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 48
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408
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
honestly affirm, after a careful investigation into the characteristics of the people of this State, which the work of preparing a detailed history peculiarly enables us to prosecute, that no section of Iowa evinces a more marked air of energy than does the rich county of Wapello.
Wapello is rich in the profoundest sense of the term; rich in mineral stores, rich in agricultural capabilities, rich in its vast water-power, rich in the spirit of Western energy and push, which permeates every avenue of trade throughout the length and breadth of its broad acres. Without the hand and brain of man to develop the stores of wealth which lie hidden beneath the soil or which are innate in the soil itself, no good could possibly result to this community ; but the casual observer can perceive that the dominant spirit of improvement is the notor which will impart an irresistible impetus to the material growth of this fertile valley.
Located in the heart of the richest coal district in the West, and capable of marketing a fuel but little below the value of that produced from the mines east of the Alleghanies, Wapello would be a desirable region for manufactures, were there no other inducements offered. But coupled with that advantage is the still more noticeable one of its immense water-power. The grandest river of the State flows, with ceaseless tide, by the feet of its capital, with an energy which seems to practical minds a protest against the inactivity of man toward the utilization of the power it constantly expends.
With a gigantic water force, with a limitless mine of inexpensive fuel, what other natural advantages are needed to make this one of the most profitable places for the establishment of factories ? Simply the productiveness of the soil. If there can be harvested large crops of staples, then the question is answered affirmatively whether it will pay to invest capital in the erection of mills. This can never be a successful iron or wood manufacturing country, be- cause the mines and lands produce no staples of that character; but it can be made a point for the manufacture of oats, corn, potatoes, flax and other crops into articles of commerce.
A glance at the agricultural statistics of the county will substantiate that assertion. In 1856, which was twelve years after the settlement of the county, the census returns showed 60,973 acres of land under improvement, and 95,- 696 unimproved acres. Of the cultivated acreage. 5,095 acres were meadow ; 6,918 acres into spring wheat, from which 52,628 bushels were harvested ; 1,544 acres winter wheat, with a yield of 10,130 bushels ; 7,741 acres of oats, 194,338 bushels of yield : 27,119 acres of corn, 1,388,825 bushels of yield ; 308 acres of potatoes, 42,071 bushels of yield; 24,802 hogs sold, valued at $176,654; 4,436 head of cattle, valued at $86.842; while of dairy products there were 146,194 pounds of butter, 8,515 pounds of cheese and 25,485 pounds of wool.
Ten years later, 1866, the total wheat crop amounted to 56,461 bushels of spring, and 53,736 bushels of winter wheat, from an acreage of 10.507, nearly equally divided. The region was not regarded as a wheat-growing country, compared with some other localities. From 7,740 acres there were harvested 210.203 bushels of oats : from 47,060 acres, there were gathered 1,289,370 bushels of corn, and from 1,256 acres, 17,000 bushels of rye was secured.
Meanwhile, 562 miles of railroad had been completed through the county. The value of manufactures was $320,675, and 164,381 bushels (80 lbs.) of coal were raised. The value of farm implements was returned as $162,399.
The last census, 1875, or nine years after the preceding figures were com- piled, showed 150,209 acres of improved land ; 63,491 unimproved. The num-
409
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
ber of acres actually cultivated was 135,173. There were 157,535 bushels of spring and 16,159 bushels of winter wheat raised from 18,985 acres. The year was not a favorable one for wheat in this region. From 57,000 acres, 2,143,791 bushels of corn were secured, and from 11,570 acres, 293,590 bush- els of oats were harvested. There were 59,694 hogs sold for slaughter, and 63,225 pounds of wool clipped.
The manufacturing establishments are referred to in detail in the sketches of Ottumwa and other towns, and need not be specially mentioned here. It is shown that the enterprising men of the West are awake to the advantages of utilizing the crude products of this entire section, not merely of Wapello County, and thereby save freights to the seaboard or general markets. Pork- packing, oatmeal, starch, flaxseed and other factories are already making Ottumwa a depot of purchase, and benefiting the whole county.
Wherewith is given an abstract of the property assessment in 1878 :
ABSTRACT OF ASSESSMENT OF WAPELLO COUNTY FOR 1878.
Lands assessed, exclusive of town property, 268,284 acres. Value of farm realty ..
$2,651,163
Value of town property :
Ottumwa.
$1,302,829
Marysville.
673
Kirkville
9,385
Dahlonega
1,836
Bladensburg
2,399
Ashland
2,087
Eldon
36,656
Eddyville
99,869
Ormanville
339
Agency City.
64,170
Chillicothe
8,035
Pickwick
3,102
Richmond.
4,211
Blaksburg.
9,319
Total realty in towns.
1,544,910
Aggregate value of railroad property assessed by Executive Council, in county.
476,238
Value personal property, including horses and cattle.
1,627,936
Total value of county.
$6,300,247
Cattle assessed in county
15,529
$184,900
Horses
66
8,420
271,725
Mules
782
32,363
Sheep
8,041
10,006
Swine
66
21,183
62,270
Total value of live stock
$561,264
ASSESSED VALUE IN 1870.
Realty in towns.
$1,255,155
Realty in farms.
2,495,013
Personal.
1,843,355
Total
$5,593,523
Number.
Value.
SOCIAL STATISTICS.
Since the organization of Wapello County, in 1844, the census reports show the following increase of population. It will be noticed that steady growth has marked each year. There has been no unhealthy haste, which always induces re-action as in case of fever, but a constant influx of substantial men, drawn
410
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
hither by the solid merit of the region. Below is given a statement of each enumeration :
1844
2,814
1859
15,060
1846.
4,422
1860.
14,518
1847.
5,66C
1863
16,729
1849
7,255
1865
18,794
1850
8,479
1867
18,930
1851
8,500
1869
20,672
1852
8,888
1870.
22,346
1854
10,521
1873
.22,261
1856
13,246
1875 ..
23,855
Subjoined is a tabular statement of the population of Wapello County, as returned in the census of 1875. This is given, not as a representation of the present size of the towns, or of Ottumwa, but for future use as a reference. The city of Ottumwa has materially increased since 1875.
POPULATION.
TOWNS AND CITIES.
Male.
Female.
Colored.
Total Population.
Number of Families.
Adams
696
625
1221
225
Agency
287
.263
14
564
117
Cass
386
401
787
131
Center
923
869
3
1795
568
Columbia
479
429
908
163
Competine ..
467
462
929
173
Dahlonega.
295
290
4
589
118
Green
638
580
2
1215
219
Highland
492
421
913
169
Keokuk.
309
266
2
577
104
Pleasant
571
553
1124
216
Polk.
524
474
998
192
Richland.
721
676
14
1411
273
Washington
452
446
898
163
Total of townships
14029
2831
City of Ottumwa-
First Ward.
1389
1037
112
2538
393
Second Ward.
484
487
49
1020
182
Third Ward.
751
611
41
1403
179
Fourth Ward.
622
711
32
1365
274
Addition to city
563
577
35
1175
Total of city.
7501
1028
Eddyville-
First Ward.
354
363
717
150
Second Ward.
270
255
8
533
110
. Total of town
1250
260
Agency City
380
327
1
658
148
Eldon
217
209
1
427
98
Total of county.
12215
11332
318
23865
4365
THE DAIRY BUSINESS.
This chapter will be far more suggestive and prophetic than historic, and might be introduced into some current publication with more propriety, perhaps, than into the pages of a work of permanent value. But we give place to this article for the sake of the prediction implied or expressed.
411
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
At the present time, one of the greatest industries within the reach of the people is almost untouched. The region is designed by nature for a dairy country. There is an abundance of everything needed in a crude state to intro- duce and conduct this important business. But in spite of all the advantages of soil, water and climate, there have been but two or three attempts to carry on dairying here, and those, for obvious reasons, proved only moderately suc- cessful.
In the first place, let us consider the question in a practical manner, and judge by the prosperity of other localities whether Wapello County can safely invest in the manufacture of butter and cheese.
What are the primary requisites in the case ? First, a fertile soil, which will produce a perennial sod, from which hay can be cut for winter use, and also which will furnish proper green pasturage during the outdoor feeding season. Second, a soil and climate which will produce corn and small grains, artichokes, pease, etc. Third, good water, and a cheap and abundant ice crop.
These may be regarded as the fundamental conditions necessary to the economic manufacture of dairy products. There are others which may be sug- gested to the minds of practical dairymen, but surely these are the first and most important points to be considered. Has Wapello County these advan- tages ? Yes. There is no longer a doubt as to the quality and durability of her sod ; the abundance and richness of her grasses, of her hay crop. She has a climate between that of Minnesota and Kansas-an intermediate grade which enables her to raise luxuriant corn, and at the same time reap rich harvests of small grains. It may be said that no country surpasses this for diversity and quantity of yield of crops. Others are better exclusive corn regions or wheat regions, but none combine wheat, oats, corn and the small grains in the same degree. Therefore, we say that this county is adapted by natural productive- ness for dairying.
Can cattle thrive here ? Yes. A grade of common stock crossed with blood of pure strain, are hearty, strong in flesh and rich milkers. We doubt if pure bloods do as well as coarser textures ; but mixed stock is suited to the climate in admirable degree.
Is the water and ice supply ample ? Yes. In quality and quantity there is sufficient water to warrant the erection of many creameries in the county.
If these statements are true, why is it that so few good butter makers are found in the county ? We are not speaking of private dairying, but of the introduction of skilled men and approved machinery. Private butter making has no more comparison to creamery business than hand spinning has to the power loom.
In 1866, this county produced 285,980 pounds of butter and 4,682 pounds of cheese ; and in 1874, 469,887 pounds of butter and 2,222 pounds of cheese. This exhibit shows that no systematic attention is paid to the work, but that the natural increase forces people into a greater production. At the same time, the quality ranks only as " grease " in the Eastern market, except in the few rare cases of choice butter-makers among the farmers' wives. This is not intended as a reflection upon the women of the county, for it is true that the fault lies fully as much at the men's door as theirs. The men have not pre- pared suitable places in which to make and preserve the butter that is made, and, consequently, the most careful products deteriorate because of lack of ice and dairy-rooms. We do not blame the women for not working with better heart, under such circumstances. Dairying is laborious in the extreme and
412
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
scarcely worth the time expended on it, if the butter so made is salable only at third rate or as grease.
This article is designed to benefit both men and women. It is intended to point out a way by which the men can effect a revenue 365 days in the year, instead of having two seasons of hurry and distraction and then an idle time, so far as pro- duction goes ; and it is also intended to indicate this desirable improvement in a way to relieve the hard-worked women of a portion of their task.
As we have said, the present system of farming furnishes a time of bustle and expense at seeding season, and another when harvest approaches. The profit rests almost entirely upon the result of one crop. If wheat runs light, the net result of all that year's labor is most discouraging. Between harvest and harvest there is work enough to do, but it does not bring in money. The farmer feels depressed over the hazard of his main crop, and loses half the comfort of living.
Suppose the system is slightly changed. The farmer increases his past- urage and meadow lands, and puts more stock on his farm. He hires men to milk his cows, and twice a day places 300 to 500 pounds of milk on the plat- form near his barns. The teamster employed in the neighborhood drives by and carries the milk to the creamery, a mile or two distant. When he returns he deposits the cans filled with buttermilk on the platform, and the men care for them.
Thus, day after day, an income is derived from the herd. The labor on the farm is not increased, for men perform the work that once so dragged upon the mothers and daughters.
The milk is not the only product of the herd. There is the increase of the stock. In Linn County, one man who milked a herd of sixty crossed breeds, told the writer that those cows netted him $48 per head, the year before, in milk and calves, without counting the original herd. They more than paid for themselves in one year. This is not an isolated case. All over Linn County the farmers are going into dairying. They milk from ten to seventy-five cows each. Many of them still cling to the common stock, but the more careful find that the value of calves is greater with better grades, and that the weight and quality of blooded milk is more profitable, while the cost of keeping is but little increased.
Linn County has been in the creamery business but four years, and most of the factories have been going but one year ; but already there are 6,000 cows milked for them, or about three-quarters as many as are milked in this entire county. We predict that Linn County will use the milk of 50,000 cows before another century begins.
But Linn is cited merely incidentally. Delaware County holds the prize. From the history of Delaware, prepared by the Western Historical Company, we make the following selection, which explains itself and our motive in using it:
"About twenty years ago, the farmers of Delaware began to turn their attention to the dairy, and gradually the industries of the county have changed, until now (1878), it has become one of the leading dairy counties in the State, and the manufacture of butter, cheese and raising pork have been its leading agricultural interests.
" Delaware butter commands the highest price in Eastern markets. Man- chester has become the great butter market of Iowa, rivaling that of any other State in the Northwest, and immense quantities of the dairy products of the county are shipped every week.
413
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
"In 1858 or 1859, George Acres and Watson Childs, of Delaware Town- ship, began the manufacture of cheese, and, in 1862, Mr. Acres was working up the milk of about thirty cows.
"In a public address, delivered last winter, before the Dairymen's Associa- tion, Mr. Childs stated that he was obliged to peddle out his cheese for two or three years, when he first commenced, and used to realize 8 or 10 cents a pound, mainly in trade.
"Asa C. Bowen, who began cheese making in 1858, just south of the county line, says that while in the mercantile business in Hopkinton, in 1856, he brought butter to the town from Albany, selling it at 33} cents a pound, and A. R. Loomis brought butter to Manchester from Marengo, Ill., about the same time. The introduction of the checse vat, Mr. Bowen says, made the handling of large quantities of milk comparatively easy, and he was among the first to bring the improved plan into use in Iowa.
" In June, 1866, the Delaware Cheese Company was organized at Delaware; Wm. H. Hefner, President, and K. W. Kingsley, Secretary. A building was ·erected there 24x40 feet, two and a half stories, and an experienced cheese maker from Madison County, N. Y., engaged to take charge of the factory, which ·commenced operations during the month of June. It continued in opera- tion until about 1872, when it suspended, and the building was converted into a stable.
"A cheese factory was established at Almoral in 1870, which had a remu- nerative run until 1875, when cheese making was given up and butter only manufactured ; which was kept open but two seasons, but with indifferent suc- cess. Soon after, R. L. and O. E. Taylor built a cheese factory in Milo Town- ship, which was very skillfully managed, but in 1877, cheese making was given up and butter made instead. It was found that making butter was more profit- able than making cheese, and now comparatively little cheese is manufact- ured.
" The first stimulus to the butter industry was given by L. A. Loomis, of Manchester, who made a contract in 1862 with the Northwestern Packet Com- pany to supply its boats with butter. Buying for cash only, although at the low rate of eight or nine cents a pound, he became master of the situation, and would take only the best offered. Mr. Loomis bought butter without opposi- tion until 1864, when W. G. Kenyon began to buy, followed in 1867, by Per- cival & Ayers, which made competition quite sharp.
" The manufacture of butter increased steadily until 1872, when the cream- ery system was introduced by Mr. John Stewart, and gave the dairy business of the county a powerful impetus. Mr. Stewart had been dealing in dairy products for several years, when, in 1872, he built the first creamery or butter factory in the county, and, it is thought, the first in the State, on Spring Branch, near E. Packer's, three or four miles east of Manchester. Here he commenced buy- ing milk of the surrounding farmers, and making the cream into butter, according to the most approved method practiced by Eastern dairymen. His business increased, and the following year he established similar " creameries " at Yankee Settlement, Forestville, Ward's Corners and other places.
" A. C. Clark & Company started a creamery at Manchester in 1874, and at Masonville in 1875.
" Having obtained the first premium for butter for several years at St. Louis, in 1876, Mr. Stewart determined to compete for the golden prize offered at the International Centennial Exposition, at Philadelphia, and received the gold medal for the best butter in the world. His success removed the prejudice
414
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
existing in New York and other Eastern markets against Western, and especially Iowa, butter, and placed Delaware butter very high in the estimation of dealers and consumers, and the best grades soon commanded a higher price than the best New York creamery butter.
" The award of this medal to Delaware and Iowa was of almost incalculable benefit to the county and State, and is worth to the farmers of the State many hundred thousand dollars annually. Mr. Stewart is of the opinion that this region possesses certain peculiarities of climate and soil that give it superiority over other dairy districts.
" An association of the dairymen was formed at Manchester, in February, 1877, under the name of 'Northwestern Dairymen's Association.' The meet- ing continued two days, and much instruction was given and received. John Stewart was elected President, and Col. R. M. Littler, of Davenport, was chosen Secretary. The Association met at Manchester in February, 1878, with added numbers and increased interest.
" From abroad came Messrs. Folsom, J. N. Reall and Francis D. Moulton. of New York ; Mr. McGlincey, Secretary of the Dairy Board of Trade, Elgin, Ill .; and A. Ondesleys, Baltimore. The subjects discussed covered the whole business of dairying, from raising grass to shipping butter and cheese to market.
"Mr. L. O. Stevens furnished a description of the creamery at Almoral, which will answer, in a general way, to describe the system pursued :
" The Almoral Creamery was established in 1876, under the name of ' The Almoral Dairymen's Company.' It is an incorporated company, with a capital stock not exceeding $10,000. Farmers are the stockholders. Farmers, not stockholders, patronize the institution, receiving for their milk, or rather the butter product-for butter entirely is made at this creamery-their pro rata share of the net sale in market of the butter, deducting all expenses, viz .: rents, ice, marketing, commissions, brokerage, etc. The butter is shipped weekly, and, in warm weather, in a refrigerator car, from Manchester to New York. The Company's works are equal to 500 cows. Our building is thoroughly fitted, with flagstones laid in cement as the groundwork, with all needful tanks, ventilation, etc., and with all requisites for sweetness and neatness. We require the manufacturer of the butter to be scrupulously tidy in all branches of the business, and also all packages of butter to be placed on the track free from all stains and carelessness ; the milk to be delivered in first-class condition, as respects neatness in milking and proper care as to cleanliness of cans and cooling of the milk. We propose at this creamery never to make either skim butter or skim cheese ; but to ever make the best article possible of cream butter, and to continue to fight it out, steadily and protractedly, 'on that line.'
" We regard the sour milk returned to the patrons of the creamery worth a very large per cent in the raising of calves to replenish the dairy. and young stock hogs. Whey is comparatively valueless, compared with sour milk, and there exists no substitute for sour milk for calves and pigs. As we run our creamery, we find it profitable, and are contented to run it in our (the farmers') best interest.
" There are now in successful operation in the county thirty-three creamer- ies. The production for 1877 was largely in excess of any previous year, and the value of butter and cheese shipped was not far from half a million of dollars. Over twelve hundred thousand pounds of butter were sent from Manchester. The product is shipped in refrigerator cars twice a week, and most of it goes to.
415
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
New York. Manufacturers estimate that the dairy product of the county for 1878 will be materially greater than in 1877. Mr. Stewart thinks the ship- ments of butter for Manchester alone, this year, will reach the enormous quan- tity of 1,500,000 pounds."
SWINE CULTURE.
A controlling factor in the question of profitable dairying is the raising of hogs. If the products of a region are not suited to the growth of swine, the scheme might better be abandoned before much money is wasted in experi- ment. Here the advantages of the climate stand out bold and enticing. The cultivation of the cereals necessary to hog culture is one of the established facts. Corn, Brazilian artichokes, pease, and all vegetables-roots or grains- necded by the hog-raiser, here grow in great abundance and with certainty of yield.
There is a feature of this business that has not been sufficiently enlarged upon, as yet, by the agriculturists of Wapello County. Attention has not been bestowed upon the breed of hogs raised, nor has the subject been considered in a scientific manner. Farming, hog-raising and dairying are as susceptible of scientifie analysis as are any of the several branches of trade and industry. Fixed laws govern them, and these rules cannot be deviated from one iota with- ont hazard to the enterprise.
For example, if a farmer insists that coarse stock will breed as well and sell as readily as fine strains ; if he insists that care is not required to fatten pork and place it in marketable condition, he will surely find that his neighbor, who differs from him in theory and practice, wins the prize away from him in every case.
The statistics show that, in 1866, there were 36,441 hogs of all ages returned in the county ; but the grades are not named. In 1874, the total number shown was 48,709, of which but 907 were Berkshire and 2,836 were Poland-Chinas. Less than 8 per cent of the entire hog. crop was blooded ; while the long-nosed, thin-flanked animal was pushed upon the market, bring- ing less in price per pound and a less number of pounds in weight than better animals would have done with the same care and feeding. Ottumwa will soon be one of the great hog markets of the State, and it will pay farmers to give closer attention to this branch of farming.
There is no animal so exceedingly sensitive to climatic changes as a hog. The best of care should be bestowed upon it. Bushes or low sheds should be furnished for protection against sharp winds or scorching sun, while stagnant pools are as injurious te a hog as they are to a man. Pens should be kept dry and clean, deodorized and disinfected several times each week by the use of carbolic acid and water. The too prevalent typhoid fever, which infects the air and the wells of so many farm homes, arises from the filthy sty or the un- cared for barn-yard.
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