USA > Iowa > Warren County > The history of Warren County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics &c > Part 40
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90
Even many of those who had been here for a longer time, having pre- pared in the summer and fall what they supposed would be sufficient fodder for their stock through an average winter, and not looking for such a fearful siege of snow and storm, were glad to resort to the browsing system also, and cut down trees plentifully near their stock yards, in order that the animals might fill up on the twigs and branches, and thus get along on a smaller quantity of the prepared fodder, lest the supply should fail before spring set in. Many such ingenious plans were resorted to in these cases of necessity in order to " winter through."
From all accounts of those who were compelled to endure it on the fron- tier, it was certainly a desperate winter, thoroughly fitted to try the hearts and test the powers of endurance of those who were obliged to battle with the trials of pioneer life in the West.
Such a winter coming even now, when people are thoroughly fixed for it, with fine houses and barns, and food and shelter for man and beast, and with all the conveniences and comforts and provisions that could reasonably be desired, would be considered as a "stormer," which must cause destitu- tion and suffering on the part of very many. No wonder, then, that the early settlers still living, who endured it here with meager preparations, ever remember and refer to it as the "hard winter of 1848-49."
The fearful winter referred to gradually began to loosen its hold in the following February, and before the month of March was gone the snow had all disappeared, except occasional remnants of massive drifts that had existed on the north side of high banks and hills, where the sun had not been permitted to shine so powerfully, and the spring of 1849 was ushered in quite early, with a kindly welcome, bringing encouragement and hope to many anxious hearts, as well as comfort and warmth to many needy, suf- fering homes.
The heavy snow lying so constantly on the ground during the previous winter had not allowed the ground to become frozen very solid or deep, so that the stock could take care of themselves quite comfortably during the latter part of March, and until grass began to start in the sloughs and bot- tom-lands in sufficient quantities to furnish feed in abundance. Everything seemed most favorable also for producing an early growth of vegetables, as if to recompense for the want and suffering of the past winter.
By the time the snow was melted the frost was nearly all out of the ground, so that the constant rays of the sun soon produced warmth enough in the earth to start the growth of grass and hurry the much-wished-for
314
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
pasture along, and furnish food for the famisliing herds. This was, indeed, an inestimable blessing to all those who had settled here late in the previous fall, and had not been enabled to procure either food for their stock, or sufficient food and comforts for themselves and families.
The felling of trees for the browsing and shelter of stock had proven a good thing in time of need, but all were heartily glad that the time had at last come when this custom need no longer be pursued, and when stock could take care of themselves, leaving the owners to go about their spring work and improvements.
Great preparations were made on all hands during the spring for securing as good and large a crop during the coming harvest as possible. Every available acre and square foot of ground that was at all arable and fitted for receiving the seed with any chance of producing a reasonable growth of grain or garden stuffs was seeded or planted with the utmost care and dili- gence. During that spring quite a large crop was planted, considering the age of the settlements and the great disadvantages under which the citizens labored for making improvements, and again their faithful labors were rewarded with a fruitful harvest.
Quite a large increase of emigration also came into the county during that spring and summer, almost doubling the population of the county before the end of the year.
As one who was present and witnessed the scene of progress says of it:
"The year of grace, 1849, was crowned with an abundant harvest, and witnessed the incoming of many emigrants within our borders, who were greeted with a hearty welcome by all."
No doubt those coming in during the year did receive a hearty welcome from all those who had preceded them, and found the way opened with far more encouraging prospects than those did who first made permanent set- tlements in Warren county. It was, in general, a summer of peaceful prosperity, many of the new-comers bringing in more or less money, to be distributed, to some extent, among those already living here, who had been fortunate enough to have something left from last year's crop to sell for the supply of others.
During the early years of the county there were two heavy floods that have never been equaled since. When the immense banks of snow that covered the earth in the winter of '48-9 began to melt, it caused a heavy flood to sweep down the bottoms and ravines into the rivers. The melting of the snow began about the first of Mach, and continued, under the in- creasing power of the sun's rays, to swell the rivers until far beyond their banks and well up on the bluffs on either side, thus rendering it impossible to cross them, and shutting the settlers in from communication with those living on the other side, for weeks and months.
A great many heavy rains also came during that spring, and kept the flood raging from March until July of that year. There was very little getting to mill, or any place else, while that continued, if the desired trip was to be made across a stream or two of any considerable size, and under such circumstances the settlers must still remain contented with their allotted apportionment of "hog and hominy " until the "floods of water " subsided so that crossing could again be accomplished.
Sometimes very risky, and generally fruitless, attempts were made at crossing during the high waters, by the more adventurous and daring ones. A temporary raft was made of logs or home-made canoes and dug-outs
315
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
fastened together, on which the grist and wagons were taken across, piece by piece, and then the oxen caused to swim to the other shore, when all things were again put in running order, and the mill-goers moved onward on their journey.
But not very many of the settlers chose to risk such an hazardous under- taking, and sometimes those who did undertake it found more on their hands than they were able to manage, and were glad to get back safely to shore with all their effects and wait until a more convenient season.
As a general thing the citizens were content to remain near their homes attending to the work to be done there during the high waters, and make the best of the circumstances, living on just such as they had and could get near home.
Again in 1851 there came another flood. This time it was not caused by melting snow, but by an unprecedented rainfall. The rain continued to fall without cessation for weeks, and even months, apparently. All the streams were swollen immensely, and great damage was done. In some places the prairies seemed like lakes or other large sheets of water. All the pioneers remember the great floods of '49 and '51.
Of the old settlers some are still living in the county, in the enjoyment of the fortunes they founded in the early times, " having reaped a hundred- fold." Others have passed away, and many of them will not long survive. Several of them have gone to the Far West, and are still playing the part of pioneers. But wherever they may be, and whatever fate may betide them, it is but truth to say that they were excellent men as a class, and have left a deep and enduring impression upon Warren county and the State. "They builded better than they knew." They were, of course, men of ac- tivity and energy or they would never have decided to face the trials of pioneer life. They were almost invariably poor, but the lessons taught them in the early days were of such a character that few of them have remained so. They made their mistakes in business pursuits like other men. Scarcely one of them but allowed golden opportunities, for pecuniary profit at least, to pass by unheeded. What are now some of the choicest farms in Warren county were not taken up by the pioneers, who preferred land of very much less value. They have seen many of their prophicies fulfilled and others come to naught. Whether they have attained the success they de- sired, their own hearts can tell.
To one looking back over the situation at that time from the present standpoint of progress and comfort, it certainly does not seem very cheer- ing; and yet, from the testimony of some of these same old settlers them- selves, it was the most independent and happy period of their lives.
At that time, it certainly would have been much more difficult for those old settlers to understand how it could possibly be that thirty-two years hence the citizens at the present stage of the county's progress would be complaining of hard times and destitution, and that they themselves, per- haps, would be among that number, than it is now for us to appreciate how they could feel so cheerful and contented with their meager means and humble lot of hardship and deprivation during those early pioneer days.
The secret doubtless was that they lived within their means, however lim- ited, not coveting more of luxury and comfort than their income would afford, and the natural result was prosperity and contentment, with always room for one more stranger at the fireside, and a cordial welcome to a place at their table for even the most hungry guest.
316
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
During the year 1846, and perhaps not until some time afterward, there was not a public highway established and worked, on which they could travel. And as the settlers were generally far apart, and mills and trading points were at great distances, going from place to place was not only very tedions, but attended sometimes with great danger. Not a railroad had yet entered Chicago, and there was scarcely a thought in the minds of the peo- ple here of such a thing ever reaching the wild West; and if thought of, people had no conception of what a revolution a railroad and telegraph through here would cause in the progress of the country. Then there were less than 5,000 miles of railroad in the United States, and not a mile of track laid this side of Ohio; while now there are over 100,000 miles of railroads extending their trunks and branches in every direction over our land.
Supplies, in those days, came to this western conntry entirely by river and wagon transportation. Mail was carried to and fro in the same way, and telegraph dispatches was transmitted by the memory and lips of emigrants coming in, or strangers passing through.
By 1850 the county was in a flourishing condition. Despite the priva- tations of the early settlement and pioneer life generally the people had prospered. The great California travel had brought a market to their very doors and their products commanded a high price. Then, too, the fame of the county had spread abroad and new-comers came thronging in rapidly.
The crop was again good this year, and everything went on prosperously in view of the coming bountiful harvest. Mills went up rapidly in various localities, rendering milling privileges comparatively convenient to all set- tlements in the county. Roads were being laid out and worked, and tem- porary bridges constructed in different localities for the convenience of travel. Schools and school-houses were rapidly increasing, and conve- niences of public worship multiplied. Manufactories of various kinds began to be talked of by the more enterprising men of some capital, and the general work of improvement and civilization progressed most en- couragingly.
The summer season was oppressively hot, and the great increase of immi- gration into the county and country round abont, together with the de- mands of the immense rush of California emigrants passing through here, for grain and breadstuffs, during the spring and preceding fall, the sur- plus crop of the previous year was quite exhausted before the new crop came into market, and as a consequence prices ruled very high here for all such products during the summers of 1850 and the following year. Corn sold at times as high as $1.50 per bushel, and flour was ready sale at $7.00 per hundred.
Mills and markets had now come almost to the doors of the settlers, and the thing of chief importance was to raise products to supply these markets.
Warren county had fairly entered on one of the most prosperous periods of its entire history in 1850. But the distinctively pioneer times had gone. With all their hardships and all their joys they belonged to the past. The county was still young and new, but it was now fully organized and fairly dedicated to the great uses of civilization.
The first land sales were in 1848. We give from the copies of the books of the Register of the State Land Office the first land entries made in each township as now organized:
317
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
Allen-Nicholas Beezley, northwest quarter of section 2, township 77, range 23, 152 acres, October 30, 1848. Lands in this township were also entered on the same day by Simpson Hargis, Hiram Niday, and Owen E. Osborne.
Palmyra-John D. Parmelee, northwest quarter of northeast quarter, and northeast quarter of northwest quarter of section 12, township 77, range 23, 80 acres, August 1, 1848.
Washington, west half-Thomas M. Clough, southwest quarter of section 2, township 76, range 24, 160 acres, March 5, 1849.
Greenfield-William Whited, east half of the southwest quarter, and the west half of the southeast quarter of section 27, township 77, range 24, October 30, 1848.
Jefferson-John F. Woodside, west half of the northeast quarter, and the west half of the southeast quarter of section 32, township 76, range 25, 160 acres, March 22, 1849.
Linn-John C. Hempstead, the northeast quarter of section 36, town- ship 77, range 25, 160 acres, November 13, 1848.
Whitebreast-John Guise, northeast quarter of southwest quarter of section 28, township 75, range 22, 40 acres, May 19, 1849. Barnhart Henn, west half of southwest quarter of section 2, township 75, range 22, October 26, 1849.
Liberty-John Williams, southeast quarter of southwest quarter section 5, township 74, range 23, 40 acres, June 29, 1849. On same day Williams also entered the southeast quarter of section 6, same township and range.
Otter-Levi Hollingsworth, southwest quarter of the northeast quarter, southwest of the southeast quarter, and the north half of the southwest quarter of section 22, township 75, range 23, 160 acres, January 5, 1849.
Squaw-Sarah Hackney, southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 11, township 74, range 24, 40 acres, May 2, 1849.
White Oak-Daniel Barker, northwest quarter of section 11, township 75, range 24, 160 acres, January 20, 1849.
Virginia-John White, south half of southeast quarter of section 35, township 74, range 25, 80 acres, November 27, 1851.
Jackson-Jacob Archer, southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 5, and the south half of the northeast quarter, and the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 6, township 75, range 25, con- taining 160 acres, June 20, 1849.
Belmont-Robert L. Tidrick, the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter, and the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 34, and the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter, and the northwest quar- ter of the southwest quarter of section 35, all in township 75, range 22, con- taining 160 acres, April 15, 1851.
Union-James Farley, the southwest quarter of section 9, and the north- east quarter of section 6, township 76, range 22, containing 320 acres, Oc- tober 30, 1848.
Richland-John D. Parmelee, Lots 1, 2, 3 and 4, and the southeast quarter, and the southwest quarter, all of section 6, township 77, range 22, October 30, 1848. Entries were made on the same date in this township by James Burnett, Riley Driscoll, Robert Reese, Michael Howard, John M. Parkinson, Martin Ray, Austin S. Howard, Michael Howard, Newton Guthrie, Amos E. Freel, Samuel Black, Elias Myrick, Isaac N. Ewing and Elisha Hardin.
318
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
Washington, east half -- James Laverty, the northwest quarter of section 9, township 76, range 23, 160 acres, October 30, 1848. Lands were also entered at the same time by Henry Hays, Harrison Jordon, John D. Par- melce and Thomas M. Clough.
THE CHASE IN EARLY DAYS.
The sports and customs of the early settlers were not so numerous and varied as at present, but they were no less enjoyable and interesting.
Hunters now-a-days would be only too glad to be able to find and enjoy their favorable opportunities for hunting and fishing; and even travel hun- dreds of miles sometimes, counting it rare pleasure to spend a few weeks among the lakes, and on the wild prairies and woodlands, in liunt and chase, and fishing frolics, where not half so good hunting and fishing sport was furnished so was in this vicinity twenty-five or thirty years ago. There were a good many excellent hunters here at an early day, too, who enjoyed the sport as well as any can at the present.
Wild animals of various kinds were found here in abundance during the time of the early settlement. The prairies, and woods, and streams, and various bodies of water, were all thickly inhabited before the white man, and even for some time after the white man came.
Deer, turkeys, ducks, geese, and various other kinds of choice game, were plentiful, affording freely and at the expense of killing what are now con- sidered the choice and costly dishes in the restaurants. The fur animals also, were abundant, such as the otter, beaver, mink, mnskrat, raccoon, pan- ther, fox, wolf, wild-cat and bear.
Deer and elk were quite numerous on these prairies for some time after the first settlements were made. These varions kinds of game afforded not only pleasure, but profit for those among the early settlers who were lovers of hunt and chase; and skillful hunters were not scarce in those days in proportion to the number of inhabitants. Many interesting incidents and daring adventures occurred in connection with these hunting excursions, which the old settlers who still remain seem never tired of relating, and we propose to here insert a few of these reminiscences related in the lan- guage of the actors in them.
A number of the pioneers were great hunters. Among those most prominent in different sections of the county were Elijah Williamson and his son R. W. Williamson, who came in 1854; the former of whom died less than a year ago at a ripe old age.
John S. McKiminy, who lived in the same neighborhood when they came, having removed here in 1849 from Des Moines county, where he had first settled.
R. M. Hightower, who came to Otter township in 1846, and made a claim where Hammondsburgh is located, and who still lives near there, was one of the best hunters in the county. He was always very successful and many are the deer and turkey which his unerring rifle has brought low. He is now, and has been since his residence in the county, a well-to-do farmer.
D. D. Cummings, of Greenfield township, has always been considered among the best hunters in this region of the country. He was so fond of the deer that it is only a few years since he had a park near his house filled
319
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
with them. When game became scarce or extinct in this section he used formerly to go each year where it still existed.
H. Berger, generally better known as " Yankee " Berger, was considered the best marksman in the county, and one of the most successful sports- men.
None of tliese men were professional hunters, but men who were engaged in more serious work and only followed hunting in the interval of more serions labor. Jovial, good-hearted, and ready for adventure, they are men who have done much for the country. They deserve credit for their in- dustry and honesty, as well as for the attempt on their part to soften the trials of pioneer life by inculcating a love for the manly sports they them- selves followed.
The shooting matches of our early days were only the forerunners of our modern Creedmore, and did much to train the citizens in the use of fire- arms. It is not improbable that many a Sonthron owes his death in battle to the unerring aim which was acquired by our soldiers in the pioneer shooting match when a turkey or a beef animal were the prizes contended for.
Mr. John S. McKimmy thns narrates some of his hunting experiences and adventures:
" I landed in Warren county in November, 1849, and being fond of my gun I shouldered it a day or two after my arrival, and, in company with John F. Woodside, went down Clanton creek to the point of Brush Ridge in quest of game. The vegetation was very high, when we thought we heard turkeys in the grass just at the edge of the timber. I crept softly np on a fallen tree top to see just where the game was, and sure enough there in a bunch of tall grass was game. I took deliberate aim and pulled the trigger, when suddenly a hog squealed. I felt crestfallen and called Woodside, who had gone forward some distance, and told him what had happened, and such a ha, ha, ha as he gave was not the kind of sympathy which I wished at that time. The hog finally recovered and this was my last experience with such game.
"At another time a few years later I went ont in company with ' Yankee ' Berger and several others, abont fourteen miles southwest of town, hunting for deer. The day was pleasant and we made little preparation for severe weather. But the wind soon changed to the northwest and it snowed and blowed at a fearful rate. That night with but one quilt spread out in the snow in a temporary tent, with scant covering, we camped ont. It was a terrible night, yet we all escaped any scrious injury.
" At another time when I was ont alone I had a similar, though a more severe and dangerous experience. I was over on Painter creek hunting deer, when late in the afternoon the wind veered to the northwest and suddenly it turned very cold and blew the snow so furiously as to almost blind one. I was already seven or eight miles from home. I turned about and faced the wind for about a mile until I came up on high ground. I soon saw that by traveling on foot it would be impossible for me to face the fierce, wild storm, and really began, for the first time in all my hunting ex- perience, to think that I might have to pass in my checks. The county being undulating I kept myself in the sloughs and hollows, and finally got home with no other injuries than a frozen strip abont an inch wide around my neck.
"But the most dangerous adventure I ever experienced occurred during
320
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
the year 1865. I discovered one day that one of my hogs had come up to Joshua Wallace's with one shoulder literally eaten off; yet it had traveled quite a distance as tracked by the blood. In a few days one of the neigh- bors saw a huge black bear. So Thomas Cason and myself went around to get the neighbors to give chase. R. W. Williamson, Mr. Houser and several others came and the next morning we began the hunt. We did not find Mr. Bruin until we had pretty effectually scoured Brush Ridge. Finally, however, success crowned our efforts, and bruin suddenly jumped out of a fallen tree-top and the fun began. The bear run around the head of a small ravine about half a mile away, when R. W. Williamson came up facing him and forced him to climb a tree. I was abont eighty yards behind riding a spirited horse and I thought that in order to get a good shot before anybody else I would jump off my horse and fire away at him; but when I went to jump off my foot stuck fast in the stirrup and as some of the party had began to fire by this time my horse became frightened and jumping sidewise and jerking me eight or ten feet at a time. This was a very precarious situation but I took my disengaged foot and pushed the stirrup off the other one, got up as quickly as possible and ran to the edge of the brush where I could see the bear. Just at this time bruin con- cluded to come down and although as many as fifteen shots had been fired at him he reached the ground unharmed except a single buck-shot in his left foot, fired from Williamson's gun, and to my liorror he started straight toward me. As he was not more than thirty yards distant, I thought this a little too near for comfort, especially as I had hardly recovered from the fright occasioned by the adventure with my horse. But I kept my trusty old rifle ready and when the bear had come about half-way and had turned a little to one side I drove a shot into his left side which felled him to the ground. Then Mr. Williamson's dog tackled him and received a rather warm embrace in return, when a shot by Ed. Williamson loosed his hold and he again raised to his feet and started away, when another shot from a large eight-inch revolver which I carried brought him to the ground to rise no more. This was in Warren county about a mile south of Bevington. The bear was very large and very fat. An eye witness says that he never saw in all his life eighteen or twenty men so terribly excited as this com- pany was. This was the last bear seen in Warren county."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.