The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 38

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 38

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"Like the water we so freely drink, And the pure life-giving air,

Is the home paper, with its precious gifts, And almost magic charm,

As it comes to break the monotony Of life upon the farm."

THE CENSUS TAKEN.

in the south tier of townships, the south tier of sections in Lake and Lincoln, and the south half of Grant and Dover, there were 955 residents, in Clinton 55, Powhatan 180, and in Des Moines, which included the re- mainder of the county, 256, total 1446, of whom 785 were males and 661 fe- males. At the time this census was taken there was no one residing in what are now Center and Sherman townships, J. C. Strong, Jason M. Rus- sell, Jonathan L. Clark, wife and three children, all living together on sec. 30

The first census of this county was taken in the year 1860 by Chas. Smelt - were the only residents in Washing-

155

396

575

Lizard.

208

334

955

469

453

443

444

543

322

100

166

178

506

463

66 Gilmore City ..

341

479

Swan Lake

292

PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

ton, Alonzo M. Thornton and family,

On March 13, 1873, the Swedish on sec. 18, the only ones in Marshall, Evangelical Lutheran church of Col- and Mr. and Mrs. D. M. Woodin, Alex- fax township was organized that suc- ander F. Hubbell and his brother, ceeded in erecting a house of worship Charles F. Hubbell, all on sec. 24, the in 1884. About the same time and only ones in Dover township.

In 1880 there were five census enu- gelical Mission was established that merators and the county was divided has also erected a house of worship. among them as follows: Geo. M. Dor- In the spring of 1875 Rev. T. M. Lenahen established a Catholic station in the school house at Pocahontas and a church was built there in 1883. ton, Cedar township; C. G. Perkins, Colfax and Bellville; O. I. Strong, Des Moines and Powhatan; Henry Kelly, Lizard, Lake, Lincoln and Clin- On Feb. 4, 1878, the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church in Grant township was organized and in 1894 a church building was erected at Rusk. ton; and C. H. Tollefsrude, Grant, Dover, Sherman, Marshall, Swan Lake and Washington townships.

In 1873, 1875 and 1885 the assessors of the several townships made an enu- meration which in tabulated form with other similar enumerations shows that the progress of the settlement of the county has been as appears in the above exhibit of population.

CHURCHES ESTABLISHED.

The only churches that had been or- ganized during the previous period were the Unity Presbyterian and Methodist Episcopal at old Rolfe and the Lizard Catholic. During the period now under consideration sev- eral other churches were organized established.

In March, 1870, Rev. T. P. Lenahen of Fort Dodge, established Catholic services at the home of Wm. Lynch on sec. 2, Cedar township, and maintained this station until Oct. 20, 1882, when

ganized as the Second Presbyterian church of Rolfe, in the new town then founded, and the present church building was erected in 1888.

HOMESTEADERS.

By an act of Congress approved the Dover Catholic church being near- March 3, 1877, in making final proof of ly completed, he was succeeded by homestead entries the party instead P. J. Carroll who in the fall of 1883 of being required to go to a distant secured the erection of the Catholic land office as had been previously church in Fonda and established ser- necessary, might appear with his wit- vices in it.

nesses before the judge of a court of record of the county in which the land was situated and there make the final

In 1871 Rev. L. C. Woodward, pastor and postmaster at Newell, established M. E. services in the school house at proof. Fonda where they were maintained On August 8, 1877, the following list by others until the fall of 1879 when of names was sent to J. W. Wallace, the Fonda M. E. church was erected. clerk of the court by H. H. Griffiths,

near the same place the Swedish Evan-

In 1878, when Rev. C. W. Clifton was pastor of the M. E. church at old Rolfe, services were regularly held at the school houses in the vicinity of the residences of J. C. Strong and Philip Hamble in. Washington town- ship, at the (Ira) Strong school house, Powhatan township, and occasionally at Coopertown and the Heathman school house near where Plover is now located.

In 1879 Rev. Mr. Johnson, a Luth- eran minister, held services at old Rolfe once a month.

On Oct. 31, 1880, the Unity Presby- and additional preaching stations were terian church of old Rolfe was reor-

293

SECOND PERIOD, 1870-1882.

recorder of the U. S. land office, Des been an unoccupied region was now Moines, as those of persons who had dotted with many happy homes sur- occupied claims for more than five rounded by luxuriant fields of oats, years and were ready for final proof: barley, wheat and corn, and, in en- Aaron Himan C. J. Johnson closed pastures on every side, there Wm. E. Gadaw Charles Johnson Thos. L. Dean August Johnson were as beautiful cattle fattening upon the rich grasses of the prairie as ever gladdened the eyes of man.

S. M. Pettit Christopher Hoppy

Eliza Borjenson John McAuliff

Gust Peterson Martin McAuliff

Peter Peterson

John P. Anderson

John Larson

Mary Springstuble

Gustave Oleson C. P. Lenngren

George Guy James B. Lothian

William Lothian Peter Scherf

Asa Harris

Betsy Nelson .

M. Lahey L. P. Davidson

Samuel Gill A. Anderson

Matthias J. Synsteline

Louisa Lieb

The general joy and gladness of the new era now ushered in, found oppor- tunity for expression in connection with the county nominating conven- tion that was held at Pocahontas on the first day of September that year. The attendance at this convention was much larger than ever before on such occasions in this county. Every township was represented by a full delegation and many others from all parts of the county were also present. The Cedar delegation made the trip

ERA OF BETTER TIMES.

It was in 1877, the year of the great railroad strikes, that there came the across the country in a wagon drawn first indications of the commencement by four horses, all profusely decorated of an era of better times. These were with streamers, and followed by sev- found in the prospects for a fine crop eral loads of citizens. The crowd from and a foreign demand for breadstuffs Des Moines township was led by a that created a good and profitable wagon that bore aloft a large banner market for all the products of the and with that delegation were Messrs. farm.

More corn was planted that Fish and Vaughn, who made things year in this county than ever before, lively with their drums.

and, though in planting time the farmers were not in the best of spirits,

1878.

In the spring of 1878 northwest Iowa yet in the time of harvest their hearts received a large immigration and many were gladdened by a fine crop of small new families located in this county, grain, the first for several years, and a among whom were those of A. B. P. large one of corn. The feeling im- Wood, W. J. Curkeet and H. H. Fitch, mediately began to prevail that about all from Darlington, Wis., C. G. Guy- three good crops would bring complete ett from Montpelier, Vt., who erected relief to all who had become embar- a double store building two stories in rassed during the previous era of hard height on the lots occupied by the times and that this section would McKee brick block, Fonda; N. B. Post, prove to be as productive as any in the J. F. Pattee and Geo. F. Porter, who country. As there was no debt on the located on farms, and Dr. G. W. Both- county the taxes were low and it was well, who located in Fonda in Novem- pleasing to see the smiles that illumi- ber previous. Many new buildings nated the countenances of our "rural were erected, every acre of improved princes" in anticipation of better land was farmed and the demand for times.

lands to rent was greater than the

This was the seventh year after the supply. Another good crop was har- settlement of the western part of this vested that included a large acreage county. That which had previously of flax and wheat and the business outs

294

PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

look of the county was better than this was merely a sentiment that over- ever. The farmers began to perceive looked the fact that to warm one's self that cattle and hogs brought more by the fire and to do the same by the money into their pockets than any- consumption of ford are in the end thing else and their best efforts were precisely similar effects, and if more put forth to raise fine stock for the warmth can be procured by consuming market.

Col. Blanden adds section 26 and part of section 24 to his large farm in the southeast corner of Bellville town- ship, thereby increasing it to 2,760

in a stove a dollar's worth of corn than a dollar's worth of coal it is a legiti- mate use of the corn.

The farmers of this county have now learned that if they do not have acres, and has on hand 50,000 bushels wood and want it, they can grow it. of corn, 2,000 tons of hay, 350 fat A crop of trees can be raised with the steers, 600 hogs and 250 shorthorns, same certainty and about the same of which one-half are registered thor- labor that it takes to grow a crop of oughbreds and the others are of a high corn. On the homestead of A. O. grade. He made this the best stock Garlock, section 24, Cedar township, farm in northwest Iowa and better the growth attained by the different stock could not be found anywhere in varieties of trees in fifteen years was the state. He received for one heifer as follows: Cottonwood, 40 feet in calf this year $350.

height and 49 inches in circumference two feet from the ground; maple, 45 inches; elm, 32 inches; Scotch pine, 28 inches; butternut from the seed in ten years, 26 inches; and oak from the acorn in ten years, 10 inches.

During that fall a number of the farmers in the eastern part of this county lost some of their young cattle from blackleg, an acute fever or dis- ease of the blood that caused nervous prostration, hemorrhages, boils and It was in the year 1870 that the planting of trees in this county began as a fixed plan of farming and many of carbuncles. The animals were usually seized with it at night and died the next day. This disease prevails prin- the first groves were intended chiefly cipally in undrained, marshy districts as a means of protection from the hot sun in summer and the storms in and ordinarily affects only calves and those under one year. It originates winter. The production of timber for spontaneously and in most cases its use as fuel has been a secondary proves fatal. The best preventive is matter, but the results of that first the proper drainage of the land and, pioneer.work now show what may be when it prevails, the feeding once a done upon an intelligent plan and the week to each animal of half an ounce comparative value of different vari- of nitre in its food.

CORN USED FOR FUEL.

During the winter of 1878-9 a great deal of corn was used for fuel by the farmers in the north part of this county. The corn was abundant, the price was low, and it made good fuel.

eties of trees. This problem of fuel has been solved by the increase in railway facilities whereby abundant supplies of both hard and soft coal are now within easy reach of everyone.

1879.

In 1879 J. H. Brower of Michigan There was no timber and coal had to returned to his farm on section 32, be hauled long distances. To many Dover township, W. S. Fegles and persons, it seemed wrong to use an others of Des Moines township went to article of food for fuel, but to others. Nebraska, Wm. Bell of Bellville to the under the circumstances then existing Black Hills, Barney Hancher to Kan-

295

SECOND PERIOD, 1870-1882.

sas and David Slosson to Washington these implements were sold at a very territory. The farmers are in better high price, and the payment for them circumstances, having paid many debts at a future date was usually secured during the previous winter months. by a mortgage bearing a high rate of The resumption of specie payments interest. Comparatively few had having been effected in January, prices sheds for the protection of their ma- of produce gradually increased after chinery when not in use and, by reason that date very much to the satisfaction of the decay and breakage due to the of all. Although this season was one effects of exposure to the sun and of drought the crops in Pocahontas weather, many farmers were unable to county were good and an unusual de- derive more than half their value be- gree of activity prevailed in all lines fore they were worn out and also found of business.

themselves embarrassed by

their

On September 26th Smith Bros., unpaid mortgages. A farmer who was (Thomas and James) of Clinton town- a close observer expressed the belief ship, delivered to Henry Jarvis of old that about two thirds of the farm Rolfe sixty-twosteers for $1,900. They mortgages at this period were due to were sold June 20th previous when the causes just named. But if care- they were weighed and it was found lessness kept some hampered with that the average gain of each steer debt and their homes unimproved a from that date until the day of deliv- wise economy proved as profitable as ery was 275 pounds. They had not a good crop. The dealers became more been fed any grain or hay but made cautious about giving credit, the far- this increase entirely by grazing on mers more careful of their implements the native grasses of Pocahontas and conservative in their purchases, county. On Nov. 23d, W. J. Boyd of and very soon the condition of both Colfax received $3.46 per cwt. for a was greatly improved.

load of hogs and in December follow- ing Millard Seeley of old Rolfe brought three loads of hogs to Fonda and re- turned with as many loads of lumber.

FARM MACHINERY AND MORTGAGES.

1880.

In 1890 the settlement of the entire county had become so general it was divided into the full number of super- visor districts and the board of super- visors was increased to five members.

In the spring of 1879 sulky plows came into general use in Grant town- Among the new and comfortable ship. This incident is suggestive of houses built this year were those of the great improvement in farm ma- Geo. Fairburn, Fonda; Torkel Larson, chinery that was made at this period. Grant; Thomas Nolan, Lake; David Two years previous, (1877) the self Wallace and N. L. Schoonmaker, Liz- binder was first used in this country, ard; and John Pettit, Swan Lake. Good the mower and reaper having preceded barns were erected by Peter Wendell, it a few years. The disk harrow, the Bellville, and Perry Nowlen, Des grain drill, two-wheeled cultivator, Moines. corn planter, hay fork, improved

The crops of all kinds of grain were thresher and portable farm engine increasingly large, those of wheat and were all introduced about this same flax averaging in some instances period and there was a great demand twenty-three bushels to the acre. R. for them in this new section of country. B. Fish, Des Moines, had 309 bushels The same is true of the melodeon, or- of Fife wheat from thirteen acres, gan and sewing machine in the home. Samuel N. Strong, Powhatan, had 100

At the time of their introduction bushels flax from five acres and Henry and for some years thereafter all of Jarvis, Des Moines, 1,047 bushels flax

296

PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

from sixty-seven acres. Corn was abundant and a great deal of it was again used for fuel during the coal famine that prevailed that fall and winter.

The year 1880 was a good one for fruit, especially plums and apples. Plums had never before been so plenti- ful and wherever there were apple trees large enough they were loaded with beautiful apples that made the farmer smile. C. M. Saylor, Lincoln, picked two bushels from one of his young trees, planted only a few years previous. ' The first barrel of apples raised and sold in this county is be- lieved to have been the one gathered by David Slosson, Des Moines, from his young trees and sold to W. D. McEwen at old Rolfe in the fall of 1876.

1881.

cher and IIenry Thomas, who had left the county, returned with their fami- lies to Powhatan township, W. C. Kennedy located on his farm in Clin- ton and H. W. Bissell became proprie- tor of the Center House at Pocahon- tas.

The citizens of Fonda, desirous of having a good flouring mill, at a meet- ing held on the 15th of January, ap- pointed a special committee, consist- ing of Geo. L. Brower, Geo. Fairburn, A. B. P. Wood, J. W. Gray, Wm. Bout, W. J. Busby, O. A. Langworthy and Theodore Dunn, and empowered then to offer Pfeiffer Bros. and Weikal of Newton, Iowa, $500 as an inducement to erect a mill four stories in height and supply it with machinery for do- ing first-class work. This mill 36x48 feet and 50 feet high was completed and began running Oct. 20, 1881.

The year 1881 brought with it many It was provided with an improved en- important changes. D. W. Edgar, M. gine of forty horse power and four run D., located at Fonda and J. N. McKee of stone, one for feed, two for wheat & Co. became the successors of C. G. in connection with another for mak- Guyett in the mercantile business. ing roller process or half patent flour, Geo. Fairburn erected the Pocahontas the only grade manufactured at first. County Bank building and furniture It had a bin that held 8,000 bushels store, the first brick building in Fonda. and a capacity for grinding 150 bushels The Fonda Creamery was built by of wheat and 150 bushels of corn every Messrs. Shellito and Froelich for twelve hours. This mill and its ma- Sampson and French, Storm Lake. chinery was burned Oct. 30, 1893, at Geo. Brower, merchant at Fonda, which time it was owned by Peter leased the creamery when completed Morrison and leased by Kinney Bros. and started a branch store at Poca- It had changed hands several times hontas in care of W. Hodges. G. W. and proved an unprofitable enterprise Hunt and family located at Fonda to all who invested in it.

and on May 12th began the publica- In Des Moines township the Brook- tion of the Fonda Gazette. C. H. side creamery was crected on the south Hinckley and son, of Walnut, pur- side of Beaver creek by Edward Ham- chased section 17, Cedar township, and mond and A. H. Lorimer. This was stocked it with 500 head of cattle, the second creamery established in many of which were thoroughbreds. Pocahontas county, and when it is

W. W. Beam, M. D., of Tama county, remembered that the first creamery located at the hotel de Tedford in old in northwest Iowa was built at Fort. Rolfe in advance of the new railways, Dodge in February 1880, only one year in order that he might move as a pio- previous, the interest in this new in- heer to the new railroad town in the dustry becomes apparent.

northeast part of the county as soon On Feb. 17, 1881, the Iowa State as it should be platted. Barney Ilan: Farmers' Alliance was organized at

297

SECOND PERIOD, 1870-1882.

It was provided with an improved en- of flax led many farmers to sow it gine of forty horse power and four run again on the same ground, as they had of stone, one for feed, and two for wheat planted corn successively in the same in connection with another for mak- fields from the time they raised the ing roller process or half patent flour, first crop of it. They now learned that this was an unprofitable experi-

the only grade manufactured at first. It had a bin that held 8,000 bushels ment.

and a capacity for grinding 150 bushels of wheat and 150 bushels of corn every twelve hours. This mill and its ma- chinery was burned Oct. 30, 1893, at which time it was owned by Peter Morrison and leased by Kinney Bros. It had changed hands several times and proved an unprofitable enterprise to all who invested in it.

In Des Moines township the Brook- side creamery was erected on the south side of Beaver creek by Edward Ham- mond and A. H. Lorimer. This was the second creamery established in Pocahontas county, and when it is remembered that the first creamery in northwest Iowa was built at Fort Dodge in February 1880, only one year previous, the interest in this new in- dustry becomes apparent.

On Feb. 17, 1881, the Iowa State Farmers' Alliance was organized at the close of the annual meeting of the Iowa State Agricultural society at Des Moines and L. S. Coffin of Webster county and C. F. Clarkson of Polk

The deep snows and long continued winter of 1880-81 was followed by a season of unusually bad roads. The snow did not disappear until the rain and floods of April 15th, that washed away many of the bridges, and the fre- quent rains that followed prevented the repair of the roads. Their impass- able condition was proverbial in the spring and, during the months of Sep- tember and October, their condition again was such that an empty wagon was about as much as a team could draw back and forth to town. The frequent heavy rains affected unfavor- ably some of the growing crops and bad roads affected the business inter- ests of the county quite considerably. The season of 1881 in some measure verified the remark of an old Iowa farmer who said "that a dry season al- ways frightens people but it is a wet one that starves them."

Other arrivals in 1881 were Wm. G. Bradley and E. M. Hastings, attorneys, who located at Pocahontas, David county were chosen president and sec- Smeaton who started a lumber yard at retary respectively. The objects of Fonda, and Henry Goodchild who re- this Alliance were the organization of turned to Powhatan. On Feb. 16 the farmers into local alliances for the Messrs. Joseph and Louis Fuchs of discussion of their privileges, rights Cedar township made a shipment of and duties. and to unite them in ef- fat cattle, consisting of 86 head, for forts to promote their mutual inter- which they received at Fonda $4,988, ests. One of the good things accom- or $58 a head. On Sept. 15th the sec- plished by this organization was the ond telegraph wire was put upon the fact that it directed the attention of poles of the Illinois Central railway at the farmers to the profits arising from Fonda.

the dairy industry and led them to co- operate in the support of creameries in every well settled neighborhood.

FIRST DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.

On Aug. 20, 1881, the first demo- cratic county convention was held at The crops of 1881 were not so large Pocahontas under the name of People's as those of 1880, although the acreage Party. It was called to order by T. was larger. The previous good crop L. MacVey, who served as chairman,

298

PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

and J. M. Brown served as secretary. period gave a new impetus to railroad The nominations made were as follows: construction and during 1881, Poca- G. H. Tyler, superintendent of the hontas county became a paradise for Blanden farm, for treasurer; Theo- railroad surveyors. The surveys for dore Dunn for auditor; Anthony Hu- five new railways were made across the dek for sheriff; Henry Kelly for sup- county and twelve special elections erintendent of schools; T. L. MacVey were held in the various townships for surveyor and John Brown for cor- crossed by them for the purpose of oner. A central committee was ap- voting a five per cent tax to aid in pointed for the ensuing year.

paying the right of way through them. Each surveying party usually consisted of eight men, two of whom were sur- veyors. One of these, running the line set the center stakes and the other, measuring the depth of the cuts and height of the grades, set the others.

At their county convention held this year the republicans adopted the fol- lowing resolution: "Whereas the re- publicans of the county have for the past four years or longer, nominated candidates without drawing party lines, and the democrats have now or- ganized an opposition party, errone- ously styling it the "People's Party," be it resolved by this convention that tions be based on the republican vote and that we cordially invite to our ranks those of all parties who sincerely desire the welfare of the county and discountenance personal politics."

TOLEDO & NORTH WESTERN R. R.

In December 1880, the surveyors of the Toledo & Northwestern R. R., a the call for all future county conven- branch of the Chicago and North- western system, passed through this county, entering it on section 1, Clin- ton township, and leaving it on section 19, Swan Lake. On April 12-13, 1881, E. C. Ebersole, their attorney, secured At the ensuing general election held Oct. 11, 1881, Horatio Pitcher, the republican candidate for the legis- lature, received only 250 votes while his opponent, S. A. Clemens, a demo- crat, received 561 votes in this county. This exceptional vote was due to the fact that Pitcher's nomination was the result of a trade whereby Sac and Pocahontas counties were in some measure disfranchised or prevented from having a voice in the representa- tive convention. The qualifications of the candidates did not enter into this contest and it was not affected by the organization of a new party in this county, for there were cast for the state officers that year 561 republican and 242 democratic votes, and all the republican nominees for the county offices were elected. an appraisement and condemnation of the right-of-way across Clinton, Cen- ter, Powhatan, Washington and Swan Lake townships, Sheriff Joseph Malli- son having summoned as the jury of appraisers Harvey Knight, O. A. Langworthy, W. E. Garlock, H. L. Norton, J. F. Pattee, and O. A. Pease. Much of the deep snow of the previous winter still remained, and these men made this two-days' trip across the county in a sled drawn by four horses. This road during that year was com- pleted from Toledo to Webster City. On Jan. 5, 1882, the grading was com- pleted to Rolfe Junction and five days later the track was laid to that place. On Jan. 16th the track was laid to Ilavelock and the first construction train arrived there that day. During the month of March it was extended through Swan Lake township and NEW RAILROADS. during that year, to Sioux Rapids.

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The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 38

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