The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 43

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

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tendency of the latter from the at-

These donations, contributed so mosphere by forming a mulch that promptly, were very creditable to the acts like a blanket of straw. The people of this section. They spoke good cultivator, therefore, even in a louder than words of their generous dry season, has the assurance of a spirit of sympathy and charity, and good crop by reason of the finely pul- gave publicity to the abundant har- verized condition of the soil and its vest gathered in this section during great fertility.

the previous year.

It was also observed that the native The severe drought of 1894 was bro- prairie grass did not wilt during the ken by a gentle rain on April 1, 1895, drought like the tame grasses, yet the and the crops of wheat, barley, oats, latter are much better. The former corn and potatoes that year were im- was a summer grass that came late in mense. Phil D. Armour and other the spring and turned brown early in capitalists of Chicago, built great

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PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

cribs at all the towns in this section to Fred E. Moore and he continued its to receive and hold the large crops of publication until September 1, 1897, corn. when he sold it to John E. Pope, its

The year of 1895 was one of gradual present editor and proprietor. In April, 1899, the office of publication was moved from the John Forbes store building to the new brick block of Roberts & Kenning.

recovery from the stagnation of the previous year, Large wells were sunk and a system of water works was con- structed at Fonda and Laurens; Rolfe having secured a similar improvement the previous autumn.

In July, 1896, the supervisor districts of this county were rearranged so that county consisting of three townships each, and one at the center consisting

At the republican representative there was one at each corner of the convention that met several times at Rolfe in 1895, for the district embrac- ing Pocahontas and Humboldt coun- of four. ties, there occurred a deadlock that

The township of Lake was divided finally resulted iu the nomination of into two election precincts on Septem- two republican candidates, Parley ber 12, 1894, district No. 2 consisting Finch, of Humboldt, and James Mer- of the east half of section one, on cer, of Pocahontas county, both by pe- which the west half of Gilmore City titions filed at Des Moines. This re- is located.

sult was unexpected and was due to the fact that each county having eight

THE SALOON ISSUE.

On April 2, 1895, the grand jury delegates in the convention, those of brought in bills of indictment against Humboldt were unwilling to vote for all, in all parts of the county, that any other candidate except Mr. Finch were then engaged in the illegal sale and those of Pocahontas, having no of intoxicating liquors, and on April special preference or instructions for 8, 1896, the board of supervisors in- any particular candidate, were never- posed a tax of $1000 upon the premises theless unwilling to support Mr. Finch used forf that purpose at the first for a second term, that courtesy hay- named date. On July 30, 1896, Judge ing been several times extended to Thomas at Storm Lake ruled that the candidates representing this district first consent petition filed in Pocahon- but never to any one from this county. tas county was insufficient and grant- Mr. Mercer was not a candidate, dele- ed temporary injunctions against all gate or even present at this conven- the saloons in this county, which were tion, and on the last day allowed by located at Fonda and Gilmore City, law, no nomination having been made except that of Waldman & Son, Fon- by the convention, a petition was pre- da, who were allowed to continue un- pared at Rolfe and sent to Des Moines til the September term of court, when without his previous knowledge, plac- his case was set for final hearing.

ing his name in nomination. He ac-

In the fall of 1896 the most import- cepted the nomination and received ant issue before all the people of this 999 votes in this county, Mr. Finch 82 county was the re-establishment of and G. W. Core, democrat, 683 Mr. the mulet saloon, the petition of 1894 Finch was elected by a small majority having been declared by means of the vote in Humboldt county.

insufficient. This issue was precipitated on this oc- casion by an organized effort to se-

June 11, 1896, the Fonda Review, a cure a valid consent petition by hav- local weekly, democratic paper was es- ing it presented for signatures at ev- tablished at Fonda by W. O. Lester. ery polling place in the county on On October 1st, following, he sold it November 3d, the day of the general

ARTHUR W. DAVIS, County Superintendent, 1898-99. Fonda.

JOSEPH P. ROBINSON County Superintendent 1882-85

WILLIAM H. HEALY Attorney at Law

REV. P. J. CARROLL Pastor Catholic Church, 1882-87

REV. Z. C. BRADSHAW Pastor M. E. Church, 1892-94

Fonda.

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THIRD PERIOD, 1883-1899.

election that year.

The campaign against the success of this movement was inaugurated by a large union mass meeting held in the Presbyterian church of Fonda on Sabbath evening, October 11th, when Messrs. Orville Lee, O. R. Adams, S. E. Barnard, F. R. Brownell and W. B. Howell. leading business men and active christian workers of Sac City were present, the first three deliver- ing addresses protesting against the establishment of the saloon from the business standpoint, and the last four singing several appropriate quartettes. At this meeting the following resolu- tion was presented and adopted by an almost unanimous rising vote:

tablished in this county, one at Gil- more City and two at Fonda that have since been maintained under a mulct penalty of $1400 each, a year. In No- vember, 1899, another one was estab- lished at the new town of Varina.

Lest the reader should think, by reason of these establishments, the water of this section is either defi- cient in quantity or lacking in qual- ity, we beg leave to add that there has not yet been realized any lack of that beautiful and healthful beverage, and there may be said of it all that John B. Gough affirmed when he said: "There is no poison in that cup; no fiendish spirit dwells beneath those crystal drops to lure you and me and all of us to ruin; no spectral shadows play upon its waveless surface; no wid- God from those placid fountains; mis- ery, crime, wretchedness, woe and want come not within the hallowed precincts where cold water reigns su- preme. Pure now as when it left its native heaven, it gives vigor to youth, strength to manhood and solace to old age. Cold water is beautiful, bright and pure everywhere. In the moon- light fountains and sunny rills; in the warbling brook and giant river; in the hand of beauty or on the lips of man- hood-everywhere cold water is beau- tiful."

We, citizens of Fonda and vicinity, in union mass meeting assembled do hereby remind the voters of Pocahon- ows' groans or orphans' tears rise to tas county that this has been our ex- perience with the saloon in Fonda: It has brought poverty and sad dis- appointment to the home, wrecked in- dividual character, jeopardized the in- terests of the public school and the church and led to the destruction of human life. In view of these and other considerations that might be enumerated, we earnestly protest against the re-establishment of the saloon in Fonda, and respectful- ly request that all voters who ap- preciate the work of the churches, the value of a good name and the purity of the home, will firmly refuse to sign said consent petition whether it be presented on the day of election or la- ter. We are encouraged to make this 1897. protest and appeal, for reasons that The first declamatory contest be- tween the pupils of the various schools of this county was held at Fonda April 29, 1897. Four schools were rep- should prevail among the good citizens of this county, and because the neigh- boring counties of Buena Vista, Sac, Calhoun, Humboldt, Kossuth, Clay and Greene have refused to give place resented. The participants were Miss to the open saloon.

Jennie Eaton and Weston Martin,

This appeal and protest was re- Fonda; Litta Tumbleson and Grace echoed in all parts of the county; but Smith, Havelock; Clara Heathman a majority of the people had reached and Margie McEwen, Plover; Robert the conclusion that "while nothing Ainslie and Grace Grove, Rolfe. The good can be said in favor of a saloon, judges were Prof. Holdoegel, Rev. J. we believe an open saloon regulated A. Cummings and D. M. Kelleher, Esq., by law is preferable to dives and holes- who gave the award to the representa- in-the-wall." Under the petition tives from Fonda. The teachers pres- then circulated three saloons were es- ent formed a county declamatory as

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PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

sociation by the election of Prof. Rut- Iowa weather and crop service, esti- ledge of Rolfe, president, and Prof. mated that during that year 1,800,000 U. S. Vance of Havelock, secretary, bogs, valued at $15,000,000, died in and Rolfe was chosen as the place for Iowa. the next contest. The arrangements

The annual loss sustained by the for this one were undertaken and ravages of this disease has been great carried to completion by Prof. A W. in other years, but it was in 1897, that Davis, of Fonda.

more conspicuously than ever before

In 1897, this county for the first, or since, the attention of the farmers and to this date the only time in its of this county and state was specially history, cast a majority for the demo- directed to the causes and cure of this cratic state ticket. At the general dread disease by the public experi- election held Nov. 2, 1897, Fred E. ments and official tests of that year. White, democratic candidate for gov- We would not add a word to what has ernor, received 37 votes more than been written upon this topic but, in Leslie M. Shaw; and John Ratcliff, view of its great importance to the democrat, was elected sheriff by a ma- people of this county and for the ben- jority of 93. The republican candi- efit of our numerous rural readers, we dates however, for senator, represen- would put in convenient form for fu- tative and all the other county offices ture reference the positive and valu- received majorities that ranged from able results of these experiments.

72, for M. E. DeWolf for representa- tive, to 373 for A. W. Davis for super-

They may be summarized as follows: I. Locality. The disease was most intendent of schools. Local and per- prevalent in a belt five counties in sonal issues were pressed during the width, extending north and south campaign, but a glance at the major- across the central part of the state, ities of the winning republican candi- west of the west line of Howard and dates indicates that these local issues' Davis counties; and it was least prev- did not materially affect the result. alent in the seven northeastern coun- The real cause was manifestly more ties of the state. The latter is the general and in all probability may be great dairy district of this state and more correctly attributed to the de- the former its greatest section for mand for "free silver, " that to a great- corn.

The general average of loss er or less extent affected other parts throughout this state was 30 per cent, of the country at that time.

but for the northeastern district it HOG CHOLERA, ITS CAUSE AND CURE. was only 7 per cent and for the entire

In the spring of 1897, Assessor E. eastern belt of the state embracing 31 Gibbons, while making the assessment counties, it was only 11 per cent. In of Powhatan township, found that the 27 counties on the Missouri slope while the whole number of hogs in it was 32 per cent and in the 42 coun- that township at that time was 2887, a ties in the central belt it was 40 per greater number, namely, 2964, had cent .- J. R. SAGE.

II. Experiments. 1. Dr. Salmon,

died there from cholera during the previous year. The number of hogs chief of the bureau of animal indus- raised was 77 less than the number try, Washington, D. C., at the ex- that had died and, at $10 each, the pense of the government made an ex- latter represented a loss of $29,640 in periment in Page county with anti- one year from this cause to the farm- toxine serum with the result that of ers of that township. The estimate several herds containing 278 animals, of loss for this county during 1896 was only 39 died of the 214 that were 40,000 head. J. R. Sage, chief of the treated of which 86 were sick. 83 per

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THIRD PERIOD, 1883-1899.

cent of the herds treated were saved good condition as those under treat- while 85 per cent of those under ob- ment. The most scientific doctor of servation, but not treated, died. In the present day cannot give you a the eastern half of Page county, under cure for typhoid fever, pneumonia or the personal direction of Dr. John cholera. An intelligent doctor may McBirney, the government undertook lessen the mortality from these high- to exterminate the disease by destroy- ly fatal forms of disease affecting hu- ing the entire herds affected by it and man beings, but he does not assume remunerating the farmers for the loss to know a specific cure. thus sustained. The disease was thus

Swine plague and hog cholera prob- eradicated in two weeks from eight ably combine more of the symptoms townships and eighteen herds number- of these three diseases than anything ing 900 head were wiped out of exist- else. There is little or nothing in ence. This was the most heroic treat- medical science to justify the belief ment the disease had yet received and that a hog cholera cure has been or the only other place where such an will be discovered. Strictly sanitary experiment was made was in Hick- police regulations which will prevent, man county Tennessee.

as far as possible, exposure to the in- 2. R. P. Dodge, of Atlanta, having fection will do more to restrict the found a remedy that was effective for disease than all the remedies com- curing those phases of the disease that bined. When the public becomes suf- prevailed in Georgia, came to the offi- ficiently informed on this subject to cials of the Iowa State Agricultural demand, that as adequate provisions society and requested opportunity to shall be made for protecting swine test his treatment and remedy under against exposure, as is now provided their observation, that their official for preventing the spread of scarlet endorsement might be given it before fever in a well regulated city, its prac- it should be offered for sale in Iowa. tical disappearance will be but a ques- This proposition was accepted and he tion of a very short time."

experimented with three herds on the 4. Evan McLennan, Esq., of Brook- poor farm of Polk county. John Cow- lyn, Iowa, having hogs afflicted with nie and Henry Wallace, in their re- loss of appetite and frequent scouring, and remembering that the internal constitution of the hog is very similar to that of the human being, used with good results in every case Cham-

port thereon, state that "the hogs in these herds were affected with lung plague, pneumonia or congestion of the lungs, commonly called cholera, of which the symptoms were weakness, berlain's Colic Cure by putting a tea- staggering walk, dragging the hind spoonful in a quart of boiled sweet milk placed alone before them each in a separate pen until they drank it. legs, etc. This disease has hitherto baffled all efforts to cure or even con- trol it, and the proposed remedy does This gave immediate relief and ordi- not meet expectation."

narily effected a cure in two days. At 3. Prof. M. Stalker, veterinary at the State Agricultural College, Ames, summing up the results of experi- ments with Dr. Keller's remedy states: his request his neighbors, James Grary and John C. Gray used the same rem- edy with the same result on those sim- ilarly affected, but with no avail on "At this stage of the experiment there those affected with symptoms of lung is nothing to warrant the belief that trouble. any substantial benefit whatever has 5. Frank Baumgartner, of Peotone, resulted from the treatment. In fact Ill., after seventeen years' study of those receiving no treatment are in as the disease, found a cure that proved

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PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

effective in his own neighborhood. tended that hog cholera is neither Under the auspices of the general contagious nor infectious, but due to freight agent of the Chicago, Milwau- improper and irregular feeding and kee & St. Paul railway in January, care. His experiments were repeated later with similar success on hogs sim- ilarly affected at McGregor, West Union, Mason City, Algona, Emmets- burg and other places in this part of the state. 1897, he operated on a herd belonging to Orne Bros., of Dubuque. Claiming that what is popularly known as chol- era may be produced by irregular feed- ing, he placed six sound hogs in a pen from which a lot of diseased ones had

III. Results. The report of J. R.

been removed only a few hours previ- Sage, locating most of the losses from ous. He declared he would produce hog cholera in the great corn belt of cholera in three of them and keep the state is certainly very suggestive the remainder free from it, but one of that corn as an article of diet may be the sick ones would be allowed to die conducive to the development of this for the sake of an examination. The disease. Those farmers who have stu- three that were destined to become diously avoided an exclusive corn diet sick were separated from the others by feeding also oats, wheat and mid- dlings have, as a matter of fact, sus- tained the least losses from this cause.

by an impassable but open partition of narrow boards so they could touch each other but might not feed togeth- Anything, however, that weakens the er. Both lots were fed according to system, makes it more susceptible instructions given, one regularly and to disease. This may be done by feed- with a proper diet; the other abund- ing young animals an exclusive corn antly but irregularly. At the end of

diet, filthy slops, impure drinking wa- twenty days the three former were ter, nesting in damp places and other hearty and healthy, but the latter, irregularities in regard to their care gorging themselves, soon became and keeping. dumpy and a week later were very

These experiments show clearly that sick. One of them was allowed to die there are two forms of disease com- and a post mortem examination made monly called hog cholera, the one af- by Dr. Bauman, a local veterinary, fecting the lungs and the other the revealed the fact it had died of chol- bowels. The former phase of it may era. The other two that became sick prevail in one locality and the latter were cured. This experiment seemed in another. The former may be very to controvert the prevailing conten- contagious and the latter not. The tion that sound hogs placed in the former may be incurable, and the lat- same pen with those infected with ter both easily cured and prevented. cholera will contract the disease in Worms also cause sickness and death, four to twenty days. Orne Bros. had but a single dose of the right kind of been feeding a herd of sixty-five head medicine will usually bring relief.

This case is one where "an ounce of

on the slop from a large hotel. The entire herd had become infected and prevention is worth a pound of cure." thirty-eight had died before his ar- The best preventives are found in ab- rival. The disease was pronounced solute cleanliness and regularity in cholera and the owners had no hope care and keeping. Some have found of saving the remnant of this herd. an effective and satisfactory regulator After inspecting the herd he advised of the bowels in a small dose of wood that five be killed as incurable, prom- ashes once a fortnight. Others have ised to save sixteen and possibly six found that a pile of slack or pulver- others. He saved nineteen and con- ized soft coal within their enclosure

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THIRD PERIOD, 1883-1899.

has answered the same purpose; while ator W. B, Allison, Congressman J. P others maintain that the following in- Dolliver and Hon. John Brennan, of expensive mixture is a sure proof Sioux City, The vocal music was fur- against all stomach troubles common- nished by the Mckinley Male Quar- ly called cholera: To one quart each tette of Sac City, and the Prairie Creek glee club. At seven o'clock in the evening the different marching

of salt and sulphur add four quarts of air slacked lime. Mix thoroughly and t put it in a dry place where it will be clubs, numbering 600 persons all of always accessible.

whom were supplied with flambeaux,

The conviction has been growing and the three cornet bands formed that new blood needed to be infused a torch light procession, that marched into the stock so susceptible to disease through some of the principal streets and the "razor back" of the south hav- of the city before going to the tent. ing been comparatively free from its About 1200 Roman candles had been attacks, several car loads of them were distributed among the different clubs, that year brought to this county and and as they marched the heavens were the results have been quite satisfac- illuminated with brilliant, fiery balls tory. Among those who received the of red, white and blue. It was a beau- "razor backs" were H. L. Bruit, B. L. tiful sight to witness and the great- Allen and M. E. DeWolf, of Laurens, ness of this meeting surprised every each a car load from Texas; the Ken- one. It was the largest meeting ever nedy Bros., Fonda, one car load from held in the county and the grandest Arkansas, and the Charlton Bros., of political demonstration ever made in Rolfe, two car loads. 1896.

On July 1, 1896, the free silver cam- paign demanding the free coinage of

this part of the state. More than six thousand people gathered at the tent. 1898.

The year 1898 was one of the most · silver at the ratio of 16 to 1 was in- remarkable in our nation's history. augurated in this country by the nom- It was a year of unrivaled material ination of W. J. Bryan, at Chicago. prosperity, and more great achieve- than in any other in our nation's his- tory. It saw the beginning and end of the war with Spain, in Cuba and

From August 3d to 9th the heat was ments were crowded into its annals intense, the temperature ranging from 94 to 100 in the shade. At St. Louis there were 100 prostrations; at Chicago 75 prostrations and 22 deaths, the Philippine Islands, at the close of and in New York City 30 deaths. which the United States occupied a

On the afternoon and evening of new position in the world and launched September 22d, 1896, a great republic- upon an era, having new and untried an rally in the interest of sound mon- responsibilities. ey was held in a large tent at Fonda.

The crops in this county were among The city was patriotically decorated the largest ever raised; but during for this occasion and marching clubs that year, ten of the main business were present from Rockwell City, Lohr- houses of Laurens, representing $60,000 ville, Jolley, Sac City, Newell, Pome- worth of property, the flouring mill at roy, Pocahontas and other sections. Rolfe, owned by the Fouch Bros., Large delegations were present from the Plover creamery owned by John Storm Lake and other towns west as Carroll, and the principal drying house far as Cherokee. The cornet bands of the tile factory of Straight Bros., from Newell and Jolley were present Fonda, were consumed by fire.

to co-operate with the one from Fon- da. Addresses were delivered by Sen-

1899.

The year 1899, like its predecessor,

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PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

was one of large crops and good prices. rens, and three new towns were es- The lively impulse of prosperity was tablished in this county, two of which felt in all parts of this land so that were named Varina and Palmer. Oth- every wheel was in motion and every er new towns established this year in man willing to work found employ- this vicinity were Albert City, first ment at remunerative wages. So called Manthorp; Glenora, Hesperia, great was the activity in railroad con- Lavinia, Lytton, Nemaha and North- struction that the demand for iron am. So great was the demand for la- caused a great advance in the manu- borers in the construction of these factured product. In this vicinity, roads, that exorbitant prices were in the Milwaukee road built the exten- many instances offered for workmen, sion from Fonda to Spencer, and a and those who responded were re- service of one mixed train a day each quired to labor seven days in the week. way was established and maintained The construction of one road north of during the ensuing winter months. this county had to be postponed one It constructed also the branch from year because the material for the iron Rockwell City to Storm Lake via Sac bridges and track could not be ob- City, and the Illinois Central the line tained.

from Tara to Omaha via Rockwell "This land o' ourn still ye's got to be City. The grading of the Rock Island A better country than man e'er see; I feel my spirit swellin' with a cry across this county was completed from Manson via Pocahontas and Lau-

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The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 43

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