HISTORY: History of Osceola County by D. A. W. Perkins 1892
Chapters XVII - XX
This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by:
Roseanna Zehner <mslace@netins.net>
June 2003
Copyright. All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
________________________________________________________
NOTE: For more information on Osceola County, Iowa
Please visit the Osceola County, IAGenWeb page
at http://iagenweb.org/osceola/
________________________________________________________
History of Osceola County by D. A. W. Perkins 1892
Chapter XVII
Horton township's first settler came in 1871. In 1871 Seymour Coyour,
then under age, came to Minnesota with his father, and lived just over
the line of Horton in Minnesota. When Seymour came of age he made
contest of the northwest quarter of Section 24 and succeeded in
obtaining the land, which he filed upon and still lives on the same place.
The first settler in Horton Township was L.G. Ireland, who, is elsewhere
mentioned as coming from Clayton County, Iowa with A.B. Elmore and
E.N. Moore. Mr. Elmore was also one of Horton's first settles, on Section
34, but he did not long remain in Horton, as he soon after took a claim in
Ocheyedan. Mr. Ireland took the southeast quarter of Section 34, and
turned the first furrow of the soil of that township. He was also a lawyer,
but he was not a distinguished member of that profession and did not
claim to be. He was politically ambitious, and was once a candidate for
the Legislature on the independent ticket. He has since died. His claim is
now owned by Dick Wassmann. So far as we can learn there were no
other settlers in Horton Township in 1871 except Mr. Elmore and Mr.
Ireland.
In 1872 there were many who settled in this township. N.W . Emery, who
is elsewhere mentioned, came that year. W.R. Boling, mentioned also in
another chapter, came in 1872. Mr. Boling had two brothers, J.T. and
E.W., who lived in Horton, but have since moved away. E.W. moved
from the township into Ocheyedan and resided there until about two
years ago, when he moved to Powshick County, Iowa, where he now
resides. J.T. was justice in that township several years, and is now an
evangelist and lives in Illinois. In 1872 also C.M. Richards, W. Bisby,
W.W. Herron, Henry and Dan Gibson and Jacob Brooks settled in
Horton, coming from Butler County, Iowa. Richards left about eight years
ago, and now resides in Pipestone, Minnesota. Bisby went to Butler
County. Herron is in California. Mr. Brooks is now a merchant at Sibley.
Also H.B. Clemens came that year to the township, and a few years ago
went to Washington. During the residence of those Butler County people
Richards was one of the township trustees, and in the fall went to Butler
County and remained during the winter. While thus away on a visit, the
other trustees declared his office vacant, and made an appointment.
Richards returned in the spring and was present at the annual meeting,
when he was informed that during his absence the office had dropped
from under him, and that another had been appointed to fill the vacant
place. Richards was not of that kind to surrender so easily--sing a
common expression-he was not built that way. He first gave vent to his
feelings, spoke his mind, and this, with the talking back, culminated in an
open fight, in which the other fellows got the worst of it, and the affair
finally drifted into court. Richards, however, held the office until the
expiration of his term. Samuel Collett settled in Horton in 1871, he
proved up on his claim and moved to Montana, where he now resides.
Jacob Brooks owned the original quarter upon which he settled until
recently, and it is now occupied by Mr. H. Keith.
Since the earlier settlements in Horton Township quite a number of
German families have moved into the township and these Germans are
considered as some of its most substantial and industrious citizens. In
1882 Henry Wassmann, with his son Dick, Charles Griep and several
others of the neighbors left Indiana and bought tickets to Chicago, from
there to Glendive, Montana. They were simply going west as men do go,
without knowing exactly where until the looked it over. They got to
Bismarck in North Dakota, when the elder Wassmann thought that any
more west was too much for him, and told the rest of the party they could
go on, but as for himself he should look over a part of Iowa. This caused
the three parties above named to return to St. Paul where they bought
tickets to Sheldon. They drove from Sheldon to Bigelow, Minnesota and
not desiring to settle there were returning, when, by parties at Sibley,
they were induced to settle in Osceola County, which they did. The
Wassmann's bought several pieces of land, among which was the L.G.
Ireland place on Section 34, where Dick Wassmann now lives. His
correct name is Diedrich Wassmann, but is commonly called Dick. There
is no better farm in the country than Dick Wassmann's, and no better
place for a home than right there among the large variety of forest trees,
set out by the lamented Ireland and later by Dick himself. About one
hundred different kinds of trees stand there in the gorgeous grandeur of
their green foliage and as the leaves rustle in the breeze, they seem to
whisper a voice of contentment, of thrift and independence which mark
the surroundings, and are expressed in the hospitality of the occupant,
for Dick Wassmann is no more diminutive in heart and soul than he is
stature. There are kinds of trees on this farm that probably couldn't be
found anywhere else in the state, and fruit trees in abundance. Henry
Wassmann returned to Indiana where he still resides. Charles Griep
bought the northeast quarter Section 27 where he still lives and is a
successful farmer.
The coming of these parties here was the means of other Germans
following them and buying land in Horton.
Henry Pinkerburg took a part of Section 25, also did Conrad Hattendorf;
Henry Rusche the northwest quarter of Section 14; Fred Glade a part of
Section 23; William Lick a part of Section 21, and Conrad Oldendorf a
part of Section 23 and 25. W.H. Noehren bought the northeast quarter of
Section 22, and still lives there. Mr. Noehren has been prominent in
township matters, and at present is a member of the Board of County
Commissioners. This township has a good class of people, and among
its other substantial farmers not otherwise mentioned are the three
Piscators, father and two sons, who we believe are on Section 8, Gustav
Johnson on Section 10, William Rehborg on Section 11, and August
Polinski on Section 13.
On Section 14, besides Henry Rusche, lives August Bremer on the
northeast quarter, and John Estabrook on the southwest quarter. Conrad
Bremer is on Section 15, William Filk and John Farragher on Section 18,
and Peter Wickland on Section 19. On Section 20 is Vaclave Sixty, also
John Maske, Joseph Rhomatko and Joseph Cload. On Section 22 we
find Chris Bremer and Henry Redeker.
John Robertson has the southeast quarter of Section 24, and John
Gielow and William Grave are on Section 26. On Section 27, besides Mr.
Griep, are Charles Schmidt and William Sehr. Mr. John Thompson lives
on a quarter of Section 28, and Mr. I.B. Titus owns a part of Section 30,
and is the only resident on that section. Frank Engle is on Section 31,
and William Maske on Section 32. Chris Wassmann is on Section 35 and
has recently built there a house and barn. On Section 36 William Carney
has a quarter, also A.V. Randall, and on the same section Mr. Elmore
has a tree claim. Mr. Randall formerly lived on his quarter, but is now in
business in Ocheyedan. J.T. Boling's place is now owned by Herman
Bauermeister, who lives in Worthington, Minnesota.
GRASSHOPPER PERIOD.
The history of the great world itself recognizes certain distinct periods
which have marked the ages with their different characteristics.
Osceola County is but a small part of this mighty universe, but its brief
history has it periods which are readily recognized by those of its citizens
whose residence here reaches back even for only a decade.
The first was its filing period, when settlers made record in the
government office, that they claimed certain pieces of land for residence
and occupation. The next was the grasshopper period, and the last a
period of general contentment and prosperity. This part of the history is
devoted to the grasshopper period, and following this, the relief
campaign which followed in the wake of destroyed crops and destitution.
The writer himself went through this "reign of terror" and knows all about
it by personal contact and experience. The grasshopper itself was a
curiosity; we call it grasshopper because then among settlers it bore no
other name, while the books designate the pest as the "Rocky Mountain
locust.
The natural home of these insects was on the barren table lands along
the eastern base of the Rocky Mountains. There they deposited their
eggs every year. In Wyoming Territory, Western Nebraska, Texas, the
Indian Territory and New Mexico, the broods were annually hatched. In
their native haunts they attained an enormous size, many specimens
being three inches in length. Scientific men, who have studied the habits
of the grasshoppers state that each succeeding brook degenerates in
size, and after three or four generations the weaker are obliged to swarm
and seek other quarters, being driven out by the larger and stronger
insects.
These exiles rise and go with the wind, keeping the direction in which
they first start, stopping in their flight for subsistence and depositing eggs
in a prolific manner during the incubating season, which lasted from the
middle of June to the middle of September.
This region had been visited by grasshoppers before, but did not excite a
great deal of attention for the reasons that the county was sparsely
settled and but a small area of land under cultivation, and they came so
late in the season that small grains were generally out of their reach, but
extreme Northwestern Iowa then was not settled, so that their ravages
were further east. Their first appearance at Sibley was on the 5th day of
June 1873. The first seen of them was a huge black cloud, which was
none other than a swarm of grasshoppers, and which sent out a roaring
sound that terrified the ears. Where there was any grain to cut even
before its maturity, the settlers went at it to save what the could, but the
grasshoppers were not bad reapers themselves, and the modern and
latest improved of agricultural machinery cut but little figure in the race,
when that swarm of grasshoppers came down and went to work. They
were possessed of great vitality and enormous appetites; their first
appearance was alarming and their devastations were appalling. It
introduced to the settles a serious problem; they were new to the
country, or rather the country was new to them, and this strange
visitation raised the question as to whether or not this grasshopper
business was a part of the country itself, and that the pests would remain
off and on indefinitely in the future. This thought, aside from their coming
and the destruction they did in 1873, caused much concern and
consternation.
These grasshoppers had crossed the Missouri River and commenced
foraging in the bordering Iowa counties. and devoured the crops as they
went to a greater or less extent. In this season of 1873 some of the
Osceola County settlers lost what crop they had by the grasshoppers,
and others their crops were partially destroyed. Some saved a small
garden patch by means of "shooing" them off and keeping the patch free
from them, although the task was tedious and difficult.
The early part of the season was extremely dry. No rain fell from the first
of May to the middle of June. Grain did not grow much, but the
grasshoppers did, and before the drought ended, the crops were eaten
and parched beyond all hope of recovery. About the middle of June,
however, considerable rain fell, and outside of the before mentioned
counties the prospect was generally favorable for good crops. The young
grasshoppers commenced to get wings about the middle of June, and in
a few days they began to rise and fly. The prospect seemed good for a
speedy riddance from the pests. The perverse insects were waiting for
an easterly wind, but the wind blew from the southwest for nearly three
weeks, so they stayed and visited, and eat and continued their ravages.
Early in the spring of 1874 the eggs deposited the season before,
commenced hatching, and the soil looked literally alive with insignificant
looking insects, a quarter of an inch in length but of enormous eating
qualities. As if by instinct, their first movements were toward the fields
where tender shoots of grain were making their modest appearance.
Sometimes the first intimation a farmer would have of what was going on
would be from noticing along one side of his grain-field a narrow strip
where the grain was missing. At first, perhaps, he would attribute it to a
"balk" in sowing, but each day it grew wider and a closer examination
would reveal the presence of young grasshoppers.
The settlers of Osceola County in the spring of 1874 did their sowing and
planting under a feeling of apprehension. They were here and the work
must go, even with the grasshopper difficulty staring them in the face.
Many got out of the country, owing to the grasshoppers of 1873, but they
who remained had naught else to do but to work on. The grasshopper
ravages were the worst in 1874 and 1875, and from then on the pests
degenerated in size and did less mischief each year, but were still here
until 1879 when they did but little damage and in 1880 the county felt
itself well rid of them.
All sorts of suggestions and devices were made with reference to the
destruction of grasshoppers during these years, and it was much of a
topic of discussion how to get rid of them. Judge Oliver, in a
communication to the Sioux City Journal, said: "Farmers should not be
discouraged. Crops, especially wheat and corn, should be put in as early
as possible, so as to get a start while the hoppers are small. Late
potatoes and beans may be planted as late as is safe, so as not to get
up until the hoppers are gone. Young trees and shrubs may be protected
by a sack of thin cloth drawn over them and tied at the bottom. I desire to
impress on farmers, where the eggs are unhatched, the absolute
necessity of early seeding. One weeks' difference in the time of seeding
may make all the differences between a good crop and a failure."
The Sioux City Journal said: "The grasshopper deposits its eggs at the
roots of the grass in the latter part of summer or early autumn. The eggs
hatch out early in spring, and during the months of April, May and June,
according as the season is early or late; they are wingless, their sole
power of locomotion being the hop.
"To destroy them, all that is needed is for each county, town or district to
organize itself into a fire brigade, throughout the district where their eggs
are known to be deposited.
"This fire brigade shall see that the prairies are not burned over in the
fall, and thus they will have the grass for the next spring and to be
employed upon the pests while they are yet hoppers, the means of sure
death. To apply it, let all agree upon a certain day, say in April or May or
at any time when they are sure all the hoppers are hatched and none are
yet winged. All being ready let every person, man, woman and boy, turn
out with torches and simultaneously fire the whole prairie, and the work,
if well done, will destroy the whole crop of grasshoppers for that year,
and none will be left to "soar their gossamer wings" or lay eggs for
another year."
The Gazette of July 10, 1874 had the following: "Grasshoppers are being
successfully chased by many people in this county. There is usually a
slight wind blowing, and people take ropes one or two hundred feet in
length, and stretching them out, walk or ride across the fields, the trailing
rope disturbing the grain, which causes the 'hoppers' to fly up, and then
the friendly wind carries them off the field.
"Mr. Dunton, who has been saving his wheat by the use of ropes, finds it
useful to tie rags, newspapers, etc., to them on account of the greater
rustle the rope makes as it trails over the grain with these attached.
As the grasshopper years went on, the people themselves, scientific men
and even the halls of legislation were discussing the important question
of how to drive the "hoppers" from the country. Many and varied were the
experiments. They tried smudging, burning the prairie, burning tar,
digging ditches and every conceivable thing that the ingenuity of man
could suggest, even to a huge trap in which to snare and catch them.
Minnesota offered a bounty of a certain amount per bushel for them, and
actually paid out quite a sum, which helped the people along, but the
idea of delivering a crop of grasshoppers for a consideration, strikes us
now as bordering on the ridiculous. These pests lasted about seven
years, and the latter years of the seven they were much less
troublesome than the first. The grasshopper business, too, had its
humorous side, there was much wit grew out of it, and the eastern
papers made much fun of us, and not only that, but seriously charged us
with being a country liable to such things, and hence unfit to live in. The
county papers around in Northwestern Iowa would each claim that the
other county was the worst. The Gazette said in one issue they were
mostly in Dickinson County, and the Beacon gives this assertion the lie
and says they are on the border of Osceola "peeking" over. Some
agricultural house printed a card bearing the picture of a grasshopper
sitting on a board fence gazing at a wheat field, and underneath the
words: "In this s(wheat) by and bye." The poet was also at work, and the
following one of the numerous productions:
CHARGE OF THE GRASSHOPPER BRIGADE
Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
Right from the West they came,
More than six hundred ---
Out from the forest and glade:
"Charge for the corn! they said
Then for the fields they made---
More than six hundred.
Fields to the right of them,
Fields to the left of them;
Fields in front of them,
Pillaged and plundered;
Naught could their numbers tell,
Down on the crop they fell,
Nor left a stalk or shell---
More than six hundred.
Flashed all their red legs bare,
Flashed as they turned in air,
Robbing the farmers there,
Charging an orchard, while
All the world wondered!
Plunged in the smudge and smoke,
Right through the corn they broke,
Hopper and locust;
Peeled they the stalks all bare,
Shattered and sundered;
Then they went onward--- but
More than six hundred.
Since these grasshopper days the old settlers can see what they missed
by the ustom ng, recently published:
"Some very important uses for grasshoppers have recently been
discovered. There would seem to be no reason why they should not be
applied to commercial advantage in the event of a plague this year. Not
long ago four quarts of liquid, expressed from half a bushel of "hoppers"
under a cheese press, were shipped in a glass from Spirit Lake, Iowa, to
Professor William K. Kedzie, of the Kansas State Agricultural College.
He made a complete analysis, and by distilling the juice with sulphuric
acid obtained a colorless, limpid solution of formic acid. Now, this acid is
very valuable, having a present market quotation of sixty cents an ounce.
It is not only employed in medicine to a considerable extent, but it is also
utilized in the laboratory to reduce salts of the noble metals, gold, silver
and platinum. Hitherto it has always been extracted from red ants, but
the possibility of getting it in large quantities from grasshoppers suggests
a method for employing these insects to an unlooked-for advantage. An
interesting feature of the analysis was the discovery of a certain amount
of copper in the liquid. This metal has been found in the blood of other
animals, particularly in the horseshoe crab, which always furnishes a
trace of it. It is not suggested, however, that grasshoppers would assay a
sufficient amount of copper to the ton to make it worth while to smelt
them.
"A while ago, Professor C.V. Ripley, United States entomologist, sent a
bushel of grasshoppers, freshly caught and scalded, to Mr. Bonett, a St.
Louis caterer. The latter made a soup of them, which was pronounced
perfectly delicious by many people who were afforded an opportunity of
tasting it. It closely resembled bisque. Mr. Bonnett declared that he
would gladly have it on his bill of fare every day if he could only obtain
the insects. His method of preparing the dish, as described by himself,
was to boil the hoppers over a brisk fire, seasoning them with salt,
pepper and grated nutmeg, and occasionally stirring them. When
sufficiently done they were pounded in a mortar with bread fried brown;
then they were replaced in the saucepan and thickened to a broth, which
was passed through a strainer before being served. Professor Riley
treated some friends of his on one occasion to curry of grasshoppers and
grasshopper croquettes without informing them as to the nature of the
banquet, but an unlucky hind leg, discovered in one of the croquettes,
revealed the secret."
RELIEF.
In January 1873 there was organized at Sibley what they called the
"Citizens Farmers' Club." This was before the "Grange" swept over the
state, but both of these had the useful conditions of existence. They had
their birth, maturity and death. The Citizen Farmers' Club was organized
December 7, 1872, and its object as declared by a resolution was for the
purpose of mutual protection, assistance, encouragement, instruction
and social intercourse generally. Meetings were held every Friday
afternoon at one o'clock, and no doubt many an ambitious orator, after
the fame of Cicero, electrified and delighted the audience. This
organization had quite a number of meetings, but soon as the Grange
was introduced into Osceola County, the Citizen Farmers' Club began to
decline and last, in the language of the illustrious Cleveland, went into
"Innocuous desuetude." Following these and really as a basis upon
which to secure relief for the people by reason of grasshoppers, the
following announcement appeared in a September number of the
Gazette :
"HOMESTEADER'S PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION.-There will be a
meeting of the citizens of Osceola County, on the fair grounds, near
Sibley, at 1 o'clock p.m., September 25, 1873, for the purpose of
organizing a Homesteader's Protective Association, the object and aim of
which, will be to look after the interests of all true homesteaders. It is
hoped that there will be a general turnout, that the organization may be
permanent as long as it may be needed in this locality. In union there is
strength. MANY HOMESTEADERS."
The meeting was held according to announcement and the following is a
report of it:
HOMESTEADER'S PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION.
A large number of homesteaders were present at the meeting held at the
Courthouse on Saturday last. D.L. Riley was chose temporary Chairman,
and F.M. Robinson temporary Secretary. Appropriate and earnest
remarks were made by D.L. Riley and H. Jordan. A committee on
resolutions, consisting of J.H. Douglass, H. Jordan and A.W. Clark, was
appointed. Remarks were made by J.L. Robinson. W. Rea, A. Halstead
and Allen Garvin.
The committee on resolutions reported a preamble and resolutions which
were adopted. We have not space for them, but the gist of them is as
follows: After setting forth as reasons for the forming of an association,
the fact that many homesteaders, owing to the failure of their crops,
would be compelled to leave the county for a time to obtain work in order
to provide for their families; also that fears were entertained of their
claims being unjustly contested, thereby causing them expense which
they were unable to bear; "therefore, be it
"Resolved, That we, the undersigned, band ourselves together for the
purpose of protecting ourselves in our rights.
A series of resolutions, fifteen in number, establishing the number of
officers as one President, one Vice President from each range of
townships, a Secretary and Treasurer; appointing a regular meeting on
the first Saturday of each month, at 1 o'clock p.m., in the courthouse;
establishing certain committees, defining their duties; giving the terms of
admission to the association; and making it necessary for the Treasurer
to give a bond, etc., were adopted. The officers elected were as follows:
President, D.L. Riley; First Vice President, C. W. Wyllys; Second Vice
President, C.M. Bailey; Third Vice President, A. Garvin; Secretary, H.
Jordan; Treasurer, J.L. Robinson.
Any resident of Osceola County may become a member of this
organization by subscribing his or her name to the preamble, resolutions
and by-laws, and paying the sum of fifty cents.
Any one wishing to examine the by-laws, etc., or to become a member of
the association, can do so by calling at Jordan's office.
This meeting was the foundation of a call for relief. Grasshoppers had
devastated the county, and what crops there were had generally been
ruined by this pest. On the start, the people were divided on this relief
question, as many were opposed to it on the ground that it would give
the county a bad reputation and retard settlement. Several men in Sibley
offered to carry such families as were extremely needy, through the
winter and furnish them the necessaries of life. Others, of those opposed
to the relief, thought the county had better make provision for its own, but
the relief party was numerically the stronger, and finally its opposers had
to fall into line. It is often the case when some sudden catastrophe has
fallen upon a community, like the Chicago fire or the Johnstown flood,
that the community itself is unable to take care of its unfortunates. Where
hundreds of families are left homeless and thrown upon the charity of
others, then, indeed it is well to call upon other parts of the country for
contributions. But there is always more or less fraud connected with it,
and it is apt to be the case that the modest people, but more deserving,
get but little of the relief goods, while the "cheeky" one" get the most. It
was a question then, and is now, whether that relief movement for
Northwestern Iowa was advisable, but the people had it, organizations
were effected to handle it, the state was solicited particularly, and the
country generally, for supplies. Adjutant-General Baker was the state
manager, and each county, and indeed each township had its
committees.
At a meeting of the Sibley Grange, held the evening of the 7th of October
1873, the following among the proceedings was had:
"On the motion, J.F. Glover, H.C. Hungerford and F.M. Robinson were
authorized and instructed to prepare an address to the Master of the
National Grange, and to the State and Subordinate Granges of Iowa,
soliciting supplies of grain for seed, to be used by the farmers of Osceola
County in the spring of 1874, who are and will be unable to purchase the
same on account of the almost total failure of crops the past season.
The Gazette notes one weeks receipts as follows: "Two boxes, three
sacks, eight barrels of flour and two carloads of coal. General Baker
reports nine more carloads of coal, which will make seventeen in all.
About $200 in cash have been received, which will be used to procure
seed grain."
The relief business soon fell into controversy and the newspapers were
wrangling over the question.
The Gazette of December 19, 1873 had the following article:
"THE RELIEF QUESTION-We notice that some of the papers in this part
of the state are attributing all the destitution to this county; some of them
even intimate that all the supplies which come to this place are
distributed to the people of this county. In order to correct this
impression, we have obtained from J.L. Robinson, the secretary of the
distributing committee, the following figures:
"From the 10th to the 16th inclusive, of this month, only six days, there has
been filled sixty-seven orders for families of Lyon County, and thirty-four
from Rock and Nobles Counties, Minnesota. Sixty-seven orders in six
days from a county whose prominent men boasted in the Sioux City
Journal that they could take care of their own poor, does not look much
as if they were backing up their talk by deeds. It should be remembered
that these orders are not for single articles, but are from half a ton of coal
to provisions and clothing for a whole family, and in many instances all
combined. The above explanation will also apply to the Minnesota
applicants.
"We publish elsewhere a communication from Minnesota men in regard
to the matter.
"While we have not denied the need of aid in this county, we think it
hardly fair that we should have to bear the whole odium, especially when
we are giving out supplies to people whose own county was going to
take care of them, and to inhabitants of another state where there is no
more than ordinary destitution. No doubt some have obtained supplies
who did not really need them, but we should hesitate to call all those
thieves who get aid, and they certainly would be such if they had taken
when not deserving. As we understand the matter, the supplies were
sent for the needy homesteaders of the northwestern part of the state,
and all received at this place have been so distributed, except those
furnished destitute people in Minnesota. The distributing people are
faithful careful men, and have done their work well; they may have been
deceived, but we think that what complaint there may be, has come from
those who have been refused when it was ascertained that they did not
need.
"We hope that the papers of these neighboring counties will at least give
us credit for what we have done, and not try to shove all their destitution
off onto Osceola County, because it might injure their future prospects-
especially in the face of the above mentioned facts."
On November 14, 1873, the following appeal was issued:
"AN APPEAL FOR AID-To the People of the State of Iowa: We, the
undersigned, a committee appointed by the Homesteader's Protective
Association of Osceola County, an organization effected for the purpose
of looking after the extreme and urgent necessities of the people of said
county, caused by the almost total failure of the crops, do deem it just
and proper that we let our sister counties, who are in affluent
circumstances, have positive knowledge of the situation of a very large
proportion of the citizens of this county.
"The most of the settlers came here last spring with little or no means,
and depending entirely on their efforts during the summer to carry them
through the winter; honestly and faithfully have they toiled. A very large
amount of ground was sown and planted in the spring-more than
sufficient to raise subsistence for all for the coming winter, if it had not
been for an extremely wet, backward spring, and the invasion of a vast
army of grasshoppers, which caused almost a total failure of corn and
small grain crops, so that they now find themselves on the eve of a long,
cold winter, worse off than in the spring; without food of the plainest kind,
and without means to purchase fuel to protect themselves and families
during the coming winter. There are hundreds of families who have not
sufficient clothing, and know not where the bread that they will eat ten
days hence is coming from, or their fuel. These same people relying on
their crops to carry them through the winter, have labored diligently
through the summer, and thousands of acres of the prairie have been
turned over ready for a crop next spring.
"Now, therefore, be it known to the people of the State of Iowa, that
without liberal assistance from some source, a very large portion of the
citizens of the county will be without the necessaries to sustain life, and
also fuel to keep them from freezing, and unless, from some source,
seed is furnished to these people to sow and plant in the spring, many of
the broad acres that are now ready will have to lie idle the coming
season.
"We therefore appeal to the liberal, Christian hearted people of this state
for assistance in the shape of money, clothing, fuel and staple articles of
food.
"At the present writing there are at least two hundred families in the
county needing immediate assistance.
"All consignments will be made to
"C.M. Bailey, Agent H.P.A.,
"Sibley, Osceola County, Iowa
"(For relief.)
"Allen Garvin,
"Robt. Stamm,
"W.W. Cramm,
"J.L. Robinson,
"J.H. Douglass,
"Committee."
At a joint meeting of the Relief and Grange Committees, held Saturday,
January 3, 1874, the following township committees were appointed to
canvass the several townships and ascertain the actual necessities of
the inhabitants:
Township 98, Range 42-S. Haney, A.H. Miller and A.W. Mitchell.
Township 98, Range 41-C. Thompson, J. Mandeville and W. Rea.
Township 98 Range 40-N.D. Bowles, J.C. Moar and D.W. McCullam.
Township 99, Range 42-Wm. Anderson, F. Townsend and E. Huff.
Township 99, Range 41-W.S. Westcott, W.A. Spencer and Curtis.
Township 99 Range 39---40-0-C. Boyd, W.A. Walder and F. Thayer.
Township 100, Range 42-N.I. Wetmore, F. Reynolds and S. Crum.
Township 100, Range 41-Wm. Thomas, P. Piesley and A. Shapley.
Township 100, Range 40-W.W. Herron, Q.E. Cleveland and J.F. Pfaff.
Township 100, Range 39-J.S. Flint, C.M. Richards and Ira Stevens.
The State Senate of 1873-74 appointed a committee to visit Northwest
Iowa with reference to legislative action for the purpose of securing a
loan with which to buy seed grain. December 3, 1874, Geo. D. Perkins,
Senator from Woodbury County, and Samuel Fairall, Senator from
Johnson County, went to Sibley and held a conference with the people.
They examined the Auditor's books in order to ascertain the financial
condition of the county, and the feasibility of the county issuing warrants
for the purchase of grain, and ascertained that the county could not
obtain the supply needed from its own resources. These men expressed
themselves as wishing that the entire General Assembly might be there
and see for themselves, and promised that they would make an appeal
for its sympathy and to its patriotism for action in the matter. A bill was
presented by Mr. Perkins asking an appropriation of $105,000 for the
purchase of seed grain and expenses of three commissioners to
purchase and distribute: $5,000 out of the amount appropriated to be
paid for expenses. Under this bill the money was to be in the nature of a
loan, which the parties were to pay back. After a discussion, a bill was
agreed upon and this bill passed both houses and became a law. Out of
this donation Osceola County got about $8,000.
The Legislative Committee, Messrs. Brown and Tasker, arrived in Sibley
March 12, 1874, and "opened court." They were armed with blanks,
requiring the settler to state where he lived, whether he was owner or
renter, and how many acres he had broken; also that he had no seed, no
money to buy seed with, and that he would use the seed for sewing.
They also required testimony where one's word was not considered
good, and admonished each and all that the penitentiary stared them in
the face if they swore falsely. This Legislative tribunal did their work and
went home.
On March 2, 1874, after the relief business had undergone its usual trials
and vexations, and charges of fraud had gone around, and considerable
discontent and dissatisfaction, the following instructions were issued by
General Baker to committee:
"In the distribution of all supplies the utmost caution and care must be
exercised, and only the really needy must be supplied, and they must be
careful to save something to reserve for emergency or in case of
sickness
.
"In order to conform to the above instructions the committee will require
each applicant for aid to take and subscribe the following oath:
"Sibley, Iowa, -----------1874.
"I, ------------------------------do solemnly swear, so help me God, that I have
not flour or other provisions sufficient to last my family one week, and
that I have no means, on hand or at my command, to procure
subsistence for my family.
"------------------"
Soon after this, which was in March 1874, the relief business was ended.
On March 12, 1874, the state committee issued the following:
Des Moines, March 12, 1874
"To the Public: The undersigned would state for the information of all
concerned, that all supplies in our possession for Northwestern settlers,
will be distributed by April 1st, 1873. There may be a small amount left on
hand at that date but hardly worth consideration. The settlers and
committees must now act most cautiously and govern themselves in
accordance with the existing condition of supplies. Any Grange or other
benevolent people who have anything to forward should do so at once.
All our advantages on railroad lines will probably cease by the date
above designated. And here in conclusion, we wish to thank the
railroads, express companies and the telegraph companies for all the
great favors they have done to the Northwestern settlers, in forwarding
the generous donations of our benevolent people. N. B. Baker.
J.D. Whitman,
R.R. Harbour,
D.W. Prindle,
State Grange Committee.
March 23, 1873, after an extended announcement, the people gathered
in the courthouse at Sibley, crowding the house to its utmost capacity, to
listen to General Baker and others, and to have sort of a speaking love
feast over the winding up of the relief department. General Baker told
them that he had done what he could for the people, that the supplies
would soon end and that they were now thrown upon their own
resources and must view it in that light and act accordingly. Messrs.
Jordan, Glover and Riley also spoke to the people and with three cheers
and tigers for Baker the meeting dispersed. Thus ended the great relief
campaign of 1873 and 1874.
Chapter XVIII
Soon after the Huff residence was established Mr. R.J. Shaw put up a
store building and put in a stock of goods; the building on the same
section with Huff. Mr. Shaw afterwards filed on a part of Section 14, in
Gilman, and in 1872, put up a store building in the town of St. Gilman
(now Ashton) and moved his stock there. Shaw's store was the first store
in the county, and in it in 1871, the old settlers used to congregate, and if
we had a record of all their doings, and the stories there told, our readers
would be highly entertained. Every blizzard would find about so many
who happened to be at the store, and unable to get home. In one of the
blizzards there were several of the old settlers caught there, among
whom were Dr. Gurney, August and C. Thompson, W.A. Spencer and
others. They took their horses in the store except one of them, and this
they put into the railroad tank near by. This was not in the days of
prohibition, and the boys had plenty of the ardent, and hence quite a
jollification. One of them was preparing a pan of biscuits for baking while
the others were watching the operation, when Shaw declared that his
mother always striped biscuits when she made them, and these must
conform to the parental ustom, upon which he brought his foot down on
the soft dough, giving them the required stamp, when they were
pronounced ready for the oven, and in they went. When the settler got to
Shaw's store he generally tarried awhile, talked over the news of the day,
smoked a clay pipe and sat around on the barrel heads, and of the old
settlers there were several there at all times during the day and evening.
In April, 1871, Joseph Reagan with Uriah Cook, Jacob Henshaw and
some others who settled in Lyon County, came to Osceola County from
Madison County, Iowa. They went to the "Huff" house and through the
services of our first settler secured claims. Mr. Reagan filed on a part of
Section 20, Township 98, Range 42, now Gilman Township, and Uriah
Cook filed on the same section Huff was on. Mr. Reagan still lives in the
county, is one of the prominent men in Ashton and its postmaster. Mr.
Cook now lives in Montana.
Reagan and party arrived at Huff's on the 8th day of April, 1871. Their
outfit consisted of five wagons, twelve horses and mules and six head of
cattle. Each of the wagons had occupants sleeping in them on the night
of the 8th, and early on the morning of the 9th a terrible blizzard set in,
and these wagon sleepers were soon covered with snow and crawled
out and into a house. The next day they took the wagons and formed a
half circle of them at the south side of the house, making a corral, in
which they put their horses and then tied the cattle to the wagons on the
outside. This storm lasted two days, and the company, consisting of
about twenty men, women and children, filled the house, and at night it
taxed the ingenuity of all to arrange the packing. Along with the inmates
already named, there were three dogs and forty chickens, so that the
time was not passed in Quaker silence, and everybody was in
everybody's way, though all were jolly. The first night all were packed
around systematically. Huff and his wife were placed in the northeast
corner, then came Henshaw and his family, then the chickens and the
rest of the crowd as they could be accommodated. The end where the
horses were was considered unsafe, as the pressure against the boards
was liable to break them in, so that Reagan, C.M. Brooks and Uriah
Cook were assigned to that part of the shack to counteract the pressure
from the outside.
The morning of the third day was pleasant, and each went their way to
their separate claims. C.W. Freeman came to Gilman township in June,
1872, and settled on the northeast quarter of Section 8. Mr. Carson died
in January, 1883, and his popularity and his large circle of friends in the
county justifies a reproduction of the following from January 24, 1883,
number of the Osceola County Review, then published at Ashton:
"In Memoriam"
James W. Carson was born at Batavia, Genesee County, New York,
February 16, 1883. When about thirteen years old his parents, leaving
their eastern home, became pioneers in the then Territory of Wisconsin.
A wonderful tide of immigration was pouring into the newer states and
the territories bordering the Mississippi, and two years later, when Mr.
Boyd Carson, the father of the subject of this sketch removed to West
Oregon, Dane County, Wisconsin had become a state. The father was
one of the hardy pioneers of the olden time, who, without the help of
railways and modern conveniences of travel, made the long and
tiresome journey to the frontier lands, and laid the foundations for
prosperous communities and states. He is described as a man of sterling
integrity and fine Christian character, and James W., the son, inherited
from his father a high regard for what was true and pure in religious life.
James, or "Kit," as he was popularly called by settlers old and new in this
county, of which he was one of the first pioneers, grew to man's estate
and was industriously employed in trade or farming, but the agitation of
the slavery question and the disloyalty of the South, leading to the civil
war, he early in the rebellion enlisted in the Second Wisconsin cavalry,
and earned the merit of being a good soldier, but incurred hardships and
injuries which laid the foundation of the disease which has taken him
away, to the grief of his family, the sorrow of his friends, and the loss of
the community. After the war, and soon after his marriage, he removed
to Humboldt County, this state, where he remained two years. In 1871
he, in company with F.E. Cook and C.W. Freeman, removed to this
county and located homesteads in Gilman Township. During his twelve
years residence in this county he formed a wide acquaintance. The hold
he had on the hearts of the settlers was well attested by the crowd that
turned out to his funeral on the bitter cold Wednesday of this week.
People gathered in from the three counties of Osceola, O'Brien and
Lyon-one family driving fully ten miles across the country. Sheldon sent a
large delegation and quite a number of old soldiers, bringing choice
flowers and wreaths for the grave. Kind neighbors and comrades of both
Sheldon and Sibley army posts served as watchers from the time-early
Tuesday morning-that his remains reached Ashton from Minneapolis,
where he died early on Monday-the immediate cause of his death being
his inability to withstand the shock to his system, induced by an
operation performed by surgeons at a hospital in Minneapolis, removing
a large and bony-like tumor under the arm in the left side, which had
developed until it reached the region of the heart.
In 1871, Nick Boor, along with John Streit and William Shultz, landed in
Gilman Township. They came from Wisconsin, and drove through with a
team. Nick filed on the southeast quarter of Section 4, Township 98,
Range 42, Streit on the northeast quarter of same section, and Schultz
on the northeast quarter of Section 18. Mr. Schultz lives at Sheldon, and
Boor and Streit still live in Gilman Township.
C.C. Osgood came in 1872 and settled in Gilman Township on the
southwest quarter of Section 30. Mr. Osgood still lives on the same
place, has weathered all the difficulties, and is a successful farmer.
Mr. William Foster settled in Gilman Township in 1872, on a part of
Section 14. Mr. Foster died a few years ago, and his widow with her sons
still live on the old homestead.
Ephraim Miller, in 1871, located on the southwest quarter of Section 26,
Gilman Township; still owns the land, and still resides in the township on
land he has since purchased.
Of these 1871 and 1872 settlers in Gilman Township but few remain in
the township now. As far as we can learn they are Joseph Reagan, Nick
Boor, John Streit, Ephrarim Miller, C.C. Osgood and the Foster boys.
In the spring of 1873, J.E. Townsend, along with his brother George,
came to Gilman Township from Michigan. George returned soon after
and J.E. filed on the north half of the northwest quarter of Section 8,
upon which he still lives with his family and has other land afterwards
purchased. J.E. Townsend is now County Treasurer. This same year,
1873, also Fred Poschack came from Wisconsin and filed on a part of
Section 6, upon which he still resides. Other parties living in this
township came in the years following these first settlements, and quite a
number are renters. Among others of the farming people in Gilman
Township, Mrs. John Neff resides on Section I; also on the same Section
John Rabe. M.A. Schend was an old settler in Lyon County and now
lives on Section 2 in Gilman Township. On Section 2 also Mr. Frank
Walrich and John Barbien. On Section 3 John Thorn; on Section 4
Joseph Dries, Anthony Geiver and also Mr. Streit; on Section 5 Jacob
Johannes; on Section 6 Fred Poschack, Matt Spartz, John Seivert, B.
Sturber and R. F. Pettingell. Mr. Pettingell is a Yankee from
Massachusetts. Warren Robbins is on Section 7; Henry Shaa, Joseph
Ehlen, besides J.E. Townsend on Section 8. Of still other residents of the
county Joseph Dries, Jr., is on Section 9; also Matt Seivert and William
Fuger; R. Linzen, Jacob Leinen, William Fuger on Section 10, Peter
Kappes on Section II; Thomas Cox and Charles Winters on Section 12.
The town of Ashton is on Section 15 in this township and on Section 18
we find Henry Arends, W. Popkes, H. Lenitzens, and Mr. DeGroat. On
Section 20 lives Rev. Mr. Nolte, a Quaker preacher; also C.W. Conner.
Mr. Conner is a prominent citizen and was a member of the County
Board of Supervisors, George Jamison also lives on Section 20. Mr.
John Jackley and Issac Smalley are on Section 21 and B.H. Lyman and
J.C. Wilmarth on Section 22. Wm. Keith and Wm. Craig live on Section
23; Nick Seivert, Nick Leinen and Phillip Grats on Section 24; on Section
27 lives Mr. Charles Lingleman and C. Groendyke; Mr. Ruben Heritage
and James Sturgeon on Section 29, and on Section 30 is the old Iselin
place improved by these boys John and Harry who came from New York
with money but made a failure in business. Neil Porter and S. Laber are
on Section 32 and C. Beck, Chalres Huntsley and James Bunce on
Section 34, with R.J. Stemm on Section 35. Gilman Township is one of
the best and finest improved townships in the county and is well settled.
Referring again to Goewey Township, quite a number still live in the
county who were among its earlier settlers. In May, 1871, George Perry,
along with his brother John and W.A. Spencer, landed here, having
drove through from Wisconsin. George settled on a part of Section 10,
John on a part of 14, and W.A. Spencer on Section 24. T.E. Perry, father
of John and George, came in the fall of 1871, and resided here until he
died, July 14, 1890. The boys used the wagon covers and wagons for
awhile as a habitation until they got something built for a house. Their
first load of lumber was hauled from Windom, Minn., and the two Perrys,
along with Spencer, went after it. On the road they overtook a traveler on
foot who accepted an invitation to ride. When they got to Worthington,
which was then starting as a town with only a few shacks, the traveler
got a quart of whisky and brought it around to treat the rest of them.
Spencer not being a drinking man, declined to take any, and the fellow
soon went away by himself, and about as the boys were starting on,
came around again drunk as a lord. Pointing to Spencer he said, if that
man had drank his share I wouldn't be tight, raising a question in moral
philosophy whether or not after all Spencer was to blame for the man's
drunkenness. After this first lumber hauled from Windom, they afterwards
hauled from Cherokee. On one of George Perry's trips he drove through
the Orange City settlement, which was composed mostly of Hollanders,
and with these people wooden shoes being principal commodity, they
were well stocked and the shoes were conspicuously displayed. George
Perry bought a pair for himself and also a pair for his wife more for the
novelty of it than anything else. His wife saw him coming home and as
usual walked out about a mile to meet him. George made a little speech
to her about the elegant foot gear he had seen, and thinking she needed
a pair, he had invested for her, and presented to her the pair of wooden
shoes. After that Mrs. Perry let her liege lord reach the house before she
greeted him. She preferred to take her surprises in the way of presents
at home.
Clark Perry, another brother, came in the fall of 1871, and settled on the
southwest quarter of Section 10 and still lives on the original claim.
John Perry now lives on the claim originally taken by his father, and
George now lives in Sibley.
W.A. Spencer resides in Sioux City; he has a son, however, C.A.
Spencer, now residing in Goewey Township on Section 22.
In June, 1872, T.M. Spencer, a brother of W.A., came from Wisconsin
and took the northeast quarter of Section 23. He has lived in the county
since, except one year during the grasshopper period he worked in
Cherokee. Mr. Spencer now lives in Ocheyedan; his sons, Charles A.
and E.E., live in the same town, while another son, O., lives in Sibley.
G.L. Van Eaton also settled in this township in 1872, and is still the
owner of the land upon which he settled. He is now in the lumber
business at Little Rock. John Gray, another settler of 1872, lives at
Ashton. Among other of the 1872 settlers now living in this township are
George Barrager, Louis Folsom, James Ford, E.Ellis, Robert Edwards,
George Spaulding, who still resides in the township, came in 1871, and
also the same year James Hollands. Mr. Hollands now resides in Sibley.
W.L. Daggett, now living on Section 36, also came in 1872. Mr. E. Elling
and J.C. Inman, who, we think, are on Section 34, are also early settlers.
Mrs. Clarinda Baker, who is also an early settler, resides on Section 30.
Her husband was gored to death by a bull several years ago. In addition
to those mentioned, among the early settlers in this township we find
D.G. Crippen, Henry Hoffman, Alexander Gilkerson, George Haskins,
Frank Finley, Eugene Guertin, L. Daggett, N. Madison, John Freeman,
P.F. Jones-Mr. Jones was one of the early settlers of 1872-Nelse
Christensen, W.H. Winney, P.O. Gillis, A. Bronson, John St. Clair, John
Christensen, Henry Pollman, P.N. Folkers, D. Irish, T. Stephens, Mr.
Brandt, the Johannes brothers, Walter Phillips, W.P. Reeves, I. Brandt,
C. Crumb, P. Foley.
Peter and Andrew Sherbonda, who are still living in the township on
Section 6, settled there in 1872. B.F. Curtis, who settled on Section 34 in
1872, now resides in Sioux City. Charles Bangert, living on Section 19, is
at present one of the County Board of Supervisors. W.R. Foster lives, we
think, on Section 20, and Lent on Section 21. In referring to these
present residents, there will no doubt be some omissions, as the writer
has gathered several townships from inquiry.
COURTS
There was in 1872 a District Court, and also a Circuit Court, both being
courts of record. Their jurisdiction was about the same, except that the
District Court had exclusive criminal jurisdiction, and the Circuit Court
had exclusive probate jurisdiction. Both districts comprised several
counties, of which Osceola was one.
The first term of the Circuit Court was held in Osceola County in 1873,
with Hon. Addison Oliver presiding. The first case on the calendar seems
to have been Jacob Frauz & Co. vs. F.L. Ward, and the case was
continued. John H. Douglass was then Sheriff and John F. Glover, Clerk.
The following attorneys seem to have figured into the business of that
term: H. Jordan, J.H. Swan and James T. Barclay.
The record does not show any litigated cases, owing, perhaps, to the fact
that the attorneys were not numerous enough. Everybody seemed to get
judgment in what cases there were. The next term of this Court was held
in December and in 1884 the State Legislature abolished the Circuit
Court, leaving the District Court as the only Court of Record.
The first term of the District Court, Hon. Henry Ford presiding, was held
at Sibley in July, 1872. The record makes mention of the fact that it was
the first term of any Court of Record held in the county. The officers
were: Judge, Henry Ford; District Attorney, C.H. Lewis; Clerk, C.M.
Brooks; Sheriff, Frank Stiles.
The record states that C.I. Hill, C.W. Blackmer, H. Jordan and J.T.
Barclay were present as members of the Sibley bar, and Sioux City
attorneys as follows: L. Wynn, W.L. Joy, O.C. Treadway, H.B. Wilson
and J.H. Swan. The first case on the calendar was L.F. Diefendorf vs.
J.H. Winspear and others. The action was to restrain Winspear, Frank
Stiles and others from building school houses. The injunction was
modified, and in September following, in vacation, Diefendorf dismissed
the action, and the school houses, under the direction of Winspear, Stiles
and others, went on in construction. This term of court lasted two days
and consisted, principally of a few judgments, there being no criminal
cases and no jury, either grand or petit.
The next term of the District Court was held in April, 1873. The same
officers were present, except that John H. Douglass was Sheriff and
John F. Glover Clerk. District Attorney C.H. Lewis stated to the court that
there was no irregularity in drawing the grand jury, and asked that the
precept be set aside, which was done, and the court then ordered a new
precept to issue, which was issued, and the following were the first grand
jurors of the county: H.G. Doolittle, B.A. Dean, J.L. Robinson, E.
Morrison, J.I. Halstead, A.M. Culver, N. Thompson, J. Slecht, H.
Babcock, J.W. Kerr, T.J. Cutshall, Charles Mandeville, R.F. Kime, D.L.
Riley and O. Dunton. Frank Stiles and F.M. Robinson were held to
answer to the grand jury from a preliminary examination before a justice,
and upon inquiry to these parties as to challenge, Stiles challenged Riley
and Dunton. H.G. Doolittle was chosen as foreman, and the jury was
instructed and charged by the court. The record then says, after being
charged by the court they retired to consider upon their duties. There is
no further record as to this grand jury, or the case against Robinson and
Stiles, so that we are left to conclude that the grand jury are still out
considering their duties, and Robinson and Stiles are still waiting in
doubtful apprehension of an indictment.
The first civil case tried in this court was H. Jordan vs. J.H. Winspear,
and the nature of the case is not disclosed. A jury was had, which was
the first petit jury in the county, and was composed of the following
named members: J. McKinney, H. Reeves, C.W. Wyllys, Thomas B.
Jackson, W.H. Morrison, S.W. Lang, G.R. Helmoly, A. Buchman, C.
Anderson, C.T. Torey, Joseph Kappes and George Taylor. Jordan was
defeated in his suit, and retired at an expense of $13.40. Several
individual judgments were rendered, and Osceola caught it to the tune of
$14, 851.12 from several different parties, altogether aggregating that
amount.
It is not necessary to follow the record of these courts further; the only
desire is to show something connected with their first terms. We might
add, however, that the first person naturalized in the county, was John R.
Robertson by Judge Ford, and the first estate to be probated was that of
Patrick Baker, deceased.
We also omitted to state that the only litigated case is the first term of the
Circuit Court was that of G. Toun vs. Sioux City and St. Paul Railroad
Company, in which case J.T. Barclay was attorney for plaintiff and J.H.
Swan for defendant. The jury was as follows: H.L. Baker, C. Manderville,
J.W. Collman, E.E. Headley, S. Cram, C.W. Wyllys, Daniel Busbu,
Frances F. White, Thomas B. Jackson, George Fablinger, H.F.
Manderville, Lewis Cole. Barclay carried off the honors of the victory, and
obtained a verdict for seventy-five dollars and costs at the first trial; but
the clever and tenacious Swan, who knows but little of the word defeat,
appealed the case to the Supreme Court. It is said that when a lawyer
gets beaten in a case he either appeals, or goes down to the tavern and
swears at the court, and in this case Swan appealed.
We have now only a District Court, comprising Woodbury, Sioux, Lyon,
Osceola, Plymouth, Monona, O'Brien, Cherokee and Harrison Counties.
Within this Judicial District are four Judges, who agree among
themselves as to the time and place each shall hold. The Judges are:
George W. Wakefield, of Sioux City; Scott M. Ladd, of Sheldon; Frank R.
Gaynor, of Le Mars, and A. Van Wagenen, of Rock Rapids. These
Judges, all of them being members of Different political parties are men
of unquestioned integrity, of ability, learned in the law, and preside with a
desire to hold the scales in equipoise and do justice to all. Will Thomas is
Clerk of Court in Osceola.
JUSTICES
Justices' courts were in running operation before there was held a court
of record. The office of Justice of the Peace, says Judge Conklin, is of
somewhat remote origin, having been first instituted in England, it is said,
as early as the time of William the Conqueror. The office was introduced
into this country by our forefathers on their first settlement here, so that
the people are accustomed to these courts and have them.
At the 4th of July meeting in 1871 nominations were made for Justices of
the Peace.
The first year of the county organization the Justices were as follows:
H.L. Clapsaddle, O. Dunton, Frank Stiles, D.F. Curtiss and J.H.
Winspear.
Since then others have been elected and retired, and the Justices of the
county in 1892 are as follows:
Holman---D.L. McCausland and E. Walton
Ocheyedan---A.E. Smith and R.J.O. McGowan
Harrison---Charles Mietke and E.L. Krukenberg
Baker---Dirk Frey
Wilson---R.S. Eakin
Fairview---Thomas Jackson
Gilman---Joseph W. Reagan
Horton-W.R. Boling
Goewey---W.J. Reeves
Other District Court officers are, John F. Stamm, Sheriff and T.P. May,
Deputy.
There are often many amusing things occur in justice courts, and in the
early days of Osceola County there were many here, but the records
have not preserved them, and the lawyers who still survive them are
reticent, while others who were in practice here then, have gone and
some have died. Among the justices at an early day was W.R. Boling in
Horton Township-in fact, he is now justice. An action was brought before
him of ejectment, and was between---Wassmann and G.B. Garvy.
McCallum brought the suit for Wassmann, the trial was set for January 2
at nine o'clock. McCallum, the Sheriff and his deputy, Webb, with
McCausland, started over from Sibley, starting at three o'clock in the
morning, and at daylight the thermometer was twenty-six degrees below
zero; but they were going to a law-suit, and the stimulus of the coming
contest kept them warm-for we wouldn't for a moment intimate that
anything else contributed to their comfort. P.R. Bailey, of Sheldon, was to
be McCallum's opponent, but the distance to go and the early hour was
too much for him, so he staid at home. The parties were all there in
season, and a jury was called, whose qualifications were inquired into,
and Mc found that all of them were quite satisfactory. The trial
commenced and proceeded, the testimony was in and McCallum was
making his argument. Just as Mc commenced, Jack Blair and A.V.
Randall arrived, and Blair, seeing a chance for a little fun, went on top of
the one-story building, laid a sack over the stove-pipe, sticking up
through the roof, and sat down on it. The stove had just been
replenished with soft coal, and in an instant the room was filled with
black, sulphurous smoke, but Mc kept on until Webb went to shaking the
stove-pipe to make it draw, when about twenty links of pipe, filled with
soot, came suddenly down on the heads of the jurors, the litigants, the
court and the counsel, when all beat a hasty retreat out of doors, and
there was such a similarity in appearance, that it was hard to tell one
from the other. They found out, however, what the trouble was, re-
adjusted things and went at it again ,but Blair's escape saved him from a
fine for contempt. The case lasted all night, and at six o'clock the next
morning, the jury were led off to a school house by Sheriff Lent for the
purpose of deliberation, and were out some time before they returned,
and when they did their verdict was for Wassmann. The court room for
the purposes of the trial was Seymour Coyour's shack, and while the jury
were out McCallum, Randall, McCausland and Webb "turned in," as the
sailors call it, that is all four of them went to bed together, and while they
were snoozing quietly, Blair appeared again and laid a hog's head
carefully between Randall's head and McCallum's, which woke Mc up,
and himself and what was left of the hog were staring at each other, for
their countenances were in close proximity. The trial ended with a
judgment for Wassmann, and then followed an execution to collect the
costs. There was nothing in sight to levy on but some potatoes, and
these were hardly in sight, for they were buried in a pit under ground.
The Sheriff, however, armed with the usual process, went out to Garvy's
place, took a man with him, and spent nearly a day digging into the
frozen ground and finally into the pit, but the potatoes were missing.
Upon a closer examination there was found to be another hole on the
other side of the pit from where the Sheriff had excavated, where the
debtor had stole a march on the expected execution, and removed his
potatoes to other quarters.
Since writing the above, A.V. Randall denies the four in a bed, and the
pig's head story so far as he was concerned, and states that he was a
member of the jury.
In 1873 Charles Brannock who lived near the Ocheyedan and who was
like most of the settlers, hard up for something to eat, had caught some
kind of an animal, probably a muskrat and after skinning it was cooking
the carcass on a fire out of doors. In an unfortunate moment the prairie
grass caught fire, and soon the fire was spreading in every direction.
Brannock was arrested and bound over. He was allowed to remain at
home to get bail, but the next day the fury of the people demanded his
incarceration and Sheriff Douglass was ordered out with the necessary
papers. In order that the arrest should be a complete success, quite an
army volunteered to go along and did on horseback, armed with
Winchesters, so that their going presented quite a body of cavalry and
they soon reached Brannock's cabin and the terrified fellow was ordered
to surrender which he did. He asked leave, however, to go inside and
change his clothes and once in, crawled out of a back window and by
cautiously creeping at first and getting in the grass he made his escape.
There were some who understood his condition of poverty and his
peaceful and law-abiding disposition and who felt that while the act was
a violation of the law, still it was not malicious nor intended; these wanted
him to get away and we suspect that Douglass was one of them. They
waited for his return in changed suit, and when sufficient time had
elapsed, an investigation was made and it was found that he had
escaped. Some one, a friend to Brannock, said that he just saw him
going over the hill towards the south, and away went the cavalry flying
after him; when that hill was reached the friend said he saw him going
over the next one, and on went the horsemen in furious following, and
thus for several miles they were led, and this with searching took up
about the whole day. In the mean time Brannock had started north while
the searchers were still searching he was safe in Minnesota, as only a
few miles travel was required to get there.
D.D. McCallum's first case was before a Justice of marked morality, who
was extremely harsh with criminals. His weakness was his veneration for
veterans of the late war, all of whom he esteemed as unrewarded
heroes. McCallum had fought four years. His client was a thief. "The only
thing I can do for you," said McCallum, after having gained the man's
confidence, "is to implore the mercy of the court. When you get on the
stand tell the whole truth."
The man had stolen a cow, killed it, sold the hide and taken the carcass
home to his family, which was really suffering for the necessaries of life.
The prosecution, with a long line of witnesses, had made a perfect case,
and the brow of the Justice was draped in ominous frowns when the
prisoner was called. The latter did as directed by his attorney, concealing
nothing-from the almost starving condition of his wife and family to the
dressing of the stolen beef.
"Now, your honor," said McCallum," the defense has no witnesses. My
client is guilty. He has hidden nothing from this court. It is the first time he
has ever transgressed the law. He was inspired to do wrong by that
instinct we even admire in brutes."
Then, turning to the prisoner as if the fact had nearly escaped him,
McCallum said:
"By the way, you were a soldier in the late war, were you not?'
"Yes, sir."
"Weren't you at Gettysburg?"
"Yes, sir."
"So was I. And you were in other historic battles, fighting for your
country, while your wife and family suffered at home?"
"Yes, sir."
The prosecution at this point saw the way the case was drifting, and
attempted to ridicule the "old soldier defense," as the prosecuting
attorney named it.
The effect upon the old Justice was to arouse all his loyalty and
indignation.
"Enough of this," said he, bringing his hand down on the desk in front of
him with a thundering thud. "No soldier, no man who shed his best blood
for his country, not even if he be a criminal, can be reviled in my
presence. The prisoner is discharged. And, sir, when you are suffering
for the necessaries of life again, come to me."
The joke was too good to keep. McCallum one day told him the old
soldier was an ex-Confederate; but never again did McCallum practice in
that court.
COUNTY OFFICERS--1872
Recorder D.L. McCausland
Treasurer A.M. Culver
Sheriff Frank Stiles
Surveyor M.J. Campbell
Supt. of Schools Deilily Stiles
Auditor F.M. Robinson
Clerk of Courts C.M. Brooks
Supervisors J.H. Winspear
Geo. Spaulding
H.R. Fenton
1873
Recorder D.L. McCausland
Treasurer A.M. Culver
Sheriff J.H. Douglass
Surveyor M.J. Campbell
Superintendent of Schools Delily Stiles
Auditor F.M. Robinson
Clerk of Court J.F. Glover
Coroner J.M. Jenkins
Supervisors, until April 21 D.L. Riley
H.R. Fenton
Geo. Spaulding
Supervisors, after April 21 D.L. Riley
P. Dunton
B.F. Mundorf
1874
This year there was no change in the offices of Recorder, Sheriff, Surveyor
and Coroner. The other officers were as follows:
Auditor W.M. Moore
Treasurer S.A. Wright
Superintendent of Schools J.M. Jenkins
A change of one in the Board of Supervisors--T.E. Perry in place of B.F. Mundorf.
1875
The officers of preceding year remained the same, except County Surveyor, H.G.
Doolittle, and A.H. Brown, member of Board, in place of T.E. Perry
1876
This year the county officers were as follows:
Recorder D.L. McCausland
Treasurer Levi Shell
Sheriff John Douglass
Surveyor H.G. Doolittle
Supt. of Schools C.L. Gurney
Auditor W.M. Moore
Clerk of Court J.F. Glover
Coroner Wm R. Lawrence
Supervisors D.L. Riley
O. Dunton, Ch'n
A. H. Brown
1877
The above officers remained the same, except the following changes:
Clerk of Court W.J. Miller
Recorder E. Huff
Supervisor--C.W. Wyllys in place of O. Dunton
1878
County officers were as follows:
Recorder E. Hugg
Treasurer Henry C. Hungerford
Sheriff John H. Douglass
Surveyor M.J. Campbell
Superintendent of Schools Mrs. W.L. Parker
Auditor W.M. Moore
Clerk of Court W.J. Miller
Coroner W.R. Lawrence
Supervisors D.L. Riley
Henry C. Allen
C.W. Wyllys
1879
The officers of 1878 remain the same, except the following change:
Supervisor--H.L. Emmert in place of D.L. Riley
1880
The only changes in county officers for this year were, Wm. R. Lawrence,
Superintendent of Schools, in place of C.L. Gurney; W.H. Barkhuff, Coroner,
in place of Lawrence, and Geo. S. Downend, Supervisor, in place of ----.
1881
The county officers of 1881 stood as follows:
Recorder Mrs. C.I. Hill
Treasurer H.C. Hungerford
Sheriff John H. Douglass
Surveyor M.J. Campbell
Superintendent of Schools Wm. R. Lawrence
Auditor W.M Moore
Clerk of Court John S. Davison
Supervisors H.C. Allen
Robert Stamm
Nicholas Boor
William Mowthorpe
Geo. S. Downend
It will be noticed that this year the members of the Board were increased to five.
1882
Recorder Mrs. C.I. Hill
Treasurer Robert S. Hall
Sheriff Jacob B. Lent
Surveyor M.J. Campbell
Superintendent of Schools J.R. Elliott
Auditor W.M. Moore
Clerk of Court John S. Davidson
Coroner W.H. Barkhuff
No change in Board of Supervisors
1883
There was no change this year in county officers from that of 1882,
except H.G. Doolittle, Surveyor.
1884
The changes this year from 1883 were: Auditor, J.S. Reynolds in place
of W.M. Moore; H. Neill, Coroner, in place of Barkhuff, and G.W. Barrager,
Supervisor, in place of H.C. Allen.
1885
County officers for the year were as follows:
Recorder Mrs. C.I. Hill
Treasurer R.S. Hall
Sheriff J.R. Lent
Surveyor H.G. Doolittle
Superintendent of Schools J.R. Elliott
Auditor J.S. Reynolds
Clerk of Court W.H. Kimberly
Coroner H. Neill
Supervisors Wm. Mowthorpe, Ch'n
G.S. Downend
Geo. W. Barranger
Albert Romey
N. Boor
1886
The officers for this year remain the same as 1885, with the following
changes: W.J. Reeves, Superintendent of Schools, in place of J.R. Elliott;
W.S. Webb, Coroner; C.P. Reynolds and Wm. Foster elected Supervisors in place
of N. Boor and G. S. Downend.
1887
The county officers of this year were as follows:
Recorder S.S. Parker
Treasurer R.S. Hall
Sheriff J.B. Lent
Surveyor H.G. Doolittle
Superintendent of Schools W.J. Reeves
Auditor J.S. Reynolds
Clerk of Court J.B. Mead
Coroner W.R. Lawrence
Supervisors S.A. Dove
C.P. Reynolds
Geo. W. Barriger
J.E. Townsend
A. Romey, Chairman
1888
Recorder S.S. Parker
Treasurer J.B. Lent
Sheriff J.H. Douglass
Surveyor H.G. Doolittle
Superintendent of Schools W.J. Reeves
Auditor J.S. Reynolds
Clerk of Court W.R. Lawrence
Coroner W.R. Lawrence
Supervisors same as 1887
1889
Recorder S.S. Parker
Treasurer J.B. Lent
Sheriff J.H. Douglass
Surveyor H.G. Doolittle
Superintendent of Schools W.J. Reeves
Auditor J.S. Reynolds
Clerk of Court J.B. Mead
Coroner W.R. Lawrence
There was also elected in the fall of 1889, under a new provision
of the Legislature, a County Attorney.
County Attorney O.J. Clark
Supervisors G.W. Barrager, Ch'n.
A. Romey
C.P. Reynolds
S.A. Dove
C.W. Conner
1890
Recorder S.S. Parker
Treasurer J.B. Lent
Sheriff J.H. Douglass
Surveyor John A. Flower
Superintendent of Schools F.W. Hahn
Auditor J.S. Reynolds
Clerk of Court J.B. Mead
Coroner W.E. Ely
Attorney O.J. Clark
Supervisors C.P. Reynolds, Ch'n
A. Batie
C.W. Connor
A. Romey
S.A. Dove
1891
Recorder W.H. Gates
Treasurer J.B. Lent
Sheriff J.H. Douglass
Surveyor J.A. Flower
Superintendent of Schools F.W. Hahn
Auditor J.S. Reynolds
Clerk of Court Will Thomas
Coroner W.E. Ely
Attorney G.W. Lister
Supervisors S.A. Dove, Chairman
Adam Batie
C.W. Conner
P.A. Cajocob
C.P. Reynolds
1892
The county officers for the present year are as follows:
Recorder W.H. Gates
Treasurer James E. Townsend
Sheriff John F. Stamm
Superintendent of Schools F.W. Hahn
Auditor J.S. Reynolds
Clerk of Court Will Thomas
Attorney G.W. Lister
Coroner W.E. Ely
Supervisors A. Batie, Chairman
S.A. Dove
W.H. Noehren
Charles Bangert
P.A. Cajacob
Chapter XIX
Returning again to Ocheyedan Township, we find the settlement in 1871
was not extensive, but its incoming settlers in 1872 were quite
numerous. In July, 1872,Daniel H. Boyd filed on the west half of the
northwest quarter of Section 2. Himself and son Charles first looked the
county over, and, when final place of location was fixed upon, Mr. Boyd
went to Cedar Falls, where his family were, and all came back with him
to the claim. In the spring of that year, 1872, Mr. Boyd, with the desire to
go west which seized many people then, left the State of New
Hampshire, that beautiful country of scenery that Bayard Taylor called
the "Switzerland of America." Mrs. Boyd first put up a small building on
the shack order, and in the fall built a better house-the one he still
resides in on the original claim-and, after a lapse of twenty years, he has
a beautiful home there, overlooking the thrifty town of Ocheyedan, and
where its magnificent foresttrees add to its attractiveness and beauty.
Along in September of 1872, Mr. R.S. Hall and Albert March came to the
Boyd place, they, too, fresh from the Granite State. Mr. Hall, a few years
ago, went to Long Pine, Nebraska, where he still resides. Mr. March still
lives on the original claim.
On the morning of the January 7 (1873) blizzard, Mr. March, who was
putting up a building on his claim, started from Mr. Boyd's to work that
day. As stated elsewhere concerning the blizzard, the morning was
beautiful, and Mr. March went with clothing for only ordinary weather, as
he was to return again at night. His partially built shack was two miles
east from Mr. Boyd's, and before Mr. March reached it the blizzard had
commenced, so that, once there, he did not long remain, but started
back from Mr. Boyd's house. He lost his way and wandered for over two
hours, not knowing which way he was going, with the storm increasing
and the atmosphere growing intensely colder. Mr. March went down
upon his knees, and in the face of death offered up a prayer for his
deliverance. Soon after rising he saw, not far from him, in a lull of the
storm, a small shanty, which proved to be that of Mr. Sutton, which was
about two miles southeast from Mr. March's own claim. Mr. Sutton had
been caught in the storm at Mr. Ireland's place, and Mr. March remained
with the other members of the Sutton family until the third day, when the
storm was over.
On the second day of that blizzard Mr. Boyd and Mr. Hall started from
the Boyd place to go to March's shack to look after him. It was a
hazardous undertaking to go two miles in that terrible blizzard and back,
but these two men had concluded that March was still there and might
still be alive, and that they might save him. They carried a string with
them, stretching it out about forty rods, and at the end of this, by going
slowly and carefully, they followed the blind road which had been made
by some hauling to the March place, and at last reached the shack, but
there was no occupant. These two disappointed men concluded that
March was lost, and that, rigid with freezing and with death, he lay out
somewhere upon the prairie. The task of returning was then before them.
Mr. Hall was about exhausted and wanted to lie down, but Mr. Boyd-of
an iron constitution and good pluck, and fearful that Hall would give out
on the way-encouraged his companion to make the venture, which they
did, and, after a few hours of tedious plodding and in a feeling of
apprehension for their own safety, they arrived back at the Boyd
residence.
On the third day, after it had cleared up some, Charles Boyd was about
to go, under the direction of his father, to the Sutton place to see if March
was there, when March himself, to the delight and astonishment of the
Boyd household, opened the door and walked in, alive and well.
On this same Section 2, upon which Mr. Boyd filed, Frank Taylor took the
east half of the northeast quarter in 1872, Charles R. Boyd the east half
of the northwest quarter. The southeast quarter of this same section was
a tree claim, filed on by Mr. Ruttenburg, but which D.H. Boyd
subsequently became the owner of. The southwest quarter was settled
upon originally by Mr. Greenleaf. James Goodwin, of Spencer,
afterwards became the owner of it, and sold to Lorenzo B. Boyd, who still
owns it and there resides, except fifty acres on the east side conveyed to
Mrs. Tracy, and upon the south half of this Section 2 is a part of the
Ocheyedan Townsite. Lorenzo B. and Charles R. Boyd are sons of D.H.
and the Boyd family in one of sterling integrity, and are among the best
citizens in the county. Mr. A.B. Elmore still resides on his original
Ocheyedan Township claim, and, quoting from a former work on
Northwestern Iowa, it is said of him: "He is an energetic, hard-working
farmer, possessed of broad ideas, and is well known as an honorable
upright citizen."
Geo N. Taylor and S.S. Parker left Minnesota, where they were then
living about sixty miles northwest of St. Paul, on the 6th day of May,
1872, and landed on the bank of the Ocheyedan on the 28th. They both
took claims on Section 6, Township 99, Range 40. Mr. Parker was
afterwards elected Recorder and moved to Sibley, where he still resides.
Mr. Taylor lives in Ocheyedan. Taylor's first crop, or a part of it, was two
acres of wheat intended for family bread. He harvested just one bushel,
the grasshoppers had harvested ahead. Mr. Taylor lost a yoke of oxen in
the January, 1873 blizzard. Luke Horrobin settled in Ocheyedan
Township in 1872, and came here from Ohio. He first settled on Section
6 and afterwards removed to Section 14, where he now resides. About
1873, Mr. L. Tatum, with his son, C.A. Tatum, drove through from Floyd
County, and arrived in Osceola in May. L. Tatum filed on a part of
Section 14, in West Ocheyeddan, and in the same Township C.A. Tatum
filed a homestead on a part of Section 24. L. Tatum is now in Nebraska,
and C.A. Tatum still owns his original homestead and resides in the
Town of Ocheyedan. A picture of his residence is on another page. W.H.
Barkhuff, who has a very fine farm in this township, came from Fayette
County in March, 1872. He has braved the new country adversities with
final success. John Hesebeck came in 1872, and still lives on the original
claim. John has had a hard time of it like the rest of us, but is a
successful farmer. In this township also resides Hans Graves, who is
mentioned as one of the Graves family, most of whom settled in Baker
Township, also John Graves. Hans and John came in 1872, and both
have as fine farms as can be found in the state. Claus Yess, living in this
township, also came in 1872. Mr. Yess now lives in a fine residence,
across the road from which stands the original cabin which he first built.
Geo. Raynor has a very fine place, having purchased it from one of the
Scotch settlers, so called, for at one time there was a Scotch settlement
in Ocheyedan Township, which scattered from misfortune or
inexperience in farming. G.A. Peter, who still lives in this township and is
a good farmer, is a son of one of the Scotch settlers. On the east side of
the township are C.E. Benson, E.J. Benson and F.E. Benson. E.J. has
been some time in the township. Other residents are John Armstrong,
I.N. Beanger, A.C. Barnett, A.A. Barnett, Anton Barta, C.H. Button, C.S.
Buchner. George Bremmer is an old resident of this township and lives in
the southwest part of it. J.J. Callender has been here about six years,
Edmund Devine about three years and John Ginnie about two years.
James Hall, on the east side, is something of an old settler, enough so
as to have had a touch of the grasshoppers and has been here about
fourteen years. F.H. Hunt, along with H.C. March, came in 1875 from
New England. Mr. Hunt purchased the Luke Horrobin place and now has
an elegant home. Mr. March is well situated, and had the misfortune
about a year ago to lose his wife by death. Richard Harrison, living south
of town, has resided there about three years. Others have been here as
follows: M.N. Herbert about five years, Joseph Korth about seven, while
J.H. Kerby has been here considerably longer. H.J. and R.C. Lutson
have been residents about five years, D.J. Smith about the same; also
B.J.J. Morritz, O.J. Barkhuff and J.F. and E.J. Bradley. Among other
residents of a latter date are M.J. Swazy, Thomas Wise, I.W. Olmstead,
Wallace Olmstead, John A. Smith, Otto Rumford, Charles F. Porter,
Manley Pickett, J.S. Floyd, Ira Swaney, George Dearhalt, T.B. Fletcher,
who lives near the noted Ocheyedan Mound, came about five years ago,
as also did W.A. Cooper.
C.N. Moar is considerable of an old settler, as is also Gilbert and Milan
Gee. Hope Graham has been here about ten years, and William Siver is
considered an old settler. Among other residents are W.A. Cook, J.H.
Kuntz, N. Richardson, N.I. Peter, Albert and Charles Shephard, P.H.
Tierney, Cornelius Tierney, R.S. Thompson, J.H. Welsh and George
Waldholm, F.L. James and A.W. Stephens are old settlers; also Walter
Woolridge and C.C. Webster has been here about four years. James
Thomas, who is considered an old settler, lives on the east side of the
township. P.L. Thompson, a recent settler, and neaar him H. Tjden.
Tjden, in addition to farming, is in the insurance business. J.P. Tower is
an early settler and is still living on the original claim which he settled
upon in 1872. John S. Robinson, on the west side, has lived there about
five years, and Joel Carl, after an experience in Dakota, settled in the
south part of the township about two years ago. J.J. Lintner has been
here quite a number of years. There are also E.T. Evins, E.J. Lee, who
has lived in the township about two years; also A.H. Paddock. We might
further mention David Kratzer, H.M. Trumbauer, W.E. Phinney, W.C.
Ondler, Andrew Naab. O.J. Nenno is an old settler, M.N. Smith has lived
in the township several years and C.R. Marsh about two years and H.W.
Anderson about the same. Edward Everett lives near Ocheyedan, in this
township. He first settled in the county in 1871, east of Ashton, in Gilman
Township, and has been identified now for over twenty years in Osceola
County affairs. His wife is of a literary turn of mind; has written some very
elegant poetry and will soon publish a volume of her poems. Mr. Everett
was one of the first justices in Gilman township and the first Sunday
school superintendent in that part of the township, and indeed we believe
the first in that part of the county. Ocheyedan has gained very much in
settlement in the past two years and is a thrifty, productive township. On
Section 17, west of Ocheyedan, is I.C. Stewart and M.M. Hulburt, and on
Section 18 Charles Moore, and Max Decker on Section 33. Joseph
Smith lives in the southeast part of the township. Ocheyedan Township,
as a part of Osceola County, would still be incomplete without a mention
of C.B. Knox. Mr. Knox, it is true, lives in Dickinson County, on the banks
of Silver Lake but not a great distance from the east line of Ocheyedan.
He came from Wisconsin in 1869 and camped for a few weeks on the
banks of Spirit Lake, and in that same year settled upon the northeast
quarter of Section 28, Township 100, Range 38, where he still resides.
Mr. Knox had occasion to pass across Osceola County several times
when not a white man was living in the county and when he encountered
bands of Indians and saw nothing but the original untrodden prairie, an
occasional wild animal and the roving red man. Mr. Knox has a lovely
home overlooking the placid waters of that beautiful lake, and there
enjoys life in contentment and with the respect of his neighbors and
fellow citizens.
CHAPTER XX
The settlement of Holman Township east and west outside of Sibley
began in 1871. The township is twelve miles east and west, by six miles
north and south. The township was named after Supervisor Holman, of
Woodbury County. Goewey Township and Horton were also named after
members of Woodbury County's Board of Supervisors at the time that
Board started Osceola County into existence.
The only settler in the township near the neighborhood of Sibley was
Frank Stiles, and west of Stiles was J. H. Winspear, who had a small
house near where C.F. Benson's residence now is. Just north of Sibley
L.C. Chamberlain had a homestead, and near him Ed. Shufelt, now of
Canton, South Dakota, had a pre-emption. Mr. Chamberlain lived there
about twenty years, and now is in San Francisco, California. Near these
D. Busbee, M.V. Beebe and J.K. Shaw were located, while west of these
were Robert Stamm and John O'Neill. Garrett Irwin and James Bailey
were in the same neighborhood. A mile west of Chamberlain's were E.
Morrison, John Beaumont and D.L. Riley, while still further were Daniel
Call, Charles Call and N. Richards and Busbee. On the section directly
west of Sibley, where is now the fine stock farm of H.L. Emmert, were
Henry L. Baker, W.W. Cram, Myron Churchill and Thomas Parland. On
the first section south of town were R.O. Manson, Geo. W. Bean, A. M.
Culver and his son, Andrew. West of these were G.F. Nixon, A.W.
Mitchell and Pat Larkin, and stil further west were John Coughlin, C.M.
Bailey and Edward Lindsey. Near this section were located William
Proper, William and Joseph Anderson, Rev. Mr. Aldrich and Thomas
Jackson. East of these was the Robinson section, John L., F.M. and Ed.,
and near these were the Rice brothers, Martin and Hughes, also Doc
Ward. South of the Culvers was W. Belcher and near him David
Chambers and sons. West of these was David Johns, Peter Wagner,
Thomas Thompson, and near them John Welcher, S.F. Thompson and
C.B. Hann.
Of these old settlers mentioned, Winspear went to Colorado; Stiles and
Shufelt are in Dakota; M.V. Beebe is in Ellsworth, Minnesota; J.K. Shaw
is in Salt Lake City; W.H. Morrison is in Kettle Falls; John O'Neill and
James Bailey have died; D.L. Riley is in Iowa Falls; H.L. Baker is in
Indiana; Myron Churchill is in Pipestone, Minnesota; W.W. Cramm is in
Nebraska; Edward Lindsey is dead, and his two sons, Harvey and Henry,
have farms in this county; C.M. Bailey is in the Auditor's office at Des
Moines; F.M. Robinson is at Atlanta, Georgia, and Pat Larkin is in
Kansas.
Of the pioneers mentioned, but few remain on their claims. Robert
Stamm continues to live on his claim, and A.W. Mitchell and John
Coughlin are on the same original claims; David Jones, John
Chamberlain and R.O. Manson also live on the land originally taken.
East of Sibley, Dr. J.M. Jenkins and his brother John filed; near them,
John I. Halstead and his son, Al Halstead, and also Rev. John Webb. A
mile north of these was located J.F. Glover, F.F. White, E.A. White and
S.A. Wright, and east of, C.F. Krueger and sons. Near these last
mentioned, were Chauncey H. Bull, John E. Johnson and John E.
Sclecht. West of Bull was James Bowles, E.C. Jenkins, Howey Walters
and Mr. Loharty. In the same neighborhood were the parties heretofore
mentioned on Section 8.
On Section 14 were Wallace Rea, O.C. Staplin, John Roberts and C.A.
Kirkpatrick. On Section 22 were J.S. Reynolds, Frank Coe and S.H.
Westcott. On Section 24, H.G. Doolittle and John McDonald; near there
was the Mandeville section-H.N. and his sons William and Charles. On
Section 28 were John H. Miller, W.J. Miller, G.H. Perry and John Q.
Miller; east were Hiram Burt, Michael Clapsaddle, H.S. Brown and J.
Budworth; near by, Jack Kettle, Wm. Horton, H.L. Clapsaddle, W.H.
Philips and J.B. Jenny. The Jenkins people have all moved away. The
Halsteads moved to Nebraska, the White boys returned to Wisconsin,
S.A. Wright to Nebraska, and Mr. Loharty perished in a blizzard. C.M.
Brooks lives in Cedar Rapids and Hiram Austin in Kansas.
Thus the early settlers of Holman Township have scattered, except what
few remain, and some have died. Those who left got discouraged and
disheartened with the disadvantages which every new country has, and
returned to their former homes, or sought other fields. The land of these
early settlers is now occupied by other and later comes, who will reap the
harvest, which, with the absent settlers failed to materialize.
Among the present settlers, some of whom may through inadvertence be
omitted, are Geo. N. Argubright, P.C. Alexander, Gens Anderson, Geo.
Alberns, Horace Ackerson, Dirk Albers, Charles Andrews, Charles
Thomas, William Brechel, C.F. Blackmore, J.W. Bechet, Frank Burton,
A.L. Baxter, Will Chase, P.A. Cajacob-Mr. Cajacob is a member of the
Board of Supervisors-J.W. Campbell, who bought the fine Philips farm,
Geo. Cooper, M.J. Chambers, David Chambers, D.J. Chambers, Aaron
Cox, H.L. Clapsaddle, J.J. Conway, G. DeBries, William Drahe, William
Dix, J.L. Dufree, C.N. Flower, G.W. Flower, D.R. Flower, John Gerver,
J.T. Greenfield. This last named gentleman is a pioneer who has a large
farm. J.H. Gallagher also lives in this township, who is a find
stockbreeder; also J.H. Gee, John Gache and Jonathan Gross. There
are also A. Hunter, John Hess, Nick Hess, J.H. Karem, Claus Hoffman,
George Heritage, Mahlon Harvey, E.A. Hunter, Matt Hillers, P. Henry,
Peter Johannes, D.D. Jenkins, J.G. Johnson, J.B. Jenney, Joseph
Kappes, F.L. Kruger, W.H. Ketchem, A. Klossen, William Kastor,
Theodore Ling, C.F. Ling, Thomas Larson, J.S. Martin, R.F. Maloney, D.
Myer and J. Miller, whose wife is one of the big turkey raisers of the
county, Peter Nelson, Dan O'Neill, John McCone, John Pfeffer, Peter
Philbern, L.S. Patterson, Thomas Pell. This last named gentleman is a
Congregational clergyman, who has been pastor of a church in the
county and last winter preached in Florida. There are also Charles
Parker, P. Redmond, N. M. Reynolds, Joseph Roth, John Redmond,
B.A. Stamm, who is also a pioneer, Henry Shroeder, Will Shroeder, John
Schulte, Robert Smith, who was also a pioneer, Martin Schmidt, G.L.
Smith, Peter Shaw, James Stevens, James Thomas, Robert Taylor, J.F.
Taylor, W.L. Taylor, G.B. VanNorman, David Whitney, John Wagner,
who is a large farmer, John E. Wagner, T.M. Wagner. These names do
not include all the residents of Holman Township, but such as could be
ascertained by observation and inquiry. They have taken the even
numbered sections of the government land, and the railroad land, being
the odd numbered, and following the little settlements and small
improvements of the pioneer, they have made Holman Township one of
the finest agricultural districts in the country.
The farmers of this township, as well as all other townships, have, in less
than a quarter of a century, built highways, made substantial homes, built
schoolhouses, and today this township, that in the sixties rated at $1.25
per acre and in the seventies rated at $2.50 to $5 an acre, has advanced
to be worth from $25 to $50 an acre. Industrial development is
marvelous. The Nineteenth Century advancement is wonderful to
contemplate, but right here at our doors, before our very eyes, has been
a transformation as remarkable as can be noted in any department of
industry in the wide field of this great republic.