The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 19

Author: Flickinger, Robert Elliott, b. 1846
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Fonda, Iowa, G. Sanborn
Number of Pages: 1058

USA > Iowa > Pocahontas County > The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 19

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rocks and bricks that have been sub- Geologists unite in calling the era jected to a great heat. It is worthy when the drift of Pocahontas county of notice that the Des Moines river and throughout Iowa was formed the makes a sharp bend eastward, north

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PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

of this locality, after meandering west branch of Lizard creek, there is southward about seven miles, and a flowing fountain at which the water Lizard creek, at a point nine miles rises four feet above the ground and further south, makes a similar sudden flows continually with a constant turn southward. Throughout this stream. This fountain was discovered intervening elevated or apparently up- in 1886 by John M. Russell, while pros- heaved district, which includes a por- pecting for coal and he supplied it tion of the western part of Humboldt with a metallic tube with the result county, good drainage can be had by just stated.

drilling into the rock until a fissure

The strongest spring reported in has been found. The largest slough the county is located along Pilot creek, in the eastern part of Pocahontas two miles east of Rolfe, where Geo. county on sections 28 and 29, Clinton Heald in 1882 erected his cheese fac- township, has thus been drained sub- tory. There are in fact two constant- terraneously."*

ly flowing springs only eight feet

Whilst the condition of the surface apart at this place; one is a strong of Pocahontas county before the Gla- spring of clear, pure, cool water and cial epoch cannot be fully known, yet the other comes from a mineral bed, at the close of that period, both it the sediment from which gives the and the state of Iowa consisted com- ground a yellowish red color as it flows. paratively of a uniformly level plain,

On the farm of Charles A. Hawley, unmarked by any strong features and NW { Sec. 14, Marshall township, without any completed system of sur- there is a flowing well located in the face drainage. After the recedence of pasture about forty rods due south of the glaciers and the subsidence of the the house. Sinking a well to the floods incident thereto, numerous depth of fifty-five feet at this place, shallow depressions were left upon the the water immediately rose to the surface filled with water, thus form- surface and flowed from the mouth of ing lakes, ponds, swamps and sloughs. the well. It was supplied with a The slough, found midway between windmill to elevate the water into a the swamp and the upland prairie, tank, but the overflow has continued, was a characteristic feature of this re- when the pump is not working, during gion. Most of the lakes and sloughs the longest droughts.

are found in the localities in which the streams have their sources, par- ticularly the elevated slopes along the watershed, where they have remained because no accumulation of water be- yond has sent currents across them to cut channels for their outlet.

FLOWING WELLS AND FOUNTAINS.

Flowing fountains in the channels of the streams are not unusual, but upon the prairies they are rarely found. In Pocahontas county the following ones have been noted:

In a body of native timber north of the home of the late Philip Russell, on Sec. 2, Lizard township, near the *J. J. Bruce.

On the Stafford farm, on the SW } Sec. 33, Cedar township, two miles southwest of Fonda, there is a flowing well that was sunk a few rods from the west bank of Cedar creek, in 1886, by David B. McKillipps, the former owner of the property. This well was sunk with a large auger to the depth of sixteen feet and then with a three- inch auger to the depth of thirty-eight feet, when water rose to the surface. A small tube was inserted in the lower part of it, and for a number of years the water was made to flow into a trough by means of this tube. In 1895, a six-inch iron tube was forced to the bottom of the well, and the upper part of the well being filled

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FIRST SETTLEMENTS IN THE COUNTY.

around it, the water now rises and face soil of the drift in Pocahontas flows constantly into a tank two feet county, is a vegetable mold formed principally from organic matter that above the ground.

Since the removal of the surface has decayed without submergence in water by the drainage of the sloughs, water. It contains unoxidized car- especially since the long continued bonate of lime and peroxide of iron; drought of 1894, when the lakes of and its materials are so thoroughly this county for the first time in their pulverized and commingled that it history became dry, most of the absorbs the water of a freshet like a springs on the prairies together with sponge and holds it for a midsummer the streams fed by them, have disap- drought. It is soft, warm, rich in or- peared and many shallow surface ganic matter and easily cultivated. wells that rendered efficient service It yields to the plow like "cheese to for many years, have been rendered the knife" and is capable of producing useless. To supply the increased de- crops of cereals for many successive mand for good drinking water for man years without showing signs of ex- and beast, those engaged in the sink- haustion. It yields agricultural and ing of wells have found it necessary horticultural products in a region during recent years to change from the bored to the drilled well, ranging from 75 to 200 feet deep, in order to obtain a greater and more permanent supply of water.

in which the pioneer hesitated to settle because of the absence of tim- ber, but which is now marked by ,its large herds of cattle, fruitful vine- LOAM OR SURFACE SOIL. yards, abundant crops, capacious barns The fine, dark-colored loam or sur- and commodious farm-houses.

FIRST SETTLEMENTS IN THE COUNTY.

"Westward, the Star of Empire takes its way," Thus sang a poet once in early day, But had he had the happiness to lodge At the Wahkonsa tavern, in Fort Dodge, As kept in fifty-five, by William Hodge, His visions of the west would then expand To vast proportions. - JOHN HAIRE.

THE LIZARD SETTLEMENT.

many had passed westward through

HE first settlements this section to the regions beyond, in Pocahontascounty and numbers of roving trappers and were made in the hunters had here very profitably pur- southeast part of it sued their vocation, but no one had and in the year 1855. made an actual or permanent settle- Previous to that date ment. The establishment of the mil- Itary post in 1850, and of the United

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PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

States land office, November 5, 1855, turning to Pennsylvania where his together with its location due west of wife remained, he came back to his Dubuque and north of Des Moines, claim with the family of Michael Col- made Fort Dodge a place of unusual lins, in the following month. When prominence and importance at that he sold his claim he located in the vi- time, and new settlements radiated cinity of St. Paul, Minnesota.

from this place, as a common center, in all directions.

On the arrival of Michael Collins and family, his brother Hugh assisted

In February, 1855, James Hickey, ac- him to build a log cabin. Moving into companied by Hugh Collins, passed up it as soon as it was completed, the Lizard creek from Fort Dodge and se- family of Michael Collins became the lected claims, the former on the NW} first resident family of Pocahontas Sec. 12, Lizard township, Pocahontas county. He continued to reside in the county, and the latter a claim on county for many years, and when in the

section adjoining this one 1860, the office of county supervisor on the east, which was across was established in Iowa, he had the the line in Jackson township, then honor of being chosen, at the ensuing Humboldt but now Webster county. election, a member of the first Board The latter also at this time selected a in this county for the year 1861, and claim for his brother Michael Collins, Treasurer of the county for two terms on SE+ Sec. 13, a half mile southeast following that date, 1862-65.

of Hickey's in Pocahontas county. Mi- Michael Collins wasa native of Clare county, Ireland, where he married Bridget Spellacy, who still survives chael Collins, accompanied by his wife and three children, arrived August 9, 1854, and located on the claim his him, he having died at Clare, Webster brother had selected for him.

county, September 3, 1898, at the age

James Hickey built a little cabin of 77 years. His family consisted of on his claim but did not put a roof up- three sons, Patrick and James, both on it, nor occupy it to any extent, but of whom died young in Ireland, Bridg- lived with the other settlers for et, who cared for him after his retire- whom he worked. After a few

ment from business, and M. T., who months, or when his corn had been resides on the SE} Sec. 12, Lizard husked, he returned to Fort Dodge township. The latter at the age of and worked for a man by the name of twelve years, coming with his father Mahoney until the spring of 1856, to the Lizard settlement in 1855, is one when he met Charles Kelley and sold of the first settlers in the county and to him his interest in his claim and he was a member of the Board of cabin which were estimated to be County Supervisors six years, 1887- worth $300. He had about ten acres 1892. His wife, Miss Fannie Haire, of of ground broken and planted in corn. Fort Dodge, was one of the first teach- This piece of breaking, the first in ers in the settlement, teaching the the county, was commenced by Hugh school in the Calligan district from Collins, his neighbor and friend in January to May, 1865, in the log build- Jackson township, with whom he ing built by Dennis Connors in 1857 on lodged most of the time. His little the SW≥ Sec. 1. She had twelve crop of sod corn, also the first raised pupils and they are all living at pres- in the county, was thrown into his ent, namely-Henry, Charles and Anna vacant, unfinished cabin and the Kelley; Edward, Thomas, Mary, Ellen wolves ate or destroyed a great part and Maggie Calligan; Patrick and Ed- of it. He was about twenty-five years ward Forey; John and James Mulhol- of age and in the month of July, re- land, Their son; W. J. Collins, whose

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FIRST SETTLEMENTS IN THE COUNTY.

portrait appears in the Lizard group, Michael Walsh, Patrick and his is now practicing law at Clare and edi- brother Owen McCabe, who came in tor of the Clare Examiner.

the fall of the year.

Michael Broderick, a young man of Charles Kelley had spent the previ- nineteen years and brother-in-law of ous winter south of Fort Dodge. He John Calligan, it is affirmed, was also bought the claim of James Hickey on a resident of this county in 1855. He Sec. 12, Lizard township, completed laid claim to the NE} Sec. 2, Lizard his unfinished cabin and moving into township, and held it until 1858, when it occupied it until 1865, when he he sold it to Patrick Calligan, and a built a log house that he continued to year later went to Linn county where occupy as long as he lived, (1890) and he married and followed railroading which his wife and several members for several years. He is now a pros- of the family still occupy.

perous farmer in Harrison county.

The cabin of Hickey, occupied by He served as clerk in the Lizard pre- Charles Kelley, commencing with the cinct at the time the first election first election, held March 15, 1859, be- was held, March 15, 1859, and carried came the polling place for the Lizard the returns and first poll books of Liz- precinct for several years, and the ard precinct to the cabin of David proposed site on his farm lacked but Slosson, then elected as the first coun- one vote of becoming the county seat ty Judge, (at Qld Rolfe) in Des Moines at the time it was decided to erect the settlement.

first court house at Old Rolfe.

The pre-emption claims of James Mr. Kelley was a native of Ireland, and coming to America in 1842, locat- Hickey, of Michael Collins and of his younger brother, Hugh Collins, were ed first in Canada, then in Ohio, where all located by them before the U. S. land office was opened at Fort Dodge, and hence no fees or price was yet paid for the land. They and Michael Broderick were the only settlers in that locality during the year 1855, and all of them had come from the same

on March 30, 1855, he married Rhoda Gall, who survives him and has lived on their pre-emption claim nearly for- ty-three years. They began to occupy their claim on the NW} Sec. 12, May 26, 1856, and on September 17th following it was entered for record at place in Pennsylvania. To Hugh Col -- the U. S. land office in Fort Dodge, lins belongs the distinction of having been the first settler in Jackson town- ship, Webster county, and of turning the first furrow in Pocahontas county. We see the cabin of the lonely pioneer,

Upon the prairie as the sun is sinking; The clapboard roof leaking at the rear,

The walls scarce holding their rough chinking.

when they paid $1.25 an acre for it. They raised a family of nine children, and at the time of his decease, at the age of 73 years, they were the owners of 800 acres of land, all of which, ex- cept 80 acres, is in the possession of the family at present. Charles Joseph Kelley, their second son, born May 6,

During the year 1856, a considerable 1858, was the first boy born in Lizard number of families located in the township and his portrait appears in southeast part of the county, among the township group. He graduated at whom were the following: Charles the Rush Medical Institute, Chicago, Kelley, John Calligan and his brother in 1892, and since that date has been Patrick, Roger Collins, John Hugh, engaged in the practice of medicine at Walter Ford, Philip and John Russell, Burlington, Iowa.

John Calligan and family, consisting 7 Dennis Connors, Henry (Frederic and William, 1857,) Brockschink, who ar- of wife and three children, arrived at rived in the spring; James Donahoe, Fort Dodge May 13, 1856, and located

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PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

on the SE} Sec. 2, Lizard township, cle, using a bare spot of ground for a adjoining on the south the claim on threshing floor, before the arrival of which Michael Broderick, his broth- the threshing machine. The first sack er-in-law, had squatted the previous of flour bought at Fort Dodge, weigh- year. Both of these claims, which ing 100 pounds, cost him $10 and bacon were on Sec. 2, were entered and paid 17 cents a pound. Salt was 7 cents a for in cash at $1.25 an acre on July 3, pound and butter was also 7 cents a 1856, which is the earliest date on pound, but the farmer could not get which any lands in Pocahontas county a pound of salt for a pound of butter, were entered or sold. There is one because the former had to be paid in other entry on this same date and it is cash while the latter was payable in that of Michael Collins for the SE trade. To appreciate this apparently Sec. 13. The only other entries in 1856 anomalous statement it must be re- were hy Dennis Connors, July 16th, for membered that all groceries and store the SW≥ Sec. 1; Roger Collins, Sept. goods had to be hauled on wagons from 15th, for the NE+ Sec. 23 and Chas. the Mississippi river, a distance of Kelley, Sept. 17th, for the NW} nearly 200 miles, and there were but Sec. 12.

two stores in Fort Dodge, the one kept by Major Williams and the other by John Haire. There was a great de- mand for salt and it was a cash article while butter was neither in demand nor its price payable in cash.

The cabin of John Calligan, built in July, was the first one erected in 1856. It was built of unhewn logs tak- en from the native timber on the premises and the roof was constructed of split clapboards covered with dirt

There were about twenty acres of and prairie sod. It had a large fire- timber on the claim of Mr. Calligan and forty acres on the adjoining claim

place in the east end of. it and on "Christmas Eve" some logs were roll- of his brother-in-law, Michael Broder- ed. in and the fire kept burning all ick. This timber, which was along night. The burning of the Yule log the banks of Lizard creek, was full of on Christmas Eve was an event of con- game, such as beaver, mink and musk- siderable interest in those days since rat. Mr. Calligan had never engaged there was little or nothing in the way in trapping, but when he found the of variety to attract attention. He Indians and others came long distances occupied this log cabin about seven for that special purpose and were often years and in 1863 built a larger house very successful, he began to do so, too, of hewn logs and sawed lumber, haul- and realized an annual income from ing the latter from Boonsboro, the this source ranging from $100 to $130 first county seat of Boone county.

During his first year Mr. Calligan raised a good crop of potatoes and sold some of them the following spring at $2.00 a bushel. He had seventeen acres of fine looking corn that had

for several years. Many a time did Mrs. Calligan carry a sack of furs all the way to Fort Dodge, twenty miles distant, and return the same day lug- ging her purchases.

On one occasion in the winter of been planted and cultivated with a 1857, Mr. Calligan saw an otter at a hand hoe after the sod had been turn- distance moving in the direction of a ed, but a severe frost on the 16th day spring. He managed to get near the of September completely destroyed it. spring without being observed, and He was a good hand with the flail when the otter arrived it showed signs and many a crop of wheat did he of battle, until he laid it low with a pound in the cooler weather with this whack from a club he had provided for rude implement for the man of mus- that purpose. This otter weighed

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FIRST SETTLEMENTS IN THE COUNTY.

about thirty pounds and he received township. He was regarded as one of $6.00 for its fur in Fort Dodge.

the most hospitable men in the Lizard wealthiest.

Mr. and Mrs. John Calligan are still settlement and became also one of the living, and reside at Gilmore City. Their daughter Maggie married first

Patrick Collins was a member of the to Morris O'Conner, who died in 1885; first school board in 1860, when the and later to James Whelan, residing at Emmetsburg, was one of the first Lizard district was organized. About the year 1865 he moved to Webster children born in the county, and her county and died there in September, portrait may be seen in the Lizard 1897. group. Their son, Edward M. Cal-

Walter Ford, now a resident of ligan, taught the first public school at Clare, was one of the first to locate in Fonda in the winter of 1870-71, when Pocahontas county. He took an act- Cedar formed a part of Lizard town- ive part in all matters relating to the ship; and T. J. Calligan, another son, organization of the county and was resident of Gilmore City, was a mem- ber of the Board of County Supervis- County Supervisors, 1874-1876. He is ors for three years, 1884-86.

honored by a seat with the Board of a native of Ireland, and in April, 1856,

Patrick Calligan, John's brother, at the age of twenty-three years, came was killed through an accident in the to this county and laid claim to the fall of 1856, and his death was the first NE# Sec. 13, Lizard township, and one that occurred in the county.

for two years his home was in this Roger Collins located on the NE} Sec. 23, and entering it as a pre-emp- tion claim Sept. 15, 1856, made his last payment and received the official cer- tificate of ownership from the govern- ment, called a patent, on Nov. 9, 1859. county, while he spent a considerable part of the time at work in Fort Dodge. During the first year his pre- emption was occupied with him by Thomas Crole, a brother-in-law, who was holding and improving an adjoin- He improved and occupied this claim ing claim on the SW } of the same until 1871 when he sold it to Jacob Car- section. During the second year it stens, who held it until about 1890 was occupied with him by Patrick and sold it to Henry Stickelburg, who McLarney, who the previous year had still lives on the adjoining section, married Ellen, the sister of Mr. Ford. number 14.

His claim was entered May 19, 1858,

In February, 1865, Roger Collins en- and the patent was issued Nov. 1, tered the N} of the NW# Sec. 24 1859. His marriage occurred in the as a homestead, and the claim lapsing spring of 1860, and from 1861 to 1870 he resided at Fort Dodge and was en- gaged first in teaming and afterward as a contractor for the building of cellars. he re-entered it March 1, 1870, and ob- tained the patent for it in September following. A short time thereafter he sold it to his cousin, Hugh Collins, who died about the year 1888, and it is now owned by his son, Michael J. Col- lins, of Clare. The "Collins Grove," embracing about 200 acres of natural

In 1870, he returned to the farm which, in the meantime, had been oc- cupied by Michael O'Shea, now at Manson, and William Price, the fath- timber in Pocahontas and Webster er-in-law of James J. Bruce. He con- counties, but chiefly in the former, is tinued to reside on the farm a period still in possession of the Collins' fami- of twenty-four years, or until 1894, lies. At the time of his decease, when he removed to Clare. His wife Hugh Collins was the owner of 240 died in 1892. Their family consisted acres in the N+ of Sec. 24, Lizard of nine children. They still own and

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PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

The first deed recorded in Pocahon-

occupy the original pre-emption claim and altogether nearly one thousand tas county is that of the bargain and acres of land in Pocahontas and Hum- sale of this property, (SW } Sec. 1) boldt counties. For eleven successive made and executed May 7, 1859, by years 1883-1893, just previous to his and between Mary Connors and Den- removal from it, Mr. Ford was a jus- nis Connors her husband, party of tice of the peace of Lizard township. the first part, and Michael O'Connors, The old home is now occupied by party of the second part, for $400. Walter P. Ford, his eldest son, who in This deed was acknowledged before 1894 married Elizabeth O'Niel, of Erastus G. Morgan, notary public, Lizard township and for a couple of and witnessed by E. D. G. Morgan. years thereafter engaged in the grain Whilst this deed was the first one on record both bear an earlier date. and general merchandise business in recorded, the second and third ones Clare.

Dennis Connors entered as a pre- The second one was executed April 19, emption claim the SW ≥ of Sec. 1, 1859, before John C. Bills, a notary Lizard township, July 16, 1856. The public of Scott county, (who not long following year he built a log house since was a prominent member of the upon it and it was occupied by him- democratic side of the lower house self, wife and child, until the spring of the legislature of Iowa,) and was of 1860, when they moved to Inde- the transfer of 320 acres of Sec. 12, pendence. His father-in-law, Dermi- now Washington township, by Adelia dy, came with him, but the latter B. Smith, of Scott county, to Edwin did not become an actual settler. H. Lansing, of Wyoming county, N.

This log house of Dennis Connors' Y., for $1000. The third deed record- was located near the highway, a few ed is of still earlier date, namely, Feb. rods south of the creek, and for two 4, 1859. It is the deed of Isaac P. successive seasons it was used as a Coats and Laura S. Coats, his wife, of school house. The first teacher who Scott county, to Adelia B. Smith, of taught school in this building was the same place, for eighty acres on Philip Russell, a resident of the Sec. 12, also in Washington township. Lizard settlement and then Clerk of It will be perceived that the last two of the District Court, and the second were between investors or speculators, was Miss Fannie Haire, now Mrs. and only the first one was between M. T. Collins, whose term extended actual settlers; it may have been for from January to May, 1865. These this reason it was placed first on the were the first teachers in the Calli- records. gan district. The antique building they occupied was taken down and used for fuel a few years after the erection of the frame school house in this district in 1865.

Philip Russell was a native of Ire- land, came to America in 1850 and to Webster county in 1854, where he lo- cated near Fort Dodge for two years. The Russell family consisted of him-

Dennis Connors and family in 1860, self, his mother, two sisters Catherine moved to Independence where he and Mary, and one brother, John. died, he having sold his claim to While residing at this place Philip Michael O'Connors, (no relative) who came to Pocahontas county and lo- died in 1862. Mrs. O'Connors, wife of cated as his claim the W} NW} and the latter, held it until the time of W+ SW} Sec. 2, (T. 90, R. 31,) Lizard her decease, in 1884, since which date township, embracing 160 acres. In their son Michael O'Connors has con- 1856, the family moved upon it and tinued to own and occupy it.

the work of improvement was begun.

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FIRST SETTLEMENTS IN THE COUNTY.

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The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 19

Author: Flickinger, Robert Elliott, b. 1846 Publication date: 1904 Publisher: Fonda, Iowa, G. Sanborn Number of Pages: 1058

Author: Flickinger, Robert Elliott, b. 1846
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Fonda, Iowa, G. Sanborn
Number of Pages: 1058