The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 41

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 41

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"Give it free to the wind As a warning and call; It stands for humanity, God and the right; It proclaims all equal in law and God's sight.

Fling it out on the wind A source of joy to all." FARMERS' ALLIANCES.

ing of March 8th following for the pur- pose of organizing a farmers' mutual insurance company. In response to this call on March 22, 1887, a meeting of the farmers in the vicinity was held in schoolhouse No. 3, Cedar township, and a farmers' mutual insurance com- pany was organized by the election of Geo. Watts president and treasurer, R. Wright of Cedar secretary, and the following persons as directors for one year, namely, W. H. Burnett, S. P. Lampman, Geo. O. Pinneo and C. A. Sayre. The object of this organiza- tion was to provide a cheap and reli- able insurance against fire and light- ning. A farmer became a member of the company by paying a membership fee of $1.00 and five cents additional for each $1.00 of risk taken on his property. The president and secre- tary of this organization called a meet- ing to be held at the court house on June 24, 1887, but no further progress was made at this time.

On July 21, 1888, the Powhatan township farmers' alliance was organ- ized by the election of John Fraser president, James Henderson vice pres- ident, P. G. Hess secretary and Mrs. J. Stronzel treasurer. On April 6, 1889, the Farmers' Alliance at Rolfe, No. 882, of which P. H. Bendixon was president and J. J. Bruce secretary, issued a call for a county convention to be held at Pocahontas May 27, 1889, for the purpose of organizing a county alliance. At this convention there were present delegates from Bellville, Cedar, Colfax, Dover, Grant, Lake, Lincoln, Marshall, Rolfe and Runyan (Washington) local alliances. After a picnic dinner in the grove the con- vention was called to order by P. H. Bendixon. C. M. Sayler of Lincoln was chosen chairman and M. W. Lin-

On March 1, 1887, W. H. Burnett of Cedar, and Geo. Watts of Dover, through the columns of the Pocahon- nan of Dover secretary of the conven- tas Times, issued a call for a meeting tion.

At this meeting it was decided to

of the farmers of Pocahontas county at the Pinneo schoolhouse in Dover organize a Farmers' Mutual Insurance

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PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

Company to consist of all the local made at this time.

alliances in the county, each of which At the next annual meeting held at should be represented by its president Pocahontas March 26th, 1890, C. M. and secretary and one additional rep- Sayler was chosen president, J. J. resentative for every ten members Bruce secretary and George Watts thereof. A constitution was adopted treasurer. Geo. Henderson, C. that provided for the annual meeting M. Sayley, J. J. Bruce, Geo. Watts, to be held in the month of June and P. J. Shaw, Wm. Brownlee, Alex. Pet- June 29, 1889, was designated for the erson, J. W. O'Brien, W. F. Atkinson first meeting.

and James Clancy incorporated under

The object of this organization was the laws of Iowa and the officers were declared to be to unite the farmers of authorized to solicit memberships. Pocahontas county for the promotion After several months spent in this of their interests, socially and financi- work, the oft-expressed wish of the ally, regardless of party; and to oppose farmers of this county was realized all forms of monopoly as being detri- and the Pocahontas Mutual Fire and mental to the best interests of the Lightning Insurance Association, on public. Whilst it was not a political Jan. 1, 1891, issued its first policy to organization they pledged themselves its presiding officer, C. M. Sayler of to support for the legislature only Lincoln township. those men who would best represent The farmers at this period did so the farmers' interests in that body. much fencing and thereby made neces- They adopted this resolution: "That sary the grading of new highways to we favor the calling of a convention such an extent that at the request of for the nomination of county officers the board of supervisors in 1889, the based upon the whole vote of the people voted an extra two mill tax for county rather than submit to the dic- the years 1890, 1891 and 1892 for grad- tation of a few." The officers 'elected ing purposes. were William Brownlee of Bellville, 1890. president, R. N. McCombs vice presi-

In January, 1890, the La Grippe or dent, M. W. Linnan, secretary, Wm. Russian influenza as a general epi- Bott, treasurer,

demic spread over this country and

At the first annual meeting held at nearly everybody was more or less Pocahontas June 29, 1889, there were seriously affected by it. During the present about twenty-five delegates, drought that prevailed in midsummer who represented twelve township alli- many of the shallow wells failed and ances. Officers for the ensuing year in meeting the demand for deeper ones were elected as follows: Wm. Brown- the drill began to be used in place of lee, president; R. N. McCombs, vice the well auger. This proved to be the president; M. W. Linnan, secretary, first of a continuous period of five and Wm. Bott, treasurer. Messrs. years of drought that was most seri- John A. Crummer, W. F. Atkinson ously felt in 1894.

and J. A. Ryon were appointed dele- The census of 1890 was taken by the gates to the annual meeting of the following enumerators: Capt. Joseph state alliance at Des Moines in Sep- Mallison, Cedar and Fonda; N. M. tember following. The propriety of Nelson, Bellville and Lizard; J. W. buying supplies at wholesale, the ap- Wallace, Center and Sherman; Mrs. pointment of a county purchasing Kate H. Melson, Clinton and Rolfe; agent and the development of a county Mrs. Jennie Sanquist (now Mrs. Ed. mutual insurance company were dis- Hogan), Colfax and Grant; J. S. Smith, cussed but no further progress was Des Moines and Powhatan; Frank A.

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THIRD PERIOD, 1883-1899.

Thompson, Dover and Marshall; Ed. independent of the annual income G. Fargo, Lake and Lincoln; and Ben- from the crops and stock.

jamin E. Allen, Laurens, Swan Lake and Washington. According to their

GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS.

On March 22, 1890, the Big Four Dis- enumeration this county then had a trict Fair Association was organized population of 9,553 persons, which at Fonda and held its first exhibition showed a gain of 5,840 in ten years.

CROPS OF 1890.

that fall. On June 12th Laurens, as an incorporated town, held its first election of officers, a new and large school building having been erected the previous year. R. F. Beswick, having purchased the Fonda creamery and provided it with a separator, a new Scandinavian invention, started it anew and established another one in Williams township. The first buildings were erected on the county farm in Grant township that had been purchased the previous year; and to the court house were added two fire

The year of 1890 was another one of great material growth and many new farm buildings were erected in every direction. The following items show the excellent character of the crops raised that year in this section. In Lizard township Wm. Stinson raised 1,200 bushels of oats from 20 acres, an average of 60 bushels to the acre; Michael Walsh raised 5,000 bushels of oats that averaged 50 bushels, and his corn averaged 60 bushels to the acre; John Masterson, on the farm of proof vaults and a jail. These vaults Charles Kenning, in 1889 had an aver- and jail were built by Joseph Mikesh age of 50 bushels of corn from 115 acres and cost $3,400.

and of oats 40 bushels; in 1890 his oats In 1879 there was a criminal convic- averaged 30 bushels and his corn 60 tion in this county, and this circum- bnshels. The rental for the land was stance led to the observation that $1.50 an acre. In Bellville, 150 acres until that date there had not yet been of corn on the Blanden farm averaged a criminal sent from Pocahontas 65 bushels to the acre. In Grant, H. county to the penitentiary. The arrest C. Tollefsrude threshed an average of of a criminal in this county was a very 15 bushels of flax to the acre where rare occurrence, and in such cases the the sod had been turned in an old pas- persons arrested were taken to the ture of 16 acres. In Lincoln, Wm. jails of the neighboring counties, es- Boog in 1889 bought 50 acres of land pecially Emmetsburg, Fort Dodge, for $10 an acre, broke and sowed it in Sac City and Storm Lake. As the flax and it brought him $13 an acre; in number of criminal arrests increased 1890 a crop of oats was raised on the with the great increase of population same land and it brought more money during the eighties, in 1890 the sen- than the flax crop of the previousyear. timent prevailed that Pocahontas In Lake, Gerd Elsen in 1890 raised county should also have a jail of its 4,000 bushels of corn from 100 acres, own. his oats yielded 45 bushels to the acre, COUNTY FARM. flax 10 bushels and potatoes 50 bushels.

As early as Jan. 8, 1884, the board of His farm of 530 acres bought a few supervisors passed a resolution to buy years previous for $6.50 and $12 anacre a county farm of not less than 160 had been improved with a good farm acres of land at a cost not to exceed house and three good barns, and it $2,000 and located within four miles of was then estimated to be worth $24 an Pocahontas, and authorized the audi- acre, an advance in price that showed tor to solicit bids therefor until their as a reward for his investment and next meeting. Two years later the abor upon it in ten years to be $12,130 farm of Peter Peterson was rented by

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PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

the board and, N. B. Post being em- ried in a poorhouse," they persistently ployed to prepare the specifications refused all his entreaties and the mat- for a county poor house, bids were so- rimonial knot was tied while they sat licited therefor; but on June 8th 1888 complacently in their buggy.

the erection of a building was indefin- This happy couple fared better than itely postponed. Nothing further the one that appeared before Judge seems to have been done until April 3, Lot Thomas at Pocahontas a short 1889, when A. W. McEwen, Swan Nel- time previous with an application for son and Wm. Fitzgerald were ap- a divorce, and he denied the request pointed a committee to select and of the wife on the very grounds she ascertain the price of a suitable farm had pleaded, to the effect, "that while for the use of the county. On May the throwing of spittoons and dishes

11th following, on their recommenda- at each other was rather unpleasant, tion it was decided to purchase the net still he did not consider it sufficient and e} nwł, section 4, Grant township, grounds for a divorce. "

containing 262 acres for $2,850. The house, barn and other outbuildings

1891.

On January 1, 1891, the Pocahontas on this farm were erected in 1890 by County Mutual Fire and Lightning Thomas L. Dean, contractor and build- Association issued its first policy, and er, and it was rented that year to on June 21st the Methodist church of Charles J. Carlson of Center township Havelock was dedicated.

upon the condition that he should pay

On Feb. 3d the Rolfe Argus, a dem- a rent of $240 a year for the farm and ocratic paper, was established at take proper care of all persons sent to Rolfe by Lawrence J. Anderson, who it by the board, at the rate of $2.40 a continued its publication until Nov. week. After two years he was suc- 1, 1892, when he sold it to J. A. Faith. ceeded by Charles Kezer, who contin- In March, 1893, this paper was bought ved in charge of it until the com- by M. Crahan and it was edited by pletion of the asylum Jan. 5, 1899, a Wm. Porter until April 4, 1894 and by period of six years, when he was suc- A. L. Shultz to Dec. 1, 1898, when the. ceeded by Wm. A. Elliott the present outfit was sold to parties outside the incumbent, who has charge also of the county and the subscription list trans- asylum. The latter was built in 1898 ferred to J. H. Lighter, editor and at a cost of $4,500. It is 60x32 feet, two proprietor of the Rolfe semi-weekly stories in height and has 41 rooms. All Tribune. the incurables supported at that time by the county at the state asylum in Independence were brought here in January, 1899.

In 1891 the farmers were favored with beautiful weather, fine crops and good prices.

Joseph Fuchs of Cedar township

At the time Thomas L. Dean was in July, 1891, sold Matt Foley five cars building the house on the county farm of fat steers for $5,546, or $59 a head, he was justice of the peace for Lincoln and his brother, Louie Fuchs, on the township, and while he was busy at same day also sold him 65 head for work just after the building was en- $5,665, or more than $87 a head, the closed, he was called upon by a couple two lots amounting to $11,211. When of young Swedes. On learning that these two brothers arrived at Fonda the object of their errand was to be in 1870 they did not have money enough married, he courteously inyited them to pay for an eighty acre tract of raw to alight and have the ceremony per- prairie and after two months the for- formed in the new building, Not wish- mer, returning to the place from ing to have it said "they were mar, whence they came, worked there as a

317

THIRD PERIOD, 1883-1899.

farm hand for five more years and sent was also collected twice a day. During his earnings to his elder brother Louie this period the patronage of the Fonda to assist in paying for their first pur- postoffice was greatly increased and chases of land. The annual sales of the plan was highly appreciated by all cattle by these men have been in- except those whose mail consisted creasing as the years have passed, so largely of drop letters, on each of that those of Joseph alone in 1899 which they had to pay two cents. F. amounted to nearly $18,000.

The Fonda creamery, for the first time in its history, was kept running during the previous winter with the patronage of twenty-eight customers, and another separator was put in it. The receipts of a few of the patrons at this time were as follows: For six months, J. B. Weaver $203; M. Murphy $210; S. C. Swink $221; Patrick Duf- field $253; for eight months, David Spielman $232 and John Cartlidge $278.

The iron bridges across the Cedar at Fonda and the Des Moines river near the north line of the county in Des Moines township were built in 1891, by the Iron Bridge company of Canton, Ohio, who had delivered them two years previous to that date. These were the first, and to this date are the only iron bridges built for the use of the public in this county. The steel bridge of the Illinois Central R. R. at Fonda was built in 1890.

FREE MAIL DELIVERY.

H. Covey served as mail carrier during nearly all of this period of free deliv- ery and Geo. Sanborn was postmaster.

The demand is now for free rural delivery and during the last two years the growth of this system, according to the report of the Postmaster Gen- eral, has been remarkable. Within the last two years it is stated, "largely by the aid of the people themselves, who, in appreciation of the helping hand which the government extended to them, have met these advances half way, it has implanted itself so firmly upon postal administration that it can no longer be an experiment, but has to be dealt with as an established agency of progress, awaiting to be determined how rapidly it shall be developed."

Among the advantages accruing from this system he names increased postal receipts, enhancement of the value of farm lands, general improve- ment of the condition of the roads traversed by the mail carriers, better

Congress having passed a law and prices for farm products and the edu- made an appropriation to carry into cational benefits conferred by ready effect the experiment of establishing access to wholesome literature. free delivery of the mail in twelve On Dec. 4, 1899, rural free delivery was established in Iowa in the vicinity of Waterloo, Edwin S. Geist having been appointed mail carrier for a route that is 23} miles in length and serves a population of 504 persons who occupy an area of 26 square miles. small towns, and the Postmaster Gen- eral having neglected to name a town in Iowa where this experiment might be made, Hon. J. P. Dolliver recom- mended Fonda; and Fonda enjoyed this luxury from May 1, 1891, to June 30, 1896, a period of five years and two months. During this period the mail 1892 of all persons residing within the in- In 1892 the general health of the country was excellent and the crops corporation and east of the creek was delivered either at their places of bus- were good, yet one million laborers iness or homes twice a day. Six mail were out of employment. This was a boxes were located on the corners of condition of things that to many the streets and from these the mail seemed to be due to the tendency then

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PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

manifested to organize new political it was good enough," had more of parties in the interest of particular comfort in it than they had previously classes of the people, and those were realized, for it shed a grateful light on the first to suffer who became the vic- tims of leaders whose successful lead-

the experience of some bad roads; "when they are impassable they can't ership meant an unstable standard of be worked and when they are dry they money and a fluctuating currency.

are good enough."

In May, 1892, Pocahontas and Have- A correspondent at Pocahontas in lock held their first elections as incor- describing the state of things existing porated towns. At the general elec- at that "beleaguered town on the tion held that fall the voting was prairie," when it could no longer be done for the first time in Iowa in ac- reached by wheel vehicles and they cordance with the Australian ballot resorted to the use of stone-boats, law, the board of supervisors having wrote as follows: "Two more boat appointed the following persons to loads of flour and groceries arrived in serve as judges of election in the sev- town Saturday, May 14, from Rolfe. eral townships of this county, viz: Mr. Hronek, our merchant, is doing Bellville, Geo. Loats; Cedar, Ed all he can to supply our wants; he is O'Donnell; Clinton, C. P. Leithead; paying fifty cents per hundred pounds Colfax, R. C. Brownell; Des Moines, for hauling from Rolfe. The boats are D. D. Day; Grant, L. J. Lieb; Lake, making regular trips to Rolfe and J. Donahoe; Lizard, M. O'Shea; Mar- Havelock. The great Northeast line shall, Geo. Thomas; Powhatan, Rob- is in command of Capt. Thomas Travis ert Swan; Sherman, Albert Wolf; Swan Lake, A. B. Ellis; Washington, barges, and makes connection with all P. L. Christopher.

In 1892 the Christian church in northwest. The Great Northern line Laurens was built and the German is commanded by Capt. Joseph Mikesh Lutheran church in the south part of and consists of five barges built on the Williams township.

GOOD ROADS.

and consists of one iron-clad and two points east and southeast, north and latest improved plan. No passengers are carried on this line except the pi- lots or agents of the firm. Close con- nections are made at the bridges and

The spring of 1892 was cold and wet. On April 13th there occurred a severe blizzard that left the roads in an aw- the ends of the route. "*

ful condition, and during the following month there fell 7.9 inches of rain, more than twice the usual amount, which rendered many of them abso- lutely impassable with wheeled con- veyances. No other topic widely discussed as their bad condi- tion, and on May 24th the board of supervisors, unable to get to Pocahon- quirements of this section.

The general consensus of opinion ex- pressed at this time was to the effect that the spring of the year was the golden time to repair the roads, and that any plan of repair, that did not

was so provide for the complete and speedy removal of the surface water from their vicinity, did not meet all the re-

ANTI-MONOPOLY COUNTY ALLIANCE, OR POPULIST PARTY, ORGANIZED.

tas their usual place of meeting, held a special meeting at Rolfe to consider what might be done for them. Every- At a meeting of the farmers and in- dependent voters held at Pocahontas body seemed to feel that the excuse the old settler in Arkansaw had given March 28, 1892, delegates were present for not fixing the leaky roof of his from Dover, Swan Lake, Washington cabin, because "when it was raining and Center townships. Under the he couldn't fix it and when it was dry *Times, May 19, 1892.

319

THIRD PERIOD, 1883-1899.

auspices of Mr. Robinson of Marathon following he sold it to E. E. Fisher a county anti-monopoly alliance was and on Nov. 9th (1893) its publication organized and officers were elected as was discontinued. follows: M. W. Linnan, president;

August 1, 1893, the Havelock Item D. Miller, vice president; J. D. Fitz- was established at Havelock as an in- gerald, secretary and treasurer; D. dependent local newspaper by Fred J. Miller, lecturer; F. M. Starr, chaplain; Pratt and he continued its publication James Eral, steward.

eight months. April 1, 1894, it was "The object of this alliance was to purchased by E. A. Donahoe, and he direct attention to money, transpor- conducted it until Oct. 11, 1897. U. S. Vance edited it from that date until Oct. 1, 1899, when it was purchased by Charles C Johns, its present editor and proprietor. tation, trusts and combines-questions of vital importance to every farmer. Farmers and laborers are the leading wealth producers of the nation. In- dustry, frugality and foresight are in- dispensable conditions of the increase

In 1893 school directors were elected for the first time for a term of three of wealth. The farmer possesses these years, and since that year one-third of qualities. Does he have his share of their number has been elected each the increase of wealth? The trade year, instead of the whole number as and commerce of which we so proudly previously. The township trustees began to serve three years in 1879, and in 1896 the time of their annual meet- ing was changed from the first Monday in October to the first Monday in No- vember. boast, the great transportation facili- ties, the great mineral wealth, etc., are valuable because agriculture has called them into being. The farmer and the farm are the basis of every well ordered state, and the first care of CYCLONE YEAR. such a state will be its agriculture."

The year of 1893, has been called the

At the general election held that fall "cyclone year," because so many de- 210 votes were cast in this county for structive storms occurred throughout the national and state candidates of the United States; and, in this respect, the Populist party. About the same it is very vlvidly remembered by many number of votes were cast for J. D. living in this section, inasmuch as dur- Fitzgerald, J. C. Brubaker and John ing the months of April, May and Barrett, who, at another convention July that year, three severe storms held on Sept. 17th previous had been passed over small portions of this nominated for the county offices of county. clerk of the court, recorder and audi- tor respectively.

1893.

The first one occurred at 6 o'clock p. m., Tuesday, April 11th. The de- structive path of this storm was a

The year 1893 was rendered memor- quarter of a mile in width and, com- able by the Columbian Exposition or mencing at a point in Sac county twelve miles south of Fonda, it ex- tended northeast into Colfax and Cen- ter townships, crossing the south line

World's Fair at Chicago, May 1stĮto Nov. 1st. The drought of midsummer throughout the Mississippi valley was so long continued that in the dairy of this county midway between Fonda districts it became necessary to feed and Pomeroy. In Williams township, the cattle upon the pastures, but the Calhoun county, its path was almost wheat, oats and corn were excellent. identical with that of the similar, but

On May 2, 1893, the Fonda Big Four not so destructive storms of 1878 and Weekly Herald was established at 1886, when, as on this occasion, the Fonda by Fred Ellis. August 15th Jackson school house was either lifted

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PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

from its foundation or completely de- stroyed, making it the second time it stroyed. Twenty persons were in- was wrecked by windstorm this spring, jured and one life was lost, the little and the fourth since its erection in daughter of John Dilman of Sac 1874. county, whose house was destroyed. After six o'clock on the evening of July 6, 1893, there crossed the south- west corner of this county a storm popularly known as the "Pomeroy cy- clone," because its greatest work of destruction was wrought at that town. It destroyed more lives and property than any similar visitation to that date in our western history. At the drama of the world's great fair, then in progress on the shores of Lake Mich- igan, with its myriad scenes of beauty illustrating "the grandest achieve- ments of man-his industry, energy and the godlike sweep of his majestic intellect that seemed to be asking for other worlds to conquer-all nature appeared to be man's slave, chained by his imperious will and manifesting its power at his bidding; but here na- ture asserted her despotic omnipotence and in such a way as to cause everyone to feel how puny after all is the arm of man and idle his boasted power."* Others who suffered the loss of build- ings and to whose families the injured belonged, were Wm. Garote, Sac county; John Nyreen of Garfield, Chris Bartels, Henry Nagle, Wm. Helm- brecht, Mr. McGuire, E. . Sterling, A. J. Pruden, A. Mitchell, O. K. Roc- holtz, Garlies Tweddale, Wm. Hutch- inson and S. H. Hutchinson of Wil- liams, and C. Kimball, Henry Hout and Joseph Becker of Butler township, Calhoun county; G. W. Ferguson, Charles Johnson, Peter Murphy, Moody & Davy, Elias Dahl and Mrs. Maggie Hoppy of Colfax, Jans Sinek and Frank Zieman of Center town- ship, Pocahontas county. This storm was preceded by a heavy fall of rain for twenty minutes. The under- ground stone house of John Woods, in the southeast corner of Cedar town- ship, on this occasion proved a safe place of protection to all its inmates; and after the storm it became an hos- pitable inn to which a number of the "All nature seemed in calm repose, Upon that summer day, No thought of dire disaster rose Or of danger on its way. injured and homeless in that vicinity were carried and cared for until they got better or a new home had been provided for them.

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The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 41

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