The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 34

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 34

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263

SECOND PERIOD, 1870-1882.

Where the prairie sod had been Achor and others of their neighbors broken or the ground newly cultivated living north of them in Palo Alto during that and the two preceding county sustained similar losses on years, there had grown a great lot of this occasion. This was one of the tumble weeds that were then dry as hard years to the settlers of this coun- tinder and loose at the root. These ty when the fire consumed what the miniature haystacks (see frontispiece) grasshoppers had left.

rolled over the prairie, before the wind that drove the fire, like flocks of On Tuesday, October 13, 1874, a fire was started near the Fonda creamery sheep, carrying the flames over the that ran first northward to Dover barriers that were supposed to be township, and then westward, de- proof against the progress of any fire. stroying a considerable amount of

When the farmers the next day property. A farmer of Dover town- looked for their stacks of hay on the ship lost his hay by this fire, and prairie and of straw or grain in the many of his cattle starved to death field, they saw only the place where the ensuing winter.

they had served as fuel for the flame.

On October 6, 1875, another fire Where the fire passed through the from the south burned over the west- groves and orchards, most of the ern portion of the county, destroying young trees were killed. Numerous a large amount of the hay and un- bins, stables and other buildings, to- threshed crops of that year, which gether with their contents or stock were the least injured by the grass- enclosed therein, were burned. Some hoppers during the period of their vis- of the hogs that escaped sustained the itations.

loss of their bristles, and others the loss of their ears or other extremities. There was no place for miles around where this fire did not spread, and in many instances the home was the only building saved.

About this time the cattle raisers in other counties soutli of this one began to send here, in the spring of the year, great numbers of cattle that were herded on the unoccupied prai- ries in this section during the summer.

Some indeed were not even so for- The close pasturage of the prairies tunate as to save their homes. One proved a public benefit, for by this of those who lost everything by this means the areas that had previously fire was Andrew Jackson, of Grant been sources of danger every recurring township, who at this time was occu- fall and spring. were now transformed pying the dug-out of his neighbor, into real barriers to the spread of the Stephen W. Norton. Mr. Jackson and prairie fire, and to this extent lessened family at the time of the fire were in the danger of losses from this cause. Sac City. When he returned and found his stacks, stable, own cabin and furniture, representing his year's crop and improvements, all destroyed he was completely discouraged and left the county.

On Monday, October 6, 1879, another general and destructive prairie fire oc- curred that is worthy of special men- tion. It began in the vicinity of Lake City, where it burned slowly for sev- eral days, the weather being calm. During the afternoon of the third day

In September, 1873, another de- structive fire swept northward through a strong wind from the south arose the central part of the county, that that drove it northward at a rapid burned all the buildings of John B. rate through Williams township and Joliffe and his neighbor, Mr. Rowley, that portion of Pocahontas county residing in the northeast part of Pow- that is west of Cedar creek. When hatan township. Messrs, Clemons, the fire came sweeping over their

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PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IO WA.

farms in Williams township, Martin foliage, killed many of them, but after Welsh, Win. Wykoff, O. O. Brown and this fire only a remnant of about 100 others were attending a meeting of trees remained. the school directors, one mile east of £ Since 1880, prairie fires have not Cedar creek. Martin Welsh and fam- been so extensive or frequent in their ily were living on the east side of sec- occurrence. Cultivated fields, herded tion 8, and their stable was located on pastures and graded roads have taken the east or opposite side of the the place of the open prairie with its road on section 9. When Mrs. Welsh treacherous covering of dry grasses, became aware of the near approach of and the danger from this source has the fire, the wind was so strong it been no greater than is incident to lifted and carried burning brands in any other agricultural section. But mid-air, so that the thatch roof of the during the '70's when it was an annu- stable was already ablaze although ally recurring event, the prairie fire, the fire on the ground had not yet in dry seasons, was dreaded more by reached it. Hastening, with only the settlers than blizzards and cy- stockings on her feet, to rescue the clones; in fighting it men exhausted stock at the stable, consisting of two themselves, women fainted and some horses and two cows, she succeeded even lost their lives.

in saving the horses but her feet were so badly burned she fainted and fell

GOPHERS.

The gopher is well remembered by helpless on the road. At the home of every old settler, both for his friendly Wm. Wykoff the fire leaped over a manner and troublesome depredations. strip of plowed land three rods in An occasional one (of the little striped width, and consumed his stable, wag- gophers) may yet be seen on the vir- on, hay and granary, including the gin prairies but during the '70's, be- crop threshed three days previous, fore the boys began the work of their consisting of wheat 100, barley 90, destruction, the prairies were full of flax 60, rye 100 and oats 225 bushels. them.

On the approach of this fire to Fon- The gopher is a burrowing rodent da, the people turned out en masse to having a stout, rat-like form and fight it but they were powerless in strong fore legs, that are adapted for front of the head-fire. It crossed the digging in the ground. Three varie- railroad west of the Cedar bridge, and ties of them were found in this coun- its movement, northward, as John ty, namely, the pocket, gray and Lemp found while chased across the striped. The pocket gopher has two open section south of the farm of R. cheek pouches that open outside of P. Thompson, was nearly as fast as his the mouth and are used for carrying team could travel. This fire destroyed the ground to the surface while dig- not only a great deal of hay in the ging its hole. This and the gray stack and grain in the bin, but numer- gopher are about the size of a gray or ous groves and orchards. Among the fox squirrel. The striped one resem- losers on this occasion were John bles a ground squirrel but is much Lemp, six stacks of grain; Frank longer, and when alarmed stands up- Hanke, barn and stacks; Eugene Ev- right to see the cause of danger.

ans, barn and cribs; Samuel McDeid,

These occupants of the prairie were thirty tons of hay, and Geo. O. Pinneo ever on the alert to share with the among other things, his nursery. The pioneer farmer not merely the fruits latter had planted 20,000 fruit trees, of his labor in the time of harvest but 2,000 shade trees and 200 evergreens. also the precious seed at seed-time. The grasshoppers, by deyouring their When the corp was planted, the ker-

265

SECOND PERIOD, 1870-1882.

nel was an appetizing morsel to be unexpected experience, and when ,the diligently sought after by the indus- above report was made, the board for trious gopher and, if perchance, he his relief ordered that all parties did not succeed in scenting it before- claiming bounty on gophers should hand in the furrow, he was sure to go "take their tails to the nearest justice for (gopher) it as soon as it came peep- of the peace and by him be sworn to ing through the soil. The loss of the the fact of having destroyed the seed of course meant the loss of the gophers in Pocahontas county." The crop, and so serious were their depre- justice of the peace was to destroy the dations that at last the farmers felt. tails and certify the fact and number the necessity of doing something for of each kind destroyed. Upon the their utter extermination.

On January 5, 1877, a petition was presented to the board of supervisors of this county asking that a bounty be offered for killing pocket gophers, and in response thereto the following resolution was adopted:

Resolved, That the board of super- visors offer a bounty of five cents each for killing pocket gophers and gray gophers, and two and a half cents each for killing striped gophers, when presented in sufficient amounts to be entitled to $1.00 bounty; and the coun- ty auditor is hereby authorized to draw warrants on the county fund, when presented in accordance with this resolution.

The effect of this premium on the heads of the little gophers made their capture very interesting. The boys not otherwise employed went forth with a string, provided with a slip- noose at one end, and made general havoc of them. They then realized how numerous they were and how rapidly they multiplied.

On June 7th, five months after the payment of a bounty was proposed, A. O. Garlock, the auditor, reported to the board of supervisors that from April 1st to that date, warrants for gopher bounty had been issued to 72 persons and the amount of them was $234.68.

presentation of his certificate at the regular session of the board, the boun- ty previously provided was then to be allowed.

Thirty days later, or on July 2, 1877, the auditor reported certificates and the board issued warrants ranging from $1.00 to $13.66, in favor of 63 per- sons, William Brownlee, of Bellville, receiving the largest one.

It will be perceived that gopher hunting had suddenly become im- mensely popular. The times were hard, employment scarce and the bounty offered made the capture of the gopher not merely an interesting sport but a lucrative employment alike to men and boys. The board of supervisors was surprised at the inter- est awakened and became a little alarmed at the results, for the war- rants issued amounted to several hun- dreds of dollars, and no tax had been levied to meet this demand. On that day, therefore, the board ordered that after July 20, 1877, no more bounty should be paid until the people should have an opportunity of approving its payment and vote a tax for that pur- pose. At the general election that fall a tax of one mill for gopher bounty. was approved, there being 206 votes in favor and only 31 against it.

At their next meeting, January 11,

It will be perceived that the first 1878, the board renewed the bounty action of the board required that the on gophers. That fall there were 382 captured gophers be brought to the votes for, and 35 against; and in the auditor, and after the payment of the fall of 1879, which was the last time it bounty on them they were naturally was submitted, there were 280 votes ft in his bands. This was a new and for, and 204 against, a gopher bounty

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PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

tax. The payment of the bounty was shock, the buckwheat in the patch and continued until June 1, 1881, and sev- the corn ripening on the stock. Far eral hundreds of persons were glad- mers that lived in the vicinity of dened by it. Among those whose in- Sunk Grove in the early '70's state, dustry was rewarded by the largest that their loss from the depredations warrants, we note in 1878, Warren of the blackbirds would sometimes Smith, $10.35; C. C. Herrington, $10.95; amount to nearly one third of the K. H. Mathers, $14.63; George and Al- crop.

After their departure many a bert Gilson, $15.00: in 1879, H. Young, stock of corn would have only a red $12.27; and in 1881, Dennis Ragan, $11 .- cob instead of an ear of golden grain. 80; Geo. Gilson, $13.85; Wallace, Noah Blackbirds are not thieves, they and Ralph Hallock, $13.90; Wm. Whit- disdain to act like a thief. They are tlesey, $14.10; T. L. Dean, $19.57 and rather roguish and entertaining vis- James Quinn, $38.37. itors that entertain the husbandman "It matters not what may have been fortune's dole, with a delightful open air concert while they help themselves to the The dream of youth is clear, and when again fruits of his toil. In the fall of the He sees the prairie he looks for the year as they move southward they gopher's hole." sing merrily together, and when they settle upon a field where food is plenty, they give manifest expression to their hearty enjoyment, by blend- ing their myriad voices in one grand chorus of delight that is always charming to the human ear. Al- though the losses sustained from the depredations of the blackbirds were deeply felt, nevertheless their autum- nal chautauquas were so friendly and interesting to the lonely pioneer, that he usually enjoyed rather than be-

Experience proved that the bounty was a wise means of getting rid of these pests. In winter they gnawed the roots of grape vines and young trees; the amount of grain destroyed by one of them in a year is not likely to be overestimated, and by avoiding these losses the welfare of the farmer was promoted. The bounty had the good effect of unifying the efforts of all the farmers at the same time for their extirmination, and this is the only way such a result could be ac- grudged them their free entertain- complished. ment.

THE BLACKBIRDS.

Another friendly visitor and rob- ber of the pioneer was the blackbird, and he was sure to call twice a year. Blackbirds are neither lonely travel- ers nor solo singers, but choral song- sters that make their trip to the sun-

THE BLIZZARDS. - The snow lies thick around us

In the dark and gloomy night, The cold blizzard wails above us,

And the stars withhold their light.

Another cause of hardship to the pioneer of the '70's is found in the se- ny south in the fall of the year in vere snow storms that then occurred flocks of such countless numbers, that they thrill the air with the movement of their wings and cover an acre of ground when they alight. and caused a great deal of privation and suffering. The word "Blizzard" was coined by O. C. Bates, founder of the Vindicator at Estherville, to desig-

In the spring they were accustomed nate the storms of wind and snow that to alight upon the freshly broken were once peculiar to this treeless and prairie where they naturally picked desolate region. The blizzard usually up the seed that had been only half found the pioneer unprepared for its covered. In the fall they were de- coming, and always left him "snowed lighted in finding the oats in the in."

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SECOND PERIOD, 1870-1882.

The old- settlers affirm that the cli- large drifts were formed in the hol- mate of this section has changed con- lows, sheltered nooks and along bluffs siderably since its settlement. The so that the roads in these places were winters generally are not so severeand soon buried several feet deep. To the summers are drier. The drainage pilot one's way in the day time was of the soil has left it not only drier bad enough, but after the darkness of but warmer, and it is possible that night set in the benighted traveler these changes occurring over a large was usually forced to stop and make section of country affect the atmos- the best possible provision for the night. phere in the same way.

It must be remembered that these were days of long distances to the

The blizzards usually lasted three days, and during this period the snow would fall so rapidly and in flakes so mill, store and post office and the far- fine as to suggest that the cloud had mer could not always anticipate descended to unload its burden. It where or when he might be over- would sometimes be ushered in by a taken in the storm. Sometimes a cloud in the western sky that promised pioneer would be overtaken at the only a gentle fall of snow. On the home of his neighbor and not be able first day the snow would commence to to return to his own without getting fall gently, with a slight movement lost on the way. Some even got lost from the southwest; but about noon on the way from the house to the or evening the temperature would barn. It was impossible to see the commence to fall rapidly and the wind, buildings and if one happened to wan- changing its course, would come from der a little from the right direction the north or northwest in whirls, it was difficult to find their location. blasts and sweeping gales, with con- The constant and loud roar of the stantly increasing force, until about the morning of the third day.

Where the fire had swept over the prairie the previous fall there was nothing left to hold the light, feath- ery snow drifting before the driving wind, and this mingling in the air with that which was constantly com- ing from above, formed a white cloud so dense that at a distance from the belts of timber one could not see ord- inarily more than a few rods, and sometimes only a few feet. "We could scarcely see the road just ahead of us," was a common remark. Trails on the prairie were soon covered and but few grades existed; the sharp, frozen par- ticles of snow hurled fiercely in the face and eyes caused a blinding and suffocating sensation and the extreme whiteness of the snow made the ground and sky one color thus producing a About the third day the storm would kind of color blindness that resulted abate and the sun show signs of reap- in bewilderment. In a few hours pearance, but the cold wave would

wind made it impossible to hear the cry of a lost one and, when a row of young trees had not been planted for that purpose, a guide-line of rope or wire from the house to the barn was sometimes used to insure a safe return while passing to and fro. Familiar instances of bewilderment in going short distances in this section are those of John Lemp and George Fair- burn; the former while going from his cabin to the stable, the latter while going from the depot to his home in Fonda. Children were liable to be- come bewildered and perish on the way from school. The stables or stock pens that were not wholly en- closed would sometimes be filled to the roof with snow and unsheltered stock would be driven for miles before the chilling blasts and then perish.

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PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

hold sway until the morning of the continued to grow stronge and as tehr day following when it would register cold increased the snow became fine 25 to 35 degrees below zero. A few as dust, so that at nightfall the air days of calm weather usually followed was completely filled with it. On the the blizzard and then the sun shone morning of the 15th the temperature from an exceedingly clear sky with un- was 20 degrees below zero and the stinted brightness, as if the eye of heaven would look in cheering sympa-

snow, tossed and driven by the wind, was falling more rapidly than ever. thy upon a bleak, dreary scene where During that day the wind was so the elements had held high carnival, upon a world enshrouded beneath a glistening robe of snow.

furious and the air so densely filled with snow that one could not see more than a few feet distant. The

One who occupied a loghouse in storm did not subside until the close the eastern part of this county, and of the day following. Subsequent sat by a warm stove while one of these storms have been as cold and long but old-time blizzards was raging, states none so blinding as this one during that he remembers how he listened the second day of its continuance. with a feeling of awful security to On beds and cabin floors the snow lay

the clatter of the shingles and the from one to three inches deep and many stables were filled. Families howling of the night wind. Every little while the winter hurricane that lacked fuel went to bed to keep would swell with accelerated rage and warm, and live stock were uncared shake the solid structure over him to for until the fury of the storm had its very foundation .* passed.

At this time there were but

One who was detained at Pocahon- few settlers and very little stock in tas by a blizzard left behind him the the western part of this county. The following suggestive lines: snow lay in drifts fifteen feet deep in "Oh, thou howling, screeching bliz- zard! the low places along the streams and eighteen persons perished from expos- ure in northwest Iowa.

You fairly freeze our gizzard.

You come from the north pole,

And really make our soul On March 25-27, 1875, a severe bliz- Long for the balmy summer shades, zard occurred that detained the school And wish you were in far off hades. board and a number of others from You pile up the snow in cold disdain, And from blowing you scarce refrain; Business quails in your path, And at railroads you only laugh. Center township, three days in the court house at Old Rolfe. They got their meals at the home of A. O. Gar- lock, a few rods distant, but they could We dread thy fierce blast and song, That maketh a board bill one mile long. not obtain bed clothing sufficient for all and the nights were so cold that, in order to keep warm, they had to ap- We long to see thee no more." point one of their number to stay

On March 14-16, 1870, there occurred awake and put wood in the stove about a snow storm that is remembered as once every hour. The wind was so the "big blizzard." The weather for strong that a furious blast of it wrecked some time previous had been mild and the building badly and caused a con- pleasant and the forenoon of the 14th siderable part of the plastering to fall was so warm that the snow at first from the ceiling. It fell with a loud fell in large flakes. Toward evening crash at night while the men were a strong northwest wind arose that sleeping and it thoroughly aroused them very suddenly. Among the num -

"John M. Russell, Lizard.

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SECOND PERIOD, 1870-1882.

ber of those who were in the court days. Drifts were fifteen feet deep house at this time were Wenzel Hubel, and in some instances cattle sheds Joseph Stverak, Joseph Stoulil, direc- were completely covered. S. E. tors, and Wm. A. Hubel, interpreter. Heathman and Geo. Henderson of

The winter of 1880 and 1881 is re- membered for the large amount of snow that fell and the uniformly low temperature that prevailed. On Oct. 15, 1880, the snow fell to such a depth as to fill the cornfields and prevent the husking of that crop that fall. Other snow storms followed this one from time to time during that winter until the depth of the snow was very unusual. The ground was complete- ly and constantly covered with snow from the time the first storm came until the 15th of April following, when a heavy rain melted it and caus- ed floods that washed away many of the bridges.

The storm of Oct. 15-17th, 1880, was general throughout the Mississippi Valley and in many places was at- tended with serious results. It rained on the 15th and at night, the temper- ature falling, the rain changed to snow and the wind became fierce. Chimney tops were thrown down, trees were up- The Pocahontas Times, as a result rooted and considerable stock was of this last blockade, was unable to re- killed by the overturning or destruc- ceive the usual supply of paper for its tion of outbuildings, Col. Blandon of weekly issue, and on Tuesday, Feb. 24, Bellville losing several of his best steers 1881, in order to maintain the regular and J. E. Metcalf seventeen. The corn publication of its legal advertisements, crop was left flat on the ground, every there was issued a small four page line of telegraph wire in the entire paper of which most of the copies were northwest was thrown down and the printed on brown wrapping paper. It western railroads were blockaded gen- is remembered as the blizzard issue of erally, the Illinois Central from Sat- the Pocahontas Times. It was issued urday noon until Monday night.

On Jan. 20-22, 1881, another snow storm occurred and the weather was colder than for twelve years previous. The Cedar was frozen to the bottom and considerable stock perished.

Powhatan, each lost stock to the amount of $100 and many others less amounts. The first train from Sioux City on the 11th was overtaken by an- other blinding snow storm from the northwest before it arrived at Fonda, and at Pomeroy it was compelled to remain from Friday night until the following Tuesday morning. The road west of Fonda was not opened until a couple of days later. On Saturday morning, the 19th, just when the road had been fairly opened, a violent wind from the north began to blow that im- mediately filled the cuts and again blockaded the trains. On Monday night the first train from Sioux City passed and Tuesday morning the wind again filled the cuts and stopped all trains until Thursday. This was the third time in succession, that within a few hours after the first Sioux City train passed Fonda, the railroad was again completely blockaded with snow.

on the last day of the blockade and in it the editor expressed his sympathy for the railroad men by observing that "If the railroad men get through this winter, without the use of exclama- tions not taught in the Sabbath schools their hereafter will be assured."

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The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 34

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