D. A. W. PERKINS. 
 
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 CD¥=^ 
 
 Osceola Counts 
 
 XO'^KT.I^. 
 
 
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 ^5^*5f<: 
 
 BY D. A. W. PERKINS 
 
 1892: 
 
 BROWN 4 SAENGER, PRINTERS AND BINDERS, 
 StOUX FALLS, SO. DAK. 
 
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 The writer of these pa^es located in O'Brien County, 
 Iowa, in the fall of 187 1, and hence knows something of the 
 hardships and privations of the early settlers of these north- 
 western Counties of the State, and particularly of the County 
 of Osceola. This book is intended to rescue from coming 
 oblivion many of the incidents and reminiscences of the early 
 days of the County, and to give them record for the entertain- 
 ment and benefit of the old settlers and the new, and also to 
 give a general history of the County from its first organization. 
 
 The book is not produced as a money making scheme; is 
 not written to advertise anybody or anything. The writer 
 has simply taken a certain portion of his time from a busy 
 professional life, and wielded the pen in gratifying a personal 
 desire to preserve the County's history, and also to bring home 
 to the intelligent people of Osceola, and all others interested 
 in the County, a record of what has gone before, up to the 
 present date, and from which point some future historian may 
 continue the task, when we, who were active participants in its 
 early struggles, will be numbered among those who are of the 
 silent city of the dead. 
 
©HE HAMB. 
 
 Osceola County was named after a Seminole chief who was 
 the acknowledged head of that band of Indians inhabiting the 
 everglades of Florida. In 1835, the United States authorities 
 attempted to remove the tribe into the country west of the 
 Mississippi, but Osceola at the head of his brave followers re- 
 fused to go, and such renowned commanders as Scott and 
 Taylor were out-generaled in every encounter. After two 
 years he was captured b}^ treachery, sent to Charleston in 
 irons, and afterwards at Ft. Moultrie died of grief. 
 
 LAW PERTAINING TO ITS ORGANIZATION. 
 
 Chapter 9 of the Laws of the Third General Assembly, 
 approved January 15, 1851, entitled, "An Act to Establish 
 New Counties and Define Their Boundaries," among other 
 things, provides as follows: 
 
 "Section 49. That the following shall be the boundaries 
 of a new county, which shall be called Osceola, to-wit: Be- 
 ginning at the northwest corner of Township Ninety-seven, 
 Range Thirty-eight, thence north to the north boundary hne 
 of the State, thence west to the northwest corner of Township 
 One Hundred, Range Forty-two, thence south to the south- 
 west corner of Township Ninety-eight, Range Forty-two, 
 thence east to the place of beginning." 
 
 Section 27 of the same act created a new county called 
 Wahkaw, which is the present County of Woodbury. 
 
 Chapter 8 of the Laws of the Fourth General Assembly, 
 approved January 12, 1853, entitled, "An Act Organizing 
 Certain Counties Therein Named," provides for the organiza- 
 tion of the County of Wahkaw, and the holding of a special 
 election for that purpose. 
 
 And Section 14 of said chapter reads as follows: 
 
 "Section 14. That for revenue, election and judicial pur- 
 poses, the Counties of Ida, Sac, Buena Vista, Cherokee, 
 Plymouth, Sioux, O'Brien, Clay, Dickenson, Osceola and Bun- 
 combe are hereby attached to Wahkaw, and the election for 
 said county shall be held at Sergeant's Bluff, and as many 
 
6 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 
 
 Other places as the organizing sheriff may designate in his 
 notice of election." 
 
 Thos. L. Griffey was the organizing sheriff of the County 
 of Wahkaw. 
 
 Chapter 12 of the Laws of the Fourth General Assembly, 
 approved January t2, 1853, entitled, "An Act in Relation to 
 New Counties," provides the. manner in which citizens of an 
 unorganized county may secure the organization of their 
 county by application to the county judge of the county to 
 which such unorganized county is attached, and also provides 
 for establishing the county seat, notice of election, canvass of 
 returns and qu^tlitication of officers elected. 
 
 And Section 4 of said chapter provides that the name of 
 the County of Wahkaw shall be changed to Woodbury. 
 
 Sections 226 to 230, inclusive, of the revision of i860 
 contain general provisions relating to unorganized counties, 
 the holding of elections for organization, etc., in which the 
 authority is stated to be in the county judge to perform certain 
 duties, but Sections 312 to 326, inclusive, in effect confer upon 
 the board of supervisors the powers and duties of the county 
 judge in relation to unorganized counties attached to organized 
 counties. And Section 330 of the revision of i860 also so de- 
 clares. 
 
 Under these provisions the County of Osceola remained 
 attached to Woodbury County until its organization in Jan- 
 uary, 1872. 
 
Ol^GANIZING OSGBOLiA (sOUNTY. 
 
 WOODBURY COUNTY RECORDS. 
 
 State of Iowa, \ 
 Woodbury County. \ 
 
 I, George W. Wakefield, Auditor of Woodbury County, 
 Iowa, do hereby certify that at the June session, A. D. 1S71, 
 of the Board of Supervisors of Woodbury County, to-vvit: 
 On the 6th day of June, A. D. 1871, the following proceed- 
 ings were had to-wit: 
 
 Resolved, that the Countv of Osceola in the State of Iowa, 
 be organized at the general election of 187 1. 
 
 Resolved, that three townships be formed out of the 
 County of Osceola in the State of Iowa, to-wit: All of 
 Township No. Ninety-Eight, of Range Thirty-nine, Forty, 
 Forty-One and Forty-Two, shall compose one township to be 
 known and called Goewey Township. All of Township No. 
 Ninety-Nine, Range Thirty-Nine, Forty, Forty-One and 
 Forty-Two, shall compose one township to be known and 
 called Holman Township. And all of Township No. One 
 Hundred, of Range Thirty-Nine, Forty, Forty-One and 
 Forty-Tw^o, shall compose one township to be known and 
 called Horton Township. 
 
 Resolved, that an election be held for the election of 
 Township and County officers at the general election for 1871, 
 to be held as follows, to-vvit: In Goewey Township, at the 
 house of E. Huff; in Holman Township, at the house of 
 A. Culver; in Horton Township, at the house of H. R. Fenton. 
 
 Resolved, that the question of whether the Provisions of 
 Chapter 144 of the Laws of the Twelfth General Assembly of 
 the State of Iowa, shall be enforced in Osceola County, Iowa, 
 shall be submitted to the legal voters of said County, at the 
 general election of 187 1, as provided m said chapter. 
 
 Resolved, that the proper officers are hereby authorized 
 and instructed to do and take all necessary steps to have these 
 resolutions carried into effect. 
 
 Resolved, that the Auditor be instructed to assess the 
 lands in Osceola County at twoJ|dollars an acre. 
 
8 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTT, fO]VA. 
 
 I also certify that at the September Session, A. D. 187 1, 
 to-wit: On the 4th day of September, A. D, 187 1, the fol- 
 lowing proceedings were had, to-wit: 
 
 Resolved^ that the following taxes shall be and are hereby 
 levied for the year A. D. 187 t, upon the assessed value of the 
 taxable property in Osceola County, Iowa, for the year A. D. 
 187 1, in accordance with law, to-wit: 
 
 For State revenue, two mills on the dollar. 
 
 For ordinary County revenue, four mills on the dollar and 
 a poll tax of fifty cents. 
 
 For the support of schools, two mills on the dollar. 
 
 For making and repairing bridges, three mills on the 
 dollar. 
 
 For road purposes, five mills on the dollar. 
 
 For school house fund, ten mills on the dollar. 
 
 For teachers fund, ten mills on the dollar. 
 
 For contingent fund, four mills on the dollar. 
 
 I also certify that at the October session, A. D. 187 1, to- 
 wit: On the i6th day of October, A. D. 1871, the following 
 proceedings were had to-wit: 
 
 On motion the Board proceeded officially to canvass the 
 votes cast at the general October election, A. D. 1871, in and 
 for Osceola County, Iowa, which was reduced to writing and 
 placed on file, and the abstract of votes cast was recorded in 
 the election book, and signed by the said Board and attested 
 by the County Auditor, and it appearing by proofs on file that 
 due proclamation has been made of the several offices to be 
 filled, and to the question submitted to the vote of the County. 
 
 It was on motion ordered and declared that the following 
 persons were duly elected to the offices set opposite their re- 
 spective names, to-wit: 
 
 A. M. Culver, County Treasurer. 
 
 D. L. McCausland, County Recorder. 
 
 C. M. Brooks, Clerk of the District Court. 
 
 Delily Siiles, County Superintendent of Public Schools. 
 
 J. D. Hall, Coroner. 
 
 John Beaumont, Drainage Commissioner. 
 
 M. J. Campbell, County Surveyor. 
 
 George Spaulding, \ 
 
 H. R. Fenton. I Commissioners. 
 
 J. H. Winspear. ) 
 
 Also the following question submitted to a vote of the 
 people of the County was declared to have been carried in the 
 affirmative: 
 
HISTORl OF OSCEOLA COCXTl'. IOWA. 9 
 
 " Shall the provisions of Chapter 144 of the Laws of the 
 Twelfth General Assembly of the State of Iowa, be enforced 
 in Osceola County, Iowa." 
 
 The supervisors elect, in and for Osceola County, Iowa, 
 were classed and divided by lot as by law provided, whereby 
 it was found that George Spaulding was entitled to hold the 
 office of member of the Board of Supervisors of said County 
 for the term of three years, and H. R. Fenton was entitled to 
 hold said office for the term of two 3'ears, and J. H. Winspear 
 was entitled to hold said office for the term of one year. 
 
 On motion it is now ordered that the auditor be instructed 
 to notify Wm. A. McDonald and F. M. Robinson to appear at 
 his office and determine by lot which of them shall be declared 
 elected Auditor of Osceola County, Iowa, also to notif}- S. C. 
 Couch and T. J. Cutshall to appear at his office and determine 
 by lot which of them shall be declared elected Sheriff of Osce- 
 ola County, Iowa, also to give notice of the adoption of the 
 several questions submitted to the people as by law provided. 
 
 I also certify that the following proceedings were held 
 before the County Auditor of Woodbnrv County, Iowa, to- 
 to-wit : 
 
 F. M. Robinson, \ 
 
 Wm. a. McDonald, f ^•'' ^''''^^• 
 
 Now on this 27th da}^ of October, 1871, comes Frank M. 
 Robinson for himself and John Cleghorn, Jr., for Wm. \. Mc- 
 Donald, and lots having been duly prepared and di'awn, it was 
 ascertained that Frank M. Robinson should be declared 
 elected Auditor of Osceola County, Iowa, and pursuant to the 
 order of the Board of Supervisors, made October 16, 1871, 
 the said Frank M. Robinson is hereby declared elected Audi- 
 tor of Osceola County, Iowa. 
 
 I also certify that at the adjourned October session, 1871, 
 to-wit: On the 29th day of October, A, D. 187 1, the follow- 
 ing proceedings were had, to-wit: 
 
 On motion it is now ordered the Auditor be empowered 
 and instructed to approve the bond of the Auditor of Osceola 
 County, Iowa. 
 
 I also certify that the following proceedings were had be- 
 fore the County Auditor of Woodbury County, Iowa, on the 
 19th day of December, A. D. 1871: 
 
10 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 
 
 F. M. Robinson, Auditor, 
 
 r\ r^ ^ r OFFICIAL BOND. 
 
 Osceola County, Iowa. 
 
 The official bond of F. M. Robinson, Auditor of Osceola 
 County, Iowa, in the sum of Five Thousand Dollars with J. 
 H. Winspear, H. R. Fenton and D. D. Doe as sureties is this 
 day filed with the Auditor, and by him approved. 
 
 In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand 
 and affixed the seal of the Board of Supervisors of Wood- 
 bury County, this 22nd day of March, A. D. 1872. 
 
 Geo. W. Wakepield, 
 I seal.] Auditor of Woodbury County, Iowa. 
 
CHAPTER I. 
 
 History is always interesting, and there is sometliing pe- 
 culiarly fascinating in the record of past events. We look for- 
 ward with feelings of hope, of admiration and of ambition, but 
 we look backward over the seemingly forgotten past in the 
 spirit of meditation, and with our hearts concentrated upon the 
 scenes and incidents of other days, and we ponder them with 
 absorbing interest. The statements of history are sometimes 
 doubted, and controversies arise which can end only in contro- 
 versy, never settled, because the actors then in the drama of 
 life are mouldering in forgotten and neglected graves. And 
 even when the actors are still living, there often arises a dis- 
 pute which history cannot fully settle, as demonstrated by the 
 conflicting reports and statements of many a battle by partici- 
 pants themselves in our civil war. Our history is one of com- 
 parative recent events, whose pages turn back only two 
 decades, and which our earliest settlers are familiar with, and 
 which will be of much interest to the people of Northwest 
 Iowa generally, and indeed to the people of all parts of the 
 State. The intention of the writer in the history of Osceola 
 County is not only to make record of such facts as pertain to 
 its organization, its growth and progress, but also to weave in 
 reminiscences and events connected with the early settlers, 
 and make mention of every circumstance that will be of 
 interest to the general reader. 
 
 In the spring and summer of 1870, the fair and fertile 
 prairie land of Osceola County was without a settler. The 
 older parts of Iowa, with that instinctive feeling that an old 
 settled countr}^ has for a new, regarded Northwest Iowa then 
 as a barren and bleak part of the state, and as unfit for man's 
 habitation; but before the close of that vear Mr. E. Huff came 
 and filed on a claim November 3, which was the southwest 
 quarter of Section 32, Towmship 98, Range 42, in what is now 
 Oilman Township, so that this gentleman, now a non-resident, 
 was the first settler. 
 
 After Mr. Huff had made settlement as the law required, 
 he retured to Beloit, in Lyon County, and remained there dur- 
 ing the following winter. In the spring of 1871, while at 
 
12 HISTORr OF OSCEOLA COCNTl', IOWA. 
 
 Sioux City, he came across C. M. Brooks, who was pushing 
 west under the advice of the lamented and distinguished Hor- 
 ace, but who had started for Nebraska. Mr. Huff explained 
 to him the wonders of Osceola, and the graphic description he 
 gave of this Garden of Eden resulted in Mr. Brooks coming to 
 Osceola County. Mr. Brooks left behind him others, who 
 were to follow when word was received where to go, and 
 when he reached this County and looked upon its fair and 
 fertile prairie land, he determined at once upon settlement 
 here, and wrote to his friends to lose no time in hastening to 
 this new and wonderful country. 
 
 This correspondence brought W. W. Webb, D. L. Mc- 
 Causland and M. J. Campbell, who, with C. M. Brooks, took 
 Section 8, in Township 99, Range 41, now West Holman, 
 each taking of it a quarter-section. Mr. McCausland and Mr. 
 Webb came through with oxen, and Brooks and Campbell 
 through to LeMars by rail. About this time, and we believe 
 on the first day of May, 187 1, H. G. Doolittle, with James 
 Richardson, from Floyd County, arrived at the house of E. 
 Huff and remained over night. The next day they struck for 
 claims; Doolittle settled on the southwest quarter of Section 
 24, Township 99, Range 41, and Richardson on the same sec- 
 tion. They built sod houses, and had some lumber with them. 
 Mr. Richardson after being here a short time returned. 
 
 Houston A. Doolittle, a brother of H. G., came in June, 
 1 87 1, and tiled on Section 30, Township 99, Range 40. He 
 left here in 1889, and now lives in Hancock County. H. G. 
 Doolittle established a land business that year near Shaw's 
 store, elsewhere referred to, and did business in a tent. He 
 was engaged in locating incoming settlers, and did consider- 
 able business. 
 
 Returning again to Messrs. Webb and McCausland, they 
 with the others. Brooks and Campbell, came from Fayette 
 County. At the starting of Mr. Webb and McCausland with 
 the oxen, Mr. McCausland was ill, indeed, low with consump- 
 tion, but the idea of still going to a new country seemed to in- 
 fuse new life in him, and his entire recovery afterwards was 
 indeed miraculous. 
 
 When Webb and McCausland got to Osceola County and 
 came to the Ocheydan, McCausland, still weak, undertook to 
 jump across the narrow stream and landed nearl}' to his neck 
 in the middle. This was severe for a consumptive man near 
 to death's door, but after a change of clothing he was all right 
 again. This was in April, 1871, and the weather disagree- 
 
REV. JOHN WEBB. 
 
14 fflSTOR}' OF OSCEOLA COrNTF, /OU'A. 
 
 able with rain and sleet. There is something wonderful in the 
 mixture of ambition, of romance and love for a pioneer life, 
 that will turn a seemingly disagreeable hardship into pleasure 
 and enjoyment. The forces of nature seem to hold a man 
 with peculiar devotion to a venturesome life in a new country; 
 he can scale a cliff, cross troublesome streams, lay down con- 
 tent on the damp ground, and stand all kinds of weather as 
 long as the El Dorado is ahead of him, and, indeed, after it is 
 reached. Webb and McCausland that night remained at the 
 bank of the Ocheyedan, and crawled supperless into their 
 wagon and slept soundly until morning. When morning came 
 they drove on west and soon spied a sodded shack, which 
 they reached, and, building a fire, had a good square meal. 
 The shack evidently had been put up by a trapper, as some 
 deer meat was hanging inside, but was alive with living evi- 
 dences of decay. After breakfast they pushed on to the resi- 
 dence of our first settler, Mr. E. Huff. Huff's house was one 
 story, 12 b}^ i6. No windows had been put in and no door, 
 but a blanket hung over the place of entrance. They re- 
 mained over night, and besides them, within this limited habi- 
 tation to slumber through, were Amos Buchman, with wife 
 and five children, Huff and his family, James Richardson and 
 H. G. Doolittle, and how they packed themselves around none 
 of them seem to remember. Buchman had been there about 
 one week, and had drove through with his* family from 
 Buchanan County. 
 
 That sort of hotel accommodations might strike an east- 
 ern dude as somewhat inconvenient, but to those early settlers 
 it was no doubt delightful and enjoyable in the highest degree. 
 After a night at the "Huff" house, Webb and McCausland 
 started back with Buchman to locate him where the trappers 
 shack was, and, not knowing the exact spot or even the right 
 direction, their going was somewhat devious, but they finally 
 found it, and this claim Mr. Buchman at once settled upon 
 and lived there until 1882, when he moved into Sibley. Mr. 
 Buchman sold the claim this year (1892) and its description 
 is the northeast quarter of Section 22, in Ocheyedan Town- 
 ship. If any new settler ever had a hard time to get along, it 
 was Amos Buchman and family the summer and fall of 1871. 
 They lived on anything they could get; ground corn in a coffee 
 mill, cauglit hawks, iDadgers, skunks and any other animal 
 they could get hold of. Some friend living in Dickmson 
 County sent his team before winter set in and removed the 
 Buchman family to Milford, where they remained until the 
 
ITISTORl OF OSCEOLA COfWT)'. IOWA. 15 
 
 spring of 1872, when they returned again to their claim. Mr. 
 Buchman now resides at Sibley, one of its most respected citi- 
 zens, and is able now to enjoy the comforts of life. 
 
 In June, 1871, Elder John Webb, then living in Fayette 
 County, came to Osceola, and along with the rest filed on a 
 government claim, which was the southeast quarter Section 6, 
 Township 99, Range 41. When the Elder first drove up to 
 where his son, W. W. Webb, was, it was Sunday, and coming 
 across D. L. McCausland with a gun on his shoulder, said to 
 him, "Young man you are breaking the Sabbath." Mc re- 
 torted and inquired, "Why are you not preaching? " 
 
 In connection with the coming of these people from Fay- 
 ette County, the writer wrote to Rev. John Webb, now living 
 in Des Moines, for some contribution in regard to himself or 
 his living here, which he thought might be of interest. Mr. 
 Webb replied and contributed as follows: 
 
 "In June, 1872, in company with Mr. James Block, I left 
 Fayette County, this state, to visit m.y son and others who left 
 Fayette to locate in Osceola County on government claims. 
 I was directed from Lakeville to go to Ocheyedan Mound, and 
 was told that when on the mound I could in all probability see 
 the tents in which McCausland, Brooks and W. W. Webb 
 were living. I went to the mound and on top of it, but could 
 not see any signs of life in any direction. Mr. Block and my- 
 self then went down to the banks of the Ocheyedan and 
 camped for the night. The next morning we started in search 
 of the boys, and about noon found them one mile east of where 
 Sibley now is. We spent a few days with them, and our 
 horses were picketed out by the fore leg. While the horses 
 were thus secured, something gave them a fright, when they 
 run the full length of the rope and brought up so suddenly 
 both turned somersaults and one of them was killed. I liked 
 the country, and that fall took charge of the Spirit Lake Cir- 
 cuit, and the next year took charge of Sibley Circuit, and 
 formed the first class ever formed in Osceola County at the 
 house of A. M. Culver. I cannot remember all the members 
 of the class, but Mrs. Culver, Annie Webb, Robert Stamm 
 and wife, Mrs. Rodgers, Mrs. McCausland and Mr. Morrison 
 and wife were among them. I built the first Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church, or enclosed it, and Rev. Brasheers finished it. 
 
 "While I was living at Sibley at that early day there was 
 a young lawyer came to town, not very scrupulous, and per- 
 suaded the board of supervisors to pay him $20,000 and he 
 would recover certain moneys due from Woodbury County to 
 
16 llISTOm OF OSCEOLA COUiXTr, JOU'A. 
 
 Osceola. I heard of it and \^'ent to the court house where the 
 board was in session, requested them to hear me and they 
 consented. I told them they would regret the day that they 
 issued the warrant, and gave the general reasons why such an 
 official act should not be done, and even as an outsider I made 
 a motion, to the board and to the crowd, that Blackmer be 
 allowed $500 retainer, and a per cent, afterwards, and I added 
 to the motion that the hiring include all the lawyers, or the 
 remainder will be coming in for a share. J. T. Barcley, Esq., 
 who was standing close by me, moved an amendment that the 
 preachers also be added, but they were not. This was the 
 last ever heard of the suit against Woodbury County. 
 
 "I continued to live in Osceola County, and in 1876 my 
 first wife was taken from me by death, and I was afterwards 
 married again to Mrs. A. D. Bellord, a sister of Captain 
 Chase. I saw the County and town grow from a small be- 
 ginning to a county well settled and a thriving town. I went 
 from Sibley to Vermillion, S. D., where I remained not quite 
 a year; then went to Kansas, where I was three years, and 
 from there to Des Moines. I then went to California and re- 
 mained there a year, when I longed for Iowa again and re- 
 turned to it, where I shall spend the remainder of m}"^ days, 
 for, take it as a whole, Iowa is ahead of all the rest of the uni- 
 verse, and here let me abide and pass the remnant of this 
 mortal career. 
 
 "On my return from Osceola that early time, and after I 
 had got to Independence, the hotel keeper, Mr. Naylor, asked 
 me what the Osceola County people used for fuel. I told him 
 principall}^ hay. I think I could have heard him laugh twenty 
 miles away. 'Hay for fuel,' said the astonished listener, 'why 
 the last armful would be consumed before they could get from 
 the house to the stack and back again.' Notwithstanding, 
 under the circumstances, hay was a pretty good fuel. 
 
 " When our Methodist Church at Sibley was ready for 
 dedication, we met Sabbath morning, and, just before time to 
 commence public worship, and while some of us were stand- 
 ing on the steps of the church, it was discovered that some- 
 thino; was comino- from the Northwest, which looked like a 
 cloud, but still it could be seen that it was not a cloud, and 
 upon its nearer approach we could then see that it was a 
 swarm of grasshoppers. This so disconcerted and discouraged 
 the people that it was impossible to hold them for the purposes 
 of dedication that day, and it was deferred. The ravages 
 of these pests which followed are known to old settlers." 
 
D. L. McCAUSI.AND. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 The intention of the writer is to confine these events to 
 the separate years as far as possible, and also to speak of 
 townships separately, but after all they will be more or less 
 blended. Having drifted into Ocheyedan Township by the 
 location of Mr. Buchman, it is perhaps best to finish this 
 township for the year 1871. Ocheyedan had no prospective 
 railroad to cross it, which, perhaps, may be the reason that 
 this township was not sooner settled, or its land filed upon as 
 early as Holman. Buchman's place, meagre as it was, and 
 not tempting to a traveler for hotel accommodations, was, 
 nevertheless, a sort of headquarters between Western Osceola, 
 Eastern Lyon and Milford and Spencer; and the boys had 
 many a rollicking time at the Buchman habitation. About 
 the first of May, 1871, Will Dunham and Fred Frick settled 
 on Section 8 in Ocheyedan Township. Frick lived there 
 a]:)out four years, and Dunham went to California in 1882. 
 On Section 18, we think the southwest quarter, Ole Peterson 
 settled. 
 
 This same summer of 187 1 also came A. B. Elmore, L. 
 G. Ireland and E. N. Moore; these came from Clayton 
 County, also Elder Dean. Mr. Elmore first filed on a part of 
 Section 34, m Horton Township, but afterwards settled on 
 Section 2 in Ocheyedan, where he still resides and is highly 
 respected. E. N. Moore settled on Section 4, in Ocheyedan, 
 as did also Elder B. D. Dean. Mr. Moore still owns the same 
 quarter-section, but resides now in the Town of Ocheyedan, is 
 postmaster, and considered one of its best citizens. Elder 
 Dean is now in Exeter, New Hampshire, and left Osceola 
 County in 1878. L. G. Ireland, who was a very honorable 
 and conscientious man, left in 1879 "^^^^ ^'^^ family and moved 
 to Florida. They have since all died. 
 
 On the northwest quarter of Section 20 lived Fred Nagg. 
 These comprise the settlements made in Ocheyedan in 1871. 
 Nothing was raised that season by these settlers, and the sum- 
 mer was uneventful, except a severe hail storm which swept 
 this part of the County and was unusually severe. Mr. 
 Buchman lost a cow and a calf in this storm; they probably 
 went with it, as cattle will; at any rate he never saw them 
 afterward. 
 
HISTORl' OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 19 
 
 The winter of 1871 and 1872 was a disagreeable one, but 
 most of the Ocheydan settlers wintered elsewhere. Those 
 that remained on their claims were Dunham and Frick, Ole 
 Peterson and Fred Nagg. The Nagg family had a hard time 
 of it. They lived in a sodded house, small and cold, and kept 
 a yoke of oxen in the same room, ground corn to live upon, 
 and cut weeds and fed to the oxen to keep them alive. Their 
 lot seemed to be a hard one, and indeed it was. Had they 
 been there by order of some despotic ruler, as a convict goes 
 to Siberia, it w^ould have been unbearable, but thoughts of the 
 coming spring time, and of the green grass and wild flowers 
 of the beautiful prairie which would return in the summer 
 before them, kindled the joyous feehng of promise and of 
 hope, and gave them a heart of sunshine, even amid the snows 
 of winter. But, alas, before the hoped for spring time had 
 come to this poverty stricken family, that grim reaper Death, 
 which stalks unbidden ahke into the palaces of the rich and 
 the hovels of the poor, sought out upon the bleak prairies of 
 Ocheyedan during that hard winter of 1871 and 1872 the head 
 of the household Fred Nagg himself, and this terrible atflic- 
 tiou just then laid a burden of sorrow upon the family which 
 in addition to their abject condition of poverty seemed greater 
 than they could bear. Nagg had started on foot for Roger's 
 store during the latter part of that winter, the only store then 
 where Sibley now is, obtained a few needed and indispensable 
 articles, and left the store to return to his family, but he never 
 reached them. He had a hand sled and was overtaken with 
 a blizzard and sudden cold weather. He was not sutTiciently 
 clad even for weather less severe, and, becoming numbed and 
 senseless by the cold and storm, lay down and died. This 
 blizzard, on February 12, 1872, lasted three days, and at its 
 commencement there were about sixteen men at Roger's store 
 in from then- claims. They all started home. Some reached 
 there and others stopped with some settlers on the way. After 
 the storm was over word had been received that Nagg had 
 not reached home, and J. F. Glover, M. J. Campbell, C. M. 
 Brooks, Al Halstead, F. F. and Eugene White started out and 
 followed Nagg's sled trail. About seven miles out southeast 
 from Sibley they found the sled and sack; wolves had clawed 
 into the sack and eaten a part of the contents. The party 
 were unable to find Nagg's body, but went to the house and 
 consoled his wife as best they could, holding out a hope that 
 he might still be alive. His body was found afterwards in 
 the latter part of March, 1872, by W. H. Lean, and it was 
 
20 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 
 
 partially eaten by the wolves. Nagg was buried on his claim, 
 and, there being no clergyman to conduct the usual funeral 
 exercises, Frick read the burial service from an Episcopal 
 prayer book. The few that remained in Ocheyedan Town- 
 ship during that winter of 1871 and 1872 had nothing to 
 break the monotony of pioneer life, so far as mingling in 
 society was concerned, but going to Sibley occasionally, and 
 trapping some, was all the diversion within reach of these few 
 settlers. 
 
 In the fall of 1871 Frick came near having serious 
 trouble with an adventurous immigrant pushing out into the 
 wild and wooly west. He had some cattle with him and one 
 of them had strayed away at night, and when Frick got up 
 one morning he* saw not far off what he supposed was an elk 
 feeding quietly on the prairie. Frick was a hunter, and the 
 sight of this supposed elk thrilled every inch of his stature, 
 and he moved about with the stealth of an Indian for fear that 
 the slightest noise would frighten this valuable game and send 
 it fleet-footed out of rifle reach. Frick got good and ready, 
 pointed his rille out of the shanty window, took a good rest 
 and deliberate aim and fired. The object of his mark fell under 
 the aim of the skillful hunter and he rushed out to the bleed- 
 ing body of his victim, but instead of an elk Frick's surprised 
 eyes and astonished senses gazed upon only a cow. It was 
 meat, however, if not venison, and Frick hauled the carcass 
 to his house and proceeded to do the usual carving into roasts 
 and steaks, when a stranger appeared upon the scene, who 
 was no other than the owner of the cow which had strayed 
 away. Circumstantial evidence, as the lawyers call it, was 
 strong against Frick, pointing to theft malicious and intended, 
 and the moving immigrant was about to paralyze everything 
 in reach of him. Frick explained, however, apologized, and 
 scraped together what loose change he had and gave it to the 
 owner of the cow, who went on his way again satisfied and 
 contented. 
 
 A. M. Culver came to the County in the spring of 1871. 
 He settled and filed on the southeast quarter of Section 24, 
 Township 99, Range 42. 
 
 The previous year, in 1870, he had left the State of Wis- 
 consin and gone to Mills County, in Iowa, and from Mills 
 County he drove through to Osceola, bringing with him three 
 horses, a wagon and buggy, also two cows. His family came 
 with him, c(jnsisling of his wife, one son and a daughter. Mr. 
 Culver and family did the best they could with the shelter of 
 

 }:?l't^kfU 
 
 GEORGE CAREW 
 
22 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 
 
 a. wagon cover, while his son, Andrew, went to LeMars and 
 got Cottonwood lumber enough to build a house, which they^ 
 soon did, 12 by 14 in size. Mr. Culver broke nine acres that 
 year and put them into wheat and six acres into oats, and 
 raised an average crop on the sod. When Mr. Culver came 
 first without the family he landed at Huff's house, the first 
 settler and heretofore described, and there being quite a num- 
 ber there that night, he was among the usual number laid out 
 in rows on the floor. Huff and Brooks located Culver on his 
 quarter-section. On the same section there was also located 
 and settled that year Andrew Culver, Geo. W. Bean and R. 
 O. Manson. 
 
 John F. Glover landed in Sibley in the latter part of 
 August, 1 87 1, and settled on the southwest quarter of Section 
 4, Township 99, Range 41. Mr. Glover's coming was by 
 meeting Stiles and F. M. Robinson at Sioux City. Glover put 
 up the usual settler's shack, and obtained his lumber from 
 Windom, Minnesota, going for it with a yoke of oxen and 
 wagon. 
 
 After these incoming settlers had established a home, the 
 next thing was to find out who their neighbors were, and in 
 this year of 187 1 they were few and far between. 
 
 Some other things to think about, and among these some- 
 thing to eat. Glover made frequent trips hunting, but seemed 
 to be unsuccessful. While in McCausland's neighborhood, 
 Mc returned from a trip to Spirit Lake and reported that Rush 
 Lake, near Ocheyedan, was alive with ducks, and Glover be- 
 came so excited over the pictured description of vast lakes 
 and ponds covered with game, that he organized a hunting 
 party, consisting of himself, McCausland and Luther Webb, 
 who started the next day with oxen and a wagon, with which 
 conveyance the ducks and geese were to be carted home. 
 They arrived safely at Rush Lake, and sure enough McCaus- 
 land had not overdrawn the amount of game. They had no 
 boat, and anyone who knows Rush Lake, knows the difliculty 
 of getting game there without a float of some kind. Before 
 the boys had hardly appeared at the edge of the water on oite 
 side, the entire army of ducks had moved to the other side, 
 out of reach, and by running around from one side to the 
 other, the boys became about exhausted. Finally Glover 
 gathered pieces of the wagon, some brush, and a decent sized 
 tree or two and formed a raft sufficient, as he believed, to 
 float himself out on the lake, and on it started. When out 
 about twenty feet the frail craft, like man}^ an air castle, fell 
 
HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTT, IOWA. 23 
 
 to pieces, and its only passenger went reluctantly into the 
 water. He soon got out, however, and this dampened all the 
 ardor of hunting on his part, and the other two were tired and 
 discouraged. Webb then started with his oxen to Milford and 
 left McCausland and Glover to tramp twelve miles home, 
 which they did. Just as they were starting McCausland 
 brought down a brandt, and, this being the only game they 
 got, with it they started home, and it was near night. They 
 had brought with them some cooked beans in an iron pot, and 
 a loaf of bread; when the brandt was secured it was decided 
 that bread and beans were nowhere in comparison with a 
 roasted fowl, so that, hungr}- as they were, their appetite was 
 reserved until they could get home. At last they reached 
 McCausland's house, and Mc sent Glover to Roger's store, 
 three miles, for some necessary articles for the square meal, 
 and to a settler's shack for something else. Glover returned 
 with the articles and Mc had the brandt stuffed and in the 
 oven roasting, but himself was laid out on the bed. The oil}' 
 odor from the fowl on an empty stomach had sickened him, 
 and Glover was left alone until C M. Brooks happened to 
 arrive, when he and Glover got the table set, the roast on, and 
 the two of them sat down to a rich feast for homesteaders. 
 But alas for the dreams of fancy, the visions of bliss and the 
 tempting measures of delight, in which we too often indulge, 
 that are at last turned into the bitterness of gall in the round 
 up of indulgence. Glover and Brooks were soon laid out 
 groaning in the agony of too much brandt, and the oily condi- 
 tion of the fowl made them too sick to hope ever to make final 
 proof on a government claim, the taking of which had been 
 the leading ambition of their lives. Their extreme sickness 
 revived Mc and he ate the beans and the bread, and towards 
 morning Glover and Brooks got around all right again, but 
 like a victim of seasickness not a thing was left in them, and 
 as Mc had ate all the grub in the house, the three of them 
 started out for something to eat, and before they got through 
 they had nearly eaten the whole neighborhood out of house 
 and home, and that day there was a tramping to Roger's 
 store for a fresh supply. This sickened Glover for a while 
 on wild fowl; his hunting excursions after that were few and 
 far between, but it seems that another ducking was still in 
 store for him. He concluded that housekeeping was not well 
 done without vegetables, and nothing seemed to be in sight 
 but potatoes, and the nearest these could be had was thirteen 
 miles, but Glover had been a soldier and could walk like a 
 
24 HISTOR7' OF OSCEOLA COUNT!', IOWA. 
 
 professional. He started with a sack and went southeast until 
 he came to the Ocheyedan, and when he got to that the water 
 was well up and the difficulty of crossing was before him. 
 There was a small skiff there owned by Ole Peterson, and 
 soon Peterson himself appeared, and, after reciting his experi- 
 ences as a sailor and his capabilities as a boatman, induced 
 Glover to get aboard, and taking a wagon bow for a paddle 
 started out with the frail craft to ferry the now Mayor of Sib- 
 ley across the troublesome stream. Men are apt to make too 
 little margin for what might happen, often miscalculate in 
 more serious adventures than this, and often start out in the 
 bouyancy of expectation, but fall into difficulty with sudden 
 and unexpected precipitation. When in the middle of the 
 stream, Peterson, who was standing up in the boat, fell on one 
 side of it, and himself and Glover went suddenly into the 
 water, and, having no further use for the boat in the interests 
 of navigation, they struck out. Glover for one side of the river 
 and Peterson for the other, and when landed they stood drip- 
 ping with the waters of the Ocheyedan on opposite banks, gaz- 
 ing at each other, Peterson filling the air with profanity, and 
 Glover wondering if Peterson hadn't overdrawn his experi- 
 ences as a follower of the seas. 
 
J. S. REYNOLDS. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 The people then living in Osceola County in 1871, did 
 not often get together, only as a neighborhood would gather 
 for social purposes. There were not many in the county in 
 1 87 1. The county was sparsely settled. It was 
 
 "The first low wash of waves, where soon 
 Would roll a human sea." 
 
 The first meeting of the people was held at Abraham 
 Miller's place, near Sibley. It was called for the purpose 
 of establishing mail facilities, and to provide for bringing the 
 mail from Le Mars to Shaw's store, then near Ashton, This 
 was the ostensible purpose, and mail arrangements were pro- 
 vided for, but back of it all there were a few political schemes, 
 and several ambitious aspirants for office at the coming elec- 
 tion who wanted to look the crowd over, get acquainted, and 
 try to make the usual favorable impression in order to suc- 
 ceed in making a harvest of votes. If a yankee should be 
 cast away on a desolate island, the first thing he would no 
 doubt do, would be to divide the territory into election pre- 
 cints, and the next thing to call a caucus. The people of 
 Osceola then were strangers to each other, and while other 
 things may have been left behind them at the old home, the 
 great feeling of sovereignty, realization of the fact that each 
 was an individual citizen and could vote and hold office, were 
 a part of their nature, and in this respect they were alike 
 without even a formal introduction. Abraham Miller was 
 chairman of the meeting, and Cyrus M. Brooks, secretar}'. 
 
 The next meeting of the people was held on the 4th da}' 
 of Jul}^, 1 87 1. It will be noticed that the first organization of 
 Osceola was brought about by act of Woodbury County 
 Board of Supervisors. Osceola was then a part of Wood- 
 bury for judicial purposes, and, under the law, for all other 
 also, so that Woodbury's act constituted a division of territory. 
 In other words, Woodbury set Osceola up in business for 
 itself. As provision had been made in the Woodbury County 
 proceedings for the election of Osceola County officers at the 
 general election in 1 871, it became the duty of Osceola Count}' 
 people to fix upon somebody to fill each of the offices, and to 
 prepare candidates for them who should be in the field for 
 
HISTORT OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 27 
 
 election. The order for the election of officers was made in 
 June, 1871, and as July 4th was approaching, it was thought 
 best by the people of Osceola County to meet on that day, and 
 celebrate with the usual exercises and at the same time nom- 
 inate candidates for County offices. 
 
 The outside world was full of glory and enthusiasm, the 
 air was filled with noise and pyrotechnics, and the voices of 
 American orators were sounding the distinguished valor and 
 heroism of our canonized ancestors. The little band of 
 Osceola County settlers met together with a quaker quiet- 
 ness, comparatively speaking. They had their lunch baskets 
 and were socially agreeable, but the cannon, the fire cracker 
 and fire works were conspicuously absent. The meeting was 
 held on A. M. Culver's claim on Section 24, Township 99, 
 Range 41, and was called and intended, as before stated, not 
 only to observe and recognize the great American hohday, 
 but also to place in nomination candidates to fill the county 
 offices at the first election to be held in October, 1871. 
 At that time none knew each others quahfications, except 
 where men had come from the same neighborhood in other 
 parts of the country. The men to be nominated and elected 
 were to have the trial of service, were to be weighed in the 
 balance, and given the opportunity to prove their fitness, or to 
 be found unworthy of the trust that was imposed in them. 
 H. G. Doolittle was chosen chairman of the meeting and 
 
 secretary. A few patriotic remarks were made 
 
 and the meeting proceeded to make its nominations. The fol- 
 lowing named persons were put in nomination : 
 
 Treasurer, E. Huff. 
 
 Recorder, D. L. McCausland. 
 
 Sheriff, Jeff Cutshall. 
 
 Superintendent of Schools, Delily Stiles. 
 
 Clerk of Courts, Cyrus M. Brooks. 
 
 Auditor, McDonald. 
 
 ( J. H. Winspear. 
 
 Supervisors, I H. R. Fenton. 
 
 ( George Spaulding. 
 
 (^Robert Stamm. 
 
 „ , T. X- -r , J W. W. Webb. 
 
 Holmon 1 ownship Irustees,-^ t^ 1 o m 
 
 ^ I r'rank Stiles. 
 
 ^ H. R. Hayes. 
 
 There was present at this meeting, including all, about 
 
 one hundred. The business and visiting were ended the latter 
 
 part of the afternoon and the people dispersed. 
 
28 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 
 
 It might be well to follow these nominations to the elec- 
 tion which followed in October. At this election there were 
 no contentions of political parties. The contest involved no 
 controversy, except individual success, and there was no regu- 
 lar opposition ticket. There were independent candidates, 
 however, and the nominated ticket was not wholly successful. 
 A. M. Culver was elected Treasurer as an independent candi- 
 date over E. Huff, the regular nominee. F. M. Robinson was 
 an independent candidate for Auditor, and himself and the 
 nominee, McDonald, were a tie on the election. This tie had 
 to be decided by drawing lots, and the drawing resulted in 
 favor of Robinson, so that Robinson became Auditor. John 
 Beaumont was the independent candidate against McCausland, 
 but McCausland was elected. When the time to qualify 
 came, McCausland was away teaching school, and the board 
 in January, 1872, felt inclined to declare the office vacant, and 
 appointed John Beaumont, Recorder. Afterwards McCaus- 
 land sent his bond, and upon his return, had some little trouble 
 to get possession of the office; but finally obtained it. Cut- 
 shall and his independent opponent both tied, and when the 
 drawing was to take place neither were present, so the board 
 on January 3, 1872, appointed Frank Stiles. 
 
 There was at this time under the organization only three 
 townships in the county, and this October election was held in 
 Goewey Township at the house of E. Huff; in Holman Town- 
 ship at A. M. Culver's house, and in Horton Township at the 
 house of H. R. Fenton. • 
 
 The final outcome resulted in the following named per- 
 sons filling the places: 
 
 Treasurer, A. M. Culver. 
 
 Recorder, D. L. McCausland. 
 
 Auditor, F. M. Robinson. 
 
 Clerk of Courts, Cyrus M. Brooks. 
 
 Surveyor, M. J. Campbell. 
 
 Coronor, J. D. Hall. 
 
 Superintendent of Schools, Delily Stiles. 
 
 Drainage Commissioner, John Beaumont, 
 f J. H. Winspear. 
 
 Supervisors, I George Spaulding. 
 ( H. R. Fenton. 
 
 There were cast at this election in all at the three polhng 
 places, votes. 
 
 The County was now fully organized, and the Board of 
 Supervisors had their meetmg January i, 1872. 
 
JOHN L. ROBINSON. 
 
30 HI STORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 
 
 The proceedings of the board during the first year of its 
 administration are told in another part of this book and we 
 need not here recite them again. The record and the 
 unwritten history of this first year, and a part of the second 
 year, shows that a few unprincipled men came to Osceola 
 County for the sole and only purpose of plunder. These few 
 gathered some friends around them — really had a party — many 
 of whom had no share in the spoils, but were made to believe 
 that the leaders were only doing what the good of the County 
 demanded, and that the opposition were indignant because 
 they were out of office and not in. 
 
 There is a certain stubbornness in all our natures, which 
 we often assert, sometimes in the wrong direction, just because 
 some trivial thing has thrown us with this side or that, and 
 occasionally conviction itself will be suppressed by a stand 
 first taken and stubbornly kept. These two parties each had 
 their friends, and were about equally divided, the reform party, 
 however, being mostly in the country outside of the town. 
 Once allied with one side or the other it seemed difficult to 
 change, as it is now difficult to go from one political party to 
 the other when we have once identified ourselves with that of 
 our choice. Some of the people in 1872 and 1873 who joined 
 themselves with the boodlers were not — we will be charitable 
 enough to admit — boodlers with them. There were honora- 
 ble exceptions, strange as it may seem. George Spaulding, 
 who was one of the County Supervisors first elected, and 
 served with Fenton and Winspear, lives in Osceola still, and 
 is a man highly respected. He has held office in Goewey 
 Township, the place of his residence, several different times, 
 and is now on the School Board. Mr. Spaulding is looked 
 upon as a man of integrity and a good citizen. He was made 
 to believe that his co-members of the board, though inclined 
 to extravagance, were working for the best interests of the 
 County, and it is conceded that Mr. Spaulding acted conscien- 
 tiously in his official acts, and though now he may see some 
 things upon which he would vote differently, he felt at the 
 time that his action was right. He would now be voted for 
 with the full confidence of his fellow citizens. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 John H. Douglass came to Osceola County in October, 
 187 1, driving through by wagon from Wisconsin. He had 
 with him his wife and daughter, now Mrs. Henry Newell, 
 and son, Mr. Douglass filed on the southwest quarter of 
 Section 14, Township no. Range 42, and made the usual 
 settlement and improvements required of a settler, and in 
 November of that year went to Alamakee County, Iowa, for 
 the winter. In the spring of 1872, Mr. Douglass and family 
 returned to their claim, and got here towards the latter part 
 of March. He started before the frost was out of the ground 
 and while the roads might be fit for travel, but when he 
 reached Osceola County, it was breaking up, and the spring 
 weather had thawed the snow away and the rivers and creeks 
 were running with water. Mr. Douglass came to the Ocheye- 
 dan, that treacherous stream with which every incoming settler 
 seems to have had an adventure, and the prospect of getting 
 over was unfavorable, for the appearance of the stream to 
 cross it was neither promising nor inviting. Douglass arrived 
 at the bank of the Ocheyedan at the Buchman place on the 
 evening of March 7? 1872. The river was narrow at this 
 point but was yet filled with snow, but soft and watery on the 
 surface. He first assisted his family across, and after this was 
 done together with the transportation of a few articles, he was 
 making arrangements to get the horses and wagon over, when 
 the water began to pour down the river over the snow, which 
 startled Douglass with surprise, and confronted him with a 
 difficulty entirely unexpected. He unhitched the horses, tied 
 them to the wagon and then started across, wading in the 
 water on the snow, treading lightly, knowing the danger of 
 being completely submerged. But it seems that he was not 
 to escape so easily, for when about midway down, in he went, 
 and when the bottom was reached his head was just above 
 water. There happened to be at the Buchman shack H, G. 
 Doolittle and his brother. These, with the Douglass family, 
 rescued the venturesome settler and brought him out on the 
 bank, but in a deplorable condition of wet and cold. The 
 next morning the river was still worse, but the Douglass effects 
 were divided and something had to be done. The horses and 
 
32 HISrbRT OF OSCEOLA COUNTT, IOWA. 
 
 the wagon with the household goods, including a barrel of 
 pork and two pigs in a box strapped on behind, were on the 
 other side, and they must be brought over, let the sacrifice be 
 what it may. Douglass, with a board or two, a rope and such 
 other devices as the ingenuity of man will bring into requisi- 
 tion under such circumstances, was enabled to get over to his 
 effects, and, finding them all right, the troublesome question 
 again arose as to how to get them over. Douglass on one 
 side and his friends and family on the other, discussed the 
 difficulty in all its bearings, and the task seemed to be hope- 
 less, and the question without any probability of solution. 
 Finally Douglass was seized with an idea. He had tied to 
 the wagon a red cedar bedstead, which had come down as an 
 heir loom in his wife's family from the old Knickerbocker 
 days in New York State, and which had been prized from 
 generation to generation. It was of the old-fashioned kind, 
 about enough material in it to have absorbed a lumber yard, 
 and with posts of enormous length and size. Douglass got 
 this out, and by a system of mechanical contrivance formed a 
 raft that seemed capable of greater navigation than that for 
 which it was intended. Mrs. Douglass protested, but had to 
 look on while this sacred relic from her ancesters was fast be- 
 ing transformed from its original construction, into nothing but 
 a float for the purpose of ferrying. John succeeded, however, 
 with the help of the others, in taking over the barrel of pork 
 and the other household goods, until all was over except the 
 horses and wagon. He tied a rope to one horse and this to 
 the other and they were led single file, and by swimming and 
 clambering they were soon on the other bank. Then came 
 the wagon. With this, they tied a rope in the end of the 
 tongue and hitching the rope to the horses started with the 
 wagon across. When the hind end of the wagon went down 
 the bank, the box with the pigs in struck the bank and broke 
 off, letting the pigs loose, and they went squeaHng away, glad 
 to escape. The tongue stuck into the opposite bank, but this 
 was soon pulled loose and the wagon drawn out. The pigs, 
 with the aid of the family dog, were soon caught and got over, 
 and Douglass heaved a sigh of relief. It took all day, how- 
 ever, to do the crossing, and the next day he started on north- 
 west to his claim, and came near having the same experiences 
 in crossing the Otter that he had at the Ocheyedan, but he 
 finally landed at his shack and soon was set up in the usual 
 style of homesteader h(nisekeeping. 
 
 William Anderson came with Douglass in 1871. He also 
 
S. A. DOVE. 
 
34 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COrNTl', IOWA. 
 
 settled on a claim and lived here, we think, until 1877, when 
 he returned to Wisconsin, and now lives at Sparta. 
 
 The spring of 1872 was a troublesome one in Osceola 
 County for traveling. Then the streams had no bridges, and 
 the treacherous snow underlying the surface water was not 
 inviting to venture in. After a limited thaw in the fore part 
 of March there was part of a brief winter again, and it seemed 
 to the people then that an actual spring was never coming. 
 
 Quite a number of the early settlers came from Grant 
 County, Wisconsin, so that even if they didn't know each other 
 there, when acquaintance was made between these Wisconsin 
 people it established a mutual feeling of interest in each other, 
 for there is always an attachment arises between people of 
 the same nativity, where the same sights and scenes were 
 familiar to them all. 
 
 D. D. McCallum also came from Grant County, Wiscon- 
 sin. He started from there the fore part of May and drove 
 to Clayton County, and soon after on to Osceola County, 
 where he arrived about the middle of June, and on the 25th 
 day of June, 1S72, filed on northwest quarter 'of Section 14, 
 Township 99, Range 40, what is now West Ocheyedan. 
 McCallum drove in with three horses and a linch-pin wagon; 
 had with him his wife and one child (now Mary McCallum); 
 had a few household goods, pork enough to last several years 
 and $105 in money. He first struck the Ocheyedan River at 
 what was called the Lone Tree ford, drove northwest until 
 he came to Mandeville Homestead, on Section 26, Township 
 99, Range 41, and there he camped for the night. The next 
 day he went to Buchman's, riding one horse and leading 
 another. Buchman mounted the other horse and the two men 
 rode over the country looking for a claim upon which 
 McCallum could settle. He finally selected the one before 
 described, went to Sibley the next day, borrowed a saddle 
 from Ward — leaving his revolver as security — and started for 
 Sioux City, where he arrived safely and did his filing. Mc- 
 Callum's first habitation after settlement was his wagon cover, 
 and once installed in this he went to work breaking, and 
 planted some potatoes. He soon after put up a sod house, 
 lived on the claim until 1878, when he moved into Sibley. 
 McCallum, like a great many others in those early days, had 
 a hard time of it. Soon his money was gone, no income was 
 in sight, and only those of the McCallum pluck were able to 
 see it through. His house, lumber and furniture, and all its 
 belongings, cost about $20; so that in those days of settle- 
 
A. D. INIORELAND. 
 
36 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COVNTT, IOWA. 
 
 ment our ex-Judge was not in shape to entertain any of the 
 kid glove or swallow-tail-coat members of fashionable society. 
 
 In the winter of 1872 and 1873 McCallum was in Sioux- 
 City chopping wood, and remained there until the memorable 
 blizzard in the spring of 1873, when, feeling alarmed about 
 his family, he returned home. Soon after this in the summer 
 season Elder Dean while burning the prairie grass around his 
 property, carelessly let the fire get away from him, and it 
 swept, as a prairie fire will when turned loose, all over the 
 country. This fire swept away all McCallum's hay and all 
 other loose property, except the house. 
 
 The Elder, in spite of all his religious graces, his Godly 
 ways and good intentions, was very much blamed for his care- 
 lessness, and had he been a layman it is hard to tell what 
 might have occurred as a penalty. As it was, McCallum had 
 the Elder arrested, brought before a Justice, who found the 
 accused guilty and fined him $5 and costs, which he paid. 
 The Board of Supervisors had offered a reward of $50 for 
 the apprehension and conviction of a party who was the cause 
 of a prairie fire. McCallum in this case was entitled to it and 
 got it. This affair did not cause any hard feelings between 
 the Elder and McCallum; indeed, the Elder had not the 
 slightest animosity, for he was a man of broad views, kind 
 and charitable, as well as a sincere Christian. McCallum 
 rode home with the Elder and staid all night at the Elder's 
 house, and out of the $50 McCallum magnanimously reim- 
 bursed him for all the outlay and trouble he had been put to, 
 though brought about by his own carelessness. In other 
 words, McCallum whacked up with the Elder. 
 
 Prairie fires then in this sparsely settled country were 
 very much to be feared. Whenever they occurred but few 
 were prepared for them. They were not set maliciously, nor 
 with any intention to do harm, but were always the result of 
 carelessness or inability to hold them against sudden puffs of 
 wind unexpected, when the burning around was done with a 
 still atmosphere. 
 
1 ' 
 
 \ 
 WILL THOMAS. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 Most people who settled in Osceola County in 1871, did 
 not, in starting out, make directly for the county, but started 
 for government land in Northwest Iowa. In the spring of 
 187 1, Frank R. Coe left Clayton County, Iowa, as sort of an 
 advance guard for several of his neighbors who had the 
 western fever. He arrived in Osceola County and filed that 
 same spring on the northwest quarter of Section 22, Town- 
 ship 99, Range 41, now East Holman, and then returned to 
 his friends, for whom also he had picked out claims. Among 
 these was J. S. Reynolds, present County Auditor. Coe and 
 Reynolds came up in September, 1871, and Reynolds filed on 
 the northeast quarter of Section 22, the same section with 
 Coe. They made the usual improvements required for a 
 government settler, and returned again to Clayton County, 
 where they wintered. In the spring of 1872, they returned 
 to their claims. Reynolds drove through with two yoke of 
 oxen, and had with him his son Samuel, then about twelve 
 years old. Coe had a span of horses and a wagon heavil}' 
 loaded with the requirements of a settler. They got to Mil- 
 ford between the first and the middle of March, and after the}- 
 had reached Milford there was a heavy fall of snow, and to 
 push through this and run the risk of bhzzards was a task 
 they hesitated to undertake. The last shack for them to pass 
 after leaving Milford was about ten miles out, and they would 
 pass no other between that and the Ocheyedan. They started 
 from Milford, Reynolds going ahead with his oxen to break 
 the road, and Coe following behind. After they had passed 
 the last shack about a mile, its occupant came after them and 
 insisted upon their return, as it would be dangerous with 
 threatening weather to go on. The}^ did return and remained 
 with this settler several days. They started out again when 
 a change in the weather came on, and again they returned 
 and tarried several days more, when they started again. This 
 time they reached the Buchman dug-out, but everything 
 seemed to be covered with snow. This was about March 
 1 8th, and they reached this stopping place in the evening. 
 They went to work and about two hours had the snow cleared 
 
^^^r"- ■> 
 
 
 A. E. SMITH. 
 
40 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNT 1'. IOWA. 
 
 away from the stable so they could get their teams in, which 
 they did, and also themselves stayed there all night. In the 
 morning they shoveled the snow from the dug-out so they 
 could get into that, and there they remained about two weeks 
 with bad weather and occasional blizzards. I'hey had heard 
 of the death of Fred Nagg, lost in a blizzard, and knew the 
 danger of being caught in one of them on the open prairie, 
 and they were wise in their apprehensions. At the end of 
 about two weeks the weather and travel became such that 
 they pushed on and soon after got to their claims. When 
 once there they commenced improvements. Their stable was 
 made out of a few boards they borrowed from some other 
 settler, and with these and the wagon covers they constructed 
 a shelter for the stock and built it across the line between the 
 claims so that both owned the stable jointly. They then 
 drove to Worthington and bought lumber for shacks, and 
 bouefht it of Levi Shell, who was then in the lumber business 
 at that point. Reynolds put up the usual 8x8 shack, and Coe 
 one that was 8x12. Coe's family soon followed, but Reynold's 
 famil}^ did not come until in September following. This left 
 Reynolds to wrestle with the pots and kettles, and no doubt 
 his batching was like all the rest, with the washing of dishes 
 repeatedly deferred, and most meals consisting of a chunk of 
 bread and a slice of fresh pork, and perhaps an occasional 
 luxury of black molasses. His family met with a misfortune 
 after his leaving by the burning of the house in which they 
 lived with all its contents. They arrived safely in September 
 in Osceola County, and the family was again united and are 
 still here with the grown up children having families of their 
 own. Coe left here several years ago. 
 
 In the summer of 187 1, Will Thomas, present Clerk of 
 Court, left Wisconsin with a covered wagon, containing him- 
 self and three sisters. There was also with him in another 
 covered wagon James G. Miller and his wife, who was also a 
 sister to Mr. Thomas. They started for Nebraska, but came 
 across some parties bound for Northwestern Iowa, upon which 
 Thomas and Miller also concluded to go in the same direction, 
 which they did, and landed in Osceola County in June of that 
 year. They were about one month on the road, and linall}' 
 located on Section 22, in what is now Wilson Township. 
 Thomas took the northeast quarter. Miller the northwest, 
 and the girls claims adjoining. When about a mile from the 
 section where the claims were taken they camped for the 
 night, using the wagon with its covering for a sleeping place 
 
F. W. HAHN. 
 
42 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTl', fOWA. 
 
 and a shelter. During the night a storm came up which was 
 very severe, and the wind, hail and rain with frequent flashes 
 of lightning were terrible. Will Thomas and his companions 
 got out of the wagon, and soon a gust of wind tipped the 
 wagon over, the horses got loose and run away, but returned 
 after being gone about three hours. W. M. Bull was camp- 
 ing near by, with his wagon cover for a tent, and the bows 
 stuck into the ground. W. P. Underwood also was near with 
 his wagon box and its cover set off on the ground. There 
 was considerable stirring around among these campers, for 
 the night was fearful and frightening. The Miss Thomas' 
 sought shelter in the Underwood camp, and they all managed 
 to worry through until morning. Of the three young ladies 
 who experienced this midnight adventure, one of them is now 
 the wife of Dr. Lawrence, another the wife of John P. 
 Hawxshurst, and the other at home with her mother and Will 
 Thomas, who constitute the family. Mr. Miller still lives in 
 the County at Sibley. 
 
JOHN SCHLEGEL. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Referring again to the incoming of Messrs. Brooks, Mc- 
 Causland, Webb and Campbell who settled on section 8 in 
 the spring of 187 1; they went to work and made continued 
 improvements on their claims. While they were visiting with 
 each other one day during the summer, they saw a covered 
 wagon approaching and heard the sound of a voice singing 
 "One Day's Journey Nearer Home." When the wagon had 
 
 got up and stopped, it was found to contain John Cronk, 
 
 Coy and James Hankins, this last mentioned being a Methodist 
 preacher, and it was he who was singing a Methodist hymn. 
 The following day Hankins preached in Brook's house, to an 
 audience of about twelve, and these were the first religious 
 exercises held in the County, according to Webb's account of 
 it. During the preaching Mrs. Brooks kept on with her 
 bread making, for they couldn't live on faith alone, and this is 
 told in the following article, written by John F. Glover, on the 
 death of Mrs. Brooks which occurred at Denver in 1884: 
 
 DEATH OF A PIONEER WOMAN. 
 
 In the summer and fall of 187 1, the wives of C. M. 
 Brooks, M.J. Campbell, W. W. Webb and D. L. McCausland, 
 entered on pioneer life with their husbands, all four families 
 having claims on Section 8, Range 99, Township 41, the sec- 
 tion on which are now the farms of Deacon Herbert and Mr. 
 Deitz. The settlements were made on Section 8 before there 
 was a single soul on Section 13, Range 99, Township 42, 
 where is now the flourishing town of Sibley. Mr. Brooks 
 was in the land locating business, and his house was a home 
 that summer for several of the women. Mrs. Brooks was 
 the daughter of Rev. John Webb, a Methodist minister of 
 Fayette, Iowa, later a pioneer settler and minister in Osceola 
 County, still later a pioneer Presiding lilder in Dakota Terri- 
 tory, and now residing in Des Moines. She' was very attrac- 
 tive in person, possessed of a good mind, and had a sensible 
 way of doing the best that circumstances would permit, for 
 the comfort of her household, and doing the best she could to 
 be content. The following anecdote will illustrate her faithful 
 performance of household duties: The greater than usual 
 number of new comers at Mr. Brooks' made it necessary to 
 
NORTHWESTERN STATE BANK, SIBLEY. 
 
46 HISTORl' OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 
 
 bake bread on the Lord's Day, and while the baking was go- 
 ing on, the little pioneer congregation gathered in the room to 
 listen to a preacher — one of the new comers. In the same 
 room were the baker and the preacher, and as the minister 
 went forward with his discourse, so did " Mel," as Melvina 
 Brooks was called by her relatives and near friends, go on 
 with her baking. She realized that on her depended the feel- 
 ing of hungry men, with appetites such as only pioneering 
 brino-s to the table. Mrs. Brooks was the Martha of that 
 little company. While others had nothing to do but listen, she 
 had work to do for the listeners. She could both hear and 
 work, and right down before the minister she baked the bread 
 of earth while he spoke the bread of Heaven, and she did her 
 work as well and as honestly as the preacher did his. It was 
 thus she went forward doing the things most necessary to be 
 done, and though possessed of a not very bad robust constitu- 
 tion did her full measure of work — having less in mind her 
 own strength than the comfort of those around her. 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 The western part of the County was settled tirst, owing 
 to the prospective incoming railroad. Goewey Township and 
 Oilman were as early settled as any, and, indeed, the very 
 first settler took his claim in Oilman. 
 
 In 187 1 there was living in O'Brien County, where 
 Primghar now is, Mr. Charles F. Allbright. His home was 
 a small one, we should judge 14x20, one story with small 
 addition. This house was the general stopping place, not 
 only for people from the north part of O'Brien County, but 
 also Southern Osceola. It will be understood that at this 
 time there was no railroad, and freight was hauled mostly from 
 Cherokee, and the Allbright house was about the only one on 
 the road in O'Brien County in making trips to and from 
 Cherokee. 
 
 Mr. A. H. Lyman made the first track across the County 
 from Allbright's to Goewey Township, and Mr. Lyman came 
 into Osceola County in March, 1871. He came from Grant 
 County, Wisconsin, and first settled upon and done his filing 
 on the northeast quarter of Section 26, Township 98, Range 
 41, now Goewey Township. He put up a residence with a 
 shingled roof, but the walls of which were built of sod. He 
 broke about thirty acres that season, put in beans, potatoes, 
 turnips and melons, and of these had quite a crop. His family 
 came in October, 187 1. Mr. Lyman's house then became the 
 stopping place for that part of the country, and it was often 
 crowded with people, sometimes the whole floor covered 
 with lodgers, and, if not cold, some outside. 
 
 On this same section, in 187 1, Douglas E. Ball and B. F. 
 Mundorf took claims, and Adam Batie took his claim on the 
 same section in the spring of 1872. Mr. Lyman still lives in 
 Goewey Township. His reputation is that of an honest and 
 hard working man, but Lyman is considered quite a talker. 
 He is a man of ideas and likes to express them. Several 
 were at Lyman's one day and a fellow by the name of Patch 
 bet $1 with Lyman that he couldn't keep from speaking for 
 one hour. The money was deposited with the stakeholder, 
 and the hour of silence commenced. In the course of half an 
 hour some fellow came to the house to make some inquiries. 
 
48 HISTOKY OF OSCEOLA COUNTl', IOWA. 
 
 and the rest of them kept in the house to see Lyman wrestle 
 with the stranger. His motions were the most awkward, for 
 he couldn't answer the questions as his dollar was at stake, 
 and finally the stranger left with the idea that Lyman had 
 gone crazy. 
 
 The fore part of the summer of 1871 was a very dry one. 
 There was not a drop of rain from the middle of March until 
 the 1 6th day of June, and during that time of dryness several 
 got out of the County, as they have got out of Dakota, for 
 the reason, as they said, the County was too dry ever to raise 
 crops. 
 
 In April, 1872, Walter Fisher and Reed Patch started 
 west from Spencer to Lyman's place. They knew the quarter 
 that Lyman was on, so took the bearings and navigated as the 
 sailors do, by compass. They made it all right and reached 
 the Lyman place safely. These three then went to Sibley 
 with a sleigh. The ground was soft, however, and the creeks 
 had some water in. While crossing the Otter the horses sud- 
 denly went down in the soft, watery snow, and went so sud- 
 denly it pitched Lyman out, who went in up to his neck. 
 Lyman was got out and over the river, and Fisher, by care- 
 ful work, got himself across, and the horses were unhitched 
 and they safely landed. Patch determined to stick to the 
 sleigh and not get wet, the other fellows he thought could 
 look out for themselves. After the horses were got over, the 
 boys hitched a rope to the end of the tongue of the sleigh to 
 pull that out, and Patch was sort of crowing over his safe 
 and dry-shod transportation. The horses started and the first 
 jerk of the sleigh landed Patch into the creek and up to his 
 neck. The boys got him out, but he was not only a -sorry 
 looking object, but had the appearance of a man disgustingly 
 disappointed. Lyman thought honors were easy, and they 
 soon got where their condition was made dry and comfortable. 
 
 In June, 187 1, J. B. Lent, who was Treasurer of Osceola 
 County, preceding Mr. Townsend, arrived at the Lyman 
 place. Mr. Lent also came from Grant County, Wisconsin, 
 and had started with some others for Nebraska. The others 
 who started with him with teams kept on to Cherokee, while 
 Lent diverted his course to go to Lyman's for the purpose of 
 leaving some stock there for Lyman, they having lived in the 
 same neighborhood in their Wisconsin home. The reason 
 that the i6th of June arrival is so well remembered is that on 
 that day the dry spell was broken, and Lyman and Lent gazed 
 upon the falling water with supreme satisfaction and delight. 
 
REV. S. C. OLDS. 
 
50 HISTOKV OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 
 
 Lent, after leaving the stock at Lyman's, went to Cherokee 
 and told the rest of his party he was so dehghted with Osceola 
 County that he would settle there and go no further; they 
 went on, except Louis Folsom and Lent, and these returned 
 to Lyman's place. The first night they slept out under the 
 wagon cover set on the ground, and during the night the wind 
 blowed that over, when they went into the house. Lent and 
 Folsom soon did their settlement and filing, Lent on south- 
 west quarter of Section 24, Township 98, Range 41, and Fol- 
 som on south half of southeast quarter of Section 24, Town- 
 ship 98, Tiange 41. 
 
 The great thing to be feared then on an open prairie was 
 a blizzard. The early settlers encountered several of them. 
 In December, 187 1, Dr. Hall, then living in Goewey Town- 
 ship, and his son, Arthur, a boy, started to the creek for some 
 willows for fuel. While they were gone a terrible blizzard 
 came up and they were caught out in it. They made their 
 way towards home the best they could, but the blinding snow 
 and extreme cold made it slow progress, and the oxen, too, 
 were hard to get along. Soon the boy discovered that the 
 father was missing and could not be found anywhere. Of 
 course no search could be made, for the boy was struggling 
 to take care of himself, but all at once Mr. Hall himself had 
 disappeared, either strayed away from the boy or fallen in 
 sheer exhaustion unable to go further. The boy went west 
 for a while, then turned and went east again, and after travel- 
 ing a few miles the oxen gave out; the boy then hollered as 
 loud as he could, and as luck would have it he was near 
 enough to the house of F. O. Messenger so that Messenger 
 heard him and went in the direction from where the sound 
 came until he reached the boy. The boy's hands and feet 
 were frozen, but Messenger got him to the house and after a 
 while the boy got around all right again. The oxen were 
 also rescued. Dr. Hall himself perished in that December 
 blizzard, and was not found imtil the spring of 1872, and was 
 then found by Mr. Messenger's dog bringing to the house the 
 bone from a human body, which was noticed, and Mrs. Mes- 
 senger then directed the dog back and followed him to Dr. 
 Hall's remains, which were but his bones. The boy, Arthur 
 Hall, grown to manhood, now lives in Washington State. Tiie 
 blizzard in February, 1872, the same in which Nagg perished, 
 was also a fearful one. The first day of that blizzard, Lyman 
 with others went to Sibley to buy goods at Roger's store. 
 The blizzard commenced while they were in town, and they 
 
GEORGE T. VOOREES. 
 
52 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNT!', IOWA. 
 
 hurried up their purchases in order to return, and were soon 
 on their way back again. It was a foolish start, but still they 
 got through and no lives were lost. There were Lyman, B. 
 F. Mundorf, Lon Sanfrisco, Eve Adler and A. Carpenter. 
 When they got to the house of A. Romey, Mundorf and Ly- 
 man had about eight miles further to go, and Mundorf in- 
 sisted on gomg and was bound to go. All the others objected 
 to any such thing, and Mr. Romey declared that not one of 
 them should leave his house. Mundorf, however, had made 
 up his mind to go and go he would, and as there was no other 
 alternative, Lyman, knowing that Mundorf would surely get 
 lost, started with him. Nothing saved them but the team of 
 horses Mr. Lyman was driving. They who are accustomed 
 to the road know the great difference between horses in know- 
 ing the direction to go, and Mr. Lyman's team was of that 
 kind which could find their way home in the darkest night or 
 in any storm in which they could travel. This was the reason 
 Lyman went with Mundorf, and Lvman made no attempt to 
 guide his team but let them take their own way, and they 
 landed these storm-driven settlers safely home. 
 
 At this time there was considerable of an attempt, and 
 some of it successful, to hold claims in fictitious names and 
 cover them up, so-called. It was done by filing applications 
 in the land office at Sioux City, and the filer signing some 
 name which would make it appear of record that the claim 
 was taken. It took an incoming stranger a little time, using 
 a western expression, " to catch on to the racket," but he 
 soon did, and there was not much after all made in that kind 
 of speculation. Soon after Lent and Folsom got here, and 
 they, with Lyman and some others, were taking it easy 
 sitting on the prairie grass at Lent's claim, a stranger, who 
 gave his name as Freman, drove up and informed these 
 gentlemen that they were trespassers on other people's 
 claims; that he had done the filing for them, and they were 
 now on the road to settle. Lent cross-questioned the fellow' 
 a little, Lyman gathered himself together for a controversy, 
 and when the stranger had told all he knew about it and the 
 boys had sized the thing up so that a conclusion was reached, 
 Mr. Freman was told in a most emphatic manner, and in 
 language that was not doubtful of construction, that if he was 
 seen in that part of the country in just sixty minutes after that 
 interview, they would hang hnn; and Lyman went to hunting 
 a rope and to get the well ready to drop him in, when he 
 started, to use Lyman's expression, as though the devil was 
 after him, and was never seen afterwards. 
 
LANSING isL BROWN BUILDING, OCCUPIED BY T. H. DRAVIS. 
 
54 insTonr of osceola countt, iowa. 
 
 Mr. A. Romey, who is now a merchant in Sibley, came 
 to Osceola County in April, 187 1. He drove through from 
 Fayette County, Iowa, and William Barkhuff started and 
 drove through with him; also, Mr. A. Carpenter. On the 
 road, Mr. J. F. Jones, Joshua Stevens and Waldo joined them; 
 also W. H. Lean. Mr. Stephens and Mr. Waldo have since 
 died. Mr. Jones and Mr. Carpenter are still residents of the 
 county. Mr. Romey filed on the northwest quarter of Section 
 4, Goewey Township. He put up a sod house, with shingled 
 roof, and hauled his lumber from Sioux City. He broke 
 about fifteen acres in 1871, but put m no crop. 
 
T. H. DRAVIS. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 In September, 1881, Henry C. Allen landed in Goewey 
 Township. There came with him, August Thomson, C. 
 Thomson and Francis Allen, these four forming the party. 
 H. C. Allen settled on the northeast quarter of Section 8, in 
 Township 98, Range 41, where he still resides, and the others 
 filed upon and settled on claims near him, and are now non- 
 residents. This party commenced housekeeping by putting 
 up a house partly on three quarter-sections, making their 
 home together until later on, when separate houses were to be 
 built. In the latter part of 1871, H. C. Allen and Frances 
 Allen drove their teams to Minnesota for work, and they re- 
 mained there during the winter, Frances Allen stopping at 
 Eagle Lake and H. C. going on further to Waterford. H. 
 C. Allen took his family along with him, consisting of his wife 
 and three children, and with them returned early in the spring 
 of 1872. He drove to Minnesota with a wagon and started 
 back with a wagon, but on his way was overtaken with a 
 blizzard and a large fall of snow, so that he had runners put 
 under his wagon bed. He was traveling alongside the railroad 
 track, and a few miles beyond Heron Lake came to a deep 
 ravine which w^as filled with snow and there seemed to be no 
 way of getting across it, and, as Allen was anxious to get home 
 before the time run out to get on his claim, he drove across 
 the railroad bridge, it being a high and reasonably long one 
 made in trestle work. It seemed a hazardous undertaking, 
 but Mr. Allen got over all right, and in watching the horses 
 ahead, had actually forgotten that he had one tied behind, but 
 when fan'ly landed on the other side everything was all right 
 and got over safely. Mr. Allen finally reached his claim, but 
 before getting there went down into a slough which required 
 the aid of his neighbor, Dagel, to pull him out. Someone had 
 been in the house and left it open, so that everything was in 
 confusion and covered with snow. 
 
 To one who drove over these prairies twenty years ago, 
 the scenery now in comparision is beautiful and magnificent. 
 Where stood the sod house and the usual 8 by 10 shack; there 
 are now commodious and tasty residences, and groves, whose 
 trees, dressed in their green and luxuriant foliage, add to the 
 
JOHN F. STAMM. 
 
58 HISTORT OF OSCEOLA COUNTY. IOWA. 
 
 beauties of nature, and mark the landscape with a fascinating 
 and dignified splendor. Going back in remembrance to 187 1 
 we could see a shack on Section 8, Goewey Township, which 
 straddled the line of three quarter-sections, holding down 
 claims for H. C. Allen, Frances Allen and one of the Thomson 
 boys, not a tree in sight anywhere, and, in fact, not a house. 
 We could see the boys figuring on how to get through the 
 winter, and wondering what the country would amount to 
 anyhow. But forgetting the past and looking at the living 
 present, we saw that same quarter-section on 8, which Henry 
 Allen settled upon in 187 1, now under thorough cultivation, 
 with a large barn and nice residence almost hidden in a grove 
 of large trees, and everything about the place showing that its 
 occupant is in comfortable circumstances and in the enjoyment 
 of life. 
 
 W. 11. Lean came from Wisconsin and in 187 1 settled 
 on the southwest quarter of Section 6, Baker Township. Mr. 
 Lean came with some others, previously mentioned, and 
 returned to Wisconsin in 1871, and came back to his claim in 
 the spring of 1872. Mr. Lean still resides on the same land, 
 which now has a beautiful grove and fine residence, with other 
 improvements. He is also the Goewey Postmaster. Mr. 
 Lean found Nagg's body, the party mentioned elsewhere as 
 lost in the February blizzard, 1872. 
 
 A beautiful residence greets the eye on the southeast 
 quarter of Section 2, in Goewey Township. The elegant 
 dwellinir house and larcje barn are surrounded with large 
 stately forest trees, and everything betokens thrift and com- 
 fort. The owner is O. B. Harding, who settled on the east 
 half of southeast quarter of Section 2 in 1873, and has lived 
 there since. Mr. Harding has since bought other land 
 around him. 
 
 In 1871, W. M. and J. H. Dagel, brothers, came from 
 Clayton County, Iowa, driving through with teams, and 
 between them took the nortli half of Section 6, in Goewey 
 Township. By work and economy they now own over 2,000 
 acres of land, and still live on their original claims. 
 
 In June, 187 1, Mr. Thomas Jackson filed a pre-emption 
 on the northeast quarter of Section 30, in West Holman Town- 
 ship. Mr. Jackson came from Wisconsin and after filing 
 returned there, and came to Osceola County again in the fall 
 of same year and again returned. In the spring of 1872 he 
 drove through with a team, bringing his family with him. On 
 this same section at that time there were settled William 
 

 J. W. ORD S RESIDENCE, SIBLEY. 
 
60 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 
 
 Jackson, William Anderson, Joseph Anderson, Mr. Aldrich 
 and Charles Kent. Mr. Thomas Jackson broke about thirty 
 acres in 1872, put up his shack in the fall of 1871, hauling 
 his lumber from Heron Lake, Minnesota. 'Mr, Jackson, after 
 living there about twelve years, moved to Fa'rview Town- 
 ship, where he still resides, and is a successful farmer and a 
 substantial citizen. The perils and troubles of emigration, 
 in traveling some distance from the old home to the new one, 
 are often many. 
 
 Early in the seventies there could be seen the emigrant 
 wagons, reaching out for Northwest Iowa. They were called 
 "prairie schooners." and a prairie schooner was, after all a 
 peculiar institution. They navigated, sometimes single and 
 alone, at other times in numbers like a fleet of vessels at sea. 
 A Yankee boy, fresh from Massachusetts, when he saw one 
 for the first time, said, " See that butcher cart, pa," for, sure 
 enough, the meat carts in the cities of New England go about 
 with a white covering. It was astonishing to see sometimes 
 the amount of "truck" they carried and the number of 
 inmates. We saw one in 1873, heaving into Osceola County, 
 that had three trunks, two setts of harness, a sheet-iron stove, 
 several bushels of potatoes, two dozen hens, and its inmates 
 were man and wife and eight children ; they also had cooking 
 utensils, bedding, and feed for the team. This mode of trav- 
 elling, too, when the roads are good and the party united and 
 contented, is very enjoyable, and certainly very healthy. 
 These emigrant wagons are now seldom seen, and when they 
 are they are bound for Dakota. 
 
 In June, 1872, N. W. Emery drove through from Floyd 
 County with a team and wagon, bringing his wife and one 
 child (now Forrest Emery, grown to manhood.) Mr. Emery 
 settled on the southwest quarter of Section 34, in Horton 
 Township, where he still resides, in easy circumstances and 
 with the respect of the people. The first summer he lived in 
 his wagon; that is, this was his only habitation. In the fall he 
 put up a house, 12x14. Owing to grasshoppers later on, 
 Mr. Emery returned to Floyd County and remained during 
 the winter, where he could find something to do. The follow- 
 ing spring he returned, driving two yoke of oxen, and he 
 certainly had a time of it, for the roads were bad, and until he 
 reached Spencer it was nothing but mud and water. Five 
 other teams were with him, of parties going to Dakota, and 
 they stuck together, for they were useful to each other when 
 one or the other got fastened in the mud when it took strength 
 

 F. M. ROBINSON. 
 
62 HISroKl' OF OSCEOLA COUNTl', IOWA. 
 
 to pull the wagon out. Emery's oxen pulled each of the 
 others out several times, and once Emery's wagon was so 
 deep in the mud and water that it took the five teams com- 
 bined with Emery's two yoke of oxen to pull him out. So 
 bad were the roads, that one day they traveled only nine 
 miles, and Emery was delighted when he got back to his 
 claim. The first season Emery did some breaking away from 
 home for several weeks, which left his wife and the infant 
 (Forrest) to keep house alone. 
 
 In all the hardships incident to pioneer life it is not only 
 the men who endure them, but the women also, whose burden 
 is as great, if not greater, to bear. Their work may not be 
 as hard, but it is constant, and, with the care of the family 
 and motherly anxiety, the world does not know, and never 
 will, the mental anguish of a great many of the wives of 
 pioneers who were making a home on these fertile, but then 
 uncultivated, prairies. 
 
 John P. Hawxshurst came in Marcii, 1872, from Wis- 
 consin. He settled upon the southwest quarter of Section 22, 
 Township 100, Range 42, and is still a resident of the county. 
 Mr. Hawxshurst helped start the Sibley Gazette — laid the 
 type from the "original packages" into the case, and was 
 with the paper until 1885. At one time he was sole pro- 
 prietor, and during the grasshopper raid had a hard time of it 
 indeed. At one time, for about a month, he did not take in 
 any money, nor pay any out, nor did he have any in his 
 pockets. His cash account was not hard to keep, and no 
 doubt there was many a country printer then wondering half 
 the time where his next meal was coming from. 
 
 In September, 187 1, Mr. John L. Robinson landed in 
 Osceola County from Alamakee County. His son, F. M. 
 Robinson, afterwards County Auditor, had preceded him, and 
 Frank met his father and mother and one sister at Algona, 
 and al! drove over from there. They took their claims on a 
 different part of Section 28, on what is now West Ilohnan, 
 put up buildings and commenced living. Mr. J. L. Robinson 
 is still living in the county, at Sibley, and F. M. Robinson is 
 at Atlanta, Georgia. As will be seen by referwing to the 
 Sibley records, F. M. Robinson put up the first building on 
 the Sible^' townsite. Afterwards his father moved into the 
 building, and lived there during the winter of 1871 and 1872. 
 While he was living there, in the fall of 1871, the portly form 
 of Elder Webb darkened the doorway, and went into the 
 room while Robinson was putting slough hay and broken 
 
11 IS r our OF osceula county, iowa. 63 
 
 weeds into the stove. This was the first time the Elder had 
 seen that kind of fuel, and he was surprised that it could be 
 utilized as a warmth producer. Mr. Robinson was the first 
 Justice of the Peace in the county, and the office came to him 
 by appointment. There being some irregularity in the 
 appointment, Mr. Robinson afterwards stepped down and 
 out, but while he was in, some cases came to his court. The 
 first one brought, and, indeed, the first suit in the county, was 
 between Everett and Freeman, over a yoke of oxen; and, like 
 sensible fellows, they afterwards settled it. This was before 
 there were any lawyers here to back up the respective sides 
 of a controversy. Mr. Robinson's daughter, Ellen, who came 
 with him, was afterwards married to Charles M. Brooks, now 
 a lawyer at Sibley. The lumber with which F. M. Robinson 
 put up his first building was hauled from Windom, Minn., 
 and afterwards they did hauling from Cherokee. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 There is much of individual heroism in common life that is 
 lost to history, and which is not blazoned among the dis- 
 tinguished deeds which make some men famous and their 
 names immortal. Some military chieftain in the nick of time, 
 and by natural genius and adroitness as well as personal cour- 
 age, drives the enemy into a general slaughter, and his govern- 
 ment, with fulsome praise, sends his name down the ages, and 
 all time has a hero fearless and undaunted. Sometimes the 
 greatest of all heroic acts are manifested by one in the humblest 
 walks of life, which find no recognition in the record of history, 
 for it is only in the exalted stations of life that the names of 
 men glitter on the scroll of fame, and much that is the most 
 heroic of all heroism dies with the hero. We have an old 
 newspaper which recites the conviction and execution of a 
 negro slave, in which case Henry Clay was the public prose- 
 cutor. The negro was a faithful servant, and had not been 
 accustomed to the degredation of corporal chastisement. Dur- 
 ing a temporary absence of his master, he was placed under 
 the charge of a young and passionate overseer, who, for some 
 slight or imaginary offense, lashed him cruelly with a horse- 
 whip, and brought wicked blows about the head that were 
 unmercifully given. The spirit of the slave was aroused, and, 
 seizing a weapon that was near him, he laid his overseer dead 
 upon the spot. Soon after, he was borne to the place of 
 execution, and the pride of character he there displayed was 
 worthy of a Roman patriot. Being asked whether he was 
 anxious that his life be spared, and, answering under a feeling 
 of the injustice that had been done him and under the fact that 
 he was in bondage, he replied proudly and sternly: "No! I 
 would not live a day longer unless in the enjoyment of liberty." 
 The pages of history might be searched from the beginning to 
 tlie present, and nothing in the notoriety of preserved events 
 would exceed this personal proudness and bravery of an 
 obscure slave, whose words are lost in the din of pyrotecnic 
 words over names which were prominent with the people. 
 
 Carrying the thought still further, one does not need to 
 go to a battlefield, or to find tragedies in blood, for the 
 world's greatest heroes. Many unknown in life, bearing its 
 
E. M. TAYLOR. 
 
60 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 
 
 burdens under difficulties and under depressing circumstances, 
 and under the crushing conditions of poverty and misfortune, 
 are heroes, and the women who toil with them are heroines. 
 The writer in the early seventies knew several families in 
 Northwest Iowa who were without money, without friends — 
 for the world is cold and uncharitable to the borrower — -whose 
 crops were an utter failure, and where existence was continued 
 by living on anything that was accessible, and whose diet 
 principally was corn ground in a coffee mill. We who are 
 living in the present progress and prosperity of Osceola 
 County cannot realize the crushed and despondent heart of 
 many a mother whose little ones, in the early days of the 
 county's history, were crying for bread, and where but inch 
 boards protected them from the severity of winter, huddled 
 around a fire made by twisted hay, and whose one hope was 
 in a change, which the future, dark and doubtful, would bring 
 to them. These early settlers who were thus battling against 
 the misfortunes of the county then were heroes. 
 
 The early days of Osceola county, from 1871 on, were hard 
 and trying to settlers who were endeavoring to make a home 
 here and establish a farm on the prairie. Most of them came 
 without means, and depended on their grit and muscle to pull 
 through. Those that brought money with them, and were 
 reasonably well fixed to start on, seemed to be the most 
 unfortunate after all, especially when the grasshoppers came, 
 for the reason that they did not hesitate to use their means 
 in building good houses and surrounding themselves with 
 comforts and conveniences, expecting an early return for their 
 investments. But when the pocket-book became empty, and 
 no crops as expected and no value to land, they were not 
 only discouraged but disgusted, and soon got out, while the 
 fellows who started with nothing were more inclined to stay 
 it through, still hoping to realize and get return for their 
 labor. 
 
 We can easily see how much grit and determination it 
 took to stay here several years, one after the other, without a 
 crop at harvest time, and still stay another winter and burn 
 hay and take chances on enough to eat. Money could not be 
 obtained only on gilt-edged security at a rate of interest from 
 three to eight per cent, a month, and sometimes at ten. Many 
 a farm and much live stock and farm machinery of these early 
 settlers passed into the hands of these money lenders; we 
 cannot say unjustly so, but as a matter of business, because 
 the money was due, the debtor unable to pay, and that 
 

 
 ®:r„z]'j 
 
 fi m 
 
 \r?if 
 
 B., C. R. & N. DEPOT, SIBLEY 
 
68 IIISTOKI' OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 
 
 insatiate and inexorable Shylock, the chattel mortgage, must 
 have what its description calls for, and without delay. Some 
 were crushed under the burden of debt, and ran away from it, 
 glad to escape the annoyance of creditors, and into an atmos- 
 phere of peace. 
 
 Others still kept working on, toiling in the hope of better 
 days, and under a feeling that no matter how black and 
 hideous were the clouds of adversity, there was still a silver 
 lining, and that in time the sunshine of prosperity would 
 change the condition of things and gladden their hearts. 
 
 The days of Osceola County hardships are over. It has 
 passed the period of settlement, of hard times, debt and ad- 
 versity, and is today one of the most thrifty Counties in the 
 State. In 1870 its beautiful but unbroken prairie land was 
 waiting in mute silence for coming events; today its well 
 cultivated farms, extensive and magnificent forest trees, with 
 beautiful and comfortable residences show the wonderful 
 progress and prosperity that can come to a country by the 
 industry and thrift of a people, who under a government like 
 ours know the value of a home. The county is still advancing, 
 its population increases each year, its unbroken prairie is 
 diminishing rapidly, and before another decade not a foot of 
 wild land capable of cultivation can be found in the county. 
 Its people are full of energy, have the best of social qualities, 
 are intelligent and loyal. School districts and municipal town- 
 ship governments and the County administration, are all in the 
 hands of men who are honest, capable and economical, and 
 the future of the county is brilliant in everything that can lead 
 a people up to the highest conditions of contentment, happiness 
 and success. The older settlers, who have borne the "burden 
 and heat of the day" and are here yet, have a feeling of pride 
 in what the years accomplished, and the later incoming settlers 
 realize that there is no fairer or more fertile agricultural 
 country that the sun shines upon or was ever watered with 
 the dews of heaven. However much of adversity or hardship 
 our early settlers had to contend with the clouds have now 
 rolled by, and other people in the experience of a like mis- 
 fortune cannot only have our sympathy, but would find us 
 charitable enough and sufficiently able to pour into their lap 
 the surplus treasures of our own producli\ e soil. 
 
\V. II. GATES. 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 In Ma}', 1871, W. H. Gates arrived in Osceola County 
 from Buchanan County. He started with O. Dnnton and 
 T. J, Cutshall, Dunton and Gates having teams and outfit of 
 their own, while Cutshall was sort of a passenger with them. 
 Gates filed on the southeast quarter of Section 26, Township 
 100, Range 42, and Dunton and Cutshall on the south half of 
 Section 32, Township 100, Range 41. They built, to start 
 on, a sod house on Dunton's claim, and made that their head- 
 quarters. Mr, Gates returned soon after for his family, and 
 brought them out in the fall of 187 1, and lived in the Dunton 
 sod house during the winter of 187 1 and 1872, and in the 
 spring of 1872 he built a small house on his own claim, which 
 is still there, and Mr. Gates still owns the land. At present 
 he is County Recorder. In the fall of 187 1, after Mr. Gates 
 had become settled with his family, he met Mr. Glover for the 
 first time. Glover ventured over to the Gates household, 
 bringing a tin pail, bearing all the marks of a siege in batch- 
 ing. He modestly and timidly inquired if he could get some 
 milk, which was generously supplied him, and John was 
 treated so hospitably he ventured another request, doubtfully 
 asking Mrs. Gates if he could get a piece of pork rind to grease 
 his griddle for pancakes, and the request was accompanied 
 with a skillful gesture of the hand, following the movement 
 usually made in greasing a skillet for that purpose. Glover 
 was surprised with a nice piece of pork from a barrel which 
 Gates had brought with him, and the ex-Representative went 
 home in a feeling of supreme delight. Mr. Gates was very 
 much afflicted that winter with acute rheumatism, and no 
 physician within forty miles. After laying helpless for about 
 a month he got about again. 
 
 Cutshall alternated for several j-^ears between his claim 
 and cobbling shoes at Sibley. He now lives at Omaha, Neb. 
 Dunton a few years ago went to Dundee, Ills., where he 
 now lives. 
 
 During the season of 1871 deer and elk were plenty in 
 Osceola County, and they who were hunters and good marks- 
 men had plenty of it. The next season, of 1872, the incoming 
 railroad and influx of settlers drove them westward, in the 
 
W. B. STEVENS. 
 
72 JIISTORT OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 
 
 same direction civilization pushes the Indians — towards the 
 setting sun. 
 
 This Township, in which Mr. Gates settled, as will be 
 seen elsewhere, was first named Fenton and afterwards 
 Viola. But few of the 187 1 and 1872 settlers are left in the 
 Township. In 187 1 John Stamm and Robert Stamm came to 
 the County, driving through with teams from Jefferson 
 County, Iowa. John settled on the southwest quarter of 
 Section 34, Viola, and Robert on the northeast quarter of 
 Section 4, Holman. We will now continue as to Viola Town- 
 ship. John Stamm is still a resident of the County, and was 
 elected Sheriff in 1891. Frank Vanamburg settled in 187 1 
 on the southeast quarter of Section 34. The same year 
 Theodore Stage took a part of Section 30. Mr. Stage now 
 lives at Little Rock. Also in 1871, John Smith and his 
 mother took the northwest quarter of Section 20, he taking 
 one and his mother the other eighty. On this same section 
 C. C. Collerson also settled in 1871. H. W, Tinkhum settled 
 the same year on a part of the northeast quarter of Section 
 26. Mr. Tinkhum is now at Barraboo, Wis. The remaining 
 part of the northeast quarter of Section 26 was taken by 
 Eleazer Headley in the spring of 1872. He is now in 
 Indiana. On this same Section 26, J. S. Patterson in 187 1 
 took the northwest quarter. He came from Cerre Gordo 
 County, Iowa, and still hves on the same piece of land. On 
 the southwest quarter of Section 26, J. W. Blair settled in 
 1 87 1. He still owns the same piece and resides in Kansas. 
 J. W. Nimms filed on the northeast quarter of Section 34 in 
 1 87 1. On the northwest quarter of same section, J. T. 
 Barclay settled in 1872, and put up the usual shanty. He 
 sold the land afterwards to W. E. Ripley, and Mr. Barclay 
 resides in Sibley. Also in the spring of 1872, H. Jordon set- 
 tled on the southeast quarter of Section 28. Mr. Jordon was 
 
 afterwards a lawyer in Sibley, and died in . The 
 
 remainder of Section 28 was taken by George Carew, the 
 northeast quarter; D. B. Wood, the northwest quarter; and 
 Mr. Willie, the southwest quarter. Mr. Carew still lives in 
 Sibley, and his claim is now owned by Jacob Brooks. Mr. 
 Wood now lives in Springfield, Missouri. 
 
 The northwest quarter of Section 32 was taken by James 
 Dalton in 187 1. He now Hves in Buchanan County, Iowa, 
 and Mr. Sliapley owns the claim. George S. Downend, in 
 the spring of 1872, filed on the northeast quarter of Section 
 32, and still lives on the land, with good improvements. Mr. 
 
JOHN F. GLOVER. 
 
74 HIS TORT OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 
 
 Downend was from New York, was in the war, and went 
 home on crutches. 
 
 Patrick Piesley came to the county in 1871, and took the 
 southeast quarter of Section 32. He returned to his former 
 home in Wisconsin, and was married there July 3, 1873, '^"d 
 still lives in Osceola County on the same piece of land. The 
 southwest quarter of this same section was taken by Abraham 
 Shapley in the spring of 1870. Mr. Shapley drove through 
 by team from Clayton County, and along with him was N. D, 
 Bowles and John Gray. He put up a comfortable house, 
 hauling his lumber from Worthington. Mr. Shapley had a 
 blacksmith shop, and, like the rest, had a hard time at the 
 start. After he had got through June of that year, he had 
 just three nickels left; but he had other capital, consisting of 
 grit, of muscle and ambition. Mr. Shapley still lives on the 
 same place, has fine improvements, owns a section of land in 
 the county, and this year will establish his residence in Sibley, 
 and take life easy. 
 
 Asa Vanblorcon settled on the east half of the west half of 
 Section 30, in 1872, and is still living in the same place. On 
 this same section, Mr. KnowUon took the southeast quarter in 
 1 87 1. Mr. Shapley now owns the land. The northeast 
 quarter of Section 30 was taken in 1872 by Henry Graham, 
 who has since died. On a part of Section 20 Mr. Samuel 
 Smith filed and settled in 1872. He put up first a sod house, 
 and now has a fine residence and is still living on the place. 
 
 John Pann also filed on a part of Section 20 in 1872, and 
 sold the land this year (1892). On the east half of the north- 
 east quarter of Section 20, Edwin Smith filed in 1872. Mr. 
 Smith still holds the land, and is engaged in the hardware 
 business at Little Rock. 
 
 In 1872, A. B. Graves filed on the southeast quarter of 
 Section 18, and has since died. A part of the northeast 
 quarter of Section 18 was taken in 1872 by A. Averhill, who 
 now lives in LeMars, but who still owns the land. Sidney 
 Beck with and Mr. Barnard took the northwest quarter of 
 Section 18 in 1872, which quarter is now owned by Mr. 
 Beckwith, and upon which he still resides. He has other 
 land around, since purchased. The south half of the south- 
 west quarter of Section 18 was taken by Mr. Beeman in 1871. 
 Mr. Beeman perished in the February, 1872, l)lizzard. He 
 was haulinfj log-s and was lost in the storm. 
 
 David Averhill and Obid Averhill took the south half of 
 Section 8 in 1872. David died about two years ago and Obid 
 moved from the county. 
 
ACADEMY OF MUSIC BLOCK, SIBLEY 
 
76 JIISTORT OF OSCEOLA COUNT!'. IOWA. 
 
 On the west half of the southwest quarter of Section lo, 
 William Rubow filed in 1872. He still owns the land, but 
 lives in Missouri. On this section also, Eugene and Charles 
 Bennett settled in 1872. Charles returned to Illinois a few 
 years after, and Eugene still lives in the county on the same 
 land and is a prosperous farmer. On Section 22 M. D. 
 Hadsell took the northeast quarter, John Hart the southeast 
 quarter, J. P. Hawxshurst the southwest quarter, and C. C. 
 Hadsell and John Joseph the northwest quarter. These all 
 filed in 1872. The HadselPs are in Nebraska, Josephs in 
 Kansas and J. P. Hawxshurst resides in Sibley. Peter Shaw 
 and Charles Shaw came in 1872, and filed between them on 
 the northeast quarter of Section 14. Prof. J. F. Kanson filed 
 in 1872. He left the county some years ago, and lives in 
 Florence, Kansas. Also, in 1871, C. C. Ogan filed on the 
 southeast quarter of Section 14. He died since in California. 
 On the southwest quarter of Section 14, John H. Douglass 
 filed. This gentleman is elsewhere mentioned. 
 
 The Scribner family among themselves took Section 12 
 in 1872, and have since moved away. 
 
 On Section 24 N. J. Wetmore filed on a part of the 
 southeast quarter, Merritt Winchester on the southwest quar- 
 ter, G. W. Ketchem on the northwest quarter, all in 1872. 
 Mr. Wetmore is in DeKalb County, Illinois, Mr. Winchester 
 in Des Moines, and Mr. Ketchem went to Sioux City; he is 
 now preaching on the Pacific Coast. Levi Shell settled on 
 the southeast quarter of Section 36 in 1872. Mr. Shell has 
 been here ever since, and is now in the lumber trade a Sibley. 
 Joseph Ferrin, C. F. Torrey and Rev. Jones also filed in 1872 
 on other parts of the same section. These parties who filed 
 on Section 36, except Mr. Shell, have been away from the 
 County several years. These settlers in Viola who are still 
 here have weathered the disagreeable hardships of the first 
 years of pioneer life, and are now comfortable and well off. 
 Mr. John Stamm's first wife died in the county in 1885. Viola 
 is a thrifty township, and one of the most prosperous in the 
 County. Among its leading farmers, in addition to those 
 already mentioned, are the following named gentlemen: A. 
 Ackerman, B. Ackerman, W. M. Achenbach, C. Barnum, R. 
 Black, S. M. Bullington, T. Boyenga, C. Bauman, W. Beck- 
 man, H. Branidt, W. Christian, J. W. Councill, Henry Doug- 
 lass, S. R. Dunwoody, W. Downs, D. Dexter, E. Fisher, Geo. 
 Gates, H. Hincuch, H. Hatterman, L. Hoffman, J. HoUenbach, 
 E. D. HoUenbach, H. Hall, II. M. Heindres, H. Houke, John 
 
E. A. BUNKER. 
 
78 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNT r, IOWA. 
 
 Iverson, G. C. Iverson, B. Koolman, I. Kimball, W. Kuhn, P 
 Keer, F, E. Kennedy, A. Kiser, C. Kreager, A. Lusk, H 
 Luterman, J. M. Likes, H. Likes, J. Mont, D. H. Morse, S 
 Newman, T. P. Norman, N. Olson, J. Peters, B. Robert, J 
 Rain, F. Riibow, P. Rehms, J. Rohger, S. B. Smith, H. Soins 
 C. Shroder, W. F. Smith, H. Temmenna, T. W. Tarbell 
 John Tann, S. S. Thatcher, H. Vietmeyer, C. Vink, W. J 
 Wohleater, A. A. Wyant, T. Wyant, R. Wyant, T. P. Wald- 
 ran, Fred Witt, J. Hf Harbets, J. Harbets, W. Harbets. 
 
CHAPTER XL 
 
 In the fall of 187 1 S. J. Cram came from Alamak.ee 
 County and settled on a part of Section 32, in what is now 
 Wilson Township, and still resides here. W. W. Cram, a 
 brother of S. J., also came in 187 1 and filed on a part of 
 Section 14, in West Holman Township. He left here in 1882, 
 and now lives at Butte, Nebraska. A. H. Clark also filed the 
 same year on Section 32, in Wilson Township. In Holman 
 Township at this early day, S. A. Wright settled on a claim, 
 also the Halsteads, father and son, F. R. Cole, O. C. vStaplin 
 and the Widow Rosenburv, and Randolph Kinney on Section 
 28, in Wilson Township. S. A. Wright was Treasurer of the 
 County one term, and now lives at i3eatrice, Nebraska. O. 
 C. Staplin still lives in the County on the original claim, and 
 is one of our pushing farmers. S. H. Westcott came from 
 LeMars to Osceola County and filed on a claim in the fall of 
 1 87 1 on the southeast quarter of Section 22, Township 99, 
 Range 41. Mr. Wescott has held township and County 
 offices, and now lives in Sibley. In April, 1871, there came 
 from Alamakee County to Osceola Mr. E. Morrison, R. O. 
 Manson, F. M. Robinson, W. W. Cram, Myron Churchill and 
 Thomas Parian; these came to file on land, and with them to 
 see the country was Mr. McFarland. Mr. Morrison settled 
 on a part of Section 10, in Township 99, Range 42; Mr. 
 Manson on northwest quarter of Section 24, West Holman ; 
 
 F. M. Robinson on •, West Holman; Myron Churchill 
 
 on a part of Section ; and Parian on , while Mr. 
 
 Cram has heretofore been described in his location. Mr. 
 Morrison now resides in Sibley, having been here since his 
 first settlement, except to return for his family in the fall of 
 1871. Mr. Manson still resides on the claim originally taken. 
 
 After these incoming settlers had got here from Alamakee 
 County, they looked around and decided upon the claims they 
 wanted. A part of them then started for Sioux City to file, 
 while Mr. Morrison drove to LeMars to get some groceries, 
 for there were no provisions left, and it was a long ways to 
 market. When Morrison got to the Huff shack he found that 
 Mrs. Huff was out of bread and no flour to make any; he then 
 had to drive to Orange City, or where Orange City now is, 
 
80 IIISTORT OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 
 
 before he could get anything for himself or team. In the 
 meantime he had left Robinson, Manson and McFarland at 
 Frank Stiles' habitation. This consisted of an old stage coach, 
 approximating the Deacon's one-hoss shay when it fell to 
 pieces. Stiles had hauled it to his claim and placed it there as 
 a settlement which the law required. At this stage coach 
 Morrison left the three parties above named, they to wait until 
 Morrison returned with something to eat, but hunger got the 
 better of them, so they started on southeast to find somebod}^ 
 or something to eat, and came across a shack near the 
 Ocheyedan where Mr. Miller lived, but here there was nothing 
 to eat so they returned again to Frank Stile's cottage on 
 wheels. After about forty-eight hours' absence Morrison 
 returned, and by this time Robinson, Manson and McFarland 
 were in about the same condition that Greeley was when dis- 
 covered in the Artie regions. They were handed out some 
 bread, and the loaves disappeared about as fast as water in a 
 gopher hole, they couldn't wait for butter or anything else, 
 but soon the boys felt better with a satisfied appetite. 
 
 W. A. Morrison, a brother of E. Morrison, came in July, 
 1872, and made settlement here, but left the county a few 
 years ago and now resides in Kettle Falls, Washington. 
 
 In June, 187 1, Rev, Smith Aldrich arrived in the county 
 and settled on Section 30, west Holman. When it became 
 known that Aldrich was a preacher, it was thought best to 
 have services the following Sunday, so E, Morris and some 
 others went around to what few there were and gave out the 
 notice. The preaching was in Morrison and Churchill's 
 shack. There were about twenty-five present, and this 
 sermon, no doubt, was the first preached in the county, 
 though W. W. Webb claims that some other was the first. 
 In the fall of 187 1 Mrs. Aldrich, wife of the reverend gentle- 
 man, died on their claim. This was the first death in tiie 
 county, and at that time the undertaker's shop was far away, 
 so that Mr. A. M. Culver made the coffin and Mrs. John 
 Douglass stained it with grape juice. The simple services at 
 the funeral were impressive, for Mrs. Aldrich was a woman 
 much respected. Her body* was removed east some time 
 after its burial here, and Mr. Aldrich himself went away after 
 remaining here a few years. 
 
 Mr. Wallace Rea came here in the spring of 1872 and 
 settled on the southeast quarter of Section 14, Township 99, 
 Range 41. He is now at a Soldiers' Home. At the first 
 school election held in the Rea district there were only three 
 
W. H. NOEHREN. 
 
82 irisTonr of osceola county, iowa. 
 
 present — Rea, O. C. Staplin and J. S. Reynolds. Staplin 
 was Chairman, Rea the Secretary and Reynolds the people. 
 A ballot was taken, and the vote stood: Rea, i; Staplin, i; 
 Reynolds, i. On the second ballot Staplin was elected. 
 Reynolds declares that on the first ballot he voted for Staplin, 
 and Staplin for Reynolds. At that time there was much 
 eagerness for the establishment of a school, and it was all 
 right in that feeling of personal anxiety for a fellow to vote 
 for himself as school officer. 
 
 Of the early settlers in Township lOO, Range 41 (now 
 Wilson Township), but few remam. Will Thomas still owns 
 the original claim, and in this township he still retains his 
 residence. On Section 26, in this township, are two earl}- 
 settlers. Mr. John Klampe took the northeast quar^^er about 
 twenty years ago, and still occupies it. On the southeast 
 quarter, Benj. Davis settled in 1872, and has borne the burden 
 and heat of the day from that time to the present, farming the 
 same piece of land. Mr. R. S. Eakin also came to this town- 
 ship about twenty years ago, and first settled on Section 8. 
 He now owns 240 acres on Section 28. 
 
 On the southwest quarter of Section 14, Mr. Jacob Wid- 
 man has lived since about 1873. He has made very fine 
 improvements, and on his place there is a spring of very nice 
 water, which we believe is the only spring in the township. 
 
 On Section 32, lives C. P. Reynolds, who settled there 
 in 1872, and has lived there continuously since. He has good 
 improvements, and has been a member of the County Board 
 of Supervisors. 
 
 The north tier of sections in Wilson, as in other town- 
 ships on the north bordering the Minnesota line, are clipped 
 off, or rather the surveyors run out of land when they reached 
 the line; or, as some one with bar-room proclivities remarked, 
 "they were lost in the shuffle." The absence of this north 
 tier of sections has been the cause of trouble to some, as well 
 as a loss of money, and has brought others to grief. Some 
 years ago several sharpers, who were of that class of men 
 constantly seeking opportunities to perpetrate a swindle, 
 actually made conveyance of some of these quarter sections 
 which had no existence to innocent and unsuspecting parties, 
 who took the deeds all right and paid for the land, only to 
 soon find out they had bought nothing, and couldn't buy what 
 the deed described if they wanted to. Some of these villianous 
 grantors were apprehended and made to languish in tiie pen- 
 itentiary, and to suffer punishment for the crime which was 
 involved in this method of conveyance. 
 
inSTORl OF OSCEOLA COiXTY, IOWA. 83 
 
 Allen Cloud filed in 1872 on the northwest quarter of 
 Section 34, and lived there until he died in January, 1884, and 
 was buried in the Wilson Township Cemetery. His widow 
 now lives in Sibley. 
 
 The only old settlers still Hving in Wilson Township are 
 Will Thomas and W. A. Cloud. 
 
 Mr. C. E. Yates, on Section 10, went there about ten 
 years ago; James Zweek, on Section 14, about five years ago, 
 and Mr. H. A. Cramer, on the same section, two years ago. 
 The Makee boys, on the northwest quarter of Section 15, 
 have been there some time. 
 
 Mr. Joseph K. Shaw, on Section 18, was reasonably 
 early in settlement, as he filed on a claim and made final 
 proof in 1876, and still resides there. On this same section 
 resides Fred Theise and Mons Sorem. On Section 22, the 
 northwest quarter, W. J. Miller filed, and still owns the land. 
 The balance of this section belongs to the Thomas family, 
 with Clifford Ling as renter. F. J. and J. D. Engle are 
 living on the west half of Section 23, and on the northeast 
 quarter John Ackerson resides. Other parties in the town- 
 ship, and among Wilson's best farmers, not before mentioned 
 are Terkark Benezek, on Section 24, and F. A. Klampke, on 
 Section 25. Mr. Klampke has 320 acres, and has lived there 
 about 1 4 years. The east half of Section 27 is owned by 
 Clans Klepka, who has lived in the township about two 
 years. Mr. Comstock lives on the southwest quarter of 
 Section 29; also, on the same section is H. S. Lindsey. 
 
 J. N. Robinson, on the northwest quarter of Section 30, 
 owns the land, and has lived there about six years. On 
 Section 31, Mr. W. C. Connor owns the northeast quarter, 
 and on this same section lives Charles Hoffman. 
 
 Mr. A. B. Evarts is the owner of a part of section 32 and 
 has lived there seven years. W. A. Cloud is on section 33. 
 This gentleman has been in the township seventeen years, and 
 would pass for an old settler. On the northeast quarter of 
 section 34 lives E. A. Beaston, while the southwest is owned 
 by J. W. Kaye of Sibley, and upon which there fives at 
 present, Mr. H. S. Lindsey. Mr. N. W. Williams who 
 settled in O'Brien County in 1871, has recently purchased the 
 northeast quarter of section 36 and will soon be a resident of 
 Wilson. In 187 1 W. N. Bull settled on the northwest quarter 
 of section 26. Mr. Bull still resides . in the county at Sibley. 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 There ought to be the strongest ties of feehng between 
 the old settlers of a country who have remained with it and 
 borne the burden and heat of the day, and there is. B}' 
 reason of the weakness of human nature there may be some- 
 times a hostile feeling over some petty and insignificant affair 
 between neighbors, but, as a rule, the surviving settlers of a 
 new country whose experiences run back a quarter of a 
 century are attached to each oiher; it would be unnatural to 
 be otherwise. Age may bring upon us its infirmities; it may 
 palsy the limbs, and gather the crows' feet insidiously about 
 the eyebrows, but as long as the faculties remain we shall 
 ever retain a feeling of fond recollection of the scenes and 
 incidents of other days, and of those who shared with us its 
 experiences, its joys and sorrows. And then again, people 
 who bear the same misfortune together become united in each 
 others interest and are bound together. 
 
 Ever}^ new County has to wrestle in the throes of doubt 
 and difficulty. The incoming population are generally of 
 moderate means, and come for the purpose of building a home 
 and acquiring a competence. The first acts of settlement are 
 liable to absorb the little that was broufjht with them, and for 
 a time it is a struggle with hardship, and sometimes for the 
 necessaries of life. 
 
 Their manner of living was not in commodious dwelling 
 houses, but in what was called a shanty or a shack. A set- 
 tler's shack, or shanty, was an exclusive western institution. 
 It was the first castle of the settler, was of generall}^ uniform 
 size, 8xio, with a shed roof and tar paper covering. If any- 
 one doubted the continuous residence, the shanty was referred 
 to as the mute but standing witness, and the doubter became 
 silent under this avalanche of proof. There was also provided 
 a stove pipe, projecting through the roof, and this, added to 
 the shanty, emphasized the good faith of the settler. Occa- 
 sionally when the shack was left too long to itself, some mis- 
 chievous or malicious fellow carried away some part or all of 
 it, and the place that once knew it, knew it no more forever; 
 but among settlers themselves it was regarded as the sacred 
 habitation, the legal improvement, and everybody was warned 
 
CHARLTiS M. BROOKS. 
 
86 HISrORr of OSfEOLA C0UNT1\ IOWA. 
 
 neither lo disturb nor molest it. Sometimes, instead of this 
 kind of a habitation, the settler had a dugout or a sod shanty. 
 A dugout consisted of an excavation in the ground, a hole 
 large enough to live in, with a covering to it of some kind, 
 sufficient to shed the rain and enclose it; or, if the opportunity 
 was had, it was built into a knoll or the side of a hill. One 
 room served all the purposes of the homesteader and his 
 family. If he prospered for a season he would add to the 
 front of his abode by erecting walls of sod on the sides and 
 putting in a new front; the old would serve as a partition 
 between the two rooms. You would often, upon entering 
 such an abode, be surprised, for once you got through the 
 narrow hole, called a door, to get into it, you would find 
 elegant furniture, left over from the former residence, and an 
 organ with an imposing cathedral back, towering high in one 
 corner of the room. 
 
 Sometimes a settler's claim would be jumped, as they 
 called it, but jumping claims was a very disreputable and 
 sometimes a serious business. It was expected in those cases 
 where a party entirely neglected his duty as a settler and 
 paid no attention to the requirements of the homestead or 
 pre-emption law, that some one who could comply would 
 take the land and earn it with a continuous residence. But 
 where the settler was performing his duty to the best of his 
 ability, and was faithful to his claim, with good intentions, then 
 he who undertook to deprive him of it was a miscreant, and 
 the neighborhood would sit down on him with a determined 
 vengeance. Any person of character and respectabilit}^ would 
 not jump a claim without the surest and safest of reasons, and 
 where a claimant abandoned his claim without actual settle- 
 ment, and with continued neglect, then it was the duty of any 
 seekmg government land to take it, and let the other party 
 lose his rights by his delay. They did not blame anyone for 
 jumping a claim where the claimant showed bad faith, but 
 where good faith was exhibited, then the act was repre- 
 hensible. 
 
 We will conclude this chapter with an experience of W. 
 R. Boling: Mr. Boling came to Osceola in the fall of 1872, 
 and left papers for filing on his claim in Horton Township, 
 where he now resides. He returned and remained that winter 
 in Powshiek County, and came back to Osceola in the spring 
 of 1873. While traveling out, he was joined by Ol. Hem- 
 men way and John Wood, who were pointed for Sheldon, 
 and settled there. Boling's trip was uneventful until he 
 
IirSTORr OF OSCEOLA COrNTV, IOWA. 87 
 
 reached the Little Ocheyedan, about ten miles south of now 
 Ocheyedan Town, and was then on his way to Sibley. The 
 river from heavy snows that winter had become quite a stream, 
 but the ice was still underneath in some places. Boling had a 
 span of mules, a covered wagon filled with the requirements 
 of a settler, and the difficult task of crossing the Ocheyedan 
 was before him. He took a long pole, walked in sounding 
 the bottom to decide the question of safe crossing, and satislied 
 himself that he could make it. He got aboard the wagon, 
 started up the mules and ventured to cross. When he was 
 about eight feet from the opposite side, the mules went into 
 the water out of sight, also one of the front wheels, leaving 
 the wagon partly tipped. Boling jumped into tiie stream to 
 try and right things, but had a narrow escape from drowning 
 and only by desperate effort reached the other side, and with- 
 out time to worry over the fix he was in, went to work at once 
 to save the outfit. One mule was completely under water, 
 and the other had his head just out of it; finally Boling got one 
 mule out and hitched on to the other one and pulled him out 
 upon the bank more dead than alive. A mule's existence 
 does not alwa3's require soft bedding and a pakice barn, and 
 this one's experience demonstrates the fact that a mule can be 
 pretty well drowned and still live. Boling waited until both 
 of them got life enough to travel, then rode one and led the 
 other about eight miles to a settler's cabin, where he staid all 
 night, and, returning next morning with assistence, rescued 
 the wagon and its contents and renewed his journey. 
 
CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 The blizzard of January 7, 1873, was a fearful one, and 
 considered as the worst this country ever experienced. These 
 storms are generally disastrous for the reason that they come 
 up suddenly. The morning may be fine and clear, causing 
 people to start out on the prairie, and in a sparsely settled 
 country where houses are several miles apart, a sudden Wind- 
 ing snow storm makes it almost impossible to find a shelter, 
 and is extremely dangerous to any who are out. On the 
 morning of January 7, 1873, the sun rose bright and warm, 
 giving promise of a beautiful day. There was then a stage 
 line between Spencer and Rock Riipids, the stage driver being 
 Peter Baker. He started out from Sibley in the forenoon 
 with one passenger, Mr. .A. K.Jenkins, and when ten miles 
 west from Sibley they encountered that terrible blizzard out 
 on the unsettled prairie. It continued warm and pleasant until 
 about noon, when the treacherous northwest wind commenced 
 blowing and a dark cloud hovered in the western horizon. 
 The snow commenced creeping and sifting over the ground in 
 the peculiar insidious style so well known to every dweller on 
 our broad and unprotected prairies. In a very short time the 
 storm king was holding high carnival, and the air was filled 
 with fiying snow, driven by the force of the wind into the 
 minutest apertures and piling it into drifts wherever it en- 
 countered an obstacle. 
 
 The storm raged with scarcely an abatement until Thurs- 
 day morning, when the thermometer indicated 22 degrees 
 below zero. 
 
 As above stated, Mr. Jenkins, in company with Mr. 
 Baker, the stage driver on the Spencer and Rock Rapids 
 Stage Line, left Sibley for the latter point named; when about 
 ten miles distant from their destination the storm struck them 
 in all its fur}', so completely hemming in their horses that they 
 soon yielded to the influence of the cold and sunk down in a 
 deep snow drift and soon died. Mr. Jenkins tried to keep his 
 blood in circulation by walking, but to the contrary, he became 
 so helpless from the effects of the cold that even with the help 
 of his companion he was unable to regain his seat in the coach. 
 After eighteen hours insane from suffering he laid down before 
 Mr. Baker's eyes and died. 
 
E. K. HAZEN. 
 
90 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 
 
 Meanwhile, Mr. Baker was conscious that he was losing 
 the use of his limbs, and could render his companion no further 
 assistance. Mr. Baker was found frozen to the knees on 
 Friday afternoon about 3 o'clock, about one-half mile from the 
 stage road; he was taken to the nearest house and cared for 
 until the next day. He was then taken to Sibley. Soon after, 
 both his legs were amputated, and on the 25th day of May, 
 1873, he died. 
 
 George Hamilton was out in the same blizzard, and a 
 man of less nerve and endurance would have certainly per- 
 ished. Mr. Hamilton started in the morning to go to Milford, 
 and while only about four miles from home crossing the prai- 
 rie the storm struck him. To face the storm and try to re- 
 turn would have been the height of folly. So that all Mr. 
 Hamilton could do was to go with it. This he did, and kept 
 on traveling until he came to a corn field, where the snov/ had 
 formed in large drifts, and into one of these his horses got 
 down. Mr. Hamilton worked with his horses until they were 
 on their feet again, and then as night was coming on, he un- 
 hitched and after having shovelled the snow away from the 
 front end of his wagon tied his horses there. Here he spent 
 the night, with that terrible storm howling in its fury, with no 
 shelter and really without sufficient clothing, for the storm 
 wasn't looked for. He kept at work shovelling the snow 
 away from where the horses stood and twice lay down near 
 the horses feet and got into a dose, and each time a horse 
 stepped on him, just enough to wake him up and he went to 
 work again. It is only a wonder that he didn't go to sleep 
 never to wake again, and probably such would have been his 
 fate, only for the horses feet. Finally morning dawned and 
 Mr. Hamilton feeling that he was near somebody's place, hol- 
 lered as loud as he could and there came a response. By this 
 communication of voice the parties living near by came to 
 where Hamilton was and himself and horses wt^re gotten over 
 
 to the house, it being where Smith lived. The horses 
 
 were placed under shelter and soon Hamilton was in the 
 Smith shack which had the comforts of a stove, red with heat- 
 ing. Mr. Hamilton found that his clothing was not proof 
 against the driving snow, for it had drifted through in consid- 
 erable quantities next to the skin. He staid at the Smitli hab- 
 itation two days, then when the storm was over made his trip 
 to Milford and on his return found parties searching for him, 
 supposing, of course, that he could not be otherwise than lost. 
 This narrow escape which George Hamilton had in this April 
 
HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 91 
 
 blizzard shows how easily a man of caution and of excel- 
 lent judgment can drift into danger, and where the chances of 
 living are against him, but a blizzard on an open prairie, comes 
 sometimes so unexpected and unlooked for that it is not a lack 
 of caution nor an error in judgment to be caught out where 
 life becomes suddenly in danger. Mr. Hamilton's claim, as 
 will be noticed elsewhere, was then on Section 30, in Fair view 
 Township. Mr. Hamilton believes that his deliverance was 
 providential; that it was there on the prairie he made his first 
 original prayer which God gave him then and there the as- 
 surance that it would be verified. 
 
 In this same storm a resident of Fairview Township lost 
 his life. There was then a postofiice on the Spirit Lake and 
 Worthington route, about a mile south of where the town of 
 Round Lake now is. It was kept by William Mosier, and 
 Mr. Wheeler, whose claim was on Section in Fairview, 
 
 was at the postoffice in Mosier's house when the storm came 
 up. Wheeler started for home and unable to find his house, 
 he wandered with the storm and at last exhausted, benumbed 
 with cold, lay down and died. He got nearly to West 
 Okoboji Lake in Dickinson County. He was found soon as 
 the storm cleared up by Mr. Tuttle, whose house was not far 
 away from where Wheeler perished. 
 
 Some others were out in the blizzard, but not far from 
 home so that these got home safely. 
 
 One other death occurred in the county, that of Peter 
 Ladenberger. After the storm he was missing and no trace 
 of him could be found it was concluded that he must have 
 perished. He was still unaccounted for until the 29th day of 
 November, 1873, when the account of his being found, given 
 at the time, is as follows: When Fred Krueger, while out 
 hunting in the valley of the Ocheyedan fifteen miles south- 
 east of Sibley, found the remains of some person, they 
 proved to be those of the unfortunate Ladenberger. Mr. 
 Krueger did not inform any person of the finding of the re- 
 mains until Sunday, when he related the facts to Mr. S. S. 
 Parker. Early Monday morning Mr. Parker came to town 
 and informed the proper authorities, who immediately sum- 
 moned a jury, consisting of Messrs. McCausland, Parker and 
 Warren; these gentlemen with the acting coroner, Mr. Tur- 
 ner, Dr. Mellen and some witnesses to identify the remains, 
 started for the spot to determine, if possible, whose the re- 
 mains were. The party proceeded eastward to the Parker 
 settlement, where Krueger joined them; then going southeast 
 
92 • HISTORT OF OSCEOLA COVNTT, IOWA. 
 
 they crossed the Little Ocheyedan, the rolHng prairie, and de- 
 scended into the broad valley of the Ocheyedan. When near 
 the junction of the Little Ocheyedan with the Ocheyedan, the 
 party separated, and going to the southwest Mr. Parker soon 
 discovered the remains. The dead man was lying — probably 
 as he fell — breast down, with right arm thrown back. The 
 skull lay a few feet from the trunk. At his right foot was a 
 hole, and it is possible that the surface of the snow was on that 
 account uneven and caused him to stumble. A pipe, a car- 
 penter's pencil, a silver ring, several pocketbooks, cap and 
 pieces of clothing were found. The remains of the body 
 were placed in a coffin and taken to Sibley. The pocketbooks 
 were thawed out, and furnished conclusive evidence that the 
 dead man was Peter Ladenberger. On Tuesday the remains 
 were buried. Mr. Ladenberger was a carpenter, and the last 
 work he did was to put up the liberty pole on the court house. 
 He came from Sheboygan County, Wis., and had no relatives 
 in the county. 
 
 The lirst settler in Fairview Township was Mr. Ellis, who 
 took his claim there in 1871. This was the only claim taken 
 in that township during that year. There were considerable 
 many claims taken in this township in 1872, the year of a 
 general rush to Northwest Iowa. In April, 1872, George 
 Hamilton settled in Fairview and took east half of the north- 
 west quarter of Section 30. Mr. Hamilton drove with his 
 team, his wife with him, from Clinton County, Iowa, and after 
 taking the claim lived on it continuously until final proof, him- 
 self and wife not being away from it at the same time except 
 one night. He has now other land adjoining, but of these 
 early settlers in Fairview, who came there in 1872, Mr. Ham- 
 ilton is the only one of them who still lives m that township. 
 He put up on the start a very comfortable house, broke only 
 about four acres the first year, but has since been engaged in 
 extensive farming, and is a very worthy and substantial citizen 
 of Osceola County. 
 
 S- A. Dove came to Fairview in May, 1872, and settled 
 on the southwest quarter of Section 8. C. A. Foote the same 
 year took the northeast quarter of the same section. During 
 a later residence in the count}^, and after one of the blizzards, 
 it was impossible to get around with a team, and the neces- 
 saries of life to subsist upon were obtained by going on foot 
 with snow shoes. Dove and John Hanna went to Worthing- 
 ton, eleven miles, with snow shoes, and drawing a hand sled. 
 Thev hauled butter to town and returned with flour; there 
 
94 
 
 inSTORl' OF OSCEOLA COUNTY. IOWA. 
 
 was no road, but they made the journey in a day, though their 
 return was after dark. Dove came from Clinton County, Iowa, 
 and drove through with a team. He put up first a sod house, 
 in which he hved two years, and then built a frame house, and 
 in 1890 moved to Ocheyedan, where he now resides. 
 
 Most of the settlers in Fairview have come at a recent 
 date, and but few reach back any number of years. Among 
 its leading farmers at the present time are S. Wright, Samuel 
 Peterson, John Ward, Frank Palmer, Levi Coyour, Charles 
 McLagen, S. C. Palmer, Fred Barneking, Fred Hindt, Ed. 
 Ward, Thos. Jackson, W. E. Proper, D. A. Hall, John Hanna, 
 Ed. Severence, Matthew Walling, WilHam and Samuel Hanna, 
 E. S. Webster, George Miller, Jerry Bean, Milton Woodrow, 
 
 George Shephard, Steinkuehler, W. D. Hendrix and 
 
 William Mowthorpe. 
 
 The following is the way Osceola County stood in the 
 year 1873: 
 
 CENSUS OF OSCEOLA COUNTY FOR THE YEAR 1873. 
 
 HOLM AN TOWNSHIP. 
 
 Number of dwelHngs . t8o 
 
 « " families 189 
 
 " " white males 320 
 
 « " " females 281 
 
 " " persons entitled to vote. 187 
 
 " " militia - 153 
 
 " " foreigners not naturalized 3 
 
 " " acres of land improved 2,553 
 
 " " pounds of wool shorn in the year 1S72 45 
 
 BUSHELS OF GRAIN RAISED IN 1872, 
 
 Wheat - 2,269 
 
 Corn 4,800 
 
 Oats 1,572 
 
 GOEW^EY TOWNSHIP. 
 
 Number of dwellings 143 
 
 " " families 146 
 
 " " white males -- 277 
 
 ^' «' " females 199 
 
 " " persons entitled to vote 147 
 
 " " militia i 
 
 " " foreigners not naturalized . i 
 
 " " acres of land improved - . - ^ 3^464 
 
HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTT, IOWA. 95 
 BUSHELS OF GRAIN RAISED IN 1872. 
 
 Wheat 2,174 
 
 Corn .... 5,420 
 
 Oats . 2,605 
 
 Barley . 346 
 
 FENTON TOWNSHIP. 
 
 Number of dwellings 39 
 
 " " families 40 
 
 " " white males 76 
 
 " " " females 65 
 
 " " persons entitled to vote 43 
 
 " " militia _. 39 
 
 " " acres of land improved 866 
 
 BUSHELS OF GRAIN RAISED IN 1 87 2. 
 
 Wheat 694 
 
 Corn 2,265 
 
 Oats 680 
 
 WILSON TOWNSHIP. 
 
 Number of dwellings _ . 32 
 
 " " families '„ 32 
 
 " " white males 64 
 
 " " " females . 63 
 
 " " persons entitled to vote 34 
 
 " " militia 22 
 
 " " acres of land improved 420 
 
 " " pounds of wool shorn in 1872 5 
 
 BUSHELS OF GRAIN RAISED IN 1872. 
 
 Wheat 
 
 Z9 
 
 Corn 1,337 
 
 IIORTON TOWNSHIP. 
 
 Number of dwellings 17 
 
 " "families 426 
 
 " " white males . . 40 
 
 " " " females . 30 
 
 " " persons entitled to vote 20 
 
 " "militia 18 
 
 " " acres of land improved 144 
 
 " " bushels of corn raised in the year 1872 40 
 
96 
 
 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNT T, IOWA. 
 
 In 1873 Osceola County had the following: 
 
 Number of dwellings . 419 
 
 " " families 426 
 
 " " white males 779 
 
 " " " females 630 
 
 " " persons entitled to vote 431 
 
 " " mihtia . 324 
 
 " " foreigners not naturalized 4 
 
 " " acres of land improved 7^444 
 
 " " pounds of wool shorn in the j^ear 1872 50 
 
 BUSHELS OV GRAIN RAISED IN 1 87 2. 
 
 Wheat 5,176 
 
 Corn .• 13,862 
 
 Oats . 4,857 
 
 Barley 346 
 

 - lTt -"-B.-'(4 ■■■ V' -?!''', -V' «'''_■ •■■■-■■'j .a"i"'~ 
 
 CENTRAL BLOCK, SIBLEY. 
 
CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 We will now leave the general run of settlement for a 
 few chapters and speak of the County's finances in its method 
 of doing business in the early days. Lawyers' fees seemed 
 to be the most prominent method of " raising the wind." 
 Winspear was a lawyer, Blackmer was a lawyer, and, indeed, 
 it was the old saying repeated, that " Ceaser had a party, and 
 Brutus a party, but Rome had none." Other lawyers, also 
 outside the County, had a hand in it, but still there were 
 several lawyers in the County at the time who were battling 
 the gang in their thieving operations. 
 
 The early part of Osceola County, indeed northwestern 
 Iowa, for the Sioux City lawyers, was, as Deacon Howell 
 remarked of Lyon County, "a field for legitimate speculation." 
 Sioux City itself then was not prolific with litigation, clients 
 were not numerous, and the Argus eyes of some of its distin- 
 guished disciples of Blackstone magnified the gigantic wrongs 
 of this grasshoppered district, and their tender sympathies 
 were manifested by professional services and condolence to 
 the tune of retainer fees, which in the days of old Rome would 
 have made the eloquent Cicero himself blush with hesitation 
 in receiving them. The many grievances that seemed to 
 afflict these northwestern Counties then were simply astonish- 
 ing, but the remedies suggested by the legal fraternity to be 
 applied by use of County warrants were appalling and appar- 
 ently numberless. Sioux City then was the guardian of these 
 afflicted Counties, and when a steal was to be perpetrated, or 
 when suspicion of its coming perpetration caused a ripple of 
 comment and excitement among the people, then both boodler 
 and reformer would hie themselves to Sioux City, and within 
 the offices of their respective counsel the shadow of defeat for 
 the one, or the sunshine of success for the other, would be 
 thoroughly discussed, which would result either in an exhibi- 
 tion of unbounded "cheek" or a triumph for the watchers and 
 waiters for an honest administration. But the time finally 
 arrived when the scathing voice of the people brought these 
 wild speculations and exoribitant retainer fees to a close, and 
 County affairs were held down to the bed-rock of reason and 
 economy, and there was established rules of good government 
 and efficient administration, which no one since has been dis- 
 posed to violate nor depart from. 
 
s^^ir 
 
 J. W, KAYE, 
 
100 insroRY of osceola corNrr, rowA. 
 
 IndiQfnaitioii 
 
 HEETIH 
 
 Swamp Land 
 
 All Iiidignatioii Meeting will be held at 
 SIBLEY, MONDAY, AUG. 26, 72, at 2 p. iii., for the 
 purpose of taking action against the 
 
 Osceola Comity does not wish to become involved 
 in a debt of $20,(MK).00 without anything to show 
 for it. CO ME EVERY MAN- ' 
 
 (jazette Print, Sibley, Osceola Co., Iowa. 
 
W. L. PARKER. 
 
102 niSTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNT!'. IOWA. 
 
 The boodler gang which had fastened itself upon Osceola 
 County in 1872, had by the boldness and mercenary motives 
 of their operations, excited a strong and desperate feeling of 
 opposition among the settlers. That year it was a theme for 
 discussion, the topic of conversation, and taxed the ingenuity 
 and better judgment of the honest element of the county as to 
 what to do. Each side had their friends, and no other ques- 
 tion entered into the election in the fall of 1872, except to elect 
 into office representatives from one side or the other. On the 
 26th day of August, 1872, by a previous call, there was as- 
 sembled in Sibley, near the Sibley hotel, a large concourse of 
 settlers from all over the connty, numbering about five hun- 
 dred. These men were eager and determined in the feeling 
 and spirit of reform, and were indignant. The meeting had 
 been called by H. G. Doolittle, D. L. Riley and John Hawxs- 
 hurst, and a circular requesting the settlers to meet had been 
 sent over the county. The meeting was organized b}^ electing 
 D. L. Riley chairman. 
 
 It will be seen by the records of the board that there was 
 to be swamp land selections, and that Frank Stiles was ap- 
 pointed to select them. Settlers in the county were afraid 
 that this unscrupulous gang might report some of their claims 
 as on the swamp land order, and thus complicate their titles 
 and throw their claims into contest and litigation, which would 
 be troublesome and expensive. This question was discussed 
 at the meeting also, and several made speeches. However 
 much the settlers then may have been poor in this world's 
 goods, there was not at this meeting any poverty of language. 
 Winspear himself appeared and made a statement that in 
 swamp land selections it was the railroad company lands they 
 were after, and not the land occupied by settlers. He also 
 read a letter from the Sioux City attorneys stating this fact, 
 and among other things the letter instructed the Board to issue 
 the six thousand dollars attorney fee in warrants of one thous- 
 and each. Speeches were made by D. L. Riley, Hawxshurst, 
 Doolittle and others, and the meeting finaly culminated in ap- 
 pointing a committee of twenty-seven men, and these men 
 were instructed to take the necessary steps to bring about 
 the resignation of objectionable members of the Board of 
 Supervisors, and to carry the feefing of reform into practical 
 results in all departments of the county administration. This 
 committee consisted of D. D. McCallum, George Hamilton 
 M. J. Campbell, C. W. Wyllys, M. D. Hadsell, John Doug- 
 lass, E, Huff, Geo. Ketcham, John P. Hawxshurst, C. M. 
 
W. L. PARKER S DRUG STORK. 
 
104 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 
 
 Brooks, F. M. Robinson, J. F. Glover, A. M. Culver, W. H. 
 Gates, H. L. Baker, Robt. Stamm, H. G. Doolittle, C. C. 
 
 Jewel, Stickney, B. F. Tabler, C. C. Ogan, Rev. 
 
 Jones. 
 
 This committee demanded of the Board of Supervisors 
 that they resign. The committee also organized, electing 
 George Ketcham Captain, John Douglass First Lieutenant 
 and M. D. Hadsell, Second Lieutenant. Nothing was done 
 by them except upon a general conference, discussion and 
 dehberation, and a final decision by vote of the committee as 
 to the moves to be made. It was first decided to proceed to 
 the house of H. R. Fenton, and demand his resignation at 
 once, and if he refused to resign to carry out the vigilance 
 committee act, and suspend the victim, as is usual in such 
 cases, in mid-air. About the first day of September in this 
 year of 1872, the committee met at the house of C. W. 
 Wyllys and at about 10 o'clock in the evening started from 
 there and went to Fenton's house. The committee took a 
 rope along with them sufficient in strength for the hanging, 
 and if the demands of the committee were not complied with, 
 were anxious to use it. The committee halted in the slough 
 west of Fenton's house and sent the Captain and the two lieu- 
 tenants to make demand upon the Supervisor. Inquiry was 
 made at the house and the three committee delegates were 
 informed that Fenton was away from home, and it was 
 learned afterwards that there was a traitor in the reform 
 camp, and that Fenton had been notified and was in hiding. 
 Fenton was then living on Section 20, in Wilson Township. 
 
 The committee then proceeded to Winspear's house, 
 
 which is where now lives, and the larger part of 
 
 them remained in the railroad cut, near the house, while a 
 delegation went to the house to demand the resignation. 
 Winspear and friends, this committee's representatives were 
 informed, said there would be no resignation, and that the 
 inside of the house was an arsenal, and any attempt at violence 
 would be resisted and that somebody would be killed. The 
 committee, upon learning this state of affairs, retired peace- 
 fully to their homes, and probably wondering when would 
 this "cruel war be over." 
 
 The next day it was rumored that Stiles had a warrant 
 of arrest for Douglass, so that this irrepressible Scotchman 
 cleaned up his six-shooter, went to Sibley, and tackled Stiles 
 about the warrant, which Stiles denied. At this time Stiles 
 had appointed twenty-six deputies, for his own and friends' 
 
HUGH JORDAN. 
 
106 /flSTORl" OF OSCEOLA COUNTT. IOWA. 
 
 protection, and these were in Ward's saloon when Douglass 
 went in. Their guns were standing around against the side 
 of the building, when Douglass got some fellow to go around 
 behind Pat Larkins' building and make a cry of fire, which he 
 did, when the twenty-six deputies rushed out of the building 
 at this unusual sound, and Douglass, left alone, dumped the 
 shooting-irons through a trap door where there was about four 
 feet of water. 
 
 In the fall of 1872 Blackmer and some others went to 
 Sioux City with $40,000 of Holman School District warrants 
 for the purpose of negotiating, and D. D. McUallum happened 
 to be in the city at the time and learning that these parties 
 were there with the warrants and of their intentions, and know- 
 ing the fraudulent character of the paper, notified the banks 
 so that Blackmer and his party were unable to negotiate them. 
 Bhickmer returned to Sibley with them, and was made to give 
 them up, all but a $1,000 warrant which was kept upon the 
 statement that he had none left. A. M. Culver was then one 
 of the most active participants in the opposition forces against 
 the Winspear crowd. During the winter of 1871-72 Culver 
 took Winspear to Sioux City in a sleigh, in Februar}', and 
 Winspear had with him the $350 warrant issued for a map of 
 the County which the County had not yet seen. Culver knew 
 nothing of the warrant, and Winspear in the genial feeling of 
 companionship, suggested to Culver that as he was Treasurer 
 of the Count}', there was a chance to make some money, and 
 upon inquiry from Culver how it was to be done, said, to buy 
 the warrants at a discount and turn them in for cash. Culver 
 rejilied to him that as a county officer the law forbid it, and 
 aside from that he did not want to make money that wa}'. 
 Winspear negotiated the map warrant at Sioux City on this 
 trip, and on his return Winspear was accused of selling the 
 warrant which he did not den}^ but undertook to lay some of 
 the blame onto Culver and told their conversation, distorting 
 and misrepresenting what Culver had said. There was a 
 crowd of settlers on that da}' in Sibley and this trip to Sioux 
 City being the topic of conversation, Culver mounted a dry 
 goods box and with that spirit of energy characteristic of the 
 man, and in a feeling of indignation, he told the conversation 
 that had taken place between himself and Winspear and 
 branded Winspear as a liar and a knave. This was expected 
 by some to bring about an open warfare and a resort to weap- 
 ons for the ripple of excitement was great and almost irre- 
 pressible, but the occasion passed off without disturbance, save 
 
G. I.. CASWELL. 
 
108 /nSTORT OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, lOlVA. 
 
 and except a war of words. County officers then, as now, 
 were required to give bonds, but as all were homesteaders a 
 bond could not be given in the county that would fill the re- 
 quirements of the law but bonds were accepted with such 
 signers as the officials could obtain. Soon after the Winspear 
 administration had charge of the affairs it was found that Cul- 
 ver would not do their bidding, so that under the pretense of 
 apprehension Culver was notified that he must give a gilt- 
 edged bond or the books would be taken away from him and 
 he was given a certain length of time to procure the bond. 
 Culver immediately, unbeknown to anybody, went to LeMars 
 and obtained good names and then to Sioux City and obtained 
 the name of T. J. Stone for $5,000. When the board met it 
 was supposed that Culver had been unable to better the bond 
 and Sheriff Stiles was ready to turn Culver out, but the Treas- 
 urer showed up what he had and the Board relapsed into si- 
 lence and acquiescence. The $6,000 allowed to H. B. Wilson 
 and Joy & Wright as a retainer on the swamp land business 
 was paid, but no swamp land was ever reclaimed or recovered. 
 In justice, however, to all parties concerned, we present the 
 following communication from the attorneys, which appeared 
 January 9, -1874: 
 Editors Gazette: 
 
 We are compelled, by the position in which we find our- 
 selves placed, to make the following statement to the citizens 
 and taxpayers of Osceola County: 
 
 It is well known to the majority of your citizens that we 
 have been employed to commence and prosecute the necessar}' 
 suit or suits to recover for Osceola County her swamp lands, 
 and that a retainer was paid us for that purpose. 
 
 By the terms of the agreement entered into between the 
 county and ourselves, the county was to employ a competent 
 surveyor — accompanied with good and truthful men, as wit- 
 nesses — to make a selection of swamp lands, and ascertain the 
 owner or owners thereof. And under this agreement, but 
 against our advice and in opposition to our protest, the Board 
 appointed Mr. Frank Stiles to make said selection. We urged 
 upon the Board that Mr. Stiles was not the person to make 
 the selection, not from any animosity to him, but because he 
 was neither a theoretical or practical engineer or surveyor; 
 because he was at that time (whether justly or unjustl}^) un- 
 popular with a large number of your citizens, and any selections 
 he might make would meet with more or less opposition, by 
 reason of a want of confidence in him. 
 

 W. R. BOLING. 
 
110 mSTURT OF OSCEOLA COUNTY. IOWA. 
 
 Under said appointment, Mr. Stiles went on and made a 
 pretended selection of swamp lands, and did the work in such 
 a manner that it was universally admitted, by citizens of the 
 county, that no action could successfully be maintained upon 
 it. We so advised the Board of Supervisors — the selection 
 was repudiated, and the Board agreed to have another and 
 proper selection made. Soon after this a new Board of 
 Supervisors came into office, and we have been constant and 
 unremitting in our efforts to induce them to have the swamp 
 lands of the county selected, so that we can commence the 
 necessary suit or suits, but without avail. 
 
 Now we want the citizens of Osceola County to know 
 and understand that we entered into an engagement with the 
 county in good faith. It is impossible for us to make the 
 selection; this the county must do, and the interests of the 
 county imperatively demand that it should be attended to at 
 once. For reasons, that it would be improper here to state, 
 the county may lose her swamp lands if she does not move in 
 this matter promptly. It is certain that further delay will 
 greatly complicate the matter. If the county expects to ac- 
 quire swamp lands, there must be a speedy assertion of her 
 rights, and this can only be done by making the proper 
 selections. We will not be answerable for the result of such 
 delay. 
 
 We are about to commence the necessary suit to recover 
 the swamp lands of Lyon County in the next term of the 
 District Court, and it would be convenient to commence in 
 your county about the same time. 
 
 We submit to the people of Osceola County that it is not 
 treating us in good faith to place us in our present position in 
 reference to this matter, and we wish it to be understood that 
 if the swamp land claims of Osceola County are not prosecuted 
 it will not be our fault. H. B. Wilson, 
 
 Joy & Wright. 
 
 This sort of belligerent spirit, or fighting campaign be- 
 tween the contending forces, soon died away, and other and 
 more peaceful methods were concluded upon. It was thought 
 l)est to resort to legal proceedings and at the coming election, 
 in the fall of 1872, to rally and elect a reform member of the 
 board. 
 
CHAPTER XV. 
 
 PROCEEDINGS OF BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, PARTIALLY GIVEN, 
 INCLUDING ALL MATTERS OF IMPORTANCE. 
 
 The first session of the Board, and the session of the first 
 Board, was held January i, 1891. 
 
 The Board was called to order by County Auditor, and 
 there were present as members J. H. Winspear and H. R. 
 Fenton. J. H. Winspear was elected Chairman. Eldredge 
 Morrison qualified as Clerk of Holman Township, A. M. Culver 
 as Treasurer of the County, H. L. Clapsaddle as Justice of 
 the Peace for Holman Township, Geo. W. Ketcham as Clerk 
 of Horton Township, O. Dunton as Justice of the Peace for 
 Horton Township, Frank Stiles as Justice for Holman Town- 
 ship, and Delily Stiles took the oath of office as County Sup- 
 erintendent of Schools. The Board then adjourned to the 
 next day, and met with the same members present. 
 
 It was voted to give orders to Perkins Bros., of Sioux 
 Cit}^ for books and stationery required for County purposes. 
 C. M. Brooks qualified as Clerk of the District Court, M. J. 
 Campbell as County Surveyor, and Geo. Spaulding appeared 
 and took the oath of office as County Supervisor. Benjamin 
 F. Cox qualified as Clerk of Goewey Township, and the 
 Board then adjourned to January 3, the next day. 
 
 The Board met as per adjournment, at which meeting the 
 above members werepresent, with the addition of Geo. Spauld- 
 ing. L. L. Webb qualified as Constable for Holman Town- 
 ship, and D. F. Curtiss as Justice in Goewey Township. The 
 
 following appointments were then made: Garvin, 
 
 Coroner of the County; Frank Stiles, Sheriff; and William 
 Jepson, Justice for Goewey Township. A large number of 
 petitions asking that County roads be laid out were presented 
 and allowed, and the Board adjourned to the next day, Jan- 
 uary 4. _ 
 
 At this adjourned meeting January 4, it was ordered 
 that the County Surveyor select ten sections of land that may 
 be marked swamp lands on the district land office plat, or as' 
 near ten sections as he could. It was voted that Sible}^ be the 
 county seat. Frank Stiles then qualified as Sheriff, John 
 
112 IIISTORT OF OSCEOLA COUNXr, IOWA. 
 
 Beaumont as Drainage Commissioner. Forty-live dollars was 
 appropriated for paupers to be divided among the three town- 
 ships. It was then voted to call a special election to vote on 
 court house bonds to the amount of five thousand dollars; also 
 to vote as to whether stock shall be prevented from running 
 at large. 
 
 John F. Glover asked that the County Auditor be author- 
 ized to accept the bond of D. L. McCausland as County Re- 
 corder, which he was, provided the bond was presented by 
 January lo, 1872. It was also voted to call for bids for a 
 house 14x20 feet, to be used by county officers. Provision 
 was then made for desks and fuel. 
 
 Salaries were fixed as follows: 
 
 Treasurer, for the year $1,000 
 
 Auditor, " " " " __. 840 
 
 Recorder, " " " 500 
 
 The following accounts were then allowed : 
 
 Geo. Spaulding, supervisor and mileage $21 76 
 
 H. R. Fenton, " " " i7 44 
 
 J. H. Winspear, " " " ... 1600 
 
 F. M. Robinson, services to Sioux City 60 00 
 
 H. R. P'enton, " " " 6000 
 
 J. H. Winspear, " " " 6000 
 
 William Hecker, maps of county 350 00 
 
 Frank Stiles, township trustee 2 00 
 
 John Beaumont, " " 2 00 
 
 H. K. Rogers, use of building _ .. 8 00 
 
 The Board then adjourned to meet February 12, 1872. 
 
 The Board met as per adjournment February 12, 1872, 
 and the election in the mean time having been held to vote on 
 the court house bonds and on stock running at large, the vote 
 was canvassed and resulted as follows: 
 
 For court house bonds 9 
 
 Against court house bonds 52 
 
 For the act restraininij stock 61 
 
 Against the act of restraining stock i 
 
 The Board then recognized D. L. McCausland as Re- 
 corder and approved his bond, and also approved the appoint- 
 ment of John F. Glover as Deputy Recorder. The Board 
 then adjourned to meet the next day, February 13. 
 
 At this, February 13, meeting Perkins Bros, were allowed 
 $300 on their bill for books. One dollar was allowed on the 
 scalp of each fox in addition to the state allowance, and the 
 salary of C. M. Brooks, Clerk of Court, was fixed at $50 per 
 
W. MEADER HARPWARE BUILDING. 
 
114 HISTORr OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 
 
 month. It was also voted to advertise in the LeMars Vidette 
 for bids for the erection of a court house to be 20x40 feet and 
 paid for in county warrants. The Board then adjourned to 
 meet next day, February 15. 
 
 The Board met as per adjournment, February 15, 1872. 
 Their first act was to authorize the County Auditor to take 
 lei^al measures to take the books of the County Recorder's 
 othce from John Beaumont and turn them over to D. L. 
 McCausland. There was then allowed various bills for the 
 support of paupers, county seals, Supervisors' services, and 
 other things aggregating $342,36, and after this the Board 
 adjourned without day. 
 
 The next meeting of the Board was April i, 1872, and at 
 this meeting the reports of road commissioners were acted 
 upon' and several roads established and designated. John 
 Beaumont was allowed $30 salary while he was Recorder and 
 D. L. McCausland i})62,6o for expenses in obtaining possession 
 of Recorder's books. 
 
 The next meeting of Board was the next day, April 2, 
 at which time other business was transacted with reference to 
 roads, M. J . Campbell was approved as deputy clerk of 
 courts, and Lewis E. Diefendorf as deputy treasurer. It was 
 then voted to employ Geo. W. Waketield to secure the adjust- 
 ment of swamp land claims of the county against the United 
 States. 
 
 The next meeting of the Board was April 3, and no 
 business of importance was transacted. 
 
 The next meeting of the Board was April 4, 1872, at 
 which time it was voted to accept the bid of Henry Phrings- 
 ton for putting up court house building, for the sum of $1,249. 
 There was also bills allowed for several purposes, supervisors 
 services, paupers, officers pay, etc, in all aggregating $639.99, 
 The Board next met May 6, 1872. This session was not 
 extended and no business of importance transacted. Bills 
 were allowed for surveying, goods furnished county, expenses 
 to Sioux City, etc., aggregating $283.55. 
 
 Next meeting of the Board was held June 3, 1872, which 
 was unimportant. 
 
 The Board next met on the 4th da}' of June, at which 
 time Perkins Bros, were allowed $1,500 for county books, and 
 there was no other business except in connection with the 
 establishment of roads. 
 
 Board met again June 5. At this meeting it was voted 
 to appropriate $500 in building a bridge across Otter Creek 
 
HTSTORr OF OSCEOLA COUNTT, IOWA. 115 
 
 on Section 15, Township 98, Range 42. Also the sum of 
 $350 to build a bridge across Ocheyedan Creek on the 
 Ocheyedan Valley road, $200 in bridging Otter Creek on 
 Section 13, Township 99, Range 42, J}? 160 bridging Otter 
 Creek on County road No. 11, and $135 bridging Otter 
 Creek on Section 12, Township 99, Range 42. There was 
 also allowed various bills for salaries, fees, and other things, 
 aggregating $598.21. 
 
 The next meeting of Board was held June 6, and at this 
 meeting no business was transacted, except bridging Ocheye- 
 dan Creek near Section 16, Township 99, Range 40. 
 
 Board met again June 7, 1872, and it was voted that 
 sealed proposals be received for building six bridges. It was 
 also voted — upon a petition presented by John F. Glover, 
 John Beaumont and others — that Henry Phringston be allowed 
 $100 to release County from his contract to build court 
 house, and that an election be called to vote on court house 
 bonds to the amount of $5,000 with which to build court 
 house. Bills were then allowed to the amount of $82.18, and 
 Board adjourned to July 17, 1872. 
 
 Board met again July 17, as per adjournment, and nothing 
 was done except passing the following resolution: 
 
 " Whereas, On the 17th day of July, 1872, by a decree of 
 the District Court in and for the County of Osceola, in the 
 State of Iowa, John A. Schmidt, Esq., recovered a judgment 
 against the County of Osceola for the sum of three thousand 
 Hftv and twenty hundredths dollars ($3,050.20), and, 
 
 " Whereas, On the 17th day of July, 1872, the said John 
 A. Schmidt, Esq., under the provisions of Chapter 174, Laws 
 of 1872, elected not to issue execution on said judgment, but 
 to receive payment of said judgment in the bonds of Osceola 
 County, bearing 10 per cent interest per annum, and, 
 
 " Whereas, In our judgment the interests of Osceola 
 County will be best subserved and promoted by issuing said 
 bonds, therefore be it 
 
 '■'Resolved, By the Board of Supervisors of Osceola 
 County, that the County of Osceola do issue its bonds, in 
 compliance with the election of said John A. Schmidt to 
 liquidate said judgment, and that the President of the Board 
 and the County Auditor are directed and instructed to duly 
 execute said bonds under the seal of Osceola County." 
 
 Board met again July 18, 1872, and at this meeting the 
 votes cast for court house bonds at the second election wert^ 
 canvassed, and the following was the count: 
 
116 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNT!', IOWA. 
 
 FOR BONDS. 
 
 Holman Township 57 
 
 Goewey Township 3 
 
 Horton Township 7 
 
 Total number for ^ 67 
 
 AGAINST BONDS. 
 
 Holman Township 4 
 
 Goewey Township . 10 
 
 Horton Township 8 
 
 Total number against 22 
 
 Following this, the usual resolution to provide for bonds 
 and carry out the vote was passed. C. I. Hill, Henry 
 Phringston and D. L. Riley were appointed a committee to 
 prepare plans and specifications for court house. The con- 
 tract to build the six bridges mentioned in a previous meeting 
 were then let to various parties, the six aggregating $1,522. 
 There was then appropriated $135 to bridge on east line of 
 Section 26, Township 100, Range 42; $250 was also appro- 
 priated for bridge on Section 34, Township, Range 42; and 
 $300 for building bridge across Ocheyedan. 
 
 The next meeting of Board was held July 18. This 
 meeting fixed the sheriff's salary at $200 per year, and passed 
 bills aggregating $981.11. 
 
 The next meeting of the Board was held August 12, 
 1872. The following resolution was passed: 
 
 '■'■Resolved, That H. B. Wilson and Joy & Wright are 
 hereby employed as counsel to prosecute the swamp land 
 claims for the county, and that we allow them the sum of 
 $6,000 in county warrants as a retainer and compensation, and 
 the Auditor is instructed to is.sue warrants for the same, and 
 that the contingent interest in the lands that may be recovered 
 shall not exceed the proportion they are to receive in Lyon 
 County for prosecuting their swamp land claims." 
 
 Frank Stiles was appointed to make the necessary 
 survey of the swamp lands, and his compensation was fixed at 
 10 cents an acre. The contract to build court house was 
 awarded to Henry Phringston for $3,447, and the court house 
 was to be completed by November i, 1872. Bills were then 
 allowed for various things amounting in all to $368.74. 
 
 Board again met September 2, 1872. Nothing was done 
 
FRED H. BUNKER. 
 
118 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY. IOWA. 
 
 at this meeting, except such business as pertained to the estab- 
 lishment of roads. 
 
 Next meeting of the Board September 2. 
 The following resolution was adopted : " Resolved., That 
 the chairman of the Board of Supervisors be hereby instructed 
 to employ such counsel as he may deem necessary to defend 
 the county in the measures now adopted by the Board of 
 Supervisors." There was then allowed bills to the amount of 
 $388, and the Board adjourned. 
 
 Board again met September 17, 1872. There was con- 
 siderable business done in the establishment of count}^ roads, 
 and levies were made as follows: 
 For State revenue, 2^ mills. 
 For ordinary county revenue, 4 mills. 
 For support of schools, 2 mills. 
 For payment of court house bonds, 5 mills. 
 For payment of interest on judgment bonds, '^y, mills. 
 There was also passed the following resolution : 
 " Resolved^ That C. W. Blackmer is hereby authorized to 
 purchase fifty-one volumes of the Iowa reports, and that we, 
 the Board of Supervisors of Osceola County, hereby appro- 
 priate $700 for the purchase of the same, and the County 
 Auditor is hereby instructed to issue that amount of County 
 warrants to C. W. Blackmer, for the purpose of obtaining said 
 Iowa Reports for the use of the county." 
 
 There was also allowed bills at this session aggregating 
 $600.08, among which were: 
 
 Frank Stiles, hand cuffs and leg irons $ 51 
 
 Frank Stiles, attending court with twenty-seven deputies, 
 
 September 2 . 56 
 
 Frank Stiles, attending court with five deputies, Septem- 
 ber 3 12 
 
 C. W. Blackmer, attorney's fees 40 
 
 J. H. Wmspear, attending court 12 
 
 J. H. Winspear, expenses and services to Sioux City see- 
 ing to the printing of the court house bonds 100 
 
 The Board next met October 7, 1872. At this meeting 
 Horton Towaiship, as originally organized, was divided into 
 three civil townships, as follows: Township 100, Range 42, 
 to be known as Fenton Township. Township 100, Range 41, 
 to be called Wilson Township. Township 100, Range 40, to 
 be called Horton Township. Elections for township oflicers 
 for these townships were ordered for the general election in 
 1872, to be held in Wilson Township at the house of James 
 
/[IS TOR I 
 
 OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 119 
 
 Miller; for Fenton Township, at the house of John H. Hart; 
 for Horton Township, at the house of L. G. Ireland. It was 
 voted to allow Crandall & Hall $900, part payment on bridge 
 contract. Bills were allowed amounting to $1,025.40. 
 
 The Board next met October 21, 1872. At this meeting 
 a resolution was passed authorizing Henry Phringston to build 
 privy, coal house, steps to court house, one vane and flag 
 staff and to fit up room under the stairway, for which he was 
 to receive in addition to court house contract, $1,053. Bills 
 were then allowed amounting to $310.25. 
 
 The next meeting of the Board was held November 11, 
 1 87 2. At this meeting the votes cast at the general election 
 held this month were canvassed. As there is, in another part 
 of this history, the names of all officers of the county since its 
 organization, the officers declared elected at this session will 
 be found there. It was also voted to issue bonds for $1091.65 
 to J. M. Grant to satisfy a judgment obtained by Grant against 
 the county; also voted to issue bonds to the amount of 
 $1,339.06 to Condion & Harris to satisfy a judgment they had 
 obtained in the circuit court against Osceola County. 
 
 The next meeting of the Board was on November 13, 
 1872. At this meeting Henry Phringston was instructed to 
 get the court house furniture from the railroad depot and to 
 set it up, and for these services was allowed $250. Delialy 
 Stiles, County Superintendent, w^as allowed $200 as salary 
 from January i, 1872 to January i, 1873. 
 
 The following resolution was passed: 
 
 Resolved, That the Auditor is hereby instructed to flt up 
 and furnish the two north rooms on the first floor and a jury 
 room on the second floor of the court house for the use and 
 benefit of the poor of the county and to furnish provisions and 
 everything he deems necessary for the comfort of the same. 
 
 There was also allowed bills of various kinds and amounts, 
 aggregatmg $2,403.21, among which were: 
 Henry Phringston, drawing plans and specifications 
 
 of court house ^60 00 
 
 J. H. Winspear, inspecting court house -. 10 00 
 
 Furniture for court house 1,102 00 
 
 The Board next met November 27, at which no business 
 was transacted, except a small amount for burning around 
 bridge for $4.20. 
 
 The next meeting of the Board was held December 16, 
 1872, at which were present the members, as at other meet- 
 ings, being J. H. Winspear, H. R. Fenton and George Spauld- 
 
120 JilSTORV OF OSCEOLA COUNTY. IOWA. 
 
 incr. The Auditor was instructed to issue a warrant of $106.03 
 to pay the premium for $2,000 insurance on the court house 
 and furniture, in the Home Insurance Company of Columbus, 
 Ohio; warrant issued to W. H. Turner. 
 
 H. R. Fenton was instructed to procure safe for Treas- 
 urer, and the Auditor ordered to issue warrant to pay what 
 was necessary for it. Board adjourned to Dec. 17. 
 
 Board met Dec. 17, 1872, as per adjournment. Mr. 
 Spaulding was not present. It was ordered by the Board that 
 the Auditor employ an attorney in Clayton County to get 
 proof of the residence of Thomas Carroll. It was voted to 
 issue bonds to William C. Frye in the amount of $6,300 to 
 satisfy a judgment against the County in the United States 
 Court, and also a warrant of $38.80 to said Frye, which would 
 complete payment of judgment. A new survey of swamp 
 lands was then ordered, and in connection therewith the fol- 
 lowing resolution was passed: 
 
 " Resolved^ That Frank Stiles is hereby allowed the sum 
 of five hundred dollars for the use of his present survey book 
 of swamp land selections for Osceola County as a guide to the 
 County in conducting the new survey of swamp lands of said 
 County this day ordered by the Board of Supervisors, and 
 that, the Auditor is instructed to issue a warrant to said 
 Frank Stiles of that amount, upon his delivering said survey 
 book to the Auditor at his office." 
 
 Board then adjourned to Dec. 18, at which meeting noth- 
 ing was done except allowances for bills of various amounts 
 and kinds, aggregating $1,231.76. 
 
 Board met again Dec. 30, 1872, members all present. The 
 first thing done was to instruct the Auditor to insure court 
 house and furniture in the Hawkeye Insurance Company to 
 the amount of $2,000, and issue warrant sufficient to pay 
 premium. It was then voted to accept the proposition of L. 
 A. Barker to print 5,000 pamphlets on Osceola County for 
 distribution, and the Auditor was instructed to issue warrant 
 for $800 to pay the same. 
 
 The Board next met December 31. The official bonds 
 were approved and the Auditor's salary was increased ; as also 
 that of the Recorder. Polk & Hubbell, of Des Moines, were 
 allowed $100 for service in the case of Wm. O. Frye vs. 
 Osceola County. Bills were then allowed amounting to 
 $1,269.94. Among the bills allowed were: 
 
G. W. LISTER. 
 
122 IIISTORT OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 
 
 Frank Stiles, balance on bridge grading, etc $475 oo 
 
 J. H. Winspear, railroad fare to defend in Frye vs. 
 
 County 60 00 
 
 J. H. Winspear, expenses in same case 40 00 
 
 C. W. Blackmer, counsel and advice 250 00 
 
 This last meeting of the Board closed the first year's ad- 
 ministration of the County Supervisors. As near as can be 
 ascertained from a thorough search of the records and the 
 minutes of the Board, there was issued in county warrants 
 during the year 1872, $29,000. There was also issued bonds 
 in the sum of $17,801.41. These bonds were based upon 
 judgments rendered in different courts, and aside from the 
 court house bonds, the judgments are based upon actions 
 brought upon county warrants which are a part of the $29,000 
 of warrants issued. The exact indebtedness at the close of 
 1872 cannot be accurately determined, but to approximate it 
 would stand as follows; 
 
 Bonds drawing 10 per cent, interest $17,801 31 
 
 County warrants 1 8,000 00 
 
 Continuing as to the Board of Supervisors, there was to 
 be one member of the Board elected at the (general election 
 in 1872. At this election D. L. Riley and L. Y. Diefendorf 
 were candidates for the office, and the votes were a little 
 mixed on the Riley ballots. They read D. I. Rile}', D. L. 
 Riley and L. F. Riley, so that the Board declared the result 
 as follows: 
 
 VOTES 
 
 L. F. Dfefendorf 78 
 
 D. I. Riley 75 
 
 D. L. Riley . 55 
 
 L. F. Riley. i 
 
 And officiall}' declared that Diefendorf was elected. 
 
 It cannot be found, however, from the records that Diefen- 
 dorf ever qualified or acted with the Board. We know 
 nothing of the man, but he undoubtedl}^ conscientiously felt 
 that he was not entitled to the office, and did not have the 
 audacity nor the desire to force himself upon the people even 
 with the Board's decision that he? was "duh- elected." Some- 
 thing had to be done, however, to straighten the record and 
 overturn this otficial decision made by the Board, so that the 
 proper proceedings were instituted by D. L. Riley, as con- 
 testant, against Diefendorf, incumbent. The tribunal then to 
 decide contested elections consisted of the Circuit Judge and 
 two associate judges, one chosen by the contestant and the 
 
HlSTORi OF OSCEOLA COUNT}', IOWA. 123 
 
 Other by incumbent, Riley chose I. N. Gardner, and as the 
 incumbent failed to make a choice, the Clerk of the Court, 
 then J. F. Glover, made choice of A, M. Culver. The court 
 so constituted met at Sibley January 2, 1873, ^"^ that day and 
 the day following was taken up in preliminary matters, and 
 making up issues, also receiving evidence, and on these days, 
 and including the next day, the case was fully presented to 
 the court. On January 4, 1873, the court decided that the 
 contestant, D. L. Riley, was entitled to the otllce, and he then 
 and there appeared and took the oath of otlice and thereby 
 became a member of the Board, leaving Diefendorf to pay the 
 costs. 
 
 BOARD PROCEEDINGS OF 1873, 
 
 The first meeting of the Board in 1873 was held January 
 6, and was called to order by the County Auditor, and there 
 were present H. R. Fenton and D. L. Riley. Riley elected 
 Fenton chairman, and the Board proceeded to approve othcial 
 bonds and adjourned until afternoon. 
 
 At the afternoon session the three members were present, 
 which added George Spaulding, and these three constituted 
 the Board. Some business was transacted with reference to 
 roads, and the Board adjourned until the next day, January 7. 
 
 January 7, 1873, the three members were present. J. H. 
 Douglass, Sheriff, notified the Board that he had appointed C. 
 M. Bailey as deputy; J. F. Glover, Clerk of Court, gave notice 
 that he had appointed as deputy, F. M. Robinson, and F. M. 
 Robinson, County Auditor, notified the Board that his deput}- 
 was C. M. Brooks. The Board then fixed the salaries of 
 office, which were to be paid at the end of each month, as 
 follows : 
 
 Treasurer $ 50 00 
 
 Auditor 100 00 
 
 Clerk of Court . 40 00 
 
 Recorder 40 00 
 
 Sheriff . 1665 
 
 Count}' Superintendent of Schools 15 00 
 
 The Board then allowed various bills amounting in all to 
 $331.57, and adjourned to Januar}' 20. 
 
 Januar}- 20, 1873, the Board met pursuant to adjournment, 
 and there were present Fenton and Spaulding, Riley being 
 absent. Nothing was done particularly at this session. John 
 Beaumont was allowed $58.35 for services as recorder the 
 year before, up to the time McCausland gobbled the books, 
 and other bills were allowed amounting to $541.60. The 
 Board then adjourned to meet February 20 next. 
 
124 J/fSTORr OF OSCEOLA COUNTY. IOWA. 
 
 February 20, meeting of the Board was held as per 
 adjournment, with Fenton and Spaulding present, Riley 
 absent. It was voted that Chairman Fenton employ any 
 counsel to appear for the county any time he may deem it 
 necessary. The following astounding resolution was then 
 passed : 
 
 '■'■Resolved., That the proposition of C. W. Blackmer be 
 accepted, and the Auditor of this county is hereb}- directed to 
 issue to the said C. W. Blackmer the sum of twenty thousand 
 dollars, in warrants of such dimensions as the said C. W. 
 Blackmer may determine. It is understood and agreed that, 
 out of the sum so issued to the said C. W. Blackmer, he is to 
 compensate the assistant counsel which he has agreed to 
 employ, and, 
 
 " Whereas^ The said C. W. Blackmer has further pro- 
 posed to this Board that he will accept for the remainder of 
 his compensation a contingent fee of 20 per cent of the 
 amount recovered from the railroad company and Woodbur}" 
 County, therefore, be it further 
 
 '■'■Resolved., That said County of Osceola will pay the said 
 C. W. Blackmer and his assistant counsel the said contingent 
 fee of 20 per cent, provided the same shall amount to more 
 than the said sum of twenty thousand dollars; it being under- 
 stood that the said sum of twenty thousand dollars is to be 
 deducted from said sum of 20 per cent, and that the said 
 C. W. Blackmer and his assistant counsel are only to receive 
 the balance, if any remaining, as a contingent fee." 
 
 The Board then appointed L. F. Diefendorf as their 
 clerk fro tern.., by reason of F. M. Robinson refusing to act 
 as clerk in issuing warrants to Blackmer. It seems that at 
 this time there was considerable excitement in the county 
 over this $20,000 to Blackmer, which caused the Board in 
 the afternoon of this same session to rescind the resolution, 
 and they passed another, employing Winspear and Blackmer 
 to recover back taxes from the railroad comjjany, allowing 
 the attorneys a retainer of $500 and 25 per cent on the 
 amount recovered. It was also voted that C. M. Brooks 
 should hang blinds upon the court house windows at $4.50 
 each, and the Auditor was authorized to issue a warrant of 
 $400 to said Brooks, immediately, as part payment, balance 
 to be paid when work was completed. The Treasurer's 
 salary was then increased to $100 per month, and a warrant 
 drawn for $50 for the extra compensation in Januar}-. 
 
 February 21, 1873, the Board again met with Fenton and 
 Spaulding present, and Riley absent. The Board ordered a 
 
SIBLEY ROLLER MILLS. 
 
126 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNT}', IOWA. 
 
 warrant drawn of $400, part pay for pamphlets, and allowed 
 bills aggregating $2,611.33. Among the bills were the fol- 
 lowing: 
 H. R. Fenton, expenses to Sioux City, four days time-$ 45 00 
 
 Blackmer, attorney's fees 20 00 
 
 McCaffery & Harmon, attorney's fees 35 00 
 
 C. W. Blackmer, balance of bill presented to Board 
 
 December 31, 1S72 250 00 
 
 McCaffery & Harmon, attorney's fees 50 00 
 
 The next meeting of the Board was held March 11, 1873, 
 at which time there was present Fenton and Riley. Nothing 
 important was done at this session except to pass a resolution 
 dismissing all attorneys and inviting proposals from Sibley 
 lawyers to do the county business. Bills were allowed 
 amounting in all to $565.94. 
 
 Board met again April 7, 1S73. The following resolution 
 was adopted: 
 
 '■'■Resolved., That J. H. Winspear and S. W. Harmon are 
 employed to appear for the county in all suits now pending in 
 the District Court and defend same." 
 
 Fenton and Spaulding voting for, and Riley against. 
 Board adjourned to meet April 14. 
 
 April 14th, as per adjournment, the record shows that 
 only Riley was present and he adjourned over until April 21. 
 
 The record here shows a change in the Board, and that 
 O. Dunton and B. F. Mundorf were appointed to till the 
 vacancy caused by removal. The first meeting of this newly 
 constituted Board was held April 21, 1873, at which time 
 there were present D. L, Riley, O. Dunton and B. F. Mun- 
 dorf. D. L. Riley was elected chairman. The Board trans- 
 acted the usual business pertaining to county legislation. Bills 
 were allowed, a large part pertaining to court expenses, in all 
 amounting to $1,071.46. 
 
 The Board of 1874 consisted of D. L. Riley, O. Dunton 
 and F. E. Perry. This Board placed the affairs of the 
 county upon a thorough business basis, and established a 
 system of econom)' which succeeding Boards have not de- 
 parted from. The Board of Supervisers from that time up to 
 the present have all been men who had the interest of the 
 county at heart. The debt of the county has been reduced, 
 warrants are at par, and the administration of the count}' 
 affairs is satisfactory to the people. I'he different persons 
 who have constituted the Board of different years will be 
 found under the list of county officers. 
 
CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 The Sibley Gazette in its starting out, although pub- 
 lished by Ren Barker, was made to sparkle with the wit, the 
 genius and all kinds of advice and suggestions, from Nellie 
 Granger. She wrote many articles of well constructed sen- 
 tences, under the name of Nellie F. Granger, and the hard 
 and pointed hits she distributed around in the community are 
 remembered by tradition, while the files of the paper have 
 been laid on the shelf for years, and nearly obliterated by 
 carelessness and misuse. Barker himself seemed to strucrirle 
 against some criticisms, and was foolish enough to notice 
 them, for we see by his early issues occasional items, like the 
 following: 
 
 "May be some people know our biz better than we do. 
 If so they are invited to take charge of the machine." 
 
 The January 24, 1873, number of the Gazette^ announces 
 that the Rock Rapids Rcviezv has been started by O. A. 
 Cheney, and that the Sheldon Mail has started out on the sea 
 of journalism. It also says that the January blizzard has done 
 somebody good, as the homesteaders have found work shovel- 
 ing snow, which will enable them to live through the winter. 
 It also expresses fears that E. R. Hazen was lost in the storm, 
 in the following item : 
 
 " Nothing has been heard of Elmore R. Hazen, who 
 worked in Sibley last fall, at carpentering, and who owned a 
 claim in this county, and who started, as we have learned, on 
 the morning of the great storm, to go to Ocheyedan river for 
 wood. It is feared that he has perished." 
 
 Hazen, however, is still in the land of the living. In 
 January of 1873, the following mail routes were established: 
 
 From Cherokee to Sibley, 48 miles and back, once a week. 
 
 From LeMars, by Orange City, Ocheyedan and Sibley, 
 to Worthington, Minn., 74 miles and back, once a week. 
 
 From Spirit Lake, by Melrose, Silver Lake, Sibley and 
 Doon, to Beloit, 92 miles and back, once a week. 
 
 From Sibley to Beloit, 48 miles and back, once a week. 
 
 The reader well knows how the progress of the county 
 has long since abolished these routes for more speedy trans- 
 portation. The cold snap of January 28, sent the thermome- 
 
128 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY. IOWA. 
 
 ter down to 32 degrees below zero, and at Sioux City 23 be- 
 low. That kept the homesteaders of Osceola County bus}^ 
 twisting hay. The January 7, 1873, blizzard so blocked the 
 Sioux City and St. Paul road, now the Chicago, St. Paul, Min- 
 neapolis and Omaha, that the train was not got through until 
 Feb. 14. In February 12, 1873, the following announcement 
 through the columns of the local press was made to the 
 people : 
 
 "Repudiation. — All the citizens that are in favor of re- 
 pudiating the indebtedness of Osceola County, for the year 
 1872, about $20,000, are requested to meet at the court house 
 on Saturday, March ist. McCaffery & Harmon will guaran- 
 tee a clear case. Let there be a full attendance." 
 
 This movement it seems died a " horning," as the follow- 
 ing minutes of the meeting will show : 
 
 REPUDIATION MEETING. 
 
 Proceedings of mass meeting called to consider the pro- 
 priety of repudiating the county indebtedness, above that 
 allowed by law, held at the court house in Sibley, March 
 ist, 1873. 
 
 At half past one o'clock the meeting was called to order 
 by J. McCaffery, of the firm of McCaffery & Harmon. On 
 motion W. A. Spencer was elected chairman and M. J. Camp- 
 bell secretary. 
 
 At the request of J. McCaffery, J. F. Glover made a state- 
 ment of the amount of warrants issued in excess of the amount 
 allowed by law in 1S72 and 1873, '^s follows: In 1872, 
 $14,696.24, and in 1873, ^P ^^ March ist, $432.19. 
 
 J. McCaffery opened the meeting by a speech in favor of 
 repudiation, and was replied to by J. T. Barclay, H. Jordan, 
 et al. 
 
 Tiie following resolution was passed: 
 
 " Resolved, That a committee of one be appointed to wait 
 upon the Board of Supervisors at their next session, to request 
 them not to issue any warrants for attorney's fees, in any case 
 whatever except in criminal cases or to an attorney employed 
 by the year." 
 
 Motion was made by D. M. Shuck that the vote of the 
 house be taken on the question of repudiation; and the vote 
 was unanimous against repudiation. 
 
 On motion of J. ¥. Glover, J. McCaffery was allowed ten 
 minutes more in which to present his case more fully. 
 
 The following resolution was then adopted, viz: 
 
J. L. McLAURY 
 
130 I/ISTOKr OF OSCEOLA COUNT!', IOWA. 
 
 '■'■ Resolved^ That a committee of three be elected by the 
 house to confer with the attorneys of this place in reference 
 to making a contract with one or more of them to become the 
 people's attorney for the year, and that we authorize them to 
 make such contract, in case it can be done upon satisfactory 
 terms. O. Dunton, D. M, Shuck and D. F. Curtis were then 
 elected as said committee. 
 
 On motion of J. F. Glover, J. McCaffery received a vote 
 of thanks for calling this meeting. 
 
 W. A. Spencer, Chainnan. 
 
 M. J. Cainipbell, Secretary. 
 
 In July, 1873, the postoffice was established at the house 
 of L. G. Ireland, with Mr. Ireland as postmaster. This was 
 long before Ocheyedan was thought of. At the same time 
 a postoffice* was established at Silver Lake, Dickinson County, 
 at the house of C. B. Knox, with Mr. Knox as postmaster. 
 These were on the Sibley and Spirit Lake route, with Orren 
 Jones as mail carrier. 
 
D. D. McCALLUM. 
 
CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 Horton township's first settler came in 1S71. In 1870 
 Seymovir 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 north- 
 west quarter of Section 24 and succeeded in obtaining the 
 land, which he filed upon and still fives 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 settlers, 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 polit'cally 
 ambitious, and was once a candidate for the Legislature on an 
 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 187 1 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 Powshiek County, 
 Iowa, where he now resides. J. T. was justice in that town- 
 ship several years, and is now an evangelist nnd 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 these Butler County people Richards 
 was one of the township trustees, and in the fall went to Butler 
 
BROWN & CHAMBERS BLOCK, STBLEY 
 
134 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 
 
 County and remained during the winter. While thus away 
 on a visit, the other trustees declared his ofiice 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 — 
 using 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 expira- 
 tion of his term. Samuel Collett settled in Horton in 1872; 
 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 
 a number of German families have moved into the township, 
 and these Germans are considered as some of its most sub- 
 stantial and industrious citizens. In 1882 Henry Wassmann 
 with his son Dick, Charles Griep and several others of their 
 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 they 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, Minn., 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 Wass- 
 mann'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 count}" 
 than Dick Wassmann's, and no better place for a home than 
 right there among the large variety of forest trees, set out by 
 tiie 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 
 
\V. F. ALDRED. 
 
136 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 
 
 and independence which mark the surroundings, and are ex- 
 pressed in the hospitality of the occupant, for Dick Wass- 
 mann is no more diminutive in heart and soul than he is in 
 statue. 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 Pinkenburg 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 Sections 
 23 and 25. W. H. Noehren bought the northeast quarter of 
 Section 22, and still Hvqs 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 Sein-. Mr. Jolin 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 Sec- 
 tion 31, and William Maske on Section 32. Chris Wassman 
 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 Worlhington, Minn. 
 
GEO. RUPNER. 
 
138 lllSTORr OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 
 
 GRASSHOPPER PERIOD. 
 
 The histoiy of the great world itself recognizes certain 
 distinct periods which have marked the ages with their differ- 
 ent 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 grass- 
 hopper period, and the last a period of general contentment 
 and prosperit}'. This part of the histoiy 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 be- 
 cause 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 brood 
 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 sparsel}^ 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 North- 
 western Iowa then was not settled, so that their ravages were 
 further east. Their first appearance at Sibley was on the 5th 
 day of June, 1S73. The first seen of them was a huge black 
 
I 
 
 
 /^^i 
 
 \ 
 
 ^^'-^ 
 
 14^. )J^:'-'^^W# 
 
 Q, E. CLEAVELAND. 
 
140 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 
 
 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 they could, but the grass- 
 hoppers 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 settlers 
 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 re- 
 main off and on indefinitely in the future. This thought, aside 
 from their coming and the destruction the}' 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 
 drouth ended, the crops were eaten and parched beyond all 
 hope of recovery. About the middle of June, however, con- 
 siderable 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 staid 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 
 
CHRIS W. HOLLE. 
 
142 H/STUKl' OF OSCEOLA COUNTl', IOWA. 
 
 first intimation a farmer would have of what was going on 
 would be from noticing along one side of his grain-field a nar- 
 row strip where the grain was missing. At first, perhaps, he 
 would attribute it to a "balk" in sowdng, 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 ^'^^ 
 their sowing and planting under a feehng of apprehension. 
 They were here and the work must go, even with the grass- 
 hopper difficulty staring them in the face. Many got out of 
 the country, owing to the grasshoppers of 1873, but they who 
 remained had nought else to do but to work on. The grass- 
 hopper ravages were the worst in 1874 "^"^ 1875, and from 
 then on the pests degenerated in size and did less miscliief 
 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 ref- 
 erence 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 
 yoitrncil, said: "Farmers should not be discouraged. Crops, 
 especially wheat and corn, should be put in as early as possi- 
 ble, 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 week's 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 de- 
 posits its eggs at the roots of the grass in the latter part of 
 summer or earl}' 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, through- 
 out 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 
 
HLSTORl OF OSCEOLA COVNTT, IOWA. 143 
 
 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 lO, 1S74, 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 wmd 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 
 tiie 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 humor- 
 ous side, and 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 
 
144 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNT!', IOWA. 
 
 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 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 following, recently pubhshed: 
 
 " 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 Agri- 
 cultural 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 valua- 
 ble, 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 
 
RESIDENCE OF ASA BOWERSOCK, OCHEYEDAn! 
 
146 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 
 
 method for employing these insects to an unlooked-for advan- 
 tage. An interesting feature of the anal3'sis was the discovery 
 of a certain amount of copper in the liquid. This metal has 
 been found in the blood of other animals, particularly m that 
 of 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. Bonnet, a St. Louis caterer. The latter 
 made a soup of them, which was pronounced perfectly deli- 
 cious by many people who were afforded an opportunity of 
 tasting it. It closely resembled bisque. Mr, Bonnet 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 nut- 
 meg, 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 curr}' 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 "Citizen Farmers' Club." This was before the 
 "Grange" swept over the state, but both of these had the usual 
 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, in- 
 struction 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 num- 
 ber of meetings, but soon as the Grange was introduced into 
 Osceola County, the Citizen Farmers' Club began to de- 
 cline and last, in the language of the illustrious Cleveland, went 
 into "Innocuous desuetude." Following thege and really as a 
 
HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 147 
 
 basis upon which to secure relief for the people by reason of 
 grasshoppers, the following announcement appeared in a Sep- 
 tember 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 i o'clock p. m., September 25, 1873, 
 for the purpose of organizing a Homesteader's Protective As- 
 sociation, 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 made per- 
 manent 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 Court house on Saturday last. D. L. 
 Riley was chosen temporary Chairman, and F. M. Robinson 
 temporary Secretary. Appropriate and earnest remarks were 
 made by D. L. Riley and H. Jordan. A committee on reso- 
 lutions, consisting of J. H. Douglass, H. Jordan and A. W. 
 Clark, was appointed. Remarks were made by J. L. Robin- 
 son, 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 enter- 
 tained of their claims being unjustly contested, thereby caus- 
 ing them expense vvhich they were unable to bear; "there- 
 fore, be it 
 
 " Resolved, That we, the undersigned, band ourselves to- 
 gether 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 Secretar}^ and Treasurer; appoint- 
 ing a regular meeting on the tirst Saturday of each month, at 
 I o'clock p. M., in the court house; establishing certain com- 
 mittees, 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: 
 
148 IIISTORl' OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 
 
 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, 
 throuii'h the winter and furnish them the necessaries of life. 
 Others, of those opposed to 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 contribu- 
 tions. 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" ones 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 liad 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 motion, J. F. Glover, H. C. Hungerford and F. M. 
 Robinson were authorized and instructed to prepare an ad- 
 dress to the Master of the National Grange, and to the State 
 
RESIDENCE OF C. M. MATsVII.LE, OCHEYEDAN. 
 
150 JffSTORr OF OSCEOLA COVNTT. IOWA. 
 
 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 destitu- 
 tion 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 loth to the i6th, inclusive, of this month, only 
 six davs, 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 
 yonrnal 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 arti- 
 cles, 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 in- 
 habitants of another state where there is no more than ordi- 
 nary 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 
 
HISTORl' OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA.. 151 
 
 of the northwestern part of the state, and all received at this 
 place have been so distributed, except those furnished desti- 
 tute people in Minnesota. The distributino- people are faith- 
 ful 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 tr}- 
 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 Ihc People of the Slate of 
 lozva : We, the undersigned, a committee appointed by the 
 Homesteaders' Protective Association of Osceola Count}', an 
 organization effected for the purpose of looking after the ex- 
 treme 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 faith- 
 fully 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 pur- 
 chase fuel to protect themselves and families during the com- 
 ing 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 this county will be without 
 
152 .HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY. IOWA. 
 
 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 haye to lie idle the com- 
 ing season. 
 
 " We therefore appeal to the liberal, christian hearted peo- 
 ple 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 
 famiHes in the county needing immediate assistance. 
 " All consignments will be made to 
 
 " C. M. Bailey, Agent H. P. A., 
 
 " Sibley, Osceola Count}-, Iowa. 
 "(For relief.) 
 
 "Allen Garvin, 
 "RoBT. Stamm, 
 "W. W. Cramm, 
 "J. L. RoniNsoN, 
 "J. H. Douglass, 
 
 '■'• Committee.'''' 
 At a joint meeting of the Relief and Grange Committees, 
 held Saturday, January 3, 1874, the following township com- 
 mittees were appointed to canvass the several townships and 
 ascertain the actual necessities of the inhabitants: 
 
 Township 98, Range 42 — S. rianey, 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 —C. Bo^d, W. A. Waldo 
 and F. Thayer. 
 
 Township 100, Range 42 — N. I. Wetmore, F. Reynolds 
 and S. Cram. 
 
 Township 100, Range 41 — Wm. Tliomas, P. Piesle}' 
 and A. Sliapley. 
 
 Township 100, Range 40 — W. W. Herron, Q. E. Cleve- 
 land and J. F. Pfaff. 
 
 Township 100, Range 39 — J. S. Flint, C. M. Richards 
 and Ira Stevens. 
 
C. I. HILL. 
 
154 HISTORT OF OSCEOLA COUNTY. IOWA. 
 
 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, ^eo. 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 count^^ issuing 
 warrants for the purchase of grain, and ascertained that the 
 county could not "obtain the supply needed from its own re- 
 sources. These men expressed themselves as wishing that 
 the entire General Assembly might be there and see for them- 
 selves, 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, w^hich the parties 
 were to pay back. After a discussion, a bill was agreed upon 
 to donate, instead of loan, $50,000 to the northwest counties, 
 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 Sibey March 12, 1874, ^"^ "opened court." They 
 were armed with blanks, requiring the settler to state where 
 he lived, whether he was owner or renter, and how man}' 
 acres he had broken ; also that he had no seed, no money to 
 buy seed with, and that he would use the seed for sowing. 
 They also required testimony where one's word was not con- 
 sidered good, and admonished each and all that the peniten- 
 tiary stared them in the face if they swore falsely. This 
 Legislative tribunal did their work and went home. 
 
 On March 27, 1874, '^f^cr the relief business had under- 
 gone 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 m 
 reserve for emergency or in case of sickness. 
 
 "In order to conform to the above instructions the com- 
 
irrSTORl OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 155 
 
 mittee will require each applicant for aid to take and subscribe 
 the following oath : 
 
 " Sibley, Iowa, i874" 
 
 "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, ^^*^ relief 
 business was ended. 
 
 On March 12, 1874, the state committee issued the 
 following: 
 
 Dks Moines, March 12, 1874. 
 
 ^'•lo 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 ist, 
 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 ac- 
 cordance with the existing condition of supplies. Any 
 Grange or other benevolent people who have anything to for- 
 ward 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 telegi*aph companies for all the great favors 
 the}' 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 Grauiyc Couwuttec. 
 
 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 ac- 
 cordingly. 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 XVIIL 
 
 Soon after the Huff residence was established Mr. T. J. 
 Shaw put up a store building and put in a stock of goods; the 
 buildinor on the same section with Huff. Mr. Shaw afterwards 
 filed on a part of Section 14, in Oilman, and in 1872, put up 
 a store building in the town of St. Oilman (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 congre- 
 gate, 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. Ourney, 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 jollitication. 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 custom, 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 generall}' 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 set- 
 tled in Lyon County, came to Osceola County from Madison 
 Countv, 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 
 Oilman 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 
 

 RESIDENCE OF C. A. TATUINI, OCHEYEDAN. 
 
158 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTl\ IOWA. 
 
 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. He came from Humboldt County and 
 with him came F. E. Cook, J. W. Carson and Will Smith. 
 These four took Section 8. Mr. Carson died in January, T883, 
 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 I^cviczv, then published at 
 Ashton : 
 
 "IN MEMORIAM. 
 
 "James W. Carson was born at Batavia, Genesee County, 
 New York, February 16, 1S33. 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 terri- 
 tories 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 be- 
 come a state. The father was one of the hardy pioneers of 
 
HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 159 
 
 the olden time, who, without the help of railways and modern 
 conveniences of travel, made the lonc^ 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 indus- 
 triously employed in trade or farming, but the agitation of the 
 slaver}^ 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 sol- 
 dier, but incurred hardships and injuries which laid the foun- 
 dation 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 compan}^ 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 w^ell 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 — earl}^ 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 with- 
 stand the shock to his S3'stem, induced by an operation per- 
 formed 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 187 1, Nick Booi-, along with John Streit and William 
 Shultz, landed in Gilman Township. Thev came from Wis- 
 consin, 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. 
 
160 HISrORl' OF OSCEOLA COUNTY. IOWA. 
 
 C. C. Osgood came in 1872, and settled in Oilman Town- 
 ship 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. WilHam Foster settled in Oilman 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, Oilman Township; still owns the land, 
 and still resides in the township on land he has since pur- 
 chased. 
 
 Of these 1871 and 1872 settlers in Oilman Township but 
 few remain in the township now. As far as we can learn 
 they are Joseph Reagan, Nick Boor, John Streit, Ephraim 
 Miller, C. C. Osgood and the Foster boys. 
 
 In the spring of 1873, J. E. Townsend, along with his 
 brother Oeorge, came to Oilman Township from Michigan. 
 Oeorge returned soon after and J. E. filed on the north 
 half of the northwest quarter of Section 8, upon wliich he 
 still lives with his family and has other land afterwards pur- 
 chased. 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 follow- 
 ing these first settlements, and quite a number are renters. 
 Among others of the farming people in Oilman 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 Oilman Township. On Section 
 2 also Mr. Frank Walrich and John Barbien. On Section 3 
 John Thorn; on Section 4 Joseph Dries, Anthony Oeiver and 
 also Mr. Streit; on Section 5 Jacob Johannes; on Section 6 
 Fred Poschack, Matt Spartz, John Seivert, B. Sturber and B. 
 F. Pettingell. Mr. Pettinijell is a Yankee from Massachu- 
 setts. 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 11; 
 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. 
 DeOroat. On Section 20 lives Rev. Mr. Nolte, a Quaker 
 preacher; also C. W. Conner. Mr. Conner is a prominent 
 
A. W. McCALLUM. 
 
162 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNrt\ IOWA. 
 
 citizen and was a member of the County Board of Supervisors. 
 George Jamison also lives on Section 20. " Mr. John Jackley 
 and Isaac 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 Lingle- 
 man and C. Groendyke; Mr. Ruben Heritage and James 
 Sturgeon on Section 29, and on Section 30 is the old Isehn 
 place improved by these boys John and Harry who came from 
 New York with money but made a failure in business. Nels 
 Porter and S. Laber are on Section 32 and C. Beck, Charles 
 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 Wis- 
 consin. 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 re- 
 sided here until he died, July 14, 1890. The boys used their 
 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 start- 
 ing 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 drunken- 
 ness. After this first lumber hauled from Windom, they aft- 
 erwards 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 
 
HISTOUr OF OSCEOLA COUNTl', IOWA. \Q)^ 
 
 him coming home and as usual walked out about a mile to 
 meet him. Georj^e 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 187 1, 
 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, 1S72, 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., hves 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 Bar- 
 rager, 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 
 novv 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 Christ- 
 ensen, 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 
 Phihps, W. P. Reeves, I. Brandt, C. Crumb, P. Foley. 
 
 Peter and Andrew Sherbonda, who are still living in the 
 
164 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 
 
 towiivship on Section 6. settled there in 1S72. 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 pro- 
 bate 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 Franz & 
 Co. vs. F. L. Ward, and the case was continued. John IT. 
 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, per- 
 haps, 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, leav- 
 ing 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 count}'. 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 vaca- 
 tion, Diefendorf dismissed the action, and the school houses, 
 under the direction of Winspear, Stiles and others, went on in 
 
J. E. TATUM. 
 
166 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY. IOWA. 
 
 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 an 
 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. Kinne, 
 D. L. Riley and O. Dunton. Frank Stiles and F. M. Robin- 
 son 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 count}-, 
 and was composed of the following named members: J. Mc- 
 Kinney, 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 parlies, altogether aggregating that amount. 
 
 It is not necessary to follow the record of these courts 
 further; the onl}' desire is to show something connected with 
 their first terms. We might add, however, that the first per- 
 son 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 in 
 
HISTORT OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 167 
 
 the first term of the Circuit Court was that of G. Toun vs. 
 Sioux City and St. Paul Raih'oad 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 Wood- 
 bury, 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 dif- 
 ferent political parties, are men of unquestioned integrity, of 
 ability, learned in the law, and preside with a desire to hold 
 the scales in equipose 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 Peacfe, 
 says Judge Conklin, is of somewhat remote origin, having 
 been first institiited in England, it is said, as early as the time 
 of William the Conqueror. The oflfice 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 3'ear of the count}' 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 1S92 are as follows: 
 
168 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY. IOWA. 
 
 Holman — D. L. McCausland and E. Walton. 
 
 Ocheyedan — A. E. Smith and R. J. O. McGowan. 
 
 Harrison — Charles Mietke and E. L. Krukcnberg. 
 
 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 Wass- 
 
 mann 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 morn- 
 ing, 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 com- 
 fort. 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 satis- 
 factory. 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 wdth 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 hast}^ retreat out of doors, and there was such 
 
RESIDENCE OF M. A. TATUM, OCHEYEDAN. 
 
170 HISTORT OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, lOU'A.^ 
 
 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 tine 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 delibera- 
 tion, 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 musk- 
 rat and after skinning it was cooking the carcass on a tire 
 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 
 
HfSTORY OF OSCEOLA COVNTl', IOWA. 171 
 
 soon reached Brannock's cabin and the terrified fellow was 
 ordered to surrender which he did. He asked leave, how- 
 ever, 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 tor 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 suffer- 
 ing 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 the pris- 
 oner 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 guilt}'. He has hidden nothing from 
 this court. It is the first lime 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 nearl}- 
 escaped him, McCallum said: 
 
172 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY. IOWA. 
 
 " 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, fight- 
 ing 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 loy- 
 alty 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 nec- 
 essaries 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 1 87 2. 
 
 Recorder D. L. McCausland. 
 
 Treasurer A. M. Culver. 
 
 Sheriff Frank Stiles. 
 
 Surveyor M. J. Campbell. 
 
 Superintendent of Schools Delily Stiles. 
 
 Auditor F. M. Robinson. 
 
 Clerk of Court C. M. Brooks. 
 
 ( J. H. Winspear. 
 Supervisors -; 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. 
 
) 
 
 
 RESIDENCE OF D. D. McCALLUM, SIBLEY. 
 
174 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUN'TT, IOWA. 
 
 Coroner J. M. Jenkins, 
 
 ( D. L. Riley. 
 Supervisors, until April 21 -^ H. R. Fenton. 
 
 ( Geo. Spaulding. 
 
 \ D. L. Riley. 
 Supervisors, after April 21 I 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 count}' officers were as follows: 
 
 Recorder D. L. McCausland. 
 
 Treasurer . Levi Shell. 
 
 Sheriff Jofin Douglass. 
 
 Surveyor H. -G. Doolittle. 
 
 Superintendent of Schools C. L. Gurney. 
 
 Auditor W. M. Moore. 
 
 Clerk of Court J. F. Glover. 
 
 Coroner Wm. R. Lawrence. 
 
 ( D. L. Riley. 
 Supervisors I O. Dunton, Ch'n. 
 
 ( A. H. Brown. 
 
 1877. 
 
 The above officers remained the same, except the follow- 
 ing changes: 
 
 Clerk of Court W.J. Miller. 
 
 Recorder E. Huff. 
 
 Supervisor — C. W. Wyllys in place of O. Dunton. 
 
HISTORr OF OSCEOLA COUNTT, IOWA. 175 
 
 1878. 
 
 County officers were as follows: 
 
 Recorder E. Huff. 
 
 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. 
 
 ( D. L. Riley. 
 Supervisors I Henry. C. Allen. 
 
 ( C. W. Wyllys. 
 
 1879. 
 
 The officers of 1878 remain the same, except the follow- 
 ing 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 
 
 i88t. 
 
 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. 
 
 f H. C. Allen. 
 
 I Robert Stamm. 
 Supervisors . -\ Nicholas Boor. 
 
 [ William Mowthorpe. 
 
 1^ Geo. S. Downend. 
 
 It will be noticed that this year the members of the Board 
 were increased to five. 
 
176 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTT. IOWA. 
 
 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. B. Lent. 
 
 Surveyor . H. G. Doolittle. 
 
 Superintendent of Schools J. R. Elliott, 
 
 Auditor J. S. Reynolds. 
 
 Clerk of Court W. H. Kimberly. 
 
 Coroner H. Neill. 
 
 f Wm. Mowthorpe, Ch'n. 
 
 I G. S. Downend. 
 Supervisors -{ Geo. W. Barrager. 
 
 I 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. 
 

 RESIDENCE OF W. F. ALDRED, OCHEYEDAN. 
 
178 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 
 
 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. 
 
 f S. A. Dove. 
 
 1 C. P. Reynolds. 
 Supervisors -{ Geo. W. Barri((er. 
 
 I J. E. Townsend. 
 
 ( A. Romey, Chairman. 
 
 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 FL 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 
 jMovision of the Legislature, a County Attorney. 
 County Attorney O. J. Clark. 
 
 ["G. W. Barrager, Ch'n. 
 
 I A. Romey. 
 Supervisors \ C. P. Reynolds. 
 
 I S. A. Dove. 
 
 I C. W. Conner, 
 
HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNT!', IOWA. 
 
 179 
 
 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. 
 
 C. P. Reynolds, Ch'n. 
 
 Supervisors 
 
 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. 
 
 ["S. A. Dove, Chairman. 
 
 I Adam Batie. 
 
 Supervisors '-1 C. W. Conner. 
 
 P. A. Cajacob. 
 
 [ C. P. Reynolds. 
 
 1892. 
 
 The county officers for this 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. 
 
180 
 
 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 
 
 Coroner W. E. Ely. 
 
 A. Batie, Chairman. 
 
 S. A. Dove. 
 Supervisors -| W. H. Noehren. 
 
 Charles Bangert. 
 
 P. A. Cajacob. 
 
D. II. BOYD. 
 
CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 Returning again to Ocheyedan Township, we find its 
 settlement in 1871 was not extensive, but its incoming settlers 
 in 1872 were quite numerous. In July, 1872, Daniel H. Bo3'd 
 filed on the west half of the northeast 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 scener}' 
 that Bayard Taylor called the "Switzerland of America." Mr. 
 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 Ochey- 
 edan, and where its magnificent forest trees add to its attract- 
 iveness 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 (i873) blizzard, Mr. 
 March, who was putting up a building on his claim, started 
 from Mr. Bo^^d's to work that day. As stated elsewhere con- 
 cerning 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 for 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 atmos- 
 phere growing intensely colder. Mr. March went down upon 
 his knees, and in the face of death offered up a pra^^er 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. 
 
HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY. IOWA. 188 
 
 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 occu- 
 pant. These two disappointed men concluded that March 
 was lost, and that, rigid with freezing and with death, he la}' 
 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 
 l^oyd residence. 
 
 On the third day, after il? 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 him- 
 self, to the delight and astonishment of the Boyd household, 
 opened the door and w'alked in, alive and well. 
 
 On this same Section 2, upon which Mr. Bo3'd filed, Frank 
 Taylor took the east half of the northeast quarter in 1872, 
 Charles R. Boyd the east half of the northwest quarter, and 
 Mr. A. B. Elmore the west half of the northwest quarter. The 
 southeast quarter of this same section was a tree claim, tiled on 
 b}'^ 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. 
 Bo3'd, who still owns it and there resides, except tifty 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 integrit}^, and are among the best 
 citizens in the county. Mr. A. B. Elmore still resides on his 
 
184 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 
 
 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 Ocheyedan, 
 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 town- 
 ship, 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 Hke the rest of us, but is a suc- 
 cessful 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 origkial 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 scat- 
 tered 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 
 
JOHN II. DOUGLASS. 
 
186 , inSTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 
 
 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 En- 
 gland. 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 b}- 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 con- 
 sidered an old settler, lives on the east side of the township. 
 P. L. Thompson, a recent settler, and near 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. 
 
HtSTORT OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, tOWA. 187 
 
 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 1 87 1, east of Ashton, in Gilman Township, and has been 
 identified now for over twenty years in Osceola Count}' 
 affairs. His wife is of a literary turn of mind; has written 
 some very elegant poetry and wall soon publish a volume of 
 her poems. Mr. Everett was one of the first justices in Gil- 
 man 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 set- 
 tlement in the past two years and is a thrifty, productive 
 township. On Section 17, west of Oche3'edan, is I. C. Stew- 
 art and M. M. Hulburt, and on Section 18 Charles Moore, and 
 Max Decker on Section 33. Joseph Smith lives in the south- 
 east part of the township. Ocheyedan Township, as a part 
 of Osceola County, would still be incomplete without a men- 
 tion of C. B. Knox. Mr. Knox, it is true, lives in Dickinson 
 Count}', on the banks of Silver Lake but not a great distance 
 from the east line of Ocheyedan. He came from Wisconsin 
 in 1S69 and camped for a few weeks on the banks of Spirit 
 Lake, and in that same year settled upon the northeast quar- 
 ter of Section 28, Township 100, Range 38, where he still re- 
 sides. 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 over- 
 looking the placid waters of that beautiful lake, and there en- 
 joys life in contentment and with the respect of his neighbors 
 and fellow citizens. 
 
CHAPTER XX. 
 
 The settlement of Holman Township east and west out- 
 side 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 Count3\ 
 Goewey Township and Horton were also named after mem- 
 bers of Woodbury County's Board of Supervisors at the time 
 that Board started Osceola Count}^ 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, Cali- 
 fornia. 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 still 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 were W. 
 Belcher and near him David Chambers and sons. West of 
 these were David Johns, Peter Wagnei% Thomas Thompson, 
 and near them John Welcher, S. F. Thompson and C. B. 
 Hann. 
 
 Of these old settlers mentioned, Winspear went to Colo- 
 rado; Stiles and Shufelt are in Dakota; M. V. Beebe is in 
 
RESIDENCE OF JOHN H. DOUGLASS, SIBLEY. 
 
190 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 
 
 Ellsworth, Minn.; 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, Minn.; W. W.Cram 
 is in Nebraska; Edward Linsdey 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, Ga. ; 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. Selecht. West of Bull 
 were James Bowles, E. C. Jenkins, Howey Walters and Mr. 
 Loharty. In the same neighborhood were the parties here- 
 tofore 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. Weslcott. 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. Bud worth; 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 per- 
 ished in a blizzard. C. M. Brooks lives in Cedar Rapids and 
 Hiram Austin in Kansas. 
 
 Thus the early settlers of Holman Township have scat- 
 tered, except what few remain, and some have died. Those 
 who left got discouraged and disheartened with the disadvan- 
 tages 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 comers, who will 
 reap the harvest, which, with the absent settlers failed to 
 materialize. 
 
HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 191 
 
 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 mem- 
 ber of the Board of Supervisors — ^J. S. Campbell, who bought 
 the tine Philips farm, Geo. Cooper, M. J. Chambers, David 
 Chambers, D. J. Chambers, Aaron Cox, H. L. Clapsaddle, 
 J. J. Conway, G. De Bries, 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 fine stock breeder; 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 clerg3'man, who has 
 been pastor of a church in the county and last winter preached 
 in Florida. There are also Charles Parker, P. Redmond, 
 N. H. 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. 
 Van Norman, 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 agricul- 
 tural districts in the country. 
 
 The farmers of this township, as well as all other town- 
 ships, have, in less than a quarter of a century, built highways, 
 made substantial homes, built school-houses, and today this 
 
192 HISTORl' OF OSCEOLA COUNTT, IOWA. 
 
 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 developement is 
 marvelous. The Nineteenth Century advancement is won- 
 derful 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. 
 
RESIDENCE OF W. B. STEVENS, SIBLEY. 
 
CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 The lirst settler in Baker Township was in 1871, but 
 during that winter following, there was hardly anyone there. 
 Several who had settled in Goewey in 1871, afterwards moved 
 to Baker, and now reside there. Among these are W. H. 
 Lean and Adam Batie. In 1872, a great many took claims 
 in Baker; indeed, in 1872 and 1873, the Government land 
 was about all taken. Among those that came to Baker in 
 1 87 1, were Philip and Peter Ladenberger, and came from 
 Wisconsin. Philip still resides in the county at Sibley. 
 Peter perished in 1873 blizzard, elsewhere mentioned. John 
 Kinne also came in 1871, and we believe that this gentleman 
 and family were the only residents in this township in the win- 
 ter 187 1 and 1872. There were also Jacob Henshaw, 
 Albert Waldo and Ed. Melvin. Mr. Melvin is in Sioux City, 
 and Mr. Henshaw now resides in Dickinson County. 
 
 There was some breaking done in the township in 187 1, 
 and some vegetables raised, but the products of the county 
 that year amounted to but httle, and the shacks were very 
 Hmited in number. Adam Batie drove through from Wiscon- 
 sin in 1 87 1, with Stephen Higgins, filed that year on a claim 
 in Goewey Township, and afterwards settled in Baker. Mr. 
 Batie is a member of the Board of County Supervisors. 
 Elmore R. Hazen arrived, in the county in 1872, and settled 
 on the southwest quarter of Section 2, in Baker. He still 
 owns the original claim. He put up the usual shack and did 
 some breaking. On the Hazen place now live the Holle 
 family, consisting of Herman Holle, wife, one daughter and 
 three sons. A picture of C. W. Holle is elsewhere in the 
 book. They own land themselves, but at present live on the 
 Hazen place, and farm this along with their own. 
 
 Harmon Runyon took the northeast quarter of Section 2 
 in 1872, and is still living on the same place with valuable im- 
 provements. He came here from Winneshiek County, and 
 along with him came Mr. Smith and Benj. Davis. Smith and 
 Davis soon returned. Davis afterwards died, and Smith still 
 lives in Winneshiek. Smith and Runyon also had a dangerous 
 experience with the December, 1872, blizzard. They went to 
 Sibley at that time and then drove around to Huff's to get 
 
HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 195 
 
 their papers, and while on their way home the blizzard over- 
 took them. They kept pushing on with the storm, and finally 
 brought up at Teabout's ranch, in Cla}^ County. Runyon's 
 hat blowed away, and in running after that, he lost sight of the 
 team, and with difficulty found it again. Altogether it was a 
 narrow escape for them, as it was with a great many others in 
 those early blizzards. 
 
 Henry Dunkleman is still living in Baker on the game 
 original claim filed upon in 1872. Baker Township has one 
 postoffice called Gopher, of which W. H. Lean, elsewhere 
 mentioned, is postmaster. It is on Section 6. Henry Brem- 
 mer is an early settler on Section 5, 
 
 Among other residents of the township, not otherwise 
 mentioned, are Ira Peck, who is at present the only one living 
 on Section 3. John Haskins, Charles Wilson, S. T. Price, 
 Harvey Nash, Theodore Frey, H. W. Jones, Adolph Knox, 
 A. Hager, John Frey, Peter Wilson, Peter Anderson, Hermen 
 Frey, Henry Verteen, A. D. Wilson, W. Logar, George Leg- 
 gctt, August Buchholtz, Will PhiHps, Philip Schertzer, Henry 
 Walters, Conrad Fink, John Fink, Charles Fink, Casper 
 Diekman, Benj. Diekman, George Webster, H. Weigands, 
 Clark Howard, W. Bell, James McAnrich, Herman Lyman, 
 Thomas Dewey, Charles Goodman, John Price, Frank Cres- 
 sap and son, Mr. Lyons, David Logar. Mr. Logar has in- 
 vented a flax cleaner and obtained a patent on it, which is said 
 to be a great improvement. Charles Timmons is on Section 
 2, and C. M. McDougal is on Section 15. Still others are 
 Dirk Frey, J. D. C. Frey, Frank Quiggle, Phihp Keller, John 
 Benz, John Wiggenhausser, Peter Keutzer, John Jobes, Ernest 
 Benz, Fritz Rhoda, S. M. Stanford, August Gentz, O. Dufrees, 
 Henry Bremmer, H. Waehtel, Peter Johnson, J. Hokkoff, 
 Theodore Reimmers, George Reimmers. C. W. Br3'an, who 
 is School and Township Clerk, lives on Section 21. Palmer 
 Rumford lives on the east side of the township. 
 
 Hans Graves, who yet lives in Baker Township, came in 
 1872, along with H. Steffenhagen and one other party. Mr. 
 Steffenhagen still lives in the township, and both himself and 
 Mr. Graves are entitled to the success they have made of it, 
 as they went through the early hard times. They returned 
 for the winter and came* out agam in the spring of 1873. 
 They came from Clinton County, and when they came back 
 the following spring, there came with them Mr. Frank Graves, 
 uncle to Hans, and other members of the family, Peter, John 
 C, Frank and Jerry Graves and Claus Yess. These all took 
 
196 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 
 
 claims. Peter and Frank Graves are now in Chicago in the 
 jeweh-y business, and John C, with his family, live in Ochey- 
 edan, and is engaged in the mercantile business. The other 
 members of the family live on their original claims and all are 
 well-to-do. 
 
 As has been said with reference to other townships, some 
 names are no doubt omitted as we did not intend to make a 
 complete directory but more of a record of past events. Baker 
 Township is one of the best in the county. 
 
 Harrison Township, which was a part of Baker until a 
 few years ago, was not early settled as other townships were. 
 We believe about the first settler in this township was Mr. 
 Billion, and the place where he lived was known for several 
 years as the Billion Ranch, and is so called now. It was land 
 owned by Rev. Peter Haverman, a Catholic priest, of Troy, 
 New York, who started there a cattle ranch, and sent Mr. 
 Billion out from New York State to run it. From poor 
 management, the enterprise proved a failure. Mr. Haverman 
 was out several times, and is spoken of as a very honorable 
 and conscientious man. 
 
 In the north part of the township is quite a settlement of 
 Mennonites. This sect is distinguished by antique simplicity, 
 by their indifference to the great interests of the world, and at 
 the same time their industry and self concentrations make 
 them well to-do. The main interest m the sect lies not in 
 dogma, but in principle, and as men they are conscientious, 
 law-abiding citizens. They have about thirty members, and 
 hold services every two weeks. They came from Canada to 
 Harrison township. Jesse Bauman came first in 1887, and, his 
 report concerning the country bemg favorable, others soon 
 followed. They sent out carpenters, who erected buildings 
 for them, and there is a sameness about all their surroundings. 
 Josiah Martin, one of the leaders among his people, has all of 
 Section 10. The Bauman's are also prominent — Jesse, Amos 
 and Elias. Elias is on Section 4, and Jesse and Amos on 
 Section 9. In this north part of the township are also Julius 
 Worm, Louis Clatt, Frank Gregory, John Huehn, Louis 
 Johannes, Daniel Weaver, Daniel Stauffer, John Dunnenworth, 
 George Bryer, Abraham Widner, Jacob Brubaker, Elias 
 Ginrich, Henry Gregory, Elias Reist, Daniel Harley, Fred 
 Kampene, James Reist, Mr. Kesterling. 
 
 The May City postoffice is on Section 8, in this township, 
 about the center. This section is owned by a company, and 
 is intended for a townsite. E. S. Robertson is postmaster, and 
 
OCHEYKDAN HOUSE, OCHEYEDAN, 
 
198 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY. IOWA. 
 
 Mr. Robertson's father and two brothers are living there at 
 present. Martin Houcks and August Hess are the village 
 blacksmiths, and John Brendley the shoemaker. An incoming 
 railroad, which is expected, would make May City quite a 
 point. Section 12 is owned by Lon, John and Joseph Cham- 
 bers. On Section 6 are the Smith brothers, O.J. and A. W. 
 Among other of the residents there, George and E. L. 
 Krukenburg are on Section 31, Henry Krukenburg is on Sec- 
 tion 30, Chris Dorman and John Marsh are on Section 32 and 
 John Isley and Henry Schmoll are on Section 33. Among 
 other of its residents are Ernest Krukenburg, Henry Lager, 
 Henry Groff, Conrad Schmoll, Danied Tyards, W. D. Sauer, 
 John Brochus, Peter Anker, Henry Newkirk, T. Hemmig, 
 George Ryers, Charles Mielke; also Albert Mielke, John 
 Sittler, Martin Fritz; also Peter Anker, David Anker, A. F. 
 Berdine, W. H. Brerver, L. W. Lopp, Gerritt DeBoor, Wm. 
 Eden, Herman Eden, R. E. Ellis, R. C. Fuller, J. C. Herlie, 
 J. W. Wardrip, A. B. Weidman, Daniel Shafer, W. J. Smith, 
 Hugh Starts, Louis and Philip Kesserling, David Steiner, 
 Henry Heimrich, John Kimble, E. T. Willner, Martin Hank, 
 John Huchn. This township was named after President 
 Harrison, and many of its fine farms are attractive and delight 
 the eye. E. C. Roberts, in addition to the postoffice at May 
 City, has also a general stock of goods and his store is well 
 patronized. Emil Hemmig and Fred Tschudin also live in 
 Harrison. T. Hemmig is an old settler for Harrison, and 
 came here six years ago. 
 
©OWNS IN THE ©OUNTY. 
 
 HARRIS. 
 
 This is a station on the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and 
 Northern Raih'oad, on the east side of the county. At pres- 
 ent it does not claim to be metropolitan, but expects some time 
 in the future to acquire prominence as one of the towns in the 
 county. It is well located, and when the country around it 
 becomes more settled, the town will grow correspondingly. 
 It has one general store, managed by Rufus Townsend, who 
 is also postmaster, and the store has a good trade. M. B. 
 Smith has a lumber yard; also a harness shop. J. Ryckman 
 runs a coal yard and John Waiting is the blacksmith. The 
 station agent is Homer Richards, and Harris has a decorative 
 painter, Frank P. Burley. This about comprises the bus- 
 iness interests of Harris, and no doubt the historian ten years 
 from now will be able to make an extensive record, which will 
 come from its future crrowth. 
 
 ASHTON. 
 
 The Town of Ashton was laid out by the Land Depart- 
 ment of the Sioux City and St. Paul Railroad Company in 
 1872. It was first named St. Gilman, but afterwards, in 1882, 
 this name was changed to Ashton. The town is beautifully 
 located, and on the east side of its business portion runs the 
 Otter, a beautiful stream, though not a large one. It is a 
 thrifty town, having tributary to it a scope of countr}' that for 
 productiveness and fertility of soil is unexcelled in the state. 
 The first building on the townsite was placed there by T. J. 
 Sliaw in the fall of 1872, and the building still stands there and 
 is now occupied by John Kunnen for a restaurant. Mr. Shaw 
 is the same party who, previous to that time, had a store on 
 Section 32 in Gilman township, and he put up the building 
 now in Ashton before the town was laid out, and when lots 
 were to be had, placed the building on one of them and gave 
 
200 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 
 
 it a permanent abiding place. Mr. Shaw left Osceola County 
 in 1888, and now resides in Oregon. After Shaw's store, 
 followed a warehouse in 1873, P^^^ up by Brown & Rounds- 
 ville. Mr. Brown resides in Nebraska, and Mr. Roundsville 
 died several years ago. About the same time the warehouse 
 was built, a lumber yard office was put up, and this was used 
 afterwards for various purposes, and, by adding to it, Mr. 
 David Underbill now has it for a residence. Then followed a 
 blacksmith shop, run by Charles Miller, who sold to John Lee, 
 and m 1878 Lee sold out to I. B. Lucas, who still continues 
 the same business. Another store soon followed, a millinery 
 shop, and, in those days of beer and native wine from fruits 
 grown in the state, a saloon. A hotel building was also 
 erected soon after by J. D. Billings, which still stands in Ash- 
 ton, but which has been improved by large additions, and is 
 now owned by C. W. Freeman and run by Nick Reiter. 
 When Ashton got fairly started, it had two stores, a millinery 
 shop, blacksmith shop, hotel, warehouse, saloon and two resi- 
 dences. Then came the grasshoppers, whose ravages are 
 mentioned elsewhere, and these so discouraged and disheart- 
 ened the first business men of the town that one by one they 
 "Folded their tents like Arabs, and as silently stole away." 
 The store-keepers sold what they could, and packed up the 
 balance of the stock and departed. The hotel man had no 
 custom and he went, the saloon-keeper had to tend both sides 
 of the bar and do all the drinking himself, the millinery goods 
 were not in demand, no grain came to market, and the exodus 
 was thorough and complete. 
 
 In 1879, "^ writer in the Gazette, said the following of St. 
 Oilman: "Last week we spent an hour or two in Oilman. 
 This village is struggling with all its hopes in the future, wait- 
 ing patiently for a depot, an elevator, an express and telegraph 
 office. A year or two of good crops will bring it into notice, 
 give it more buildings, sidewalks, a mayor and all the para- 
 phernalia of a full -fledged metropolis, until then it must move 
 quietly and contentedly. Its only merchant, F. M. Bashfield, 
 was at his post. He is a gentleman, courteous, social and of 
 much intelligence; is a close dealer and watches every penny, 
 and indeed this is the secret of success. Kit Carson, who is 
 the magistrate, was absent, either figuring on the increase and 
 improvement of stock, or else talking politics. Kit is a host 
 in himself and good company. The portly form of Lucas, 
 the village blacksmith, was seen bending over his work which 
 seemed to be lying all around. The old Shaw store building 
 
RESIDENCE OF DR. W. E. ELY, OCHEYEDAN. 
 
202 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNT!'. IOWA. 
 
 is used for a dwelling and the familiar countenance of its former 
 and original occupant is no longer seen in town. Charley 
 Miller has moved into the country, not far from Oilman, and 
 now follows the plow instead of measuring wood and weigh- 
 ing coal. When the country tributary to Oilman is settled, it 
 will make a snug town and a good business point." 
 
 J. D. Billings, now of Sheldon, was the first justice and 
 one of the first school officers. His daughter Marv was the 
 first child born in the town. 
 
 In about 1883 business revived there again, stores were 
 opened, the hotel once more had a landlord, and St. Gilman 
 then made another start on the road to wealth and prosperity. 
 About that time Nick Boor opened up there in business, and 
 this had something to do with its new start. The Pattersons 
 also, A. and G. W., gave the town an impetus, and since the 
 change in name, and new parties going in, the town has con- 
 tinued to grow\ 
 
 Its leading business interests are now represented by: 
 J. H. and C C. Carmichael, drug store, who came to Ashton 
 in 1892; restaurant by John Kunnen, who commenced busi- 
 ness in 1892; H. A. Carson, son of J. W., who opened a 
 photograph gallery this present year; furniture store by F. H. 
 Thompson, established 1891; clothing store, M. Hingtgen, 
 1891; meat market, Ira L. and P. E. Kennen, 1891; harness 
 shop, N. Klees, 1892; jewelry store, A. I^. Hyde, 1892; res- 
 taurant, Henry Wheelhouse, 1890; hardware, C. W. Rahe, 
 1890; livery barn, J. Smith and L. Lamar; blacksmith shop, 
 I. B. Lucas and W. B. Reagen; hotel, N. Reiter; wagon 
 shop, J. W. Clark; general store, Henry Wheelhouse; also 
 general store, H. Ennga, 1892; general store, S. S. Dean and 
 J. A. Hoffman; general store, W. S. and G. L. Queenby, 
 1892; general store, M. Wermerskirchen, 1890; Nick Boor 
 and W, L. Benjamin have an agricultural house and an 
 elevator; H. S. Grant, farm machinery; C.J.King and L. M. 
 March, blacksmith shop; Frank DeVoss, barber shop; and 
 S. M. Ijrown, a mechanic, and has charge of the elevator. 
 
 The banking interests are represented by A. and G. W. 
 Patterson, with G. W. Patterson in immediate charge. 
 
 Ashton's postmaster is J. W. Reagan. It has three 
 church buildings. Catholic, Presbyterian and Methodist. One 
 paper is published there, the Leader^ by C. A. Charles. It is 
 a bright, five-column quarto, and has large circulation. 
 
 Ashton is a live business town and one of general pros- 
 perity. It has some very elegant residences, good stores, and 
 
HISTORl OF OSCEOLA COVNTT, IOWA. 20H 
 
 thorough business men, and the town will continue its growth. 
 It is a good grain market and a good place for general 
 trading, 
 
 Ashton is situated on Section 15, in Oilman Township; is 
 on the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway 
 line. It has the usual secret societies and social organizations 
 and its business men are on a solid basis. J. B. McEnany is 
 its physician. It also has a creamery, managed and owned 
 by C. W. Baird and is soon to have another elevator. Alto- 
 gether Ashton promises to be considerable of a place in the 
 future. Its present municipal officers are : 
 Mayor Joseph W. Reagan 
 
 ("W. L. Benjamin. 
 
 I C. J. King. 
 
 Trustees J J""^'' ^^""• 
 
 irusiees -i C. W. Rake. 
 
 I Peter Wagner. 
 
 ^P. E. Kiemen. 
 
 Recorder J- H. Carmichael. 
 
 Marshal E. S. Knowles. 
 
 OCHEYEDAN. 
 
 The town is laid out on a part of Section 2, and a part of 
 Section 11, in west Ocheyedan Township. The writer has 
 been unable to ascertain correctly the origin of the word 
 Ocheyedan, and hence will not attempt to account for it. 
 
 The Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railroad 
 crossed Osceola County in the year 1884. The coming of 
 this road brought into existence the Town of Oche3/^edan, and 
 in the fall of 1884 building commenced. The first building 
 put up on the town site was a "shanty," which kind of a build- 
 ing is well understood, though the word itself is bccommg 
 obsolete. This was put up by James Wood, and he lived in 
 it and stored his goods there, while a building was being pre- 
 pared for occupancy. Out of his stock, however, he made 
 some sales, and run a sort of "shanty" trade until he got 
 straightened out in more mercantile condition. This was in 
 the fall of 1884, and at this same time Charles Wood worth 
 had lumber on the ground for a hardware store; also did Wood 
 for a general store, and William Smith for a general store. 
 Woodworth moved into his building first with his stock of 
 hardware, so that this building, which Mr. Woodworth still 
 
204 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY. IOWA. 
 
 occupies, may be said to be the first business house in the 
 town. Wood put his stock also in Woodworth's building 
 temporarily, and as soon as his own was finished moved into 
 that. Mr. Smith got his building finished in October, and put 
 in a general stock. This same fall of 1884 the Kout brothers, 
 Joseph and Dominick, put up a store building and filled it with 
 a general stock of goods. L. B. Boyd also put up a building 
 that fall, in which he opened a general store, and these four 
 general stores, with the hardware, constituted the mercantile 
 business of the town in the winter of i884~'85. We will add, 
 however, that Dr. C. Teal erected the building now occupied 
 by Ed. Becker as a barber shop, in the fall of 1884, and 
 opened up a drug store, also practiced as a physician. Dr. 
 Teal moved from Ocheyedan a few years ago, and now lives 
 in North Carolina. William Smith sold out a year or so after- 
 wards to D. J. Jones, who carried on a general store until the 
 spring of 1891, when he died. Mrs. Jones continued the 
 business after her husbands death until this present year, when 
 she sold out to Bunker Bros., who now occupy the building 
 with a stock of groceries. Wood sold out to M. J. Young, 
 who carried a general stock, and in the fall of 1891 Young 
 sold out to J. W. Thomas & Son, who now run a general 
 store in the same building. The Kout Bros, sold out building 
 and stock to R. J. O. McGowan, who now occupies the same 
 stnnd with a general store. The L. B. Boyd building first 
 had a general store, and is now occupied by W. F. Stimpson 
 for a restaurant. In the fall of 1884 also Archibald Oliver put 
 up the livery barn now owned and occupied by E. D. Cleave- 
 land. Mr. Oliver was then, and was the first, station agent in 
 Ocheyedan. 
 
 There w^as also erected in the fall of 1884 two ware- 
 houses for grain and coal. One was put up by French & 
 Hayward, and the other by D. L. Riley. These business 
 houses, with a few dwellings, was what constituted the town 
 of Ocheyedan until the sping of 1885. There was, however, 
 in 1884 a lumber yard started by D. L. Riley, and run by 
 Fred Wheeler. In the spring of 1885 C. A. and M. A. Tatum 
 erected the building now occupied by A. J. Coulton. Tatum's 
 opened a feed store and butcher shop, and afterwards sold it 
 to Coulton. Peter Graves opened a general store in 1885, 
 and erected the building now occupied by John and Mary 
 Graves. Also the same year John Wilson put up the W. J. 
 Robinson building, now occupied by L. D. and E. P. Johnson. 
 The hotel building, called the Ocheyedan House, was built in 
 
RESIDENCE OF O. B. HARDING, GOEWEY TOWNSHIP. 
 
206 HIS TOR r OF OSCEOLA COUNT 1\ IOWA. 
 
 1885 by John Wilson, who run it a few months and was then 
 succeeded by Charles Carnes, and he by H. Runyon, 1. N. 
 Daggett soon after purchased the building and run the hotel 
 himself a short time, and was succeeded by J. F. Pfaff. Pfaff 
 was succeeded by S. A. D6ve, who bought the property in 
 1891, and is still owner and landlord. Mr. Dove has recently 
 sold and will move to Missouri. 
 
 Ocheyedan celebrated the first year of its existence on the 
 4th day of July, 1885. It was given out beforehand that a 
 great time was to be had, and the country around looked upon 
 the coming celebration as an event of considerable importance, 
 and it was. People flocked into Ocheyedan in great numbers 
 on that day, and it seemed as if the whole country was there. 
 Archibald Oliver was president of the day and C. A. Tatum, 
 marshal. W. J. Robinson read the declaration of independ- 
 ence, and Henderson, a farmer living south of Ocheyedan, 
 delivered the oration. The music consisted of fife and drum; 
 also playing upon the organ and singing. There was a foot 
 race, sack race and a horse trot. Will Peters won the foot 
 race purse, and in the sack race Joel Rice took first money 
 and Frank Daley second. The Tatum's carried off the hon- 
 ors in the horse race, M. A. taking first money and H. C. sec- 
 ond. The contestants in the horse race were M. A. and H. 
 C. Tatum, Broadfoot, Adam Sterling, Smith and Claus Yess. 
 There was considerable excitement over this and the boys 
 were somewhat demonstrative over it, but did not let their 
 angry passions rise to the extent of an open fight, but at times 
 were near to it. The day wound up with a bowery dance; 
 Joseph Hall played the violin and there was other music. The 
 dance lasted ;^ill night and towards morning the remaining par- 
 ticipants in this first celebi^ation went home to recruit up after 
 this enthusiastic siege. 
 
 The drug store building recently occupied by A. E. 
 Smith was built by John Webster and was placed between 
 Cleveland's livery and the railroad track, and it was used there 
 for a saloon. It was built in 1886. In 1887 it was moved to 
 where it now stands. It is now used by T. H. Dravis for a 
 clothing house. 
 
 Ocheyedan, as a town location, is unexcelled. It is on a 
 gradual rise from the railroad track, and most of the town is 
 on the elevation. This enables it to have clean streets, and a 
 complete drain for water. 
 
 Other buildings followed along in the course of construc- 
 tion, and in 1885 A. V. Randall erected a business house on 
 
HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 207 
 
 the corner of Main Street, which is now used by Walton 
 Brothers for a furniture store. In 1S90 C. A. and M. A. 
 Tatnm put up a building for livery barn, now occupied by 
 Tatum Brothers for an agricultural house. The elevator, now 
 owned and occupied by A. W. Harris & Co., was placed there 
 in 1885. In 1890 Bowersock Brothers, consisting of Asa and 
 E. Bowersock, bought out D. L. Riley's lumber yard, and are 
 still running the same business. In 1891 John Porter & Son, 
 of Reinbeck, Iowa, started the second lumber yard in Ochey- 
 edan, which is still running, under the management of W. F. 
 Aldred. 
 
 The bank building, now occupied by the Ocheyedan 
 Bank, was erected by I. N. Daggett, who sold out to the 
 Northwestern State Bank, of Sibley, and it was then placed 
 in charge of E. Baker, now vice president of the Northwestern 
 State Bank. They sold to the Ocheyedan Savings Bank, of 
 which C. S. McLaury is president, W. M. Smith, vice presi- 
 dent, and J. L. McLaury, cashier, under whose management 
 it now is. 
 
 The present year, 1892, John Porter & Son also estab- 
 lished a bank, which, in connection with their lumber business, 
 is under the management of W. F. Aldred, whose name 
 appears as cashier. 
 
 Ocheyedan has grown gradually each year since its first 
 starting. It has never been boomed, but has made its way 
 quietly as the country demanded its growth. This year of 
 1892 it has pushed ahead considerably. Kout Brothers have 
 erected a very fine business house, which is now occupied by 
 A. E. Smith for a drug store. A. V. Randall has added a 
 business building to Main Street, as has also E. N. Moore. 
 Several elegant dwelling houses have also been erected by 
 C. A. Tatum, W. F. Aldred, Dr. W. E. Ely, Mrs. D. R. 
 Jones, Charles Woodworth and others. In 1891 Asa Bower- 
 sock put up a very fine residence house, as also did M. A. 
 Tatum. 
 
 In 1889 several of the farmers around established in 
 Ocheyedan a creamery, which is a joint stock corporation. 
 The association was formed in 1889, and the following year 
 buildings were erected and business started. Its present 
 officers are: President, J. C. Moar; secretary, W. E. Ely; 
 treasurer, J. L. McLaury; directors, Dick Wassman, Geo. 
 W. Thomas, W. A. Cooper, Henry Bremer, J. C. Ward. 
 
 At the close of last year the secretary, W. E. Ely, pub- 
 lished in the local paper the following report : 
 
208 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTT. IOWA. 
 
 "The Ocheyedan Creamery has just finished the second 
 season of its existence, and as there is some inquiry concerning 
 its workings and profits, we will endeavor to give a short 
 account of what has been done. Active work commenced 
 about the middle of April and continued until the middle of 
 September, or about five months in all. During that time we 
 have received 526,430 pounds, making 21,435 pounds of 
 butter, or an average of 4.07 pounds per hundred. Our cream 
 wagon has gathered 6,703 inches of cream, making the total 
 amount of butter manufactured 28,138 pounds. For milk we 
 have paid the shareholders at the rate of 55 cents per hundred 
 for May, June and July; 68 cents for August, and 80 cents for 
 September, or a grand total of $3,098.99, averaging 59 cents 
 per hundred for the season. For gathered cream we paid 
 13^ cents per inch in May and June, 12^ cents in July, 16^ 
 cents in August, and 17)4^ cents in September; in all $920,66, 
 or an average of 13^^ cents per inch for the season. All of 
 our butter has been sold in New York at Elgin prices — the 
 gathered cream excepted, that grading lower and bringing 
 from I to 3 cents per pound less. 
 
 " It has been clearly demonstrated that a creamery pays, 
 and in proportion to the amount of patronage it receives. 
 Four hundred pounds can be manufactured each day as cheap 
 as 100 pounds, and reduces the expense accordingly. When 
 milk can be brought to the creamery in good condition for 
 separating, that system pays better than the gathered cream 
 system, while the latter on the whole is more profitable than 
 the home dairy. But a creamery is like any other business 
 concern, to be successful it must have patronage, and if its own 
 incorporators stand back waiting for it to become a paying 
 concern before they put their shoulder to the wheel, how can 
 they expect outsiders to take any interest or invest any capital 
 in the concern. Two years' work has demonstrated sure 
 success, and if each shareholder does his duty during the 
 coming season I am sure he will find that not only will the 
 creamery relieve his family of the drudgery of butter making, 
 but will pay him more cash than he could possibly make out 
 of his milk himself. Respectfuly, 
 
 • "W.E.Ely, 
 
 '■'•Secretary.'''' 
 
 Ocheyedan has two church organizations, the Methodist 
 and Congregationalist. The Methodist organization was first 
 completed in the country outside the town before the town 
 started, and for awhile had two buildings, one of them still 
 
DR. B. A. WILDER. 
 
210 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 
 
 Standing and used near Mr. Mowlhorpe's place. Judge Mc- 
 Callum, in giving us the history of the building, says that in 
 1876, or thereabouts, when he was holding down his claim 
 near Ocheyedan, himself and L. G. Ireland, with F. H. Hunt, 
 D. H. Boyd, Wm. Mowthorpe and others concluded that they 
 wanted a sanctuary for worship and some place to go to church. 
 Ireland, McCallum and some others were sort of outsiders 
 and not sound in the faith, and the question arose as to the 
 location, and upon this they were divided. A meeting was 
 held at Mr. Hunt's and the majority sat down completely on 
 any location, except that where a church building now stands, 
 near Mr. Mowthorpe's. The McCallum crowd were bound 
 to have a church anyhow where they wanted it, so they went 
 at it, and inside of three weeks they had a building all ready 
 for occupancy on a corner of Ireland's claim. The other 
 fellows, not to be outdone, also went at it and built their 
 church near Mr. Mowthorpe's, where it now is. One was 
 called grit and the other grace — the McCallum one being grit. 
 After they were erected, however, the brethren dwelt together 
 in unity, and, with the help of Brother Mallory, their spiritual 
 welfare was looked after, and all were satisfied. The Mc- 
 Callum church was moved into Ocheyedan when the town 
 started. 
 
 When the building was moved into Ocheyedan, the 
 church pastor then was Rev. R. Hild. He was succeeded by 
 Rev. Keister, he by Rev. J. M. Woolery and then Rev. S. C. 
 Olds, the present pastor. The church building is far too 
 small for the present accommodations and one larger and more 
 spacious will be erected in the near future. 
 
 The Congregational society was organized in the spring 
 of 1889. For awhile its exercises consisted of a Sunday 
 school and occasional preaching from some clergyman sent 
 from the state missionary society and this continued until 1890 
 when Rev. L. R. Fitch became its established pastor and is 
 such now. .This society now holds its services in the school 
 house in the upper story, but will at no distant day erect a 
 church building and they are very much in need of one. Rev. 
 Thomas Pell was at one time pastor and is a forcible preacher. 
 
 Ocheyedan became an incorporated town fully, upon the 
 election of its first officers in April, 1891. In March of that 
 year, the previous month, the question of incorporation or no 
 incorporation was submitted to the people. Public opinion 
 was about equally divided and a discussion of the question 
 previous to the vote being taken, had warmed the contending 
 
HISTORT OF OSCEOLA COUNTT, IOWA. 211 
 
 parties into a strong and almost belligerent controversy. In- 
 corporation carried by a few votes and as soon as the conflict 
 was over, the opposers submitted gracefully, and the feeling 
 then was undivided in all interests that would promote the 
 welfare and progress of Ocheyedan. Soon public improve- 
 ments were entered into, ordinances for the better government 
 of the town, and in promotion of its welfare were passed, and 
 internal improvements became the order of the day. The 
 town's greatest need then was a system of sidewalks and these 
 came along in good time, are now on all streets where busi- 
 ness or residences require them. There is an eight-foot walk 
 which adds not only to the convenience of the town, but to its 
 appearance as well. The present town ofhcers were the first 
 officers elected in April, 1891, with one exception, which is 
 that of Mr. Aldred, and he was elected at the election held in 
 the spring of 1892. The present ofiicers are as follows: 
 
 Mayor W. E. Ely. 
 
 Recorder A. E. Smith. 
 
 Treasurer J. L. McLaury. 
 
 Assessor R. J. Jones. 
 
 Street Commissioner George Rupner. 
 
 Marshal George Rupner. 
 
 f"C. M. Manville. 
 
 j S. A. Dove. 
 •Y ■ Charles Woodworth. 
 
 iiustees J W.F. Aldred- 
 
 I Asa Bowersock. 
 [C. A. Tatum. 
 Ocheyedan has one newspaper, pubhshed by Mr. Perk- 
 ins. The paper was started in 1891, and its first issue on the 
 7th day of August. The paper was started by D. A. W. 
 Perkins, who intended it for his son, George W. Perkins, but 
 while the material was still in the boxes at the freight depot, 
 the boy was drowned in Silver lake, near Lake Park. Mr. 
 Perkins, however, under the shadow of this terrible misfort- 
 une, proceeded with its pubhcation and after an intermediate 
 change it is still published by Mr. Perkins. The paper is a 
 five-column quarto and the public spirit of Ocheyedan people 
 is well manifested by giving the^ paper a liberal patronage 
 which they have since the first issue, and its circulation is 
 large and constantly increasing. The town is not numerous 
 with secret societies, but a Masonic lodge has a complete or- 
 ganization, with a hall finely furnished in the upper story of 
 the building built by Joseph and Dominick Kout. There is 
 
212 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 
 
 what is called the Ocheyedan Lodge, I. O. G. T., of which C. 
 M. Higley is C. T., and Mary McCallum, secretary. This 
 society meets each week. The first postmaster in Ocheye- 
 dan was D. H. Boyd, who was succeeded by A. V. Randall 
 and he by E. N. Moore, the present postmaster. 
 
 The town of Ocheyedan is in nearly the center of the 
 eastern part of Osceola County, and hence as a trading point 
 is favorably located. It has a fine farming country around and 
 tributary to it, and its future is exceedingly promising. Every- 
 thing is peaceable in the town, at the same time full of business 
 activity. Ocheyedan socially is a model town. 
 
 Its present most prominent business interests and citizens 
 are as follows: 
 
 Elevators — A. W. Harris & Co. (manager, John Harris) ; 
 A. E. Brown (manager, A. D. Moreland.) 
 
 Lumber — Bowersock Brothers; John Porter & Son (man- 
 ager, W. F. Aldred.) 
 
 General Stores — Mary Graves; J. W. Thomas & Son; 
 Bunker Brothers; R.J. O. McGowan. 
 
 Banks — Ocheyedan Bank; John Porter & Son. 
 
 Drug Store — A. E. Smith. 
 
 Hardware — Charles Wood worth. 
 
 Hotel— S. A. Dove. 
 
 Restaurant — W. F. Stimpson. 
 
 Meat Market — C. Bowersock. 
 
 Feed Store — A. J. Coulton. 
 
 Livery Barn — E. D. Cleaveland. 
 
 Agricultural House — Tatum Bros.; P^-ank Cleaveland; 
 Bowersock Bros. 
 
 Plarness Shop — C. A. Tatum & Son. 
 
 Millinery— E. P. Johnson. 
 
 Barber — Ed Becker. 
 
 Contractors and Builders — Zeug Bros.; Fred Wheeler; 
 C. L. Buchman; Kout Bros.; T. M. Spencer; McLagen 
 & Son. 
 
 Blacksmith — C. A. Spencer; Fred Meyer. 
 
 Mason— E. N. Moore. 
 
 Stock Buyers — C. M. Manville; Bowersock Bros. 
 
 Furniture — Walton Bros. 
 
 Newspaper — Ocheyedan Press. 
 
 Postmaster — E. N. Moore. 
 
 Physician— W. E. Ely. 
 
 Lawyer — D. A. W. Perkins, 
 
 Painter — Elmer Spencer. 
 
JAMES T. BARCLAY. 
 
214 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY. IOWA. 
 
 Clothing Store— T. H. Dravis. 
 
 Well Borer— C. R. Boyd. 
 
 Stockmen — C. A. Tatum; David Eicher. 
 
 Clergymen— S. C. Olds; L. R. Fitch. 
 
 Station Agent — O. L. Beck. 
 
 Assistant Station Agent — A. O. Beck. 
 
 Mr, T. R. Stewart, formerly in the land business here, is 
 now with John Porter & Son; C. IM. Higley, formerly of 
 Sheldon, is in the Ocheyedan Bank, and Frank Bumgardner 
 is engaged in general farming and stock dealing. 
 
 The interests of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and 
 Northern in its track repairs are represented by John Wallace 
 and P. Cramer. 
 
 Eustace Manville is also in business here, and the cream- 
 ery is under the management of Peter Jensen. A. V. Ran- 
 dall has a crockery store and Mr. A. Arend has a shoe store. 
 The Zeug Brothers have a building as a work shop and in 
 which is a public hall. Daniel Weaver, though living in the 
 countr}^ is the Ocheyedan jeweler. 
 
 The prospect is that Ocheyedan will continue to have a 
 substantial growth and will be a town of some importance. 
 
 SIBLEY. 
 
 The Sibley townsite is situated on section 13, in East Hol- 
 man township. It was laid out by the land department of the 
 Sioux City and St. Paul Railroad Company, in 1872, and sub- 
 sequent additions have been made, which are Chase's addition 
 and East Sibley addition — the first by R. J. Chase and the last 
 by several different parties, among whom are Jacob Brooks, 
 H. S. Brown, Mrs. C. I. Hill, Wilbern Brothers, G. W. Mea- 
 der and others. The first building erected on what is now the 
 townsite was by F. M. Robinson, in the fall of 1871. The 
 town was first named Cleghorn, and afterwards changed to 
 Sibley, named after Gen. H. H. Sibley, of St. Paul. The 
 Robinson building was on the shack order, and in which John 
 L. Robinson, with his son Frank, lived during the winter of 
 1871 and 1872 ; also, W. H, Rogers put up a store building, 
 and this, with the Robinson building, constituted the town of 
 Sibley that first winter. In the spring of 1872 a fellow by the 
 name of Ward had a small building near Roger's store, and 
 in which he kept a saloon. These buildings, on the start, were 
 on what is Tenth street, the street where the old Pioneer hotel 
 
HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY. IOWA. 215 
 
 building now stands, and this point, then, was expected to be 
 the centre of business, and was, until the fire hereafter men- 
 tioned, when the town formed another location north of that, 
 and where the business part of the town now is. Just before 
 the railroad reached the townsite, D. L. McCausland hauled 
 lumber from Mountain Lake, Minn., and put up a residence 
 on the townsite, and this was the first residence building. Af- 
 ter the road had been built into Sibley, in June, 1872, J. T. 
 Barclay obtained lumber out of the first brought in, and im- 
 mediately put up a residence, which he still occupies with his 
 family. After McCausland got his building up he used it for 
 a boarding house, and J. F. Glover, John Hawxshurst, with 
 many others, were his boarders. The house was two-story, 
 and in the hurry of its erectiort stairs were neglected, so that 
 cleats were nailed on the studding for steps to get up and 
 down. All who have had experiences as pioneers know how 
 its out-door life, its expectations, and all its ambitious surround- 
 ings, bring health to the cheek and puts one in the best of 
 physical condition ; and the result of it all, an enormous appe- 
 tite. McCausland's boarders became so ravenous, so anxious 
 for their meals, and in such extraordinary quantities, that it 
 kept Mc on the go to keep up with the demand. It is a won- 
 der that it hadn't broke Mc up in business, for no doubt there 
 were some who never missed a meal and who never paid a 
 cent. 
 
 The town did not get fairly started until in the summer of 
 1872, after the Sioux City and St. Paul Railroad, now the 
 Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha, reached the town 
 site, which was June i, 1872. Soon as the road-bed was in 
 shape for hauling, lumber came in, and the first sales made 
 were b}^ Levi Shell, who then established a lumber yard, and 
 has continued in the business since, and is still here. Quite a 
 number of business houses and residences were erected during 
 that year; also the court house and school house. The Sibley 
 Hotel was also built that year, and in the Sibley Hotel barn, 
 then just completed, was held the exercises on the Fourth da}' 
 of Jul}', which was the first celebration had on the town site. 
 L. S. Fawcett, of Sioux City, delivered the oration, and John 
 H. Douglass was captain of the whangdoodles. This day is 
 remembered by the old settlers as a very cold one, making an 
 overcoat quite comfortable. Sibley, in 1872, had the usual 
 air and appearance of Western towns in their first starting. 
 These are generally characterized by a feeling of independ- 
 ence and a freedom to act unrestrained by the settled wa3^s of 
 
216 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 
 
 society and of social and religious organizations. It took the 
 balance of that year (1872) for the men to get squared 
 around with buildings for business and residences for their 
 families. In 1873 the substantial conditions of society pre- 
 vailed in Sibley and the usual town societies came into exist- 
 ence. In March, 1873, the town was out of coal owing to the 
 snow blockade, and people burned what they could get hold 
 of until the blockade was lifted. E. L. Kinney, who died 
 March 2, 1875, was the first landlord at the Sibley Hotel, and 
 he is remembered by old settlers not only as a first-class land- 
 lord, but as one of the best of men. 
 
 The I. O. O. F. lodge was started in May, 1873, and among 
 its first officers were: W. W. Cram, treasurer; J. T. Barclay, 
 R. S. N. G., and J. H. Douglass, R. S. S. 
 
 In June of that year there was considerable rain, and the 
 mud was so deep that lumber was rafted down the Otter to 
 build bridges at Doon. 
 
 Some of the business men at Sibley then who are still here 
 are Brown & Chambers, Robert Richardson, P. A. Cajacob, 
 D. L. McCausland, J. T. Barclay, J. F. Glover, W. C. Grant, 
 H. L. Emmert, Levi Shell, S. H. Westcott, David Littlechild, 
 S. S. Parker, C. M. Mandeville, George Carew, W. R. Law- 
 rence, Augustus O'Neill, A. W. Mitchell, W. J. Miller, J. P. 
 Hawxshurst. 
 
 In May, 1873, David Littlechild purchased a photograph 
 gallery, and in his announcement said to the ladies: "Come 
 and secure the shadow ere the substance fades." This was 
 in the da3^s of Dave's youth and modesty, when he was con- 
 tent with the shadow, but since then, in his increasing 3'ears of 
 bachelorhood, he has been looking for the substance. 
 
 David Littlechild was also in the livery business in 1872. 
 This business required considerable driving, and Dave was 
 more than once out in a blizzard when his life was in danger. 
 In driving once from Spirit Lake to Sibley, a fearful snow 
 storm overtook him; the weather was extremely cold, and he 
 was unable to tell exactly where he was or where he could 
 find shelter. Fort\inately, he was near the house of D. H. 
 Boyd, near Ocheyedan, and saw it in a lull of the storm, and 
 remained there until the blizzard was over. 
 
 A. W. Mitchell established the first genuine furniture 
 store, J. A. Cole was about the first druggist, and L. Garner 
 about the first harness shop. 
 
 The substantial lawyers, at that time, were J. T. Barclay, 
 Hugh Jordan, J. F. Glover and R. J. Chase. Mr. Barclay 
 
C. W. BENSON. 
 
218 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY. IOWA. 
 
 retired from the practice several years ago for other business 
 interests. Hugh Jordan died in 1887, and R. J. Chase moved 
 to Sioux City in November, 1874, where he is still in practice. 
 Mr. Chase purchased eighty acres on the north side of Sibley, 
 and laid out an addition, which now is well settled with fine 
 residences. The writer knew Hugh Jordan well, and was 
 interested with him in several litigated cases. He was a good 
 lawyer, a prince of good fellows, a good citizen, and indulgent 
 to his family and kind to all. D. D. McCallum studied law 
 with Mr. Jordan, and was admitted in 1878. 
 
 Wilbern Brothers were first in the agricultural implement 
 business, and in the spring of 1873 retired from that, and 
 opened a general store. 
 
 In 1873, Robert Richardson had a meat market, and 
 P. A. Cajacob also opened up in the same business in the 
 spring. Mr. Richardson started in 1872. 
 
 July 4th of that year, 1873, the people of Sibley had a 
 celebration, which was largely attended. C. I. Hill was 
 president of the day; L. G. Ireland, marshal. Mr. Jordan 
 read the Declaration, and J. F. Glover delivered the oration. 
 Porter P. Peck and C. I. Hill were on the finance commit- 
 tee, and, having realized quite an amount on paper, they ex-' 
 pended considerable of their own money, and at last had to 
 foot many of the bills. They came out in an article in the 
 paper afterwards and roasted the delinquents severely. They 
 forgot the old admonition that the time to take up a subscrip- 
 tion is when the coflin is being lowered into the grave, as 
 wailing after the funeral is over is a dangerous chancing of 
 contribution. 
 
 Mr. Peck came to Sibley in 1872, and was for a while in 
 business there under the firm name of Wetherell, Peck & Co. 
 He is now a capitalist in Sioux Falls, and is mayor of the city. 
 
 In July, 1873, a severe wind storm swept over Sibley, 
 scattering lumber, blowing down a few barns, and carrying 
 away the store signs. 
 
 Charles Armbright was Sibley's first barber, and he was 
 also at that time leader of the Sibley band. 
 
 A military company, called the Osceola County Guards, 
 was organized in 1873, with Robert Stamm orderl}'. 
 
 The Methodist Episcopal Church was dedicated Decem- 
 ber 18, 1874. The services were conducted by Rev. R. H. 
 Webb, assisted by Rev. John Webb. There was an indebt- 
 edness of $400, and this was raised at the dedication. The 
 Congregational Church was dedicated November 29, 1S74, 
 the services conducted by W. L. Colman. 
 
HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 219 
 
 July 4, 1874, ^^^'^ '^^^ celebrated. The president of the 
 day was C. I. Hill, H. Jordan delivered the oration, J. F. Glo- 
 ver read the Declaration, and C. M. Bailey was marshal. 
 
 On the 7th da}' of November, 1873, Sibley was visited by 
 fire. It started in the rear of Barber & Lawrence's drug 
 store, and the cause of it was either from a stove in the back 
 part of the building or by an incendiary. The losses, as then 
 estimated, were : Barber «fe Lawrence, $900 ; A. H. Clark, 
 groceries, $600 ; H. C. Kellogg, store, $1,200 ; Kelley & Wal- 
 rath, dry goods, $1,244; J- ^- ^'ole, drugs, $2,000; Wilbern 
 Bros.', stock, $1,100. This fire was a hard blow on Sibley 
 then, but most of the losers soon rebuilt and were soon in 
 business ajjain. 
 
 C. L. Davidson, one of the prominent men of the North- 
 west, who was an early settler in Sibley, now resides in Sioux 
 Count3^ W. L. Parker established himself in the drug busi- 
 ness at Sibley in 1S74. D. L. Riley, now at Iowa Falls, put 
 in a grain warehouse in 1872; also a lumber ^^ard with W. C. 
 Grant. D. M. Shuck was also in the lumber business. 
 
 Sibley was incorporated as a town in the spring of 1876. 
 Its first officers were: 
 
 Mayor— D. L. Riley. 
 
 Trustees — C. L. Norton, C E. Brown, D. Cramer, H. S. 
 Brown, H. L. Emmert. 
 
 Recorder — George S. Murphy. 
 
 The first banking house was started by H. L. Emmert 
 and C. I. Hill in 1873. Mr. Hill retired in 1S74. 
 
 C. I. Hill was one of the early settlers in Sible}', and died 
 a few years ago. He was a man of sterling integrit}^ of much 
 public spirit, and he was a man much missed by the people of 
 Sibley when he died. His widow still resides here. 
 
 Rev. W. W. Mallory, a Methodist preacher, here in the 
 seventies, was a man of strong, vigorous expression, yet of 
 sincere convictions and an upright life. 
 
 On the 2ist day of December, 1878, John L. Robinson 
 celebrated his golden wedding. Mr. Robinson and his wife 
 are still living at Sibley. 
 
 Dr. J. M. Jenkins was Sibley's first physician, in 187 1, 
 though Dr. Gurney, holding down a claim near here, was also 
 in practice. Dr. Churchill was also here in 1871, and Dr. 
 Mellin in 1872. 
 
 The Sibley Gazette was started in July, 1872, by L. A. 
 Barker. In May, 1873, he sold to Riley & Brown, who a few 
 months after sold to E. H. Craig and John F. Glover. Mr. 
 
 \ 
 
220 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 
 
 John Hawxshurst then succeeded Mr. Craig, and with Mr. 
 Glover published the paper. Mr. Glover then retired, and 
 Mr. Hawxshurst was sole proprietor. It was then Edwards 
 & Reed, then Reed & Glover, then Glover, then Glover & 
 Hawxshurst, then George Carew. Afterwards it was Perkins 
 & Foster; then the paper returned to Mr. Carew again, who 
 retained its ownership until in 1891, when the paper was sold 
 to Ward & Co., who in turn sold to the Gazette Publishing 
 Company, who are its present proprietors, under the manage- 
 ment of J. A. Flower. It is the first paper pviblished in the 
 county, and is Republican in politics. 
 
 In 1S78, Sibley had seventy scholars in its school — forty- 
 four in the higher department and sixteen in the primary. 
 
 The Sibley Iribitne was started by Charles E. Crossly; 
 then Dennis bought in, and in 1884 W. P. Webster bought 
 Crossly out. In Novembei', 1890, G. L. Caswell purchased 
 Dennis' interest, so that the present proprietors and publishers 
 are W. P. Webster and G. L. Caswell, under the firm name 
 of Webster & Caswell. It is a six column quarto, and is a 
 Democratic paper, but not extremely partizan. 
 
 There is also published the Sibley Saber, representing 
 the order of Sons of Veterans. A. W. McCallum is editor-in- 
 chief, and George A. Romey, general manager. 
 
 The history of Sibley would be incomplete without a 
 mention of Hon. Stephen Miller, ex-governor of Minnesota 
 and who was, when Sibley started, representing the land de- 
 partment of the Sioux City and St. Paul Railroad Compan}^, 
 and had personal control of the townsites along the line of the 
 road in northwest Iowa. He was an intellectual, honest, no- 
 ble man. His occasional visits to the different towns alwa3^s 
 found the old settlers ready to greet him warmly, and he was 
 highly respected b}- all, and died in 1880. Fie is buried at 
 Worthington, Minn. It would also be incomplete without a 
 mention of Gen. J. W. Bishop, who was then manager of the 
 above named railroad and for whom an}' fulsome praise is un- 
 necessary, as his standing, his character, and his business in- 
 tegrity, are too well known and too well remembered b}' all 
 of us of the early days. The business men of Sibley, early 
 in the seventies, had a hard time of it, as well as did the home- 
 steaders. The settlers were poor, generally so by reason of 
 being poor when they came here, and then by grasshoppers 
 suffered a failure of crops afterwards. It was hard to refuse 
 them credit altogether, and a great many were carrried along 
 on book account, expecting each year to realize a harvest. 
 
w- 
 
 KER D. DUNLOP. 
 
222 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 
 
 Those of the settlers who staid here were, after a while, able 
 to meet their obligations, while others got out of the country 
 in the darkness of night, driven to desperation in their condi- 
 tion of poverty and debt, and. of course the business men of 
 Sibley in all such cases were losers. Others went away in 
 broad daylight, after informing their creditors of their ina- 
 bility to pay, and making promises for the future. Many of 
 these, as the years went by and the debt became ancient, were 
 after a while indifferent, and, even with the best of intentions 
 originally, never paid. The merchants, of course, were the 
 losers. 
 
 Sibley in its present condition is a town of about fifteen 
 hundred inhabitants. It is the abode of considerable wealth, 
 is a very fine business point, and of high social character. It 
 has the best of educational facilities, is a peaceable town, has 
 verv fine residences and commanding brick business houses. 
 
 Of its banks, are the First National, capital $50,000 ; C. 
 E. Brown, president ; H. L. Emmert, cashier ; directors, L. 
 Shell, R. S. Hall, N. Boor, C. E. Brown, H. L. Emmert. 
 
 There is also the Northwestern State Bank. It has a 
 capital of $75,000, and its last quarterly statement shows cash 
 deposits amounting to $264,695.62. J. W. Orde is president, 
 E. Baker, vice-president, L. Dawn, cashier. 
 
 IOWA LAND COMPANY (LIMITED.) 
 
 This company was organized early in the eighties, prin- 
 cipally by the Close Bros., who several years ago left the 
 county and ceased to operate in Northwest Iowa. Its busi- 
 ness here is now managed by C. W. Benson and Ker. D. 
 Dunlop, both of whom are men of the highest business integ- 
 rity and gentlemen in every sense of the word. This com- 
 pany, without question, has advanced the business interests of 
 the town and the settlement of the county. They have opened 
 up farms, brought settlers in, and given opportunities to men 
 without means to work and raise crops and become land own- 
 ers themselves. During their business career here they have 
 foreclosed only one mortgage, and this was for the purpose of 
 settling title, in which the mortgagee himself had an interest. 
 They have erected substantial brick buildings in the town, 
 and their investments here have been a benefit to all as well 
 as profitable to themselves. They control a large number of 
 acres of land, both improved and unimproved. John H. Doug- 
 las is connected with this land com pan}' in certain departments 
 of its business. 
 
HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNT2\ IOWA. 223 
 
 J. T. BARCLAY. 
 
 This gentleman, formerly a lawyer, now is principally 
 engaged in real estate. He issues each month a land journal, 
 and in his August number says : "The town is well supplied 
 with business houses, newspapers, flouring mills and elevators, 
 and is now eager to secure manufactories of all kinds. Such 
 a growing town, in the midst of an elegant farming country, 
 is bound to make land and farms near it very valuable in a 
 short time." Mr. Barclay handles land principally with his 
 own capital, buys and sells, and his continued operations 
 through grasshopper times, and up to the present, have helped 
 largely the settlement of the county. We quote somewhat 
 from his latid journal as to other business interests in Sibley. 
 
 M. M. TRAINER 
 
 is Sibley's efficient and popular dentist. Mr. Trainer thor- 
 oughly understands his business, and is among the most 
 prominent dentists in the Northwest. 
 
 T. H. DRAVIS, 
 
 the "Square-Dealing Clothier," has one of the finest stocks of 
 exclusive clothing and gent's furnishing goods to be found in 
 the West. 
 
 WILLIAM COTTRILL 
 
 is one of Sibley's most extensive harness dealers. 
 
 J. W. KAYE 
 
 is an efficient and accurate abstracter, and whose office is with 
 Lawyer O. J. Clark. 
 
 C. A. SANDERS 
 
 is the popular caterer in the City Bakery and Restaurant, on 
 the south side of Ninth Street. 
 
 LEONARD & CARMICHAEL, 
 
 dealers in lumber, wood and coal, are one of the largest firms 
 in this line in the Northwest. 
 
 D. L. m'causland 
 
 is in the insurance and loan business, and, as will be noticed 
 elsewhere, is one of the first settlers and was first County 
 Recorder. 
 
224 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 
 
 JOE GATES, 
 
 tlie boot and shoe man, is located just west of the post-office. 
 
 G. F. BRAND 
 
 conducts what he calls the "Palace Grocery" in the Lansing 
 & Brown building. 
 
 JOHN DE BOOS 
 
 is proprietor of the Third Avenue hardware store. 
 
 IlEIM, THE PHOTOIST, 
 
 has the only photograph gallery in Sibley. 
 
 J. C. BRICKNER 
 
 is a popular grocer, and does a good trade. His picture will 
 be found on another page. 
 
 WILLIAM RIDDLEBARGER 
 
 is proprietor of the Bargain Store. 
 
 MRS. KNIGHT 
 
 conducts a fashionable millinery store through her assistant 
 here, Mrs. Evans. 
 
 J. B. CAJACOB 
 
 conducts the harness shop on the west end of Ninth street. 
 
 A. BUCHMAN & SON 
 
 are proprietors of a grocery store on Third avenue. 
 
 V. B. GUTHRIE 
 
 has a very fine barber shop under the Northwestern State 
 Bank. He is assisted by M. L. Workheiser. 
 
 ARMIN & SHELL 
 
 have an extensive lumber yard. Mr. Shell was on the ground, 
 as elsewhere stated, in 1872. 
 
 J. WEBBER 
 
 is proprietor of Central meat market. 
 
 LAMME & m'kENNA. 
 
 These young men are successors of Grant cS: Milner. 
 They handle agricultural implements. 
 
R. y. CHASE, 
 
226 HISTOKr OF OSCEOLA COUNTr, IOWA. 
 
 CIGAR FACTORY. 
 
 This has just been started by Nic Koerting, of Le Mars. 
 
 WM. SMITH 
 
 is proprietor of a new restaurant and boarding house on Ninth 
 street. 
 
 NIC KIMIMLINGER 
 
 is Sibley's merchant tailor. 
 
 J. BROOKS, 
 
 who is one of the early settlers, has a flour and feed store. 
 
 A. ROMEY 
 
 has a general store next door to the Osceola House. Mr. 
 Romey is an old settler in the county, as our readers have 
 already noticed. 
 
 W, R. LAWRENCE 
 
 operates a drug store and grocery on the north side of Ninth 
 street. He is an old resident of Sibley and Osceola County. 
 
 ROBERT RICHARDSON 
 
 has a butcher shop, and we notice in tiie 1873 Sibley paper 
 that the same Robert had a butcher shop then. 
 
 W. E. PARKER 
 
 has a drug store, and erected the building he occupies, a pic- 
 ture of which is in this book, in 1891. Mr. Parker is one of 
 the early settlers. 
 
 W^\LTON BROTHERS 
 
 have a very extensive furniture store in the Academy of Music 
 block. These are E. Walton and H. E. Walton. 
 
 THE siblp:y hotel. 
 
 Sibley hotels are fully up to the demands of the town. 
 The Sibley Hotel, conducted by H. L. Leland, is located near 
 the Omaha depot. 
 
 THE OSCEOLA HOUSE 
 
 is located on the north side of Ninth Street, in the business 
 center of the town. It is conducted by John Hickok, and 
 managed by Hickok Brothers. 
 
HTSTORr OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 'i'l'^i 
 
 J. B. LENT 
 
 is dealing entirely in farming machinery of all kinds. 
 
 ECKERMAN BROTHERS. 
 
 This firm are successors to Davidson & Eckerman in the 
 implement business. 
 
 J. B. GREY 
 
 has in full operation one of the best creameries in the State. 
 The output of his institution the past year ranks among the 
 highest of any in the Northwest. 
 
 PEAVY & CO. 
 
 One of this company's elevators is located at Sibley. 
 J. T. Grow is their manager at this place. 
 
 B. MILLER 
 
 is city drayman and transfer man. 
 
 H. E. PERRY, 
 
 mail and express transfer man, and general delivery. 
 
 F. E. CRAM 
 
 is bridge builder and house mover. Also agent for the Austin 
 steel reversible road machines and well drills. 
 
 J. L. DURFEE 
 
 delivers milk at Sibley houses every day. 
 
 MRS. KENNY 
 
 conducts classes in instrumental music in Sibley. 
 
 MRS. WILDER 
 
 has a large class in vocal and instrumental music. 
 
 MISS GRACE CAMPBELL 
 
 conducts classes in instrumental music in Sibley, Ashton, and 
 Bigelow, Minn. 
 
 E. F. BEAUMONT 
 
 is Sibley's artistic wielder of the brush, and a professional 
 paper hanger. 
 
 \ 
 
228 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTT, IOWA. 
 
 SIBLEY MARBLE WORKS. 
 
 M. J. North looks after the monument business. 
 
 TOBEY BROS. 
 
 are dealers in agricultural implements and farm supplies. 
 
 L. D. BARNES 
 
 conducts a tin shop and deals in small hardware in the build- 
 ing next to Webber's meat market. 
 
 B. A. WILDER, 
 
 physician and surgeon, has had forty-two years' experience in 
 homo^pathic methods. 
 
 H. NEILL, 
 
 is Sibley's oldest physician and surgeon. 
 
 MRS. HAHN MILLINERY. 
 
 She keeps hats, bonnets, hoods, ribbons, tips, bridal 
 wreaths, China silks, etc. 
 
 Y. A. HOWARD 
 
 is an extensive dealer in all kinds of school furniture. 
 
 LAWYERS. 
 
 The lawyers of Sibley are C. M. Brooks, D. D. McCul- 
 lum, O. J. Clark, G. W. Lister and John F. Glover. Mr. 
 Glover is the oldest in point of residence, and Mr. McCullum 
 also does an extensive pension business. Mr. Lister is County 
 Attorney. Mr. Clark has been in Sibley about ten years. 
 Mr. McCullum served a term as Circuit Judge in that judicial 
 district, and is mentioned elsewhere as an old resident. The 
 bar is well represented and Sibley's lawyers are efficient and 
 able practitioners. 
 
 LONG & SCHLEGEL 
 
 are land, loan and insurance agents, south side of Ninth street. 
 
 JOHN A. FLOWER 
 
 is county surveyor and also manager of the Sibley Gazette. 
 
 LEISCII & BRODT. 
 
 A. Leisch and C. H. Brodt are the oldest draymen in the 
 city. 
 
JOHN ROBERTSON. 
 
230 ittsTotir OF OSCEOLA covNTr. lowA. 
 
 A. W. MITCHELL 
 
 is a milk dealer. Mr. Mitchell is spoken of elsewhere as one 
 of the early settlers. 
 
 G. W. HEADER 
 
 has an extensive hardware store, and elsewhere in this book 
 is a picture of his building, 
 
 LIVERY STARLES. 
 
 These are represented by Littlechild Bros, and Joe Gill. 
 
 W. II. STEWART. 
 
 Mr. Stewart is veterinary surgeon. 
 
 C. W. LO\^'RY, 
 
 proprietor of the Sibley Steam Laundry. 
 
 D. F. CAUGHEY, 
 
 is proprietor of City Laundry. 
 
 CLINT HUDSON 
 
 is handling the Dustless grain and grass seed cleaner and 
 separator. 
 
 HENRY NEWELL 
 
 is the efficient young manager of the business of the Chicago, 
 St. Paul, Milwaukee & Omaha Railway at this station. 
 
 GEO. W. BAXTER 
 
 is the good natured gentleman who attends to the wants of 
 the patrons of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids &. Northern 
 Railway. He is assisted b}^ C. A. Thompson. 
 
 Sibley is having something of a boom in fine residences 
 this year. A. W. Harris, grain dealer, has erected a large 
 house of modern architecture. A Shapley, a retired farmer, 
 has the foundation in for a large and commodious dwelling in 
 which he proposes to take life easy for the remainder of his 
 days. Geo. Carew, the veteran newspaper man, is com- 
 fortably situated in a large, well built residence. Mrs. C. I. 
 Hill has a fine residence just completed which is an ornament 
 to the city. There are several smaller residences which have 
 been constructed this spring. 
 
 Amonjif its other business men are 
 
HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COVNTT, IOWA. 281 
 
 W. B. STEVENS. 
 
 A picture of this gentleman and his residence will be 
 found elsewhere in this book. He has an extensive drug 
 store; also a line of jewelry and hardware. 
 
 SIBT.EY ROLl.ER MILLS. 
 
 Sibley boasts of the best and most complete roller flour- 
 ing mills in the State, with a capacity of seventy-five barrels 
 per day. It is rushed with business every hour. Its makes of 
 flour are considered equal to those of any mills in the country, 
 and their field of trade extends to England. J. W. Orde and 
 G. B. Gurney appear as its proprietors, with Ciiarles Himes 
 miller, and Guv P. Elliott as an interested part}', and also M. 
 A. Harbord. 
 
 BLOTCKY BROTHERS 
 
 have dry goods, clothing, groceries, etc. 
 
 IIINLKEY & TAYLOR 
 
 have a general store. Mr. Taylor is manager, and his picture 
 is elsewhere in this book. 
 
 E. F, ROBINSON 
 
 is the proprietor of the Postotfice book and news store. 
 
 BROWN & CHAMBERS. 
 
 This firm has been spoken of elsewhere as on the ground 
 at an earl}' day. In 1S90 the}' erected a brick building at a 
 cost of $15,000, a picture of which is on another page. They 
 carry a stock of general merchandise. 
 
 IRA BRUNSON 
 
 is eniraored in the jreneral land business. 
 
 WILLIAM PROPER, 
 
 one of the pioneers, is a resident of Sibley. 
 
 DANIEL MAHONEY 
 
 is a resident, and is road-master on the Burlington, Cedar 
 Rapids and Northern Railroad. 
 
 JACK IIANNA, 
 
 one of the old residents, is now in the land business. 
 
2B2 ntSTORT op OSCEOLA COVNTT. IOWA. 
 
 JOHN SCHESTAG 
 
 is boot and shoe maker and repairer. 
 
 Gus o'neil, 
 
 paper hanger and painter, kalsominer and plasterer. 
 
 Others of Sibley's business and professional men are as 
 follows : 
 
 Brand & Suter, contractors and builders. 
 
 A. M. Mastick, wagon maker, 
 
 A. M. Culver, carpenter and builder. 
 
 Ed. Garland, blacksmith. 
 
 S. J. Cram, carpenter and builder. 
 
 A. L. Blackmore, blacksmith. 
 
 H. C. Mory, carpenter and builder. 
 
 J. Grant, blacksmith. 
 
 C. H. Manderville, carpenter. 
 
 J. W. Flint, plasterer and mason. 
 
 H. G. Upp, carpenter and mechanic. 
 
 Charles Anderson, plasterer. 
 
 Joe Hillerns, blacksmith. 
 
 N. H. Brand, carpenter. 
 
 T. W. Turk, painter and decorator. 
 
 SCHOOLS. 
 
 Sibley has an elegant High School building with eight 
 rooms. The teachers are all the best that can be had, which 
 makes the schools very thorough. A large number of scholars 
 from other places attend here. 
 
 CHURCHES. 
 
 Sibley has six church societies and five fine buildings. 
 The Catholic, Methodist, Congregational, Baptist, Episcopal 
 and German Evangelical. All support good ministers and 
 have a large attendance. 
 
 CIVIC SOCIETIES. 
 
 Sible}' has numerous fraternal orders and all in a prosper- 
 ous, healthy condition. They consist of the Masons, Odd 
 Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Grand Army of the Republic, 
 Sons of V^cterans, Modern Woodmen, Order of the Eastern 
 Star, Daughters of Rebecca, W. R. C, L. A. S., W. C. T. U., 
 I. O. G. T. The Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, 
 G. A. R., and Good Templars all have halls of their own. 
 
H. C. WEBB. 
 
234 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 
 
 E. J. FAIRBROTHER 
 
 is a pioneer, and is an active, intelligent gentleman, eight}^- 
 one years of age. 
 
 S. A. COLBURN 
 
 is selling sewing machines. 
 
 F. C. ALMONT AND A. SCHMITS 
 
 have established wagon and carriage works, with paint shop 
 attachment. 
 
 GEORGE T. \ OORHEES AND H. C. WKBB 
 
 are engaged extensively in the land business. The pictures 
 of both of these gentlemen are in the book. 
 
 W. J. MILLER 
 
 is in the land and loan business. He is one of the early set- 
 tlers. 
 
 JOHN p. IIAWXSHURST 
 
 is doing abstracting and real estate work. Mr. Hawxshurst 
 figures in the early history of the county. 
 
 H. E. THAYER 
 
 came to Sibley in 1S92, from O'Brien Count}^ He is engaged 
 in the real estate business with J. T. Barcla3\ 
 
 DR. CRAWHALL 
 
 is established over Brown Ik Chambers' store. 
 
 The Sibley municipal officers are as follows: 
 
 Mayor — J. F. Glover. 
 
 Recorder — W. P. Webster. 
 
 Treasurer — ^J. Fred Mattert. 
 
 Marshal — John Morrow. 
 
 Councilmen — G. O. Learned, E. Walton, C. E. Brown, 
 A. Romey, J. T. Barclay, John DeBoos. 
 
 Street Commissioner — R. L. Norris. 
 
 Assessor — John Townsend. 
 
 Sibley has two railroads, the Chicago, St. Paul, Minne- 
 apolis and Omaha, which crosses the townsite north and south, 
 and the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern, which crosses 
 east and west. 
 
 A picture of J. C. Trainer appears elsewhere in the book. 
 
nrSTORl OF OSCEOLA C0UNT1-, IOWA. 235 
 
 This gentleman was for several years principal of the public 
 schools in Sibley, and left an impression of thorough scholar- 
 ship and the best of school training upon all who came under 
 his instruction or in contact with him. He died a few years 
 ago, and his death caused a feeling of sadness in the entire 
 community. 
 
 WII.BERN BROTHERS. 
 
 These gentlemen are engaged extensively in business, 
 principally in real estate. They will be remembered from 
 reading elsewhere as early settlers in the town. 
 
 So far as the writer can gather from investigation and 
 inquiry, the foregoing comprise the business interests of Sib- 
 ley. If any have been omitted it is unintentional. 
 
 The churches in Sibley are the following : 
 
 CONGREGATIONAL. 
 
 Services every Sunday morning at 10:30 nnd evening at 
 8 o'clock. Sabbath school immediately after the morning 
 services. Prayer meeting on Thursday evening. Rev. P. B. 
 West, pastor. 
 
 METHODIST EPISCOPAL. 
 
 Services ever}' Sunday morning and evening. Sabbath 
 school at 2:30 o'clock in the afternoon. Prayer meeting every 
 Thursday evening. Rev. C. Artman, pastor. 
 
 BAPTIST. 
 
 Services every Sunday morning and evening in the 
 church. Sabbath school from 12 to i o'clock p. m. Prayer 
 meeting ever}' Thursday evening. Rev. R. Bradshaw, pastor. 
 
 ST. John's episcopal church. 
 
 Located on the corner of Eighth street and Sixth avenue. 
 Services each Sunday. J. W. Orde officiating as minister. 
 
 ST. Mary's church of siblev. 
 
 Services each alternate Sunday. Father Dollard, pastor. 
 
 Sibley is having a gradual growth. Some new building 
 seems to be in process of erection all the time, and electric 
 lights and water works will soon be the order of the day. 
 
 k 
 
CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 Since writing the preceding chapters in this book there 
 has come under the writer's observation an article written by 
 some clever writer in 1876 on the history of V^ioki township, 
 and, although it may be somewhat on the order of repetition, 
 I will here reproduce it. We think it was written by Peter 
 Shaw: 
 
 " VioivA Township, December 2, 1876. — In accordance 
 with the proclamation of Samuel J. Kirkwood, the Governor 
 of Iowa for 1876, the Centennial year, the one hundredth 
 anniversary of America, that the several township clerks of 
 each county be requested to write a sketch or history of their 
 townships, though I am not much skilled in writing history or 
 anything that would be of much interest to the people, I will 
 endeavor to write something. 
 
 "This township was first settled A. D. 1871. The first 
 settlers, or rather the pioneer settlers as we term them, were 
 as follows: C. C. Collison, John Smith, J. F. Van Emburgh, 
 H. W. Tinkum, G. W. Ketchum, J. T. Sage, John Stamm, 
 Hugh and Oren Jones, W. H. Gates, and Mrs. Beeman, Mrs. 
 Jane Smith and Miss Carrie Smith. These comprise the 
 pioneers. C. C. Collison, John Smith and John Stamm were 
 the first. C. C. Collison built the first house that was built in 
 the township. There was considerable breaking done that 
 year, and some sod corn raised and a few potatoes. The set- 
 tlers worked at a great disadvantage in building, as there was 
 no timber within fifteen or twenty miles and no lumber within 
 fifty miles, till late in the fall the cars came as far as Worth- 
 ington, a distance of eighteen miles, the St. Paul Railroad 
 being completed no further. So most of the first settlers 
 built sod houses to live in, which made very comfortable 
 houses for the homesteaders of Viola. But they had a pretty 
 severe winter to go through. They had their wood to haul 
 from fifteen to twenty miles, which made snug work to keep 
 warm, as they had not learned to burn hay at that time. 
 
 "Mr. Beeman was frozen to death. He got caught out 
 in a blizzard on his way home from the Big Rock River, 
 where he had been after a load of corn. He left a wife and 
 several children to provide for themselves in the dead of win- 
 ter in the wilds of Osceola. Though the pioneers came out 
 
238 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY. IOWA. 
 
 in the spring fat and smoking, for their houses were mostly 
 covered over with snow, as the snow fell very deep that winter. 
 
 "The settlers of A. D. 1872, were as follows: Peter 
 Shaw, John H. Douglass, N. I. Wetmore, S. Ford, Abram 
 Shapley, John Hart, M. D. Hadsell, C. C. Hadsell, E. Headley, 
 C. C. Ogan, E. S. Bennett, C. G. Bennett, William Rubow, 
 A. Averill, D. Averill, O. Averill, A. B. Graves, E. Mulmex, 
 S. Smith, E. Smith, John Tann, W. M. Barnard, J. Blair, J. S. 
 Patterson, George Carew, L. Clark, G. S. Downend, D. B. 
 Wood, £. Nulton, J. Farren, H. Graham, T. W. Graves, H, 
 Jordan, L, McConnell, P. L. Piesley, Levi Shell, C. T. Torrey, 
 P. Wilcox, M. Winchester, J. F. Ransom, A. Van Blockham. 
 These were the settlers of '72. But the settlers of '72 had 
 great advantages over the settlers of '71- The St. Paul Rail- 
 road being completed to Sibley in the early part of June, lum- 
 ber and wood were within three to eight miles, and the settlers 
 went right to work and built their several shanties, and then 
 proceeded to break and plant sod corn and potatoes and gar- 
 dens, and as it was a fine growing season, they had fine crops 
 for sod crops. Some rented land that had been broken the 
 year before, and had an excellent crop from it. I raised 206 
 bushels of wheat off of nine and one-half acres of late breaking 
 that season. Most of the settlers that year raised their vege- 
 tables and feed for their teams, but most of them had their 
 meat and flour to buy till the next fall. 
 
 "Viola Township was organized in the fall of 1872, and 
 held its first election in John H. Douglass' shanty. The fol- 
 lowing township officers were elected: Peter Shaw, town- 
 ship clerk; M. D. Hadsell and John Smith, justices of the 
 peace; Jackson Blair, assessor; T. J. Stage, C. C. Hadsell, 
 C. G. Bennett, trustees; C. C. Ogan and John Stamm, con- 
 stables; Hugh Jones, road supervisor; U. S. Grant, president 
 of the United States, re-elected; John H. Douglass, sheriff of 
 Osceola County, Iowa. The township polled thirty-six votes, 
 but part of the officers went away that winter and left their 
 offices vacant. The following persons were appointed to fill 
 vacancies: W. H. Gates and David Wood, trustees; N. I. 
 Wetmore, assessor; John Hart, road supervisor; Abram 
 Shapley, justice of the peace; Mr. Shapley did not qualify. 
 
 "The first blacksmith shop was erected by J. F. Van 
 Emburgh in 1871, and in 1872 Abram Shapley built another 
 shop. 
 
 " The first school house was erected in the summer of 
 1872 on the southwest quarter of Section 25, and called the 
 
HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 239 
 
 Gates School House, and Miss Carrie Smith was the first 
 teacher. She taught a term of six months. The first half of 
 the term was taught in one part of C. C. CoUison's house, and 
 three months in the Gates School House. The next two 
 school houses were built in the spring of 1875, one on the 
 northwest corner of Section 20, the other one on the northeast 
 ijuarter of Section 32. The first school directors were M. D. 
 Hadsell, N. I. Wetmore and D. B. Wood. 
 
 "The first Sabbath school was organized in the summer 
 of 1 87 1 and held at H. W. Tinkham's, and has been held 
 every summer in different parts of the township. In the sum- 
 mer of 1875 the Sunday school officers were all lady officers, 
 with Mrs. Ripley as superintendent. 
 
 "The first church society was organized by Brother 
 Mallory, of Sibley, in the winter of 1875 and 1876, at the 
 Greaves School House, but meetings had been held by diff^er- 
 ent denominations. Since the summer of 1872, Revs. B. A. 
 Dean, Brashears, Webb, Lowrie and several others have held 
 regular appointments here. G. W. Ketchum's sod house was 
 used for the first meeting house, till the Gates School House 
 was built. 
 
 " The first white child born in the township was the 
 daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Nims, in June, 1S71, and 
 was the first child born in the county, but it only lived to the 
 age of 18 months. 
 
 " The deaths have been but few. The first was Mr. Bee- 
 man, who was frozen to death in Lyon county in the winter 
 of 1 87 1 and 1872, in a blizzard, some time in February, while 
 on his way home from the Big Rock, where he had been 
 after a load of corn. The next was the daughter of Mr. and 
 Mrs. Nims. The next was Mrs. Jennings, the daughter of 
 Mrs. Abram Shapley, who died very suddenly at Mr. G. S. 
 Downend's with heart disease. The next was Mr. Wright- 
 mire, though a resident of Minnesota. The next was Mrs. C. 
 Collison, died in March, 1S76. The next was Mrs. Eliza J. 
 Smith, died in April, 1876. Mrs. Collison and Mrs. Smith 
 died but a month apart, and came into the county together in 
 1872, and lived near neighbors and were highly esteemed by 
 all who knew them. Mrs. Collison left a large family of small 
 children. Mrs. Smith was the mother of John, Samuel, Edwin 
 and Carrie Smith. She took a homestead when she came, 
 and had lived within a few weeks of her five years on the 
 homestead. 
 
 " The first married couple was Mr. John Tann to Miss 
 
240 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY. IOWA. 
 
 Carrie A. Smith, in Sibley, at the parsonage, by Elder Webb, 
 January i, 1873. The next was Edwin Smith to Miss Greaves, 
 and several of the bachelors have married out of the county. 
 They have all taken a better half except Joseph Farren and J. 
 T. Sage, who still are waiting. 
 
 " The heaviest farmers are Abram Shapley, Peter Shaw, 
 G. S. Downend, P. L. Piesley, J. Blair, J. Farren, W. H. 
 Gates, A. Averill, A. B. Greaves, John Tarn, M. D. Hadsell, 
 S. F. Smith, Ed. Smith and C. C. Colhson. 
 
 " So far the farmers have had rather discouraging farm- 
 ing on account of the grasshoppers. They came here in June, 
 1873, and destroyed the greater part of the crops that year, 
 so that the people had to apply for assistance in the way of 
 relief. The State Legislature appropriated $50,000 to the 
 grasshopper sufferers in the way of seed grain. But in 1874 
 the 'hoppers hatched here and came in from Minnesota, and 
 hurt the crop from about one-fourth to a third. In 1875 the 
 crops were good except corn and oats, which were badly 
 eaten by the pests. But the people began to feel considerably 
 encouraged, and in 1876, the centennial year, they went in as 
 if they were going to make up for losses, and put in every 
 foot of ground that they had broken. And the grain was 
 looking fine and promising until within a few days of harvest- 
 ing, when the 'hoppers came again from the north in great 
 numbers and waded into the grain, and destroyed almost the 
 entire crop in this township. So most of the farmers are 
 bankrupt, without seed or money. 
 
 " Many of the settlers were compelled to go away for the 
 winter in order to make a living for their families and get 
 something to seed their places with for the next year. Some 
 are too poor to get away and have been compelled to prove 
 up on their homesteads and mortgage their places to raise 
 money to carry them till they can raise another crop. The 
 people nearly all burn hay for fuel because they have not the 
 wherewith to buy anything else to burn, but if all other ne- 
 cessities could be remedied as easily as the fuel we could man- 
 age to get along very well. As it is, most of the farmers will 
 be compelled to let part of their farms lie still next year, for 
 the want of means to get seed to seed their lands. Most of 
 the farmers did considerable breaking this season, and now 
 have more ground broken than they have the means to carry 
 on. There were about fifteen hundred acres broken in this 
 township this summer. The lands in this township are very 
 rich and productive, and the face of the country is most beau- 
 
DIEDRICH WASSMANN. 
 
HISTORl OF OSCEOLA COC'.VTl', IOWA. 245 
 
 tiful, just rolling enough to drain well, and it is as well watered 
 as any part of Osceola county. It has the Otter creek run- 
 ning through on the east, the Little Rock on the west and the 
 Muddy creek on the north. These streams all have fine grass 
 land along them, which produces the best of hay for stock. It 
 is not only good farming land, but well adapted to raising 
 stock and the dairying business. We have one cheese factory 
 in the township, which is owned by Davad B. Wood, and is 
 located in the center of the township. All that is lacking now 
 is the means to get the stock to make it one of the most pro- 
 ductive townships in the northwest. Some new settlers have 
 settled in this township." 
 
 I 
 
CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 TOWNSHIPS. 
 
 To Start on there were only three townships. The con- 
 gressional township running east and west across the county, 
 numbered lOO, was called Horton Township ; the same run- 
 ning east and west across the county, numbered 99, was called 
 Holman Township, and the same numbered 98 called Goewey 
 Township. These remained in that way until October 7, 
 1872, when the board divided Horton Township into three 
 townships, making section 100, range 42, Fenton, section 100, 
 range 41, Wilson, and section 100, range 40, and section 100, 
 range 39, Horton. Afterwards, by a demand of the people 
 in that township, Fenton was changed to Viola. Fairview w-as 
 set off September 7, 1874. Holman Township remained as 
 established until at the September 27, 1873, meeting the board 
 made two townships out of the four, making the east, being 
 section 99, range 39, and section 99, range 40, one township, 
 and giving the name Ocheyedan. These townships, remain- 
 ing the same as Holman, comprise two congressional town- 
 ships, and Ocheyedan two, which for convenience sake are 
 called East and West Ocheyedan. At the January i, 1884, 
 meeting, Oilman Township was set off by itself. June 7? 1875, 
 the board passed a resolution that township 98, range 40, be 
 set off and called Baker, except sections 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 
 and sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 28, 29 and 
 30, in township 98, range 39. Harrison was set off Septem- 
 ber 3, 1888, and that fall had its first election. 
 
 EDUCATIONAL. 
 
 If there is any one thmg that is distinctly American, it is 
 our educational system, which offers to each rising generation 
 the grandest facilities for scholarship that can be found in the 
 world. 
 
 The American boy knows no barrier to distinction in the 
 line of education save in himself. Iowa is not behind any other 
 state in the Union in its legislative provisions concerning 
 schools, and Osceola Count}^ as a part of the great state, is 
 ever active in the organization of its school districts and their 
 effective management. 
 

 
 MARV I.. MiCAI.LUM. 
 
'JMn 
 
 Mmm 
 
 H. G. DOOLITTLE. 
 
IIISTORl OF OSCEOLA COVNTT, IOWA. 251 
 
 If an}' boy or girl lives in Osceola County during their 
 school days, and grows to manhood or womanhood here with- 
 out a good common school education, the fault must be charged 
 to the parent or the child and not to lack of opportunity. 
 
 Immediately upon the formation of the civil townships, 
 as made by the Woodbury County Board, the same townships 
 by operation of law became school districts, and the school 
 townships now are the same in size and name as the civil 
 townships, 
 
 F. W. Hahn is the present County Superintendent of 
 Schools, and his official management in that department is 
 efficient and highly satisfactory. 
 
 There are at present in the county eighty-one school 
 houses, as follows : 
 
 Fairview - 3 
 
 Horton 6 
 
 W ilson 6 
 
 Viola 6 
 
 Ocheyedan I2 
 
 Harrison 7 
 
 Baker 7 
 
 Goewey 7 
 
 Gilman 8 
 
 Holman i5 
 
 Sibley, town 2 
 
 Ocheyedan, town i 
 
 Ashton. town i 
 
 The value of Osceola County school houses is estimated 
 at v$44,ooo ; the value of school house apparatus at $2,000. 
 
 The present school otlicers are as follows : 
 
 FAIRVIEW. 
 
 President— J. C. Ward. 
 
 Secretary — M. B. Smith. 
 
 Treasurer — Wm. Mowthorpe. 
 
 Directors — Geo. Hamilton, B. F. Webster. 
 
 HORTON. 
 
 President — Dick Wassmann. 
 Secretary — ^John Robertson. 
 Treasurer — N. W. Emery. 
 Directors— I. B. Titus, August Bremer. 
 
252 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY. IOWA. 
 
 WILSON. 
 
 President— W. A. Cloud. 
 Secretary — A. B. Evarts. 
 Treasurer — Will Thomas. 
 
 Directors— W. C. Connor, Mons. Soren, C. E. Yates, F. 
 A. Klampe, Joseph Zweck. 
 
 VIOLA. 
 
 President — Joseph Raine. 
 Secretary — George Downend. 
 Treasurer — J. P. Wallran. 
 Directors— S. Newman, Pat Piesley. 
 
 HOLMAN. 
 
 President — W. L. Taylor. 
 
 Secretary — M. Harvey. 
 
 Treasurer — P. A. Cajacob. 
 
 Directors — T. Ling, John Gallagher, Thomas Reycraft, 
 D. W. Whitney, John Karpen, James Hunter, O. C. Staplin, 
 John Schroeder, Will Morse, J. B. Jenny, John Wagner, John 
 Melcher. 
 
 OCHEYEDAN. 
 
 President— W. E. Ely. 
 
 Secretary — E. N. Moore. 
 
 Treasurer — L. B. Boyd. 
 
 Directors — G. W. Thomas, Joseph Smith. 
 
 HARRISON. 
 
 President — J. W. Wardrip. 
 
 Secretary — T. Heinmig. 
 
 Treasurer — F. H. Newkirk. 
 
 Directors — George Krukenberg, Daniel Tzards. 
 
 BAKER. 
 
 President — Hans Graves. 
 Secretary — C. W. Br3^an. 
 Treasurer — W. H. Lean. 
 Directors — J. L. McAnnich, Fred. Kuester. 
 
 , GOEWEY. 
 
 President'— H. C. Allen. 
 Secretary — Henry Huffman. 
 Treasurer — Alex. Gilkinson. 
 
 Directors — O. B. Harding, A. Brunson, Charles Bangert, 
 Jacob Brandt, George Spaulding, Eugene Girton. 
 
M. A. TATUM. 
 
A. E. BEAUMONT 
 
 I 
 
mSrOKT OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 257 
 
 OILMAN. 
 
 President — B. T. Pettingell. 
 Secretary — J. C. Wilmarth. 
 Treasurer — W. C. Craig. 
 
 Directors — A. Schent, R. Lensen, H. H. Nolte, R. J. 
 Stemm, E. Beckwith, Nels Porter. 
 
 INDEPENDENT DISTRICT OF SIBLEY. 
 
 President— H. Neill. 
 Secretary — W. P. Webster. 
 Treasurer — Levi Shell. 
 
 Directors — A. Romey, M. J. Campbell, J. B. Lent, Geo. 
 Learned, W. H. Chambers. 
 
 INDEPENDENT DISTRICT OF ASHTON. 
 
 President — I. B. Lucas. 
 Secretary — J. W. Reagan. 
 Treasurer — W. L. Benjamin. 
 Directors — N. Boor, H. S. Grant. 
 
 The school sections, so-called, are numbered sixteen in 
 each township, which were donated by the general govern- 
 ment, to the State, for the benefit of the schools. These sec- 
 tions are sold, and the proceeds constitute a fund which re-- 
 mains and not disposed of, but it is loaned out upon good real 
 estate security, and the income from it by way of interest, is 
 distributed over the State to each township according to its 
 number of scholars. Osceola County has now of this fund, 
 and as proceeds from the sale of land in this county, about 
 $100,000. The first sale made of school lands in Osceola, 
 was in July, 1881, and the first quarter sold was bought by 
 Close Bros, in Oilman Township. These school lands have 
 all been disposed of except one quarter, and this will go to 
 sale soon. 
 
 There are in Osceola County at the present time, about 
 twenty-one hundred persons of school age, and the best of 
 teachers are secured, so that our schools are of a high order 
 and the means of much advancement. Several school build- 
 ings have been erected this present season. Prof. Trainer, 
 mentioned elsewhere, did much for Osceola County in the line 
 of education. He constantly contributed to the public press 
 articles intended to stimulate the young in the line of their 
 studies. The followmg is one of his contributions : 
 
 16 
 
258 HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY. IOWA. 
 
 "A PLEA FOR THE CHILDREN. 
 
 "Children hunger perpetually for new ideas. They will 
 learn with pleasure from the lips of others what they deem 
 drudgery to study in books; and even if they have the mis- 
 fortune to be deprived of many educational advantages, they 
 grow up intelligent people. 
 
 "We sometimes see people who are the life of every com- 
 pany which they enter, dull, silent and uninteresting among 
 children; such cannot teach. The teacher must be the life of 
 the school. How can we expect life and energy to come from 
 dry, cold, silent books! The use of books is a detriment 
 rather than an aid to the younger pupils. When the pupil 
 enters school at the age of five years he already has learned 
 more than any teacher on earth can teach him in a long life 
 time. Teachers, did you ever think that the child at that age 
 has learned two of the most difficult things mortals have to 
 learn — walking and talking .'^ How many works in philosophy 
 has it been necessary for him to consult ? What university 
 has he graduated from to be able to walk perfectly? What 
 authors on language has he studied, or how many lectures on 
 philosophy has he heard to be able to make known his 
 thoughts by talking. We know that these and a thousand 
 other attainments have been reached by doing for himself. 
 Yet without a knowledge of these things, from the first hour 
 the child enters school many teachers attempt to change the 
 whole course of nature by forcing upon him that which is as 
 foreign to his nature as day is from night. What we need is 
 the teacher who will give the children a chance to observe, 
 experiment and to think for themselves, and let us remember 
 that language is the instrument of thought, and that without 
 language there can be no thought." 
 
JAMES PORTER. 
 
I. C. HEIM. 
 
CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 Early in the seventies there was much discussion as to the 
 depreciation of county warrants, which were down then to fifty 
 cents on the dollar. Some writer in the local press, in Janu- 
 ary, 1874, h^^ ^^^ following : 
 
 " Northwestern Iowa needs assistance, and such assist- 
 ance can only be granted by the State Legislature. The mu- 
 nificence of individuals can relieve the wants of individuals, 
 but it takes legislation to relieve the embarrassments of 
 counties. 
 
 " In no part of the state is there more fertile soil, more 
 healthful climate, larger yearly improvements, or more rapid 
 increase in population, than in Northwestern Iowa. In a few 
 years the counties will be as independent as an}' in the state. 
 But circumstances, over which the county had no control, for 
 the very reason that they were, themselves, controlled by de- 
 signing men, brought the credit of many of them into great 
 disrepute, owing to the issuing of warrants for no valid con- 
 sideration, so that after affairs began to be economically man- 
 aged the warrants were worth, in the market, but half their 
 face. 
 
 " It may be safely said that the New Code of Iowa went 
 into operation finding the administration of our northwestern 
 counties in as good hands as other portions of the state, but 
 just as the New Code took force the bonding law expire<l by 
 statute limitation, thereby taking away that which had caused 
 warrants to be, at least in some degree, in demand, as offering 
 an investment which yielded a fair rate of interest. 
 
 " By economical management it was hoped that warrants 
 would not depreciate very much, but when the Supreme 
 Court's decision was announced there was no longer a mar- 
 ket, something, of course, must be done. The counties can- 
 not remedy the matter ; it rests with the Legislature. 
 
 " Our assessment is $612,000. At four mills the revenue 
 amounts to $2,448 ; this, with the present amount of property, 
 is all that' can be raised for county purposes. 
 
 " Now, see what county expenses are to be paid out of 
 this sum : Section 3844 of the Code provides that ' The 
 Board of Supervisors shall furnish the Clerk of District and 
 
264 HISTORT OF OSCEOLA COUNTY. IOWA. 
 
 Circuit Courts, Sheriff, Recorder, Treasurer, Auditor and 
 County Superintendent with offices at the county-seat, to- 
 gether with fuel, lights, blanks, books and stationer}^ neces- 
 sary and proper to enable them to discharge the duties of 
 their respective offices.' 
 
 " The compensation of the officers is fixed by the board, 
 and paid out of the county fund, except such as paid in the 
 shape of fees. The sum total of fees received in the different 
 offices is no more than sufficient to afford one officer a rea- 
 sonable and fair compensation, leaving four or five officers to 
 be paid out of the county fund. The sum total of fees and 
 expenses, fixed b}- law, and that cannot be reduced, amounted, 
 for the last year, to $4,625.94 ; add to this amount compensa- 
 tion for officers and the amount necessary to pay the interest 
 on bonds drawing ten per cent., payable semi-annually, and 
 you have, at the least calculation, a sum three or four times 
 the amount of the revenue. At present it would take just 
 about a twenty mill tax to keep up all the drafts on the count}- 
 fund. 
 
 " In view of the above condition of affairs, we appeal to 
 the Legislature to provide for a revenue. We submit that it 
 is an outrage on the Board of Supervisors, to the people of 
 the county, to the name of legislator or legislation, that a body 
 of men, chosen to legislate for the interests of the whole state, 
 should compel Boards of Supervisors to provide for the pay- 
 ment of bills of expenses and provide for only one-fourth the 
 necessary revenue. 
 
 " We must have the bonding law revived, a higher levy, 
 and direct taxes voted by the people. We need one, or more, 
 or all these means of relief. There is no reason why, if 
 sufficient revenue is provided, the paper of a county cannot 
 be just as good as the paper money of the government." 
 
 PRICES IN 1873. 
 
 In 1873, prices in Sibley ranged about as follows: Six- 
 teen and one-half pounds of dried apples for $1.00; prunes 
 7^ pounds for $1.00; blackberries, 7)^ pounds for $1.00; 
 peaches, 10 pounds for $1.00; Standard "A" sugar, 7^ 
 pounds for $t.oo; brown sugar, 10 pounds for $1.00; bacon, 
 12 cents per pound; shoulders, 7 cents per pound; hams, 16 
 cents per pound; oil, 35 cents per pound. 
 
 The above was from a local dealer advertising his goods. 
 The market report in a June, 1873, number of the Gazette^ 
 was as follows: 
 
RESIDENCE OF A. VV. HARRIS, SIBLEY. 
 
HISTORI OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. 269 
 
 Wheat, No. i, ^ bush 75@86 
 
 Corn, ^ bush 40 
 
 Oats, ^ bush 25 
 
 Barley, ^ bush 35@40 
 
 Flour, ^ hundred Bbs 3.25 
 
 Corn meal, ^ hundred lbs i . 90 
 
 Beans, ^ bush .... i-5o 
 
 Pork, f^tt) 12 
 
 Hams, f^ K) 18 
 
 Potatoes . 30 
 
 Shoulders, ^ lb ■ 12 
 
 Lard, ^ K) 17 
 
 Butter, ^ R) 30 
 
 Cheese, ^ K) 20 
 
 %gs, ^ doz 15 
 
 Dried apples, ^ K) 12^ 
 
 Dried peaches, ^Jb 12)^ 
 
 Tea, ^ R) 72@i-8o 
 
 Coffee,^ ft) 29@34 
 
 Sugars, '^ K) 1 2 i^@i 7 
 
 wSyrups, ^ gal i . 00 
 
 Molasses, "^ gal 80 
 
 Kerosene, ^ gal 40 
 
 Lumber, ^ M 18.00@37.00 
 
 Nails, ^ ft) 7@io 
 
 Shingles, ^M 3. oo@5 . 00 
 
 Hard coal was then selling at $25 per ton, and soft coal 
 correspondingly. 
 
 Whatever the farmer raises in Osceola County he finds a 
 good market for in either of the towns, and a prominent bus- 
 iness house in Sibley, Ocheyedan and Harris, inadvertently 
 omitted from the Sibley write-up, is 
 
 A. W. HARRIS & CO. 
 
 This firm has a kirge grain and coal business in Sibley, 
 also in the towns of Harris and Ocheyedan. 
 
 The town of Harris was named after the head of this 
 lirm, who laid out the townsite, and still owns it except what 
 lots have been sold. They put up the first building on the 
 Harris townsite, and at present are the only grain buyers 
 there. This firm located in Sibley in 1887, and are very 
 prominent in their line of business in Osceola County. 
 
CONCLUDING CHAPTER. 
 
 The condition of Osceola County in this year of our 
 Lord, 1892, is one of general prosperity. Pauperism does 
 not exist, and opportunities for labor, for securing homes, and 
 for establishing Ijusiness are on every hand. There has been 
 an abundant harvest, and each year is an advancement in farm- 
 ing interests and in all classes of business. 
 
 The last assessed valuation of the county was $1,726,582. 
 The indebtedness of the county has been, at it highest, about 
 ^90,000. Its present indebtedness is $60,500. The amount 
 of school money now loaned out, and under contract for loan 
 by the county on farm land, is $96,500.75. The amount paid 
 out for school purposes in 1891 was $29,040. This came from 
 taxation except $611, which was derived from the permanent 
 school fund interest. The running expenses of the county m 
 1891 required $18,568. The income to the county from taxa- 
 tion for 1891 was $61,375. 
 
 The county has a substantial court house and every school 
 district has the required buildings for school purposes. 
 
 The people are thrifty, intelligent and law-abiding, and 
 as a class are comparable with those of any county in the state. 
 
 The County has changed in its inhabitants since the first 
 settlement, some coming and going, some remaining yet, and 
 others with the fate that must follow all of us, are lying in the 
 cemetery. Western people are given to changing their busi- 
 ness locations more than are the people of the East; here, if 
 anywhere, is the spirit of unrest, implanted seemingly m our 
 very nature on the first move, and with many it becomes a 
 fixed feeling and irresistible. Osceola County has had its 
 share of this tidal change, this flowing in and out of popula- 
 tion, and of the original settlers, those who came here in 187 1, 
 '72 and '73, there are not a great many left. 
 
A. W. HARRIS & CO. ELEVATOR, SIBLEY. 
 
REV. L. R. FITCH. 
 
 i 
 
We close this book with a poem that has fallen under our 
 observation without knowing to whom credit is due. 
 
 COMING TO OSCEOLA COUNTY. 
 
 They are coming from the deserts of the dim and dusky East, 
 Where to raise a stunted turnip is the prospect of a feast; 
 Where the farms are made of gravel and they plow witii dynamite, 
 Where the festive chattel mortgage sings its dirges day and night ; 
 They are coming in their wagons, they are coming on the train, 
 They are coming from the regions where thev struggled long in vain ; 
 They are coming from the cabin, they are coming from the hall. 
 They are coming to Osceola County where there's plenty for them all. 
 
 They are coming from the .South-land, they are coming from the North 
 From the valleys and the mountains they in droves are coming forth ; 
 They are coming with their husbands, they are coming with their wives, 
 They are coming with their hammers, with their axes and their knives; 
 With their harrows, with their rakes, with their seeders and their guns, 
 They are coming with their fathers and their mothers and their sons ; 
 They are coming stout and slender, they are coming short and tall, 
 They are coming to Osceola County, where there's plenty for them all. 
 
 Where the savage used to wander searching for a crop of haii% 
 
 The farmer takes his porker to the nearest county fair; 
 
 And the corn is daily growing where the greasy wigwams stood, 
 
 Where he burned the wailing captive, now the poullrj' scratch for food; 
 
 And the people who are coming to this pleasantest of climes. 
 
 Show a happy knack of keeping with the progress of the times; 
 
 They will find a country beaming from the spring-time to the fall. 
 
 If they land here in Osceola County, where there's plenty for them all. 
 
FLORENCE L. McCAELUM. 
 
C. M. iMAXVILLE. 
 

 i^.l 
 
 C. A. CHARLES. 
 
MRS. D. D. MCCALLUM. 
 
J. C. TRAINOR. 
 
y. C. BRICKER. 
 
C. B. KNOX. 
 
C. L. DAVIDSON. 
 
 L