The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 30

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 30

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Frank G. Thornton, Oscar A. Pease.

II .- IN SOUTH PART OF THE COUNTY.

Carl Steinbrink, Wm. Price, John F. Hintz,

G. Schoonmaker,

James J. Bruce, Jacob Carstens, John Weise,

G. B. Carstens, Michael Weise, John Julius,

David Wallace, John W. Wallace, H. Stickelberg,

M. McCormick, M. Fitzgerald,

A. H. Van V'Iknb'g Patrick Crahan,

Patrick Enright, Michael Crahan, Ferdinand Zanter, James Sinnott,

Michael O'Shea, David Miller,

John Donahoe,

Dennis Mulholland Henry Shields, David Brown,

John H. Johnson, Joseph Fell,

*Julia A Johnson, John Harrold,

Isaac W. Johnson, Thos. Harrold,

*Widow of Marshall Johnson, later married

Ira Strong, Geo. W. Strong,

Oscar I. Strong, A. M. Thornton,

Wm. Westlake,

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PIONEER PERIOD.

Daniel Johnson, Wm. Stenson, Wm. Boyd, J. D. Hoefing, Jos. Brittenbach, Wm. Brownlee, Swan Nelson, John Lampe, F. J. Lampe, Henry Lampe, John W. O'Keefe, Benjamin Rost, Henry Shields, Carl Rodman, Patrick Riley, J. C. Carey, Elijah Chase, Geo. Spragg, Ephraim Garlock, A. O. Garlock, W. E. Garlock, Geo. W. Smith, Fred Steendorf, Geo. Sanborn, Joseph Brinker, C. M. Saylor, Felix W. Parrish,

Rev. J. A. Griffin, August Prange,

Gad C. Lowrey, John Russell,

R. F. Cedarstrom,

C. F. Hillstrom, Chas. P. Peterson, Fred Smith,

William Bell, Nils Hanson, W. B. Dickinson, R. Zieman, Sr., H. Helmich, August Mullen, John Kreul, Bernard Stegge, William Tobin, E. K. Cain, Bernard Niehouse, Michael Rankin, John C. Evervine, Horace Skinner,

Charles Skinner, John Dunkerly, H. C. Tollefsrude, C. H. Tollefsrude, E. M. Tollefsrude, H. L. Norton,

S. W. Norton, J. S. Howell,

I. E. Parrish, Rudolf Zieman,

Amandus Zieman,

Ludwick Turner, John A. Hay.

These hopefully came to the west. A wilderness before them lay,

A garden that should bloom one day. No castes were here but all were free To found a home in a land of liberty.

These pioneers, like the few who had arrived before them, did not come to this section to mine gold, to gain wealth by lumbering or make their living by hunting game with the gun, or fish with the rod and net; they came for higher and nobler purposes; to found homes, to convert these des- olate wilds into fruitful fields and de- velop a christian civilization that would secure to every citizen the same privileges and advantages in solving the problem of their individual des- tiny. Their first concern was to pro- vide a place of shelter and then for the cultivation of the soil. All that they found was Nature's handiwork. Pocahontas then was seen,

Arrayed in her robe of green;

A maid of more than usual charms,

A prairie destined for a thousand farms.

GROVE PLANTING.

The date of this second immigration marks the era of grove planting. The first settlers located along the streams where there were narrow belts of nat- ural timber and they had secured all of these apparently most desirable locations. The newcomers were there- fore obliged to build on the open prai- rie and a grove of timber around their buildings became necessary as a pro- tection from the high winds and storms. In the course of a few years the prairies were dotted with beauti- ful groves of maple, willow and cotton- wood, and these gave a finer appear- ance to the country.

One can no longer see the long dis- tances that were possible to an ob- server before the era of artificial groves. Citizens of Bellville town- ship state that, during this early pe- riod and from elevated points in that township, it was possible to see the grove of natural timber at Sunk Grove in the northwest part of Cedar township, and also buildings in process of erection at Sac City.

TRAPPING.

The coming of this second immigra- tion marks also the beginning of the period when "trapping" became a popular and profitable business among the settlers. During the winter of 1859 a hunter by the name of Jacob Mirale, shot and killed along the Des Moines river ninety-six deer, six elk and one buffalo. Nearly all the large game in Northwestern Iowa, however, disappeared during the early sixties, and hunting, except for small game and waterfowl, was no longer profit- able. Trapping muskrats now be- came not only the most interesting diversion in the fall of the year, but to some their most profitable avoca- tion.

The first settlers of this county were neither hunters nor trappers. This fact is worthy of note, for if they had

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PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

engaged in trapping they might have country; and the official certificate of secured a larger income from this the government, by which the title of source than from their little patches the public lands is conveyed to indi- of corn and wheat. They were no vidual holders, is called a "patent," doubt aware of the fact that mink and to denote that it is the original cer- otter were plenty, that beavers had tificate of conveyance and to distin- built numerous dams along the streams guish it from all subsequent ones, and that muskrats, building their which are called "deeds."

slough grass houses in the sloughs had

By an act of congress approved Sep- made them look like real cities of rats tember 4, 1841, all lands then belong- where they multiplied from five to ing to the United States or to which fifteen fold each year; also that pro- the Indian title might later be extin- fessional trappers and bands of peace- guished, were subject to the right of ful Indians made annual pilgrimages pre-emption under the conditions pre- to this "trappers' paradise" along the scribed in that law. Under this "pre- Lizard streams, but not having come emption law" any one who was the to this section attracted by these head of a family, a widow or a single aquatic rodents, it required the lapse person over the age of twenty-one of several years before they came to years and a citizen of the United an appreciation of the value their States, (or had filed a declaration of hides might have been to them. The intention to become a citizen as re- furs of these animals at that time quired by the naturalization laws) brought a high price, as follows: might locate on these unoccupied Muskrats 20 to 35 cents each; mink lands, and file a claim with the regis- $5.00 and upwards; beaver and otter $5.00 to $15.00 each.

All the settlers of this entire pi- one hundred and sixty, if it was be- oneer period enjoyed unrestricted yond the limits of any railway grant. privileges for raising cattle. Their The first step in securing a pre- herds roamed over the prairies for emption was to go upon the land and miles in all directions without the commence improvements. When this least hindrance, and the income real- was done, if the land had been ized from this free pasturage was, in offered at public sale, the applicant most cases, greater than that de- within thirty days from the date of rived from their cultivated farms.

ter of the land office for that district for any number of acres not exceeding

THE PRE-EMPTION CLAIM.

his settlement, filed his claim and within one year made proof of actual residence on and cultivation of the land. On the payment of $1.25 an acre, (or $2.50 if within a railway grant) he received a patent, or certifi- cate of ownership, from the govern- ment.

The only title to the soil that has ever been recognized in the aboriginal inhabitants of this country was that of occupation. This right has gener- ally been respected until it has been extinguished by treaty, purchase or conquest under the authority of the The first settlers in Lizard and Des Moines townships secured their homes under this law. They ' were called "pre-emptors" and their claims "pre- emptions." nation exercising dominion over them, but they have never been permitted to dispose of their possessions except to the nation to which they were thus bound by a qualified dependence. By an act of congress approved May The United States, or the state gov- 15, 1856, a grant of every alternate sec- ernment, thus becomes the original tion designated by the odd numbers source of title to all lands in this for six sections in width on each side

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PIONEER PERIOD.

of the road, was made to the state of lan, Nicholas Nolan, James Gorman, Iowa for the purpose of aiding in the Peter McCabe, Michael Broderick, construction of a railroad from the Michael Walsh, James Donahoe, John city of Dubuque to Sioux City; and on Quinlan and Thomas Crowell.

December 27, 1858, this belt of alter- In Lake township the only pre- nate sections, twelve miles in width emptors were Patrick Forey, Henry across this state, was certified and ap- Brockschink and John Russell.

proved by the Department of the In- terior as belonging to the Dubuque & Pacific (now Ill. Central) railway Co.

The pre-emptor who had located on an odd-numbered section and had ob- tained his patent before these lands were certified to the railway company, was not affected by this grant save that he found all lands adjoining had doubled in value; but the pre-emptor who had not gained previous posses- sion now found that his improvements were upon the lands of another owner, and in changing his location to the even-numbered sections within the railroad limits, he could pre-empt only eighty acres and had to pay $2.50 an acre.

On May 20, 1862, the time for a pre- emptor to make his final proof and payment was extended from one year to two and one-half years, and to all persons rendering military or naval service the time was indefinitely ex- tended to six months after the expira- tion of their term of service.

In the north part of the county there were pre-emptors in two of the townships as follows:

DES MOINES-A. H. Malcolm, Guern- sey Smith, Robert Struthers, Wm. Struthers, Wm. Jarvis, Henry Jar- vis, Samuel N. Harris, David Slos- son, Orlando Slosson, John Strait, James Smith, John A. James, James Edelman, Julia A. Nowlan and Daniel W. Hunt.

CLINTON-Ora Harvey.

In the south part of the county the following residents of Lizard town- ship were pre-emptors: John Calli- gan, Michael Collins, Roger Collins,

THE HOMESTEAD.

The homestead law was framed by Galusha A. Grow and approved by President Lincoln May 20, 1862.

Under the homestead law the land is virtually a gift to the settler by the government in consideration of set- tlement and cultivation, the fees charged being about sufficient to cov- er the cost of entry and conveyance. Under the pre-emption law the right of purchase was conceded only to the actual settler, and under both laws the lands occupied were exempt from taxation during the term necessary to acquire a title, or a patent was issued.

The homestead consisted of eighty acres or less within, and of 160 acres or less, beyond the limits of a railway grant, save that all honorably dis- charged soldiers from the army and sailors from the navy, by the act of June 8, 1872, were entitled to 160 acres within as well as beyond the railway limits. The entry fee for eighty acres or less was $5.00 and for more than that amount, $10.00. The commis- sions within the railway limits were double those beyond and made the total cost of the land to the home- steader as follows: For 40, 80 and 160 acres beyond the railway limits-the land being valued at $1.25 an acre- $7.00, $9.00 and $18,00 respectively; and within these limits-the land be- ing valued at $2.50 an acre-$9.00, $13.00 and $26.00 respectively. On July 1, 1879, this law was amended so that citizens as well as soldiers might homestead 160 acres within the rail- way limits.

In favor of the soldiers of the war of Charles Kelley, Philip Russell, Wal- the rebellion it was provided that the ter Ford, Dennis Connors, Chris No- term of their service during the war

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PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

to the extent of four years, might be "homestead" claims were located were deducted from the five years'residence Lizard, Bellville, Colfax, Cedar, Do- required by law; and a soldier honor- ver, Grant, Lincoln, Powhatan and ably discharged by reason of wounds Des Moines. From one to three or disability contracted in the service claims were located in Clinton, Lake might be so credited with the entire and Swan Lake townships, but none term of his enlistment. in Center, Sherman, Marshall and In order to obtain a homestead, the applicant filed with the register of the U. S. land office a declaration that he was over twenty-one years of Washington townships. The lands in these last named townships were bought by non-resident purchasers be- fore the settlement of the county had age, that he was a citizen of the been extended to them; there were no United States or intended to become permanent settlements in them until the spring of 1870. The only advan-

one, and that the entry was made for his exclusive use and benefit for act- tage the pre-emptor had when com- ual settlement and cultivation. The pared with the cash purchaser was, entry thus made vested in the home- that he obtained possession of his steader only an inceptive right. He lands without advance payment and had a claim to the land which no one held them without taxation until his could dispute so long as he complied final payment was made the same as with the law requiring him to live the homesteader. As soon as the first railroad grants were made, there-

upon and cultivate it for five years; but he had no title to the land where- by doubling the price of all lands by he could convey it. If he aban- within their limits, the attention of doned the land or remained absent cash purchasers was directed to the from it more than six months his en- lands just beyond those limits, and in try was liable to be contested and a very short time they had gained cancelled; and then the land was possession of them.

again open to the first legal applicant. The feeling that one was settled and fixed on a "homestead" was an in- his claim for five years the settler was ducement to improve it by the erec- tion of comfortable buildings, by en- closing fields and planting shade trees, groves and orchards. Each successive Having resided upon and cultivated allowed two years more, but no longer, in which to make his "final proof." This final proof consisted in the affi- davit of the settler and another one improvement was a hond binding the signed by two disinterested witnesses, settler still closer to his home, and showing that the claimant was a cit- this brought contentment to his fam- izen of the United States, that he had ily. His wife and daughters fell in made actual settlement upon and cul- love with the country, his sons, appre- tivated the land in good faith for the time required and that he had never

perfected or abandoned an entry made pation, preferred farming to profes- sional loafing, and the father was happy in seeing the contented and cheerful faces of his family.

under the homestead laws.

"Happy the man whose wish and care A few productive acres bound; Content to breathe the balmy air On his own ground; Whose herds yield milk, Whose fields yield bread,

Whose trees in summer yield him shade In winter, fire."

ciating the home founded for them on the farm more than places of dissi-

The home may be humble, but make it convenient and beautiful, and the children will love. it above all other places; they will leave it with regret, think of it with fondness, come back

The townships in which most of the to it joyfully and seek their chief hap-

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PIONEER PERIOD.

piness around the cozy and familiar to achieve final success in the old fireside.

The effort to improve and beautify the old homestead gave unusual pleas- ure and delight. It awakened the their husbands have endured the pri- feeling that

"There is something to live for And something to love, Wherever we linger, Wherever we rove;

For the spirit of man

Is like garden or grove; It will yield a sweet fragrance, If by unremitting toil He develops the spring blossoms And cultivates the soil."

Women and children need more than bread and raiment. They have a love for the beautiful that seeks expression as well as tastes that may be culti- vated. Their ingenuity was taxed and their time employed in efforts to make their humble home on the prai- rie a lovely one, by constant efforts to multiply its comforts and conven- iences. They planted the fragrant flowers and trailing vines while others set the trees for their shade and lus- cious fruit.

When necessary, the little cabin on

homestead would be adequate that did not include woman's share in it.

The women, who by the sides of vations and hardships incident to the development of new countries, are among the noblest of their sex. Their self-sacrifice and devotion have marked every age in the settlement of the American continent, and looking back to the early days of this county we see that here they maintained that reputation. In the early settlement of this county they ground the corn for the stock, held the plow, went often without the necessaries of life; they helped to gather the scanty crops, and, amid the heat of summer and the cold of winter, they wavered not because of want and exposure.

As unto the bow the cord is, So unto the man is woman; Though she bends him, she obeys him, Though she draws him, yet she follows; Useless each without the other. -LONGFELLOW.

THE TIMBER CLAIM.

On March 3, 1873, an act was ap- the old homestead was opened for proved known as the "timber culture school and public worship. Thus act," the purpose of which was to en- their minds and hearts were culti- courage the growth of timber on the vated as well as the fields, and intelli- western prairie where large portions gence and contentment became the of the unoccupied public lands were rule instead of the exception.

destitute of timber. Under this act anyone entitled to claim a homestead, might enter as a "timber culture" claim one quarter section (160 acres) of prairie land, upon making affidavit to the fact that he desired it for his own benefit and for the purpose of plant- ing and cultivating timber upon it.

The difficulties to be surmounted by the occupant of the old homestead in this county during this period were certainly very great. He obtained land, plenty of it; it was fertile and he could claim it as his own, but he had little else. The produce of the soil had to be consumed at home or The person making the entry for a "tree" or "timber claim" of 160 acres near it; ready money was scarce, dis- tant products were scarcer and com- was required to break or plow five forts, other than the modest substi- acres during the first year; and during tutes of home manufacture, were un- the second year to cultivate them and obtainable. The experience of priva- plow five additional acres. During tion and hardship usually fell most the third year he was required to cul- heavily upon the wives and mothers, tivate the second plot that had been and no estimate of the heroism needed broken

and plant the first

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PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

one with timber seeds or cuttings. residence on the homestead, he made During the fourth year he was re- another entry for a "timber claim," quired to plant the second plot with it was possible in this way for the timber, seeds or cuttings, and to pro- settler to acquire a title to an aggre- tect and cultivate both of them. gate of 480 acres. This was done oc- Fruit trees and shrubbery were not casionally, but more frequently the regarded as timber under this act. additional claims were taken by dif- Timber claims of less than 160 acres ferent members of the same family. were to be cultivated and planted during the same periods and in the fifteen "timber claims" were located same proportion, namely, to the in Pocahontas county, and J. A. amount of one-sixteenth of the area Sayre located the first one on section claimed. The land office fees for the 18, Dover township, July 13, 1875. timber claim were $9.00 for 80 acres During the next year Joseph South- or less, and $14.00 if more than that. worth located one on the same section

So far as we have been able to learn, If at the expiration of eight years from date of entry or at any time with- in five years thereafter the claimant and Swan Peterson one on section 36, Bellville township. The other timber claims were filed by Abraham Bor- proved by two witnesses that he had jenson on section 18, and C. G. Blan- successfully cultivated the required den on section 24, Bellville township; amount of timber for not less than George Garlock (cancelled) and John C. Williams on section 18, Dover town- eight years according to the provisions of the act of June 14, 1878, he was en- ship; John Lemp on section 18, Cedar titled to a patent for the land em- township, and Emma Hirshfield on section 28, Swan Lake township. The braced in the entry. But if at any time after one year from the date of application for this last one was filed entry, the claimant failed to comply with any of the requirements of the act, his claim became liable to con-

August 18, 1883; Blanden's claim was filed in November following. A little later Wm. H. Burnett made an entry test; and upon due proof of such fail- of the SE} SE} Sec. 6, (40 acres) Cedar ure his entry was cancelled and the township, as a timber claim, and it is land again became subject to entry, now held as such by Henry Voss. either as a homestead or timber claim by some other persons. If, however, his trees were destroyed by fire, drought or grasshoppers, his time for final proof was extended.

It will be perceived that the "tim- ber culture" act did not require the settler to live upon the claim as the pre-emptor and homesteader were re- quired to do. By reason of this fact the homesteader, if he wished, could also enter a timber claim. In fact, after a settler had exercised his right

The other timber claims were secur- ed by J. B. Joliffe on Sec. 2 and J. B. Kent on Sec. 4, Powhatan township; L. C. Coffin on Sec. 7 and Thomas En- right on Sec. - , Clinton township; W. F. Atkinson on Sec. 10, Marshall township.

THE SOURCE OF SUPPLIES.

During this entire period, which preceded the advent of any of the present railway facilities, Fort Dodge was the source of supplies to all the settlers of this county. The follow- of pre-emption and obtained a title ing facts in regard to this city are of to his claim, there was nothing in the historic interest: laws subsequently enacted to prevent The town of Fort Dodge was plat- him from proceeding to settle upon ted in March, 1854, at which time the another tract under the homestead only residents were Major Williams, law; and if, during the period of his James B. Williams, John M. Heflcy

241

PIONEER PERIOD.

and the family of Wm. R. Miller, who an additional impulse, new sections kept the hotel. During that same were platted and the city grew rapid- month, John Scott and his brother ly. Robert and family arrived; and on The wonderful advance of civiliza- June 28th following, ex-Governor Cy- tion is frequently remarked in a gen- rus C. Carpenter, walking the distance eral way, but few of us practically re- from Des Moines to that place. He alize the progress of settlement during taught the first school in that town the past forty years in this section of the ensuing winter, in a small log the country.

In 1859, when this building back of the Wahkonsa hotel. county was organized, there was not a In the spring of 1855, John F. Dun- single postoffice within the territory combe, Geo. B. Sherman and a host of now included in the states of North others arrived, and so great was the and South Dakota, whose population crowd for the size and capacity of the is now counted by hundreds of thou- town that when the dinner bell at the sands. Ten counties in Northwestern hotel rang, fifty persons would make Iowa, among which were Buena Vista, a rush for the table, which could ac- Lyon, O'Brien, Osceola, Plymouth and commodate only ten. In May, Wm. Pocahontas, had not a postoffice. The Hodges bought the hotel and enlarged counties of Clay, Cherokee, Emmet, the table to a capacity for one hun- Carroll, Ida and Sac had one each, dred guests. The population of the while Crawford, Dickinson and Palo town was then about 150 persons and Alto had two each.

the greater part of them were young THE U. S. LAND OFFICES. men. A postoffice was established The first United States land office in Iowa was established at Burlington. In January, 1848, one was established at Iowa City, where it remained until the capital of the state was trans- ferred to Des Moines, in 1857. On November 5, 1855, the state of Iowa was divided into four districts, viz: Des Moines, Fort Dodge, Sioux City and Council Bluffs, and a land office was established in each of them, in the city giving name to the district. The Fort Dodge district extended along the north boundary line of the state from the line between ranges 33 and 34, to the line between ranges 24 and 25; thence south along this range line to the corner common to town- ships 93 and 94; thence east to the line between ranges 18 and 19, and thence south to the line between townships 85 and 86; thence west to the line be- tween ranges 33 and 34, and thence north to the north line of the state. and Major Williams became the first postmaster. John F. Duncombe was the first lawyer, and Geo. B. Sherman established the first grocery store, where he furnished the early settlers with groceries, often exchanging them for furs, deer skins or any other com- modity that would bear transporta- tion to Muscatine and other places along the Mississippi river. The first frame building in the town was erect- ed in May, that year, and was used for a public office, and the first brick building was erected that fall. As winter approached, the squatters on the pre-emption claims in the country around returned to the town, and the hotel and boarding houses being full, they established bachelor halls where the young men broiled their own ven- ison and provided for their hungry comrades. In 1856, the grant of lands was made to the Dubuque & Pacific railway, and this company giving the The U. S. land offices at Fort Dodge and Council Bluffs were continued for the convenience of settlers in making assurance that their road would be built at once and Fort Dodge be made an important station, it gave the town their entry of the public lands, until

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The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 30

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