEC. 11. That the County Assessors elected under the provisions of this act for said county, shall assess the said county in the same manner, and be under the same obligations and liabili- ties, as is now or may hereafter be provided by law in relation to Township Assessors.
SEC. 12. That Joseph B. Davis, of Washington County, John H. Randolph, of the county of Henry, and Solomon Jackson, of the county of Lee, be and they are hereby appointed Commis- sioners to locate and establish the seat of justice of said county of Wapello. Said Commissioners, or any two of them, shall meet at the house of George Wilson, Esq .. near the old Indian Agency, in said county, on the first Monday in May next, or at such time within the month of May as a majority of said Commissioners shall agree upon, in pursuance of their duties under this act.
SEC. 13. Said Commissioners shall first take and subscribe the following oath, to wit : " We do solemnly swear (or affirm) that we (or either of us) have no personal interest either directly or indirectly in the location of the seat of justice for Wapello County, and that we will faithfully and impartially examine the situation of said county, taking into consideration the future as well as the present population of said county ; also to pay strict regard to the geographical center of said county, and locate the seat of justice as near the center, as an eligible situation can be obtained ;" which oath shall be administered by the Clerk of the District Court, or Justice of the Peace of said county of Wapello ; and the officer administering the same shall certify and file the same in the office of the Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of said county, whose duty it shall be to record the same.
SEC. 14. Said Commissioners, when met and qualified under the provisions of this act, shall proceed to locate the seat of justice of said county, and as soon as they shall have come to a de- termination, they shall commit to writing the place so selected, with a particular description thereof, signed by the said Commissioners, and filed with the Clerk of the Board of County Com- missioners in which such seat of justice is located ; whose duty it shall be to record the same, and forever keep it on file in his office ; aud the place thus designated shall be the seat of justice of said county.
SEC. 15. Said Commissioners shall each receive the sum of $2 per day while necessarily employed in the duties enjoined upon them by this act, which shall be paid by the county out of the first funds arising from the sales of town lots in said seat of justice.
SEC. 16. That the county of Kishkekosh and the territory west of said county be and the same is hereby attached to the connty of Wapello, for election, revenue and judicial purposes.
SEC. 17. This act to take effect and be in force from and after its passage. Approved, February 13, 1844.
398
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
LEGISLATIVE ENACTMENTS.
December 19, 1843, an act was approved by the Legislature establishing & road from Farmington, Van Buren County, to " Atumwa," Wapello County. The Commissioners were John Goddard and Jesse Wright, of the former county, and Van Caldwell, of Wapello.
February 7, 1844, an act was approved establishing a road from Iowaville, Van Buren County, to " Atumwa." James Hall, William Ingersoll and Jacob Marshall, Commissioners.
February 12, 1844, an act was approved authorizing a road from the south- ern line of Davis County to the northern line of Wapello County, to touch the county seats when they were established. Hugh George, John Kirkpatrick and Lloyd Nelson, Commissioners.
June 19, 1844, a road from Eddyville to the county seat of Mahaska County William McIlvain, William Black and William R. Ross, Commissioners.
January 13, 1846, a road from Fairfield, Jefferson County, to Agency City. David Sears, Henry B. Mitchell and Nathaniel H. Gates, Commissioners.
January 16, 1846, a road from Ottumwa to Bloomfield, Davis County. Lloyd Nelson, Riley Macy and Richard Fisher, Commissioners.
January 17, 1846, a road from Ottumwa to Chariton River. George Rey- nolds, Ira Claflin and Lafayette Bear, Commissioners.
The Legislature passed a joint resolution in February, 1847, praying for the establishment of a mail route from Iowa City southwest through Sigourney and Ottumwa to Bloomfield.
December 27, 1848, a State Road was authorized from Eddyville to Bloom- field, Davis Co. E. M. Kirkland, Silas Doggett and John Massey, Commissioners.
December 29, 1848, a road from Ottumwa to Chariton Point, Lucas Co. John Webb, John Clark and William S. Townson, Commissioners.
December 21, 1850, a joint resolution was adopted praying for the exten- sion of the military road from Agency City to Council Bluffs.
January 4, 1851, H. B. Hendershott was authorized to sell a solar compass belonging to the State. for a sum not less than $150.
THE FIRST PROBATE BUSINESS.
Hon. Paul C. Jeffries was the first Judge of Probate elected in Wapello County. The election took place April 1, 1844, and, under the then existing law, a special officer was chosen to adjudicate upon matters relating to wills, estates, etc.
The first case presented to this Court of Probate was recorded September 2, 1844, in Judge Jeffries'. uniform and business-like handwriting. The case is an interesting one, not merely because of its being the original entry, but also because of the quaintness and humor of the inventory and administrator's bill. A literal copy of the records is here made :
WILLIAM CRAWFORD BOND TO JUDGE OF PROBATE.
Know all Men by these Presents, That we, William Crawford, Administrator of the estate of Thomas Crawford, late of Wapello County, deceased, and John Stout, his surety, are held and firmly bound unto Paul C. Jeffries, Judge of Probate for said Wapello County, and to his success- ors in office, in the penal sum of five hundred dollars, for the payment of which well and truly to be made, we jointly and severally bind ourselves firmly by these presents. Sealed with our seals and dated this 5th day of September, A. D. 1844.
Whereas, The said William Crawford has been appointed by the said Paul C. Jeffries, Judge of Probate, Administrator of the estate of the said Thomas Crawford, late of said county, decease d Now the conditions of the above bond are such that if the said William Crawford, Administrato.
399
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
aforesaid, shall make and return into the Court of Probate, within three months from the date of these presents, a true inventory of all the real estate and all the goods and chattels, rights and credits, moneys and effects, which were of the said Crawford, deceased, which have or may come into his hands or knowledge : also, to administer, according to law, all the goods and chat- tels, rights and credits, moneys and effects of the said deceased, and the proceeds of all his real estate that may be sold to the payment of his debts, which may come into the possession of him, the said William Crawford, or into the possession of any person for him ; also to render, upon oath, a true account of his administration, within one year, and at such other times as the Judge of Probate may require, and to deliver the letters of administration which have been granted to him into the Probate Court, in case any will of the deceased shall be thereafter duly proved and allowed ; then the above bond to be void, otherwise to remain in full force and virtue in law and equity. WILLIAM CRAWFORD, [SEAL. ]
JOHN STOUT, SEAL. ]
Bond and security approved September the 2d, 1844.
PAUL C. JEFFRIES, J. P.
The case was one of administration upon an intestate estate, as will be seen by the foregoing. The accounts, inventories, etc., are presented herewith :
ACCOUNT WITH THOMAS CRAWFORD, SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE.
And now on this day, to wit, the 1st day of November, 1844, Isaac Mckeon, Paris Cald- well and Sylvester Warner, returned into court the following inventory and appraisement of the property of said estate :
1 skillet. $ 50
1 teakettle 1 00
1 pot. 1 25
1 bottle and jug. 50
1 churn 75
1 sieve
373
1 coffee-mill, jug and strainer
374
I bucket ..
50
1 axe.
1 00
1 drawing-knife and 2 angers.
1 50
1 clock.
10 00
1 gun
8 00
1 table
1 50
1 pair bedsteads
3 00
1 bed and bedding. 7 00
12 lbs. rolls, at 37{c per lb. 4 50
4 chairs 1 00
A lot of flax 1 00
1 bridle
25
Total. $173 75
And now, on this day, to wit : November 1, 1844, the following sale bill was returned into court, viz .: Andrew Crawford, 1 skillet, 50 cts. ; Jacob Marshall, 1 tea kettle, 50 cts .; David Caldwell, 1 stew kettle, $1.00; Andrew Crawford, 1 dish kettle, 561 cts .; Andrew Crawford, 1 churn, 25 cts. ; William Crawford, 1 skillet, 12} ; Jacob Marshall, 1 sieve, 37} ; Jacob Marshall, 1 coffee mill, 00; Andrew Crawford, 1 wood bucket, 564 ; John Wall, 1 ax, 1432; John Wall, 2 augers and 1 draw knife, 1.75; Nason Roberts, 1 ax, 1.37} ; Alexander Crawford, 1 pr. check lines, 1.432 ; William Mcclintock, 1 clock, 5.00; William Crawford, 1 rifle gun, 4.00; John Wall, 1 table, 2.37} ; John White, 1 pr. bedsteads, 6.00; Job Davis, 12 lbs. wool rolls, 41 cts., 4.92; John Wall, 4 chairs, 1.182 ; William Crawford, a lot of flax, 1.00; do. do., 1 bridle, 25; Andrew Crawford, 1 sad iron and sundries, 56} ; Nason Roberts, 1 sad iron, 56} ; W. B. Woody, hoe and pot rack. 37} ; Andrew Crawford, 1 lot of bee cloths, 2.00; Job Davis, 1 lot of tobacco and cabbage, 1.87} ; William Crawford, 1 pr. harness, 2.00; Alexander Crawford, 1 pr. harness, 2.00; John L. Koontz, 2 head of sheep, 4.75 ; do. do., 2 head of sheep, 4.00 ; John C. Evans, 1 plough, 2.50; do. do., 1 do. and hoe, 37}; John White, one red cow and calf, 12.37} ; Nason Roberts, 1 cow, 10.00; John L. Koontz, 1 barren cow, 8.25; John Wall, 1 line-backed cow, 10.12} ; William Crawford, 3 yearlings at 4.00 each, 12.00; do. do., 1 lot corn, 10.00; R. R. Jones, 1 white cow and calf, 10.75; David Glass, 1 cow and calf, 14.87}; Job Davis, 1 ox, 12; David Hall, 50 bushels of corn, at 28 pr., 14.00 ; = { undivided interest in the whole field, 12.25 ; David Armstrong, a lot corn, 15.37} ; Alexander Crawford, 1 bell and collar, 1.50 ; Alex- ander Crawford, by balance on cow, 372.
I do hereby certify the foregoing to be a correct list of property sold by me on this 19th lay of September, 1844. WILLIAM B. WOODY, Auct.
Attest, JOHN C. EVANS, Clerk.
The doctors presented their bills for service and medicines. Dr. Charles C. Warden offered a claim of $3 on the 15th of May, 1845, and Dr. J.
1 smoothing iron and knives. 75
1 pot trammel and hoe. 50
1 set harness. 4 00
4 sheep, $2 per head 8 00
1 mare 30 00
.plow 4 50
11 50
1 red cow 16 10 00
1
1 2-year-old heifer. 6 00
3 yearling calves at $4. 12 00
50 bushels corn, 25c .. 12 50
} of a piece of corn at William Craw- ford's. 10 00
¿ of a piece of corn at Samnel Cald- well's. 10 00
} of a piece of corn at Paris Cald- well's 10 00
400
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
Koontz, "for seven visits, etc.," solicited the payment of $16.50, on the 19th of December, 1844.
It appears, also, that the deceased had given three promissory notes, one to Thomas Devin, of Pittsburgh, dated March 3, 1842, for $25.53; one to A. Madison, of Ottumwa, for $12, dated December 16, 1843 ; and one to David Glass, for $9.06}, dated September 14, 1842. These matters were adjusted, as well as certain other routine affairs. The most voluminous account, however, was that presented by the administrator against himself, and in favor of the estate. It appears that the administrator was somewhat given to the ardent, probably as a precaution against malaria and snake-bites. A true copy of the bill which the honest official filed against himself is here given as a curiosity in more than one sense :
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