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The 1878 History of Benton County, Iowa
pages 349-350
A CLAIM "JUMPER" DISCIPLINED
It was neither a safe, profitable nor honorable business to enter land
on which another had laid a claim, in Benton County, in early times. In
1851, one Alfred Moore had settled near Fremont. He was anxious to obtain
all the land he could, and entered it without regard to claims. He had thus
"jumped" claims belonging to S.K. Parker, L.D. Bordwell, and Joseph Strawn.
This was more than the pioneer sense of honor could endure, and it was
determined that the erring member of the body politic should be
"disciplined." Accordingly, on the night of August 8, 1851, a bright
moonlight night, two men called at Mr. Moore's house, representing that they
had lost their way and wished him to show them the right road. Unsuspicious
of danger, Mr. Moore fell into the trap and started to show the strangers
the way. While passing through a corn field, he was suddenly seized and
taken to a neighboring tree to which he was securely tied, after being
stripped. The leader, Capt. Hollenbeck, asked him some questions, but he
was not disposed to comply readily, when Dan. Richie and Ed. Johnson
endeavored to induce him to answer by the vigorous application of hickory to
his bare back. After he had been punished sufficiently, his wounds were
dressed with tar, over which a quantity of feathers were shaken to hasten
the healing process. Mr. Bordwell, who was a witness to the occasion, says,
"when they got through with him he was as pretty looking bird as you ever
see." Doubtless he was, although not quite so joyous as some. After this
surgical operation was completed, he was untied, the pan which contained the
tar was put on his head and he was given three days in which to produce the
entry papers and assign them to their proper owners. Moore very wisely
complied within the time specified, but entered complain against his
persecutors; a warrant was issued, and John Hollenbeck, Daniel Richie and
Orson Bogle were arrested on a charge of assault and battery, and brought to
Fremont for trial. Bogle, who was not present at the whipping, was put on
trial first, and was acquitted. This discouraged the prosecutor, who
abandoned his charges against the others who were there, and made the best
time he could out of town, doubtless fearing if he remained too long that he
might be compelled to "hug another tree."
Transcribed by Kate Connerth and submitted to
the IAGenWeb Project on October 8th, 1997.
Copyright © 1997 by Kate Connerth.
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