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 50
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OTTUMWA
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425
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
summer and fall goods, and offer the highest market price for 10,000 pounds of good bacon, 5,000 bushels of good wheat, and 500 bushels of good flaxseed. A half-column is given to a patent medicine, "Dr. Rogers' compound syrup of liverwort and tar for the safe and certain cure of consumption." And the final advertisement is of a "public sale " of household goods, live-stock, etc., by David Hall. The fourth page of the paper is made up of selections and of a prospectus of the Courier.
In the second number of the Courier, the leading editorial welcomes home the returned volunteers "from the bloody scenes in Mexico." The proceed- ings of the Buffalo Convention, in which Martin Van Buren was nominated for President and Charles Francis Adams, for Vice President, are given in detail with editorial comment. The attention of the citizens of Davis, Wapello and Keokuk Counties is called to the importance of petitioning Congress or the Postmaster General for the establishment of a mail route from Bloomfield, in Davis County, via Soap Creek Settlement, Ottumwa and Dahlonega, to Lan- caster, in Keokuk County. The distance is only about twenty-five miles, but often three days are required to get the mail through, whereas, one day would be sufficient with this route. In this number is the first published notice of a marriage and a death ; the former is "by Rev. Mr. Pearce, on Thursday, 10th, Mr. Enoch R. Gec to Miss Marga et Cuppy, both of this county," and the latter reads : "In this place, on Thursday, the 10th inst., Estelle, infant daughter of Mathew and Ann Brewer, aged about four years. 'Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.'" There is a brief letter, also, from Thomas Ping, describing a ter- rible steamboat explosion on the Mississippi, in which thirty lives were lost, and forty persons scalded. The boiler of the steamer Edward Bates, between St. Louis and Keokuk, burst, with that shocking result. We find that even thus early there was matrimonial unhappiness, for there are three divorce notices in this issue.
In the issue of the Courier of September 8, 1848, the announcement is made that the dams and locks on the Des Moines River Improvement have been put under contract as far up as Ottumwa. Col. Curtis, the engineer, assured the people that the river was susceptible of improvement of such a character up to this place as to render it navigable for the Upper Missis- sippi steamboats ; but that, as no survey had been made above this place, he was unable to state with certainty what the character of the work would be there, but was of the opinion that it would be improved by canal and side- cuts.
Mention is made in this number of the damage done to wheat on account of the wet weather and a great scarcity of barns. The wheat sprouted in the shock, and the editor urges upon farmers the necessity of more commodious barn accommodations.
An accident is mentioned to a large flatboat belonging to Mr. Long, a merchant of Eddyville, which struck a rock near Kendrick's Island, and sunk in five feet of water. Mr. Long lost about twelve hundred bushels of wheat by the accident. At about this time, some ten or twelve flatboats were loaded in this county with produce for St. Louis. In this number is an outside item worthy of preservation. It is a letter from C. Ellet, Jr., published in the Buffalo Courier, bearing date " Niagara Falls, July 29, 1848." It says :
This morning, I laid the last plank of my foot bridge on the Canada side, and then drove over and back again in a buggy. Five hundred feet of the bridge was without railing on either
G
426
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
side. My horse, though spirited, went along quietly, touched up occasionally with the whip, just to show him that he was in command and give him courage. On returning. I directed one. of the drivers to bring on his team-a two-horse closed carriage, weighing altogether over a ton and a half. I took his place on the box and drove over and back. The horses went quietly. The flooring is but 8 feet wide, 220 feet high, 762 feet long, and without railing, over such & torrent as you never saw, and never will see anywhere else.
At this time, the news from Ireland was decidedly bad. The ship "Ocean Monarch," between Liverpool and Boston, was burned at sea. The Socialists in Paris were disturbing the peace, and there were rumors of a revo- lution broken out in Russia, while the cholera raged horribly. These far-away affairs are etched with most meager outline-no amplifications or graphic cor- respondence. The little town of Ottumwa heard, perched upon her fine bluffs, but heeded little, since her own busy interests were enough to keep her people's hands and thoughts occupied.
The first growths of vegetables and grains in this new soil produced, as is almost universally the case, some mammoth specimens of various products. In the Courier of October 6, 1848, we find record of a cucumber raised by Milton Wright, in Washington Township, that measured 174 inches in length and 12} in circumference. Later, a notice is given of a pepper raised by Joseph Harris, which measured 10 inches in circumference, and was long in proportion ; also a radish, grown by Joseph McIntire, which measured 18 inches in circumfer- ence and 17 in length. And again, Mr. W. S. Carwile, of Adams Township, exhibited a turnip which measured 2 feet 4 inches in circumference and weighed 93 pounds. Not to be eclipsed, Mr. John A. Newman brought forward, though at a still later period, a tomato which measured 18 inches in circumference and weighed 2 pounds.
On the 27th of October, the Courier makes mention of having received several numbers of the Daily Hawk-Eye, and thus compliments it: " It is a great convenience to the country, as it gives the most important news by tele- graph, which is now extended to Burlington." So it seems the world, thus early, came with its improvements out into the West. In this same issue we find that politicians were having great jollifications at barbecues at various points.
The spring of 1849 brought two exciting topics before the people-the departure of numbers of young men to California, lured there by the glitter of fabulous amounts of gold ; and the other, the probable advent of the cholera, which was raging in St. Louis, and was reported at Burlington. It was in May of this year that the fearful destruction of steamboat property occur- red at the docks at St. Louis, where twenty-one steamboats were burned, at a loss of $518,000. The California fever did not reach its height until a year later, when so great was the furor for getting away that farms and all sorts of local property could be bought for far less than their actual value.
In June, 1849, Mr- Jedediah Scott was drowned in Cedar Creek while attempting to swim it on a horse. The horse, by rearing and plunging, threw him off, striking him in several places with his fore-feet, causing him to sink.
On the 16th of April, 1850, there was a severe snowstorm, which lasted for some hours and caused a great deal of surprise, as it was an unusual freak of nature for that time of year. Vegetation was far advanced, and up to that time the weather had been mild and warm. And on the 31st of May follow- ing, a very severe hail and rain storm visited this region, doing a good deal
427
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
of damage to gardens, and causing the river to rise some four or five feet within an astonishingly small space of time.
Wapello was not exempt from the gold excitement which in 1858 extended to a considerable degree through this part of the State. Gold, that was pronounced the genuine stuff by old Californians, was found in the ravines near Ottumwa and other places, but the epidemic proved to be of a mild character and of short duration. Lead and iron have at various times been found, but it is supposable not in sufficient quantities to justify mining.
THE COAL INTERESTS OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
Not only does Wapello County lie within the rich coal regions of the State, but Ottumwa is also the headquarters of large concerns man- ipulating mines in other counties. There is an inexhaustible supply of fuel at hand, to co-operate with the immense water-power in the Des Moines Valley in making this a most desirable locality for the development of manufacturing interests.
The largest concern, as shown in the appended report of the County Inspector, the Union Coal and Mining Company, has large mines at Avery, on the line of the C., B. & Q. Railroad, about six miles cast of Albia, in Monroe County.
For many years the pioneers did not dream of the vast mines of wealth which rested beneath the surface of the earth. The fertility of the soil was the first consideration with them in selecting farms; next, the availability of timber for building, fencing and fuel. When scientists apprised them of the store- houses of mineral riches upon which their homes were built, the full value of the deposit was not understood. Then it was that the superficial strata of coal were stripped and made to yield a revenue to the owners of the amateur banks, but inexhaustible beds far under the late deposits were scarcely dreamed of.
The cause of this slow recognition of a now established fact, was the singu- larity of the primary coal-banks. 6 The order of deposition in Indiana, and other sections of the coal regions, was here reversed. Instead of finding the coal in highlands, or rich deposit in the hills, the veins were seen to work out and disappear as the higher surfaces of the lands were explored.
It became apparent to skilled minds that the deposits of coal were in the valleys, in basins or cups, and were not in uninterrupted layers. Prof. White displayed an unusual degree of shrewdness in his researches in the coal regions. He predicted the finding of large amounts of marketable coal by deep mining.
Iowa coal averages much above the specimens of bituminous coals of Europe, in value. For practical purposes it falls but six per cent below the anthracite coal of Pennsylvania. As compared with the various products of this State, Wapello County furnishes an admirable quality of coal. From Prof. White's Geological Report of Iowa the following valuable table is prepared, showing the average richness of coal at that time. The development of the industry since this report was made increases the average rate of value instead of lower- ing it.
428
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
TABLE OF ANALYSES : AVERAGES OF COUNTIES.
COMPOSITION OF UNDRIED COAL.
COMPOSITION OF DRIED COAL.
CONSUMPTION
COUNTIES.
Moisture.
Volatile combustible.
Fixed carbon.
Ash.
Total volatile.
Total combustible.
Coke.
Volatile combustible.
Fixed carbon.
Ash.
Total combustible.
Coke.
Carbon.
Ash.
Monroe
4.97,41.78 47.70
Marion
5.87 39.88 47.55
Mahaska.
4.78 39.52 49.55
Webster
Wapello
12.14 37.03 49.01 11.82 49.17 76.04 50.83 42. 15 44.49 13.36 86.64 57.85 76.91 23.09 8.24 91.76 56.93 86.24 13.76 4.96 40.94 46.25 6.13 93.87 54.46 88.77 11.23 7.85 45.90 87.19 54.10 43.07 48.69 5.39 52.23 82.34 47.77 45.54 48.33
Warren
12.27 39.95 42.38
6. 75 31.85 45.43 15.97 38.60 77.28 61.40 34.17 48.77 17.06 82.94 65.83 72.36 27.64
Guthrie
12.84 36.02 45.78
Jasper
4.61 44.41 43.30
Adams
10.35 36.72 47.88
Dallas
12.83 37.30 46.44
Boone
12.37 38.19 43.72
Greene
9.92 54.39 48.53
Hardin
7.92 41.67 43.77
6.64 49.59 85.44 50.41 45.25 47.54 6.17 44.79 87.99 55.21 41.36 52.08
6.52 93. 48 56.42 88.22 11.78 2.40 97.60 50.72 95.27 4.73 7.21 92.79 54.75 86.83 13.17 6.56 93.44 58.64 88.85 11.15
Mean
8.57 39.24 45.42 6.77 47.81 84.66 52.19 42.92 49.70
7.38 92.62 57.08 87.25 12.75
Prof. White adds, in explanation of the table of analyses: "With regard to the practical application of these analyses to the valuation of coals, it is perhaps sufficient to state:
"1. The value of coal as fuel is inversely proportional to the amount of water contained in it; that is, the more water it contains, the less is its value. And moisture is a damage to the coal, not only because it takes the place of what might otherwise be occupied by combustible matter, but also because it requires some of the heat generated by the burning of the combustible matter to transform it into steam, and thus to expel it.
It will thus be seen that the presence of large quantities of moisture in coal seriously impairs its value. But in looking over the analysis given, it should be remembered that some of the coals were taken fresh from the mine, others had been kept for some time in a damp room, while others had been subjected to the high temperature of a heated room for a considerable length of time.
"2. The greater the percentage of ash, the less is the value of the coal.
"3. The more fixed carbon which the coal contains, the greater is its value.
"4. The same holds true with regard to the volatile combustible matter, to a limited extent, the precise limits of which cannot be determined until we know the composition of this combustible matter."
The farmers and land-owners in various parts of this county do a consider- able business in retailing coal raised from the upper strata. We herewith give a copy of the last report made by the County Inspector of Mines, showing the amount of coal raised.
Poweshiek
5.94 38.95 49.04
5.36 48.86 81.80 51.14 41.33 52.55 7.68 49.02 87.71 50.98 46.56 45.39 5.05 47.07 84.60 52.93 40 96 53.41 3.43 50.13 83.74 49.87 42.79 53.28 5.72 50.56 81.91 49.44 43.58 49.90 2.16 54.81 87.92 45.69 49.28 48.32
6.12 93.88 58.67 89.68 10.32 8.05 81.65 53.44 84.93 15.07 5.63 94.37 59.04 90.49 3.93 96.07 57.21 93.14 6.86 9.5
Madison
5.55 46.75,89.48 53.25 43.96 50.20 6.60 45.85 87.43 54. 15 42.40 50.561 6.20 44.25 88.07 55.75 41.48 52.00
5.84 94.16, 56.04 89.62 10.30 7.04 92.96 57.60 88.14 11.86 6.52 93.48 58.52 89.37 10.63
429
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
MINE INSPECTOR'S REPORT.
Mr. F. L. McNair, County Inspector of Mines for Wapello County, made the following report, January 1, 1878, for the year preceding :
NAME OF BANK OPERATED.
NO. OF BUSHELS RAISED IN 1877.
Eakin's
19,000
Z. Wood's
8,000
J. Wood's
25,000
Johnston's
8,000
Bennett's
2,000
Park's
5,000
Tirrell's
5,000
Marshall's
12,000
McGlothlin's
8,000
McGahan's
15,000
Dixon's
2,000
Shepard's
500
Ennis'
8,000
Borvse's
30,000
Union Coal & Mining Co.'s ..
608,977
Postlewaite's
582,507 -
Total raised in county
1,338,984
" THE DAHLONEGA WAR."
One idea that had strong hold upon the minds of the early settlers, was that of justice. Their views of the goddess with bandaged eyes and scales in her hand were wholly unprejudiced and uncorrupted. They set her apart in her integrity, and demanded that she should have her dues, if not by the pre- scribed legal steps, why, then by summary and more certain ones. There was to be no wheedling, no evasion ; and out of that spirit grew the famous " Dah- lonega War." All that can be related of this war is well set forth in Judge Hendershott's address, and will not require recapitulation. It proves the fact that nothing of the nature of swindling or sharp practice would be allowed, and that, rude as the manner was in settling the right, it was determined, rapid and effectual.
THE MILLLER-THOMPSON CONTESTED ELECTION.
The most interesting contest over an election which has ever transpired in this region is that of the Miller-Thompson case. The peculiar character of the circumstances attending the affair, which can never be reproduced in this State, and the closeness of the vote, as well as the bitterness of party feeling at the time, conspire to render this case an exceedingly entertaining topic for intro- duction here. It is not the purpose of this sketch to indulge in strictures upon the methods employed by either faction, but it is designed to give as impartial a statement of the matter as careful research enables us to do. The heat of the contest has long since passed away, and we have no doubt that the survivors of the fight will read this chapter with a feeling of enjoyment, as it revives recollections of the days gone by. The authorities from which these facts are gathered are perfectly reliable, being the official documents of Monroe County (examined expressly for the purpose), numerous files of the leading journals of the time, among which are the Des Moines Courier and the Burlington Hawk- Eye, and personal interviews with some of the most prominent men connected with the affair.
430
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
The contest arose over the alleged election of William Thompson to a seat in the Thirty-first Congress. In 1848, the candidates for the honor of represent- ing the southern half, or First District, of Iowa, were William Thompson (Dem- ocrat), of Mt. Pleasant, and Daniel F. Miller (Whig), of Fort Madison. The election was held on August 7.
In 1848, the Democratic managers were greatly agitated over the apparent growth of Whig sentiments in this district. The castern counties were fast becoming uncertain territory, and some expedient was essential to the life and prosperity of the party. The leading spirits among the Democrats were men of fertile resources, thoroughly posted in the ways of politics, and full of shrewd energy. A plan presented itself to their inventive minds, nor were they slow to avail themselves of it. The machinery of the party was set to work at once to secure the needed strength so opportunely, but accidentally, proffered them, as they sincerely believed.
It is necessary to revert to historic events of an earlier date, and in other localities, to explain the proceedings recorded hereafter. The Mormons, who figure conspicuously in this chapter, had suffered overthrow in their strong- hold at Nauvoo, Ill., in 1846. The misdeeds of the leader, Joseph Smith, had resulted in the violent death of that head of the sect, and the ascension to power of Brigham Young. The latter saint and ruler had decreed that the society should separate into numerous bands and travel westward in search of freedom. The exodus of the Latter-day Saints began in the year 1846. Iowa was the scene of unwonted activity occasioned by the flight of the refugees from the law. Some bands moved through the State on the line of the forty- second parallel; some went through the southern tier of counties, and some passed over the territory now composing the range in which Monroe is located. The ultimate destination of all these parties was Kanesville, or what is now known as Council Bluffs. Many of the Mormons did not reach the river in 1846, nor even in 1847. Hundreds camped in Marshall County during that year, and scores of the poor wretches died from actual starvation. Women were confined in the open country during the long, cold season, and filled unmarked graves. The suffering of those people in camp, during the winter of 1846-47, will never be described by human agency, and can be but faintly realized by the comfortably sheltered readers of this brief sketch.
This chapter, however, has to deal with but one division of the Mormon party. Those who passed through this tier of counties reached Lucas County in the winter of 1846-47, and located a few miles southeast of the present town of Chariton. There rude huts were erected, and the party sojourned for several months. Subsequently, they passed on to the Missouri River, where they also tarried for a time. They were the first white "settlers" in Lucas County.
A portion of the band of Mormons did not remain in Lucas that year, but pushed westward in hopes of gaining the place of rendezvous designated by Young. Their hopes were blighted, however, for the weather was so inclement that they could not proceed. They did not reach a point beyond Clarke County. Three men, John Conyer, James and John Longley, became separated from the party and lost their way. They concluded to encamp for the winter (of 1846-47) where they were, and constructed a log hut. In this they lived, and attached to it the name of "Lost Camp," a title by which the locality is still known and pointed out. In the spring, these men found other Mormons but a few miles from them, in the same county. The village of Kanesville became the headquarters of the faithful to the creed of the Golden Book, and was the resting-place of the weary bands. There they recruited their wasted
431
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
forces, and prepared to encounter fresh terrors in the slow march across the plains to Salt Lake City.
It was thus that the year 1848 found a settlement of white men in the terri- tory supposed to be attached to Monroe County for election and judicial pur- poses, and it was by virtue of their forced residence in Iowa that the Mormons became under the general statutes, legal voters in the State. Had it not been for the expulsion of the saints from Nauvoo and the unusually early winter which followed their exodus ; or, had it not been for the accident of circum- stances, this somewhat singular history could not now be written.
At the time of the occurrence of the events written above, the county of Monroe was composed of all the territory from the west line of Wapello County to the Missouri River. The unorganized counties of Lucas and Clarke were at that time defined in a manner preliminary to permanent establishment, the latter, however, being entirely unsettled by white men. The former contained not more than eight or ten families.
The August election, 1848, was an important one to the people of Southern Iowa, as has already been observed. The office of Representative in Congress was to be filled, and the two parties in contest, Democrats and Whigs, were violent in their determination to win the prize. The Whigs were gaining strength, and it was all-essential that the county of Monroe, then a Democratic region, should give a large majority to overcome the Eastern vote.
The investigation of old records impresses one with the fact that politicians of the old school, in the early days, were intensely shrewd ; possibly no more so than those of to-day, but the methods of working were very different then, and it may be that the apparent boldness was the result of a lack of means to " cover up the tracks." At all events, it seems to one who carefully looks at the matter, that more summary ways and means were then in vogue than could be successfully employed now.
The opposing factions in 1848 were exceedingly jealous of one another. Every possible opportunity was improved to win the day. Because of this vigi- lance, perhaps, the Argus-eyed Democracy discovered a grand chance to effect the defeat of their hated rival. The Mormon vote was not only desirable, but was available ! Happy thought ! Golden possibility !
Who first conceived the plan of wheeling the Mormons into line is not clearly established. Judge Mason, J. C. Hall and, possibly, a well-known jurist, who still lives in Wapello County, might have been the anthors of the shrewd scheme ; but that is immaterial.
In 1847, the region lying upon the Missouri River, in a line supposed to be due west of Wapello County, was thickly inhabited for so westerly a point, thanks to the Mormon colony, and naturally asserted its right of independence. A party of representative men came east and waited upon influential men at Iowa City, when the scheme was discussed. Gen. Dodge became much inter- ested in the matter, forcseeing the possible strength such an organization might bring them. Nothing was then done, however, to effect the formation of the county, but the Democrats did not lose sight of the tide of Mormons moving westward, and halting for breath on the shores of the river. In Nauvoo, the Mormon vote had been a powerful ally to the Democrats at general elections, and a continuance of their support was both desirable and reasonable, according to the logic of Gen. Dodge.
The organization of the new county rested with Judge Carleton, of the then Fourth Judicial District, and there is evidence which warrants the belief that the Judge counseled with the General in this matter.
432
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
As early as 1847, the Whigs claimed to know to a certainty that the Mor- mons were weakening in their political affinities, and the young party was not backward in aiding a change of belief in its own favor. Elder Orson Hyde was in command of the refugees, and his will was practically a law unto them. Col. Warren, in a speech delivered in Burlington, in September, 1848, after the election had been held, made what the Hawk-Eye termed a full explanation of the affair, and from that address is gathered a portion of the data relative to this part of our sketch.
The time elapsed by which it was necessary to create a new county at the river, prior to the election of 1848, but there still remained an opportunity to form a polling precinct there, and thus secure the vote. The only question to be decided was that of the political complexion of the district. If the Demo- crats could be assured of support, the necessary formalities would be proceeded with at once.
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