Carroll County IAGenWeb History Journal

      The Indian title to this region was extinguished many years before any white man selected a site in what is now Carroll County to be his permanent home. From 1837 to 1851 the county was theoretically a part of Benton, which then included all the territory between its northern and southern lines, extending to the Missouri River. In 1851 Carroll County was established and attached to Polk, and two years later attached to Shelby. These changes possess but slight interest, as the settlement of the county had not commenced. The Indians remained because there was no white man to object to their presence. The county was named in honor of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

     The first settlement in the county was made on section 2, township 84, range 33 (now Glidden Township), in 1854. The same autumn and the following spring a number of immigrants fixed their homes here. February 14, 1855, the county was attached to Guthrie.

     The county judge of Guthrie County, James Henderson, on the 16th of July, 1855, issued the following order: "To Solomon Loomis, of Carroll Township, Carroll County, attached to Guthrie County, "Greeting: It is hereby ordered that an election be held at the house of Henry Coplin, in Carroll Township, in said county and State, on the first Monday in August, 1855, for the organization of Carroll County and the election of county officers of said Carroll County, and that this warrant be directed to Solomon Loomis, of said township, to advertise the legal notice of county officers for said Carroll County, viz: county judge, treasurer and recorder, clerk of district court, prosecuting attorney, county surveyor, drainage commissioner, sheriff and coroner, to be elected at said election, and that he proceed according to law."

     The house of Henry Coplin, above mentioned, was on section 12, township 84, range 34 (now Grant Township). The entire population of the county, was at this time less than 100, and the number of voters about thirty. The first county officers elected were: County Judge, A. J. Cain; Clerk of District Court, Levi Thompson; Treasurer and Recorder, James White; Surveyor, Robert Lloyd; Prosecuting Attorney, L. McCurdy; Sheriff, J. Y. Anderson.

EARLY ORDERS OF COUNTY JUDGE

     The first order of Judge Cain was dated December 3, 1855, and reads "James White was allowed $4 for hauling the laws of Iowa for Carroll County from Iowa City to Carroll County." On the same date James White was allowed $12.50 on account of salary as treasurer and recorder; A. J. Cain, $12.50 for salary as county judge; and Levi Thompson $16.00 for services as clerk.

     On the 18th of the same month "The County of Carroll bought of S. A. Walker, Fort Des Moines, four plats, as follows: No. 82, 83, 84, 85 north, of range 33 west; at $2.50 each."

     February 4, 1856, Cain, Thompson and White were each allowed $12.50 on account of salary.

     At this time the county was divided into two townships—Newton and Jasper. In the spring of 1856 justices and constables were elected in these townships. In Newton the judges of election were Thomas McCurdy, Robert Morris and Benjamin Teller; clerks, Robert Floyd and Cyrus Babbitt. In Jasper the judges were Levi Thompson, Robert Dickson and Enos Butrick; clerk, James G. Anderson.

SELECTION OF COUNTY SEAT

     A petition was presented to the district judge April 7, 1856, asking for the appointment of commissioners to select a site for the county seat. This was signed by the following twenty persons, nearly all the legal voters of the county at that time: Thomas T. Morris, George W. Tellor, Henry Coplin, Robert Dickson, Levi Thompson, A. J. Cain, Enos Butrick, David Butrick, O. J. Niles, S. L. Loomis, Benjamin Tellor, Thomas McCurdy, Robert Morris, David Vance, Robert Floyd, Conrad Geiselhart, Edward Smith, Cyrus R. Babbitt, Cyrus Rhoades and Jacob Davis.

     In accordance with a provision of a statute approved January 12, 1853, Judge E. H. Sears, of the Sixth Judicial District, then including Carroll County, appointed as such commissioners William L. Henderson, Esq., of Guthrie County, John Purdy, Esq., of Crawford County, and Dr. S. M. Ballard, of Audubon County. They were directed to perform their duty within two months. Dr. Ballard failed to act, but the two others were sworn June 4, and on the 6th of June made the following formal report:

     "Whereas we, the undersigned, were appointed by Hon. E. H. Sears, District Judge of the Sixth Judicial District of the State of Iowa, on the 14th day of April, 1856, Commissioners to locate the seat of justice or county seat of Carroll County, in the State of Iowa, we therefore, in conformity to said appointment, after being duly qualified according to law and after mature deliberation and carefully reviewing and examining all and every proposed site within the bounds of the said county of Carroll, having due regard for the welfare and prospects of the people of the said county, also the welfare, prospects and convenience of the future as well as the present population of the said county of Carroll do hereby by the power invested in us locate the permanent county seat of the said county of Carroll, in the State of Iowa, on the north fractional half of the northeast quarter of section 1 in township 82 north, of range 34 west of the fifth principal Sheridan, and on the south half of the southeast quarter of section 36 in township 83 north, of range 34 west of the fifth principal meridian, and on which the town of Carrollton is now laid out, and also such additional territory as may be donated on either side of the premises aforesaid, or that may be purchased by the proper authorities of said county at any time, and added thereto without limit.

ITEMS 1856

     The census of Carroll County in 1856 was taken by the assessors of the two townships, and showed the total population to be 251. The first case of pauperism in the county occurred in the summer of 1856, when Dr. J. P. Miller, the pioneer physician, was allowed $24 for attending one John Salsbery, and Enos Butrick contracted with the county court to care for him at $2 a week as long as he was sick. Dr. Miller was afterward allowed $50 additional.

     Robert Floyd was allowed $3.50 for surveying the blocks in the town of Carrollton. S. L. Loomis was allowed $1 for dividing the blocks into lots.

     August 5, 1856, the county officers had a mutual settlement, and it was found that the county owed A. J. Cain $19.25; James Anderson, $5.00; Levi Thompson, $12.50.

     Cyrus E. Babbitt was allowed $34.00 for assessing Newton Township.

     The first tax levy made after the organization of the county was in 1856: 1¼ mills for State tax; 6 mills for county tax; 1 mill for school tax; 3 mills for road tax; poll tax, $2.00; county poll tax, 50 cents.

     The first law prohibiting the running at large of hogs and sheep was passed in 1856 by a vote of 27 to 6.

     Among the immigrants of 1856, besides those already mentioned, were Lafayette McCurdy, Amos Basom, "Wesley H. Blizzard, Uriah Gibson, William H. Teitsort, N. H. Powers, J. H. Watson, William Gilley, William Ochampaugh and Simon Ochampaugh.

     The proceeds of the sale of lots in Carrollton, belonging to the county, were loaned at interest for a time. Samuel L. Loomis borrowed $262.50; Thomas McCurdy, $190; Robert Morris, $25.

SUBSEQUENT ORDERS

     The following unique item bears date of June 8, 1857, and is signed by L. McCurdy, County Judge:

     "License was granted this day by the county court to Samuel L. Loomis to peddle dry goods, fancy notions and patent medicines throughout the State of Iowa, for three months from this date, and he has paid twelve dollars and fifty cents for the use of the State of Iowa, which entitles him to use two or three animals in transporting his merchandise."

     James Y. Anderson assessed the whole of Carroll County in 1857, and received therefore $125. The taxes for the year amounted to $3,505.17.

     March 1, 1858, James Thorington, of Washington, D. C., was appointed as agent, with power of attorney to select and secure to the county of Carroll all swamp lands belonging to said county by act of Congress passed September 28, 1850.

     April 6, 1858, County Judge Morris appointed Robert Hill and Noah Titus surveyors to select the swamp lands in Carroll County. Hill was assigned the townships in ranges 33 and 35, and Titus those in ranges 34 and 36.

     Robert Hill was shortly after allowed $6 for furnishing plans and specifications for a courthouse. This Hill, who has now been dead for a number of years, was an odd character, and it is related of him that his manner of surveying was to tie a handkerchief on a wagon wheel, and then count the revolutions of the wheel. Of the swamp land surveys in this county, not any outside of range 33 were ever approved.

     The last official act of Judge T. T. Morris was to settle, on December 13, 1859, with H. L. Youtz, administrator of the estate of Nelson B. Moore, who had taken the contract for building the court-house at Carrollton. In this settlement the county paid $818, and took the responsibility of finishing the building, which was unpainted and unplastered.

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

     Judge Morris was succeeded by Judge William Shriner in January, 1860. At the close of that year the general government of county affairs was taken from the county judge, who was left in charge of only probate matters, and given to a Board of Supervisors. The Board at first included two members, one for each township. It was in 1863 increased to three, when Union Township was added to Jasper and Newton. In 1867 three more townships were added—Carroll, Glidden and Sheridan—and then the Board had six members from 1868 to 1870. In 1871 the township system was abolished, and the county Board reduced to three members. This was increased to five in 1873, and has since remained at that number. The first Board met and organized January 6, 1861, and consisted of Crockett Ribble and Jacob Cretsinger. The first act of this organized body of two was to Pass the following resolution:

     "Resolved, That the clerk be authorized to issue orders upon the certificate of either member of the Board when such certificate is given for any ordinary township business or matters which do not directly interest the county, and also to issue orders upon certificates for scalps of animals without action of the Board." Their second act was to authorize the clerk to sell at auction the supplying of wood for the clerk's office, and the third was to appoint Amos Basom and Levi Higgins justices of the peace. This was all the business transacted at the January term. At the April session, besides the allowance of bills, orders were passed authorizing the clerk to buy fuel, lights, stationery, etc.; fixing the legal day for supervisors, clerks and other county officers whose pay is by the day at six hours "constant and diligent labor"; appointing "William H. Price judge of probate for the unexpired term of Judge Shriner; allowing the clerk $2 a day for actual work, and appointing Robert Hill agent of the county to procure the swamp lands belonging to the county from the Government, and fixing his compensation at 1 per cent, of the proceeds of the sale of said lands.

     At the June session the tax levy was fixed as follows: For State purposes, one and one-half mills; for county purposes, four mills; for schools, two mills; poll tax, fifty cents; for school-house purposes in sub-district No. 2 in Jasper Township school district, five mills; same in sub-district No. 1, five mills; for contingent expenses, one and one-half mills; for incidental expenses in sub-district No. 2, Newton Township, one mill. This meeting occurred during the first glow of enthusiasm which was aroused in the loyal North by the call of President Lincoln for volunteer soldiers to suppress the slave-holders' rebellion, and although the population of Carroll County was only about 250, and recruiting could not be carried on on a very extensive scale, still the citizens were too patriotic to make no outward show of loyalty. This reflection will explain the following entry on the records of the Board, though it reads oddly enough at this time:

     "A petition was numerously signed praying to the Supervisors to appropriate the sum of $25.00, or as much as would be needed, to purchase a flag, drums and fife; and the same was granted and the clerk ordered to issue a warrant for the same."

     In January, 1862, Mr. Ribble retired from the board, and Levi Higgins took his place, the other member being Mr. Cretsinger. Mr. Ribble was appointed swamp land agent in the place of Robert Hill. In April following the board decided to allow each family, a member of which had gone to the war, $25. This sum was at once paid to Jacob Davis, Mrs. S. A. Davis, John Monroe, Amos Rhoades and Cyrus Rhoades. In October following the same bounty was paid to R. Haney and James F. McLuen.

     In February, 1863, Crockett Ribble was given the contract for building a saw and grist-mill at Nile's Grove (Coon Rapids). This was the first mill in the county, and it is said that the county issued some $6,000 of warrants on its account.

     It was in this year that the county sold to the American Emigrant Company 21,840 acres of swamp land selected by Franklin H. Whitney. All the county received in return was $3,500 in money, and the promise of a certain number of immigrants. This transaction has not been regarded as at all creditable to the county, in the light of subsequent history, and it is small consolation to know that other counties suffered in the same way. The titles to much of this land were long in dispute, and the result was a hindrance to the development of the county's resources.

     Union Township was erected December 8, 1863, in the following resolution:

     "Resolved, That there be a new township set off from the east end of Newton Township, bounded and described as follows: Commencing at the northeast corner of section one, township 83, range thirty-three; thence west to the northwest corner of section four, same township; thence south to the southwest corner of section sixteen, township eighty-two, range thirty-three; thence west to the northwest corner of section nineteen, same township; thence south to the southwest corner of section thirty-one; thence east to the Greene County line; and thence north to the place of beginning.

     "Resolved, That the election in said Union Township shall be held at the school-house in sub-district No. 4, in said township, at the time of the next general election, November 1, 1864."

     As thus delimited, the township was very different in shape and size to that since given it. It was made to include all of the present township, except the northwest six sections (5, 6, 7, 8, 17 and 18), and the east two-thirds of what is now Highland. Union was the first township created by the Board of Supervisors, and made the three townships in the county. Newton had previously included the southern half of Carroll County, and Jasper the northern half.

     At this same session of the Board, the bounty to enlisted and drafted men was raised to $100. In June, 1864, the bounties were equalized by paying $75 additional to those who had received $25.

     The salaries of the county officers in those were not large. During the first few years the county judge, clerk of the district court and treasurer and recorder received $50 annually each, paid in quarterly installments. Subsequently the treasurer and recorder was given $20 a month, and in 1864 the clerk and the treasurer and recorder were allowed $30 a month.

     In January, 1865, the Board held a special meeting and decided to issue $4,800 in bonds to raise money to pay volunteers under the last call of the Government. Recruiting ceased soon after, however, owing to the close of the war.

     In September, 1866, Union Township was enlarged and made to include all of townships 82 and 83, range 33 (the present townships of Highland and Union). Orrin Jerome, John Hupp, Sr., and Elijah S. Wine were appointed judges of the next election.

     An interesting bit of history for future reading was made at the December meeting of the Board, 1866, in the shape of a back salary grab. A petition was presented to the Board signed by Crockett Ribble, Amos Rhoades, Alva Chambers, J. B. Hampton, G. W. Hunter, Isaac Ferguson and others, in the following words:

     "The petition of the undersigned citizens of Carroll County would respectfully represent that whereas the within named county officers have not nor do not receive a sufficient compensation for their labor, and whereas the law gives authority to the Board of Supervisors of any county to increase the salary of county officers by appropriation to make good any deficiency, now therefore we would respectfully solicit the Honorable Board to appropriate to the following officers the sums set opposite their respective names: William H. Price, County Judge, $150 for 1866; La Fayette McCurdy, County Treasurer, $75 per month from January 1, 1866; "William Gilley, Clerk of the District Court, $25 per month additional, to commence the 1st of January, 1863, and to so continue; Dr. Thomas Elwood, Recorder, $100 for 1866." The petition was granted and the clerk authorized to issue warrants for the amounts mentioned.

     In January following, $500 was appropriated for William Gilley "as a mark of respect for impartial and gentlemanly conduct," and $1,000 for Crockett Ribble, who had been out of office more than a year, but had served four years as treasurer. Two supervisors also were presented with $150 each, and a third with $75. Lafayette McCurdy, ex-treasurer, was also allowed $500 to "equalize his pay with the other officers."

     Without discussing the sufficiency of the previous salaries, it may be said by way of comment that increasing a salary for time that has gone by, the services being performed and the compensation already received, has never been regarded with favor by conscientious citizens. When a similar act was passed by Congress, a few years later, for the benefit of Government officers, the latter were forced by moral pressure to refund the bonuses thus received from the treasury, and were, besides, many of them ruined politically.

     The famous salary-grab of Congress was proportionally on a smaller scale than that carried out in Carroll County. It is safe to say that no such a scheme could be engineered to success in any locality where newspapers are printed and published. It was two years after that before the first paper was started in Carroll County.

     It will be noticed that the time was nearly expired for which the salaries were thus increased, and in one case the increase extended back four years. It is a matter of common knowledge that the affairs of Carroll County were for several years administered carelessly and extravagantly, if not corruptly, and it was this policy that burdened the county with a debt that at one time exceeded $160,000. Much of this was compromised, so barefaced were the frauds, but still the county treasury has unnecessarily suffered, to a large extent. The older citizens, who are familiar with the facts, speak of these things with sorrow. It is to the credit of the county and its voting population that the community has been redeemed from such rule, the debt paid, and affairs are now conducted with commendable economy.

     It may not be generally known that Carroll County anticipated the United States Government in passing a timber-culture law. The Board did enact such an one in June, 1867, by the terms of which the county advanced $25 per acre (in county warrants worth about 40 cents on the dollar) to settlers who would plant and cultivate four to five acres of timber in each forty acres of prairie, or not less than fifteen acres of timber on each 160 acres of prairie. The act was made to extend over three years, and the county was to be secured by mortgage, to be released in five years, if all the conditions had been complied with. Such lands were also to be free from taxation. This liberal enactment was not taken advantage of to any great extent.

     The fourth township created in the county was named Carroll, and dates from June, 1867. It was then bounded as follows: Beginning at the Crawford County line, at the southwest corner of section 18, township 83, range 36; thence east to the southeast corner of section 16, township 83, range 34; thence due north to the northeast corner of section 4, same township; thence due east to the township line, between ranges 33 and 34; thence north to the northeast corner of section 1, township 84, range 34; thence west to the northwest corner of section 6, township 84, range 36; thence south of the county line to the place of beginning. These lines included the present townships of Arcadia, Carroll and Grant, the north half of Washington and Roselle, and the northwest quarter of Pleasant Valley. A. J. Delany, Robert Hill and John J. McCollum were appointed judges of the first election. The petition to organize this township was signed by forty-eight persons, and as they included almost every legal voter, their names are here given as a nearly complete list of the early settlers of the territory mentioned, nearly one-third of the county:

     Thomas Willey, J. B. Hampton, W. P. Hayes, Patrick Hogan, R. H. Wilson, William Connell, David Cain, James T. Beatty, John Hill, Aaron Peterson, M. Boman, John Bruel, T. Clansen, Patrick Brade, Patrick O'Brien, J. E. Cox, J. Willson, R. O. Robinson, Louis R. Eby, William McCabe, W. H. Wrenn, Michael Conley, Michael Ward, Arthur Delany, William Bannister, Hugh Beatty, Henry Baily, Pat. Fleming, William W. Teitsort, George Clark, P. C. Waldren, John J. McCollum, O. L. Kidder, William Connors, George A. Wilson, C. H. Teitsort, John O'Brien, Christopher Lenon, Augustus Lutz, William H. Ingraham, Jacob Arriens, Freia Breuel, A. H. Arriens, Thomas Coleman, William Connors and J. Sherman.

     The first liquor permit in the county was granted in 1867, at Carrollton, to Dr. Thomas Elwood. He was given a permit to "buy and sell intoxicating liquors for the term of one year, for mechanical, medicinal, culinary and sacramental purposes, in quantities less than five gallons—also malt liquors as a beverage."

     Three new townships were created August 5, 1867, the year that the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad came through the county and brought a considerable increase in population. These were each just one congressional township in size, and this plan has been since followed, so that there are now just as many civil as congressional townships—sixteen. The townships erected in 1867, with the names of the petitioners for organization, were as follows:

     Glidden, township 84, range 33: Enos Butrick, B. Salisbury, Samuel Duckett, R. Caldwell, John T. Williams, Uriah Gibson, L. B. Maulsby, Robert Dickson, W. A. Strosirider, William Dunphy, Isaac Sprague, Patrick Gorrey, C. W. Butrick, Samuel Spurgeon, A. H. Gibson, Thomas Hirons, G. Gibson, S. W. Lanck, A. Stevens, A. Salisbury, William Short, M. L. Peters, John Hancock, A. B. Wattles, Augustus Jones, Edwin Stone, D. K. Butrick and Abraham Spurgeon.

     Sheridan, township 85, range 34: Samuel Kelley, J. W. Athey, S. Johnson, Milton Bonner, James W. Beebe, Mark Brooks, George F. Browning, Cyreno C. Duel, P. Roby, ——— Barton, H. Prickett, ——— Bonner and ——— Stone.

     Jasper, township 85, range 33: Rufus Frazier, J. W. Morlan, D. J. Pitkins, Elijah Prickett, William Laporte, Daniel Cooper, H. Hastings, Levi Biggins, J. William Hobbs, William Ochampaugh, S. Bush, H. Ribble, G. W. Higgins, Simeon Ochampaugh and J. H. Ochampaugh.

REMOVAL OF THE COUNTY SEAT

     A petition signed by sixty-seven prominent citizens of the county was presented to the Board of Supervisors in August, 1867, calling for a vote on the removal of the county seat from Carrollton to the new town of Carroll, which had been laid out on the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, just completed east and west through the county. The petition represented:

     "That the present county seat of Carroll County is not convenient to the majority of [the citizens of] said county. That it is not centrally located, but on the contrary is situated in a remote part of the county, thereby causing great inconvenience to the majority of the citizens in the transaction of necessary business. And your petitioners further represent that they desire to have the county seat re-located at Carroll City, for the following reasons, to wit:

     "First, That Carroll City is situated within one mile and a half of the geographical center of the said county, and it is a situation on the Northwestern Railroad, affording an easy access to the citizens of a large portion of said county.

     "Second, That a majority of the qualified voters reside at and near the said Carroll City, and that said Carroll City is rapidly increasing in permanent population.

     "Third, That the construction company have promised to furnish the grounds necessary for the erection of county buildings, and requisite for the transaction of county business, if the county seat shall be changed to Carroll City, thereby securing to the county commodious grounds in the most central portion of the county free of expense.

     "Fourth, That your petitioners believe that affording in-comers the easiest facility in transacting county business at a place centrally located, and situated on the railroad, will tend to increase the price of property within the county, and invite settlers to it.

     "Fifth, That eventually the increasing demands of business and the influx of population will necessitate the removal of the county seat to a more central portion of the county; and we believe that it is wise to make the change now, in view of the growth of the said county in wealth and population, and fix permanently upon a place. Central location and railroad facilities will remove all objections in the transaction of county business, both to the old and new settlers, especially that the county has had a generous offer of the necessary grounds free of expense.

     "Your petitioners therefore pray that your honorable Board order a vote to be taken between said Carroll City and Carrollton, the present county seat, at the next general election, to take place on the second Tuesday of October next, for the purpose of determining the removal of said county seat to said Carroll City, and your petitioners will ever pray."

     The petition was granted, and at the election eighty-eight votes were cast for the removal, to thirty for retaining it at Carrollton. It was not expected that the citizens of the latter place would submit to it without a protest, and this came to the Board in the form of a petition signed by seven citizens of Carrollton (Thomas Elwood, J. G. W. Charmichael, H. J. P. Miller, William Fuel, G. W. Hunter, J. B. Hampton and G. H. Shutz), and dated April 27, 1868, reading as follows:

     "We, the undersigned petitioners, would respectfully represent in our humble opinion to your Honorable Body,

     "First, That the petition to re-locate the county seat of this county was not according to law.

     "Second, The legal voters of this county did not have legal notice from the proper county officers that there was to be a vote taken to remove the county seat.

     "Third, The name of the town where your petitioners for removal of the county seat asked to have the county seat re-located was Carroll City and some, if not all, of the tickets handed to the legal voters of this county had printed or written on them Carroll City for the re-location of the county seat, and we find that according to our county records we have not got any such town in our county as Carroll City.

     "These, gentlemen, are only a part of the wrongs perpetrated on us by the untimely removal of this county seat. We, your petitioners, would beg of you to consider well before acting. Do not bow to a railroad interest. We know they are mighty, but Carroll County and we Carroll Countians are more mighty than they."

     The supervisors refused to consider the wounded feelings of the Carrollton property owners, and the county records, furniture, etc., were ordered to be removed to Carroll City at 10 o'clock on the morning of April 28, 1868. Thenceforward Carrollton declined until now it is little more than a reminiscence. At Carroll the records were deposited and offices opened in a house leased to the county by William Gilley, at $50 per month. John Monroe and John J. McCollum were appointed a committee to assist the clerk in the removal.

NEW TOWNSHIPS

     In January, 1870, sections 1, 2, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 3 and 10, township 83, range 34, were taken from Newton and annexed to Carroll Township.

     In June following the northern of the two townships hitherto included in Union, was set off and named Richland. The petitioners were Stephen D. Culbertson, Oliver Horton, William L. Culbertson, Aaron Livingston, Curtis Durlan, John A. Wood, Charles H. Lee, George Conner, Perry Knight, D. G. Stevens, L. C. Coryell, P. D. Coryell and J. T. Stevens.

     At the same session township 85, range 35, and township 85 and range 36, were set off from Sheridan and organized as Kniest Township, Mount Carmel being designated as the voting place.

     In September, 1870, townships 83, range 35, and 83, range 36, were set off from Carroll and Newton and organized as Roselle Township. The petitioners were: Barlow Kelsey, Ben. A. Clarke, Sam. Todd, Joseph James, Sr., C. Hussey, Joseph Buckhart, J. A. Coppedge, L. R. Coppedge and L. Todd.

     Arcadia was set off in 1871, the petitioners being Joseph H. Vieno, C. Johnson, R. H. Winter, Thomas F. Douglass, James Hanna, Francis Hanna, Isaac N. Voris, L. J. Lamson, C. R. Palmer, J. H. Hubbard, D. J. McDougall, J. W. Bishop and W. E. Kennedy. Arcadia is township 84, range 36, and was previously a part of Carroll Township.

     Leech Township, afterward changed to Eden, was set off from Newton in 1871, and then included what is now Warren in addition to the present township of Eden, township 82, range 35, and township 82, range 36. The petitioners were: E. P. Marsh, A. G. Leech, George R. Bennett, Thomas C. Wolfe, C. Emmons, E. J. Emmons, J. W. Hart, B. L. Hart, Orrin Jerome, Henry Bosworth, A. Miskimins, George W. Lewis, David Zebrung, Herbert A. Bennett, G. S. Hart, O. D. Hart, Stephen D. Smith, H. T. Altby, S. P. Hart, Z. E. Atteberry and J. L. Atteberry.

     Wheatland, township 85, range 36, was set off from Kniest in May, 1872. It occupies the northwestern corner of Carroll County. The petitioners were: William Arts, C. Bruning, Charles E. Florencourt, F. F. Florencourt, H. M. Kreins, Frank Hoogestraat, Rudolph Parmenborg, Frank Wegmann, Bernard Wegmann, Henry Emenback, John Stork and Fred Reirnond.

     Grant, township 84, range 34, except sections 18, 19 and 30, was set off from Carroll in May, 1872. The petitioners were: Isaac Mohler, S. M. Moore, N. D. Thurman, Daniel Harrison, Jesse Marity, John Tabon, William Harrison, Henry Conboy, John Mehrongs, Herman Hesslingh, William Becker, John Daiker, Jeidel Glocheisen, Mens H. Memjen and Van Tuttle.

     Washington, township 83, range 36, was set off from Roselle in September, 1872. The petitioners were: Ira M. Lewis, L. G. Hopkins, M. L. Hopkins, W. H. Ferrin, S. Priest, S. T. Boynton, W. F. Steigerwalt, William I. Hilles and E. Hilles.

     Pleasant Valley, township 83, range 34, was set off in 1873, but no petition is on file.

     Warren, the youngest of the sixteen townships, was set off from Eden in 1875. It is township 82, range 36.

FIRST COURT.

     The first district court was held November 23, 1858, by Hon. M. F. Moore, district judge. The first grand jury were: Cornelius Higgins, Benjamin Teller, Matthew Borders, Lafayette McCurdy, Crockett Ribble, Robert Morris, William Short, Robert Dickinson, Elijah Puckett, Cyrus Rhoades, James Colclo, David Scott, David Frazier, Samuel Lyon and Amos Bason. James Colclo was appointed foreman. First case on docket was Nehemiah Powers and John Watson vs. Cornelius Higgius. Noah Titus was the first person licensed to practice law in the county.

EARLY RECORDS.

     The first marriage license was granted September 16, 1855, to Joseph Ford and Sarah Ochempaugh. They were married September 23, 1856, by A. J. Cain, county judge. First estate administered upon was Wesley H. Blizzard May 3, 1858. First administrator appointed was James H. Colclo. The first deed was made by Thomas Ford to Nancy Ford, for the east half of section 17, township 85, range 33, September 3, 1855, and acknowledged by A. J. Cain, county judge.

INDIANS.

     Many Indians lingered in this region, or visited it annually, for some years after settlement began. There was some complaint of thieving, but as the Indians had learned the power of the whites in war, they were prudent, and very few settlers had any trouble with them.

     The old Indian trail known as the War Path, or the dividing line between the Sioux and Pottawattamie Indian's hunting grounds, runs through townships 82, 83, 84 and 85, range 36, in this county. It is plainly visible, and is as straight as an arrow. It was a death penalty for an Indian of one tribe to cross the path and be found hunting on the lands of the other.

     An early settler relates that an old Indian chief told him there was once a terrible Indian battle fought near Crescent Lake, about one mile south of Carroll Center, between Sioux and Pottawattamie Indians. There had been a feud for a long time existing between the two tribes in regard to the infringement of the law in relation to the hunting grounds by disloyal Indians. The Sioux determined to exterminate the Pottawattamie. A large party of the latter were encamped near Crescent Lake, in the grove of timber. One morning a powerful party of the Sioux attacked them, and a terrible and bloody battle ensued, resulting in the death of all the Sioux warriors, and all but three of the Pottawattamie. The remains of the dead warriors were left to be eaten by the wolves, or rot, and their bones to bleach on the prairie, until the annual prairie fires consumed them.

GAME.

     When the first settlers came, deer, elk and antelope were not plentiful, the Indians having hunted them down and thinned their numbers. Still, venison could be had without much trouble, and deer became annually more plentiful for several years. Antelopes were occasionally seen, but soon disappeared.

     Wild turkeys and prairie chickens were abundant, and it was not difficult to bag several of either kind of birds in a couple of hours; but the pioneer hunters preferred to hunt for deer, and when in search for this game would not condescend to shoot at a turkey. As a pioneer quaintly expresses it, "When they went deer-hunting they didn't go turkey-hunting."

     Bears and panthers were almost unknown. Wildcats were numerous in the timber, but were not to be feared, except in a close encounter. The most troublesome and altogether vicious enemies of the pioneers were the wolves. These pests would not only howl around the lonely cabin all night, but were always ravenous and ready to pounce upon any unguarded calf, pig, sheep or chicken that they could get at, and the settlers were obliged to build pens against their cabins in which to keep their small stock. Chickens were frequently taken into the house in order to preserve them from the attacks of wolves, polecats and weasels.

     Prairie rattlesnakes were very numerous for many years after the county was settled. Gophers were very troublesome to farmers, too. The county established bounties on wolf scalps, gophers and other enemies of civilized living.

CLAIMS AND FIRST IMPROVEMENTS.

     Future generations will inquire, not only how this country appeared before the hand of civilized man had marred its virgin beauty; but how the first comers managed to live, to protect themselves from the elements, and to procure the means of subsistence; how they met the varied requirements of civilization to which they had been accustomed, and with what resignation they dispensed with such as could not be had.

     If correctly told, it would be a tale of intense interest; but it would require a master-hand to draw a picture that would show the scene in all its details—personal experience alone could only unfold the tale. When a new comer arrived he first selected a location where he could make his future home, and the question naturally arises, of whom did he get permission to occupy it? The answer might be given in the language usually used when defining political or civil rights—every one was free to do as he pleased so he did not interfere with his neighbor. When the Government had extinguished the Indian title the land was subject to settlement either before or after survey. The settler had no paper title, but simply the right of possession, which he got by moving on to and occupying it; this gave him the right to hold it against all others till some one came with a better title, which better title could only be got by purchasing the fee of the Government when surveyed and brought into market. The right of possession thus obtained constituted what was called a claim. These were regarded as valid titles by the settlers, and were often sold, in some instances for large amounts. Pre-emption laws were passed at different times by Congress, giving to claimants who had made certain specified improvements the exclusive right to purchase the premises at the minimum price of $1.25 per acre, provided they would prove their pre-emption.

     When the settler had selected his location or made his claim, his first attention was directed to procuring a shelter for himself and family. If in the vicinity of others already provided, he was readily welcomed to share their scanty accommodations, two, and frequently three families, together occupying a cabin with one room, perhaps 12 x 14, more or less. But if far removed from neighbors, he had to occupy his covered wagon in which he came, sleeping in or under it, and cooking and eating in the open air, or some other rude contrivance, frequently a tent made of blankets, till a shelter could be provided. This was usually a log cabin, for the raising of which help was needed. When help was not available, his cabin must be built of Birch logs or poles as, with the aid of his family, could be handled. In raising a log cabin considerable skill is required.

     What were termed corner hands—one at each corner, or where hands were scarce, one for two corners—should have some experience. The bottom log must be saddled or cut to a sloping edge or angle to receive the cross log, which must be notched to fit the saddle. A failure, requiring the log to be removed to be refitted, was sure to bring some pleasant raillery on the culprit. If well done a door or window can be cut, and the parts of the logs will remain firm in their place, but if not a perfect fit, when a space is cut for the door, the accumulated weight from above will bring the logs to a fit at the corner, and throw the ends at the cutting wide from their place. When the walls were completed, or about ten feet high, the gables were carried up by laying on logs, each shortened in succession to give the proper slope for the roof, and held by straight logs, or large poles, placed about three feet from, and parallel with, the plate, rising upward to receive the shingles, resting on and holding the short logs at the gables, and terminating with a ridge pole at the center of the building and top of the roof. On these were placed long shingles or clapboards four feet long, laid double so the top course broke joints with the first, on which was laid another log or pole held by a pin at each end; this pole held the shingles in place without nailing, and each succeeding course was laid and fastened in the same way. The floor was made of split logs hewn on the split side, and spotted on to the sleepers on the round side so as to make a tolerable floor, these were called puncheons.

     The chimney was built outside of the building at one end and a hole cut through the logs for a fireplace. It was made of timber, lined with stone or clay for four or five feet, and then with a crib of sticks plastered inside with clay mortar. The spaces between the logs were filled with pieces of split timber, called chinking, and plastered inside and oat with clay mortar, making a warm and quite comfortable house; but snow and rain, when falling with a high wind, would get inside through the clapboard roof—and where leisure and means justified, a roof of boards and short shingles was substituted.

     A one-post bedstead was made as follows: Bore a hole in a log four feet from the corner of the room, and insert a rail six feet long; then bore a hole in the log on the other side of the room six feet from the same corner, and insert a piece of rail four feet long; then insert the opposite ends of these rails where they meet in a post, which completes the frame; then lay slats crosswise from the side on to the log opposite, or on to a rail pinned on the log at the proper height, and the one-post bedstead is complete, on which the weary pioneer slept as sweetly as on the most costly one. These rough buildings were quite comfortable, and, as most of the old settlers will testify, witnessed much of real enjoyment. Some of our greatest men were born and reared in such a dwelling. A shelter provided, the next thing was to prepare to raise whereon to subsist.

     The prairie region offered advantages for an occupant far superior to a timbered country; in the latter an immense amount of labor had to be done to remove the timber, and for years after the stumps prevented free cultivation; while on the prairie the sod only had to be turned, and the crop put in. At an early day the sod was turned by an ox team of six to ten yoke, with a plow that cut a furrow from two to three feet wide. The plow beam, which was from eight to twelve feet long, was framed into an axle, on each end of which was a wheel sawed from an oak log; this held the plow upright. It was a heavy, unwieldy-looking apparatus, but did good work, and the broad black furrow, as it rolled from the plow, was a sight worth seeing. The nice adjustment and filling of the coulter and broad share required a practiced hand, as a slight deviation in the tip of the share, or even filing the coulter, would throw the plow on a twist and require a strong man to hold it in place, but if nicely done the plow would run a long distance without support.

     This is the primitive plow, but Yankee ingenuity soon found that a smaller plow and less team did cheaper and better work. It was found that the best time to break the sod was when the grass was rapidly growing, as it would then decay quickly, and the soil soon be mellow and kind; but if broken too early or too late in the season it would require two or three years to become an mellow as it would in three months when broken at the right time. Very shallow plowing required less team, and would mellow much sooner than deep breaking.

     The first crop was mostly corn, planted by cutting a gash with an ax into the inverted sod, dropping the corn and closing it by another blow along aide the first. Or it dropped in every third furrow and furrow turned on; if the corn was no placed as to find the space between the furrows it would find daylight, if not it was doubtful. Corn so planted would, as cultivation was impossible, produce a partial crop, sometimes a full one. Prairie sod turned in June would be in condition to sow with wheat in September, or to put in with corn or oats the spring following. Vines of all kinds grew well on the fresh-turned sod, melons especially, though the wolves usually took their full share of these.

     After the first crop the soil was kind, and produced any crop suited to the climate. But when his crops were growing the settler was not relieved from toil. His chickens must have shelter; closed at night to protect them from the owls and wolves; his pigs required equal protection; and although his cows and oxen roamed on the wide prairie in a profusion of the richest pasture, still a yard must be made for his cows at night and his calves by day. The cows were turned in with the calves for a short time at night, and then the calves turned on the prairie to feed during the night; in the morning the calves were turned in and the cows were turned out for their day's pasture; this was necessary to induce the cows to come up at night, for if the calves were weaned the cows would fail to come. And the stock all needed some protection from the fierce wintry blast, though sometimes they got but little. Add to this the fencing of the farm, the out-buildings, hunting the oxen and cows on the limitless prairies through the heavy dews of late evening and early morning, going long distances to market and to mill, aiding a new-comer to build his cabin, fighting the prairie fires which swept over the country yearly, and with his family encountering that pest of a new country, the fever and ague, and other malarious diseases, and the toil and endurance of a settler in a new country may be partially, but not fully appreciated.

     A visitor from the Eastern States has often taunted the toiling pioneers with such remarks as these: "Why do you stack out your hay and grain?" "Why don't you have barns, comfortable houses, stables for your cattle and other conveniences as we have?" He should have been answered, "You are enjoying the fruits of the labor of generations of your ancestors, while we have to create all we have. We have made necessarily rude and cheap shelters for ourselves and animals, have fenced our farms, dug our wells, have to make our roads, bridge our streams, build our school-houses, churches, courthouses and jails, and when one improvement is complete, another want stares us in the face." All this taxed the energies of the new settler to the extent of human endurance, and many fell by the way, unable to meet the demands upon their energies.

     The only wonder is that so much has been accomplished; that so many comforts, conveniences and luxuries have crowned the efforts of our people; that we have reached a point for which a century of effort might well have been allowed. Political and financial theorists have tauntingly told the farmers of Iowa that they knew nothing of finance, except what wiser heads have told them; that they have made nothing by farming, and would be poor except for the advance in price of their farms.

     These Solons should be told that it is the toil of those farmers that has made their farms increase in price; their toil has clothed them with valuable improvements, planted orchards and fruit gardens, made roads and bridges, converted a wilderness into a land of beauty, and made it the happy abode of intelligent men. All this had to be done to make these farms advance in price, and those who have done this, and raised and educated their families, have done well; and if the advance in the price of their farms has given them a competence, it is what they anticipated, and nothing but the most persevering industry and frugality would have accomplished it.

     In addition to the labor and multitude of chores that beset the new comer, he had it all to accomplish under disadvantages, and to encounter dangers that of themselves were sufficient to discourage men not of stern resolve. Traveling unworked roads, and crossing streams without bridges, was often a perilous adventure. Crossing the wide prairie at night, with not even the wind or stars for guides, was a very uncertain adventure, and often the wayfarer traveled till exhausted, and encamped till the morning light should guide him on his way. In warm weather, although an unpleasant exposure, this was not a dangerous one; and although the sensation of being lost is more irksome, and the lonely silence in the middle of a prairie, broken only by the howl of the wolves, is more unpleasant than one inexperienced would imagine, and the gnawing of a stomach innocent of supper adds much to the discomfort, it all passes with the night, and a brighter view and happier feelings dawn with the breaking morn. But crossing the trackless prairie when covered with a dreary expanse of snow, with the fierce, unbroken wintry blasts sweeping over its glistening surface, penetrating to the very marrow, was sometimes a fearful and dangerous experience. No condition could inspire a more perfect idea of lonely desolation, of entire discomfort, of helplessness, and of dismal forebodings, than to find one's self lost on the snow-covered prairie, with no object in sight in any direction but the cold, undulating snow wreaths, and a dark and tempestuous winter night fast closing around his chilled and exhausted frame. His sagacious horse, by spasmodic efforts and continuous neighing, shows that, with his master, he appreciates the danger and shares his fearful anticipations. With what longing the lost one reflects on the cozy fireside of his warm cabin, surrounded by his loved ones, which he fears he may never see; and when the dark shadow of night has closed around and shut in the landscape, and chance alone can bring relief, a joyous neigh and powerful spring from his noble horse calls his eye in the direction he has taken; he sees over the bleak expanse a faint light in the distance, toward which his horse is bounding with accelerated speed, equally with his master cheered and exhilarated by the beacon light which the hand of affection has placed at the window to lead the lost one to his home. Nearly every early settler can remember such an experience, while some never reached the home they sought, but, chilled to a painless slumber, they found the sleep that knows no waking.

     Crossing the uncultivated prairie in a cloudy night, or in a snowy or foggy day, was very liable to have an uncertain come out. In a clear night the stars were a very reliable guide, and like the Eastern magi on the plains of Syria, the settlers came to have a close acquaintance with the constellations. A steady wind was a very reliable guide; the traveler would get his bearing, then notice low the wind struck his nose, right or left ear, etc., and then keep that same sensation, regardless of any other guide, and he would generally come out right. But if the wind changed, of course he went with it. Without these guides, it was a mere accident if a person succeeded in a still atmosphere, in a cloudy night, or snowy or foggy day, in crossing a prairie of any extent. There is always a tendency to go in a circle; the world moved n a circle: planets and suns, comets and meteors all move in circles. Blindfold a person, )lace him in a large hall, let him be a novice, uncautioned, and in a majority of cases he will go several times around the hall before he hits the side. The writer, with an ox team, in a dark evening started to go about three-fourths of a mile to strike a point of timber, but failing to do so, kept traveling till late in the evening, when accidentally the timber was found, and followed to the desired point. The next morning developed the fact that the ox team had traveled three times around about a quarter section, following very nearly the same track each time.

PRAIRIE FIRES

     The yearly burning of the heavy annual growth of grass on the prairie, which had occurred from time immemorial, either from natural causes or from being set by human hands, was continued after the white settlers came in, and was a source of much annoyance, apprehension, and frequently of severe loss. From the time the grass would burn, which was soon after the first frost, usually about the first of October, till the surrounding prairie was all burnt over, or if not all burnt, till the green grass in the spring had grown sufficiently to prevent the rapid progress of the fire, the early settlers were continually on the watch, and as they usually expressed the idea, "slept with one eye open." "When the ground was covered with snow, or during rainy weather, the apprehension was quieted, and both eyes could be safely closed.

     A statute law forbade setting the prairie on fire, and one doing so was subject to a penalty, and liable in an action of trespass for the damage accruing. But convictions were seldom effected, as the proof was difficult, though the fire was often set, Fires set on the leeward side of an improvement, while very dangerous to the improvements to the leeward, were not so to the windward, as fire progressing against the wind is easily extinguished.

     Imagine the feelings of the man who, alone in a strange land, has made a comfortable home for his family; has raised and stored his corn, wheat and oats, and fodder for stock, and has his premises surrounded by a sea of standing grass, dry as tinder, stretching away for miles in every direction, over which the wild prairie wind howls a dismal requiem, and knowing that a spark or match applied in all that distance will send a sea of fire wherever the wind may waft it; and conscious of the fact that there are men who would embrace the first opportunity to send the fire from outside their own fields, regardless as to whom it might consume, only so it protected their own.

     Various means were resorted to for protection; a common one was to plow with a prairie plow several furrows around a strip several rods wide, outside the improvements, and then burn out the strip; or wait till the prairie was on fire and then set fire outside, reserving the strip for a late burn, that is, till the following summer, and in July burn both old grass and new. The grass would start immediately, and the cattle would feed it close in preference to the older grass, so that the fire would not pass over in the following autumn. This process repeated would soon, or in a few years, run out the prairie grass, and in time it would become stocked with blue grass, which will never burn to any extent. But all this took time and labor, and the crowd of business on the hands of a new settler, of which a novice has no conception, would prevent him doing what would now seem a small matter; and all such effort was often futile; a prairie fire driven by a high wind would often leap all such barriers and seem to put human effort at defiance. A prairie fire when first started goes straight forward with a velocity proportioned to the force of the wind, widening as it goes, but the center keeping ahead; it spreads sideways, but burning laterally, it burns comparatively slow, and if the wind is moderate and steady, is not difficult to manage, but if the wind veers a point or two, first one way and then the other, it sends the side fire beyond control. The head fire in dry grass and a high wind is fearful, and pretty sure to have its own way unless there is some defensible point from which to meet it. A contest with such a fire requires an engineering skill and tact which can be learned only by experience, and a neighborhood of settlers called out by such an exigency at once put themselves under the direction of the oldest and most experienced of the number, and go to work with the alacrity and energy of men defending their homes and property from destruction.

     The usual way of meeting an advancing fire is to begin the defense where the head of the fire will strike, which is known by the smoke and ashes brought by the wind long in advance of the fire. A road, cattle path or furrow is of great value at such a place; if there is none such, a strip of the grass can be wet, if water can be procured, which is generally scarce at the time of the annual fires. On the outside, or side next the coming fire, of such road or path, the grass is set on fire, and it burns slowly against the wind till it meets the coming conflagration, which stops, of course, for want of fuel, provided there has been sufficient time to burn a strip that will not be leaped by the head fire as it comes in. This is called back-firing; great care is necessary to prevent the fire getting over the furrow, path, or whatever is used as a base of operations. If it gets over and once under way, there is no remedy but to fall back to a more defensible position, if such a one exists. If the head of the fire is successfully checked, then the forces are divided, half going to the right, and half to the left, and the back-firing continued, to meet the side fires as they come up; this must be continued till the fire is checked along the entire front of the premises endangered, and the sides secured.

     Various implements were used to put out a side or back fire, or even the head of a fire in a moderate wind. A fence board, about four to six feet long, with one end shaved down for a handle, is very effective, if struck flat upon the narrow strip of fire. A bundle of hazel-brush does very well, and a spade or shovel is often used. The women often lent their aid, in cases of danger; their weapon was usually the kitchen mop, which, when thoroughly wet, was very effective, especially in extinguishing a fence on fire. When the fire overcame all opposition, and seemed bound to sweep over the settlement, a fear of personal loss would paralyze, for the moment, every faculty, and as soon as that fact seemed imminent, united effort ceased, and each one hastened to defend his own as best he could. It is due to historical truth to say that the actual losses were much less than might have been expected, though frequently quite severe. The physical efforts made in extinguishing a dangerous fire, and in protecting one's home from the devouring element, was very often severe, and even dangerous, and the author has known of more than one instance where it resulted fatally.

     The premises about the residences and yards being tramped by the family and domestic animals, after a year or two became tolerably safe from fire, but the fences, corn and stubble fields were frequently burnt over. When the prairie was all fenced and under cultivation, so that prairie fires were among the things of the past, the denizens of the prairie were happily released from the constant fear and apprehension which for years had rested like a nightmare on their quiet and happiness, disturbing their sleep by night, and causing anxiety by day, especially when called from home, knowing that on their return they might look on a blackened scene of desolation, instead of the pleasant home they left. And when returning after a day's absence, the sight of a fire in the direction of home, although it might prove to be several miles beyond, would try the mettle of the team, by putting them to a speed proportioned to the anxiety of the driver. And here it may be well to throw a little cold water over the thrilling and fearful stories, got up to adorn a tale, of hairbreadth escapes of travelers and settlers from prairie fires; such stories are not told by the old settlers who know whereof they speak. It is true a family might encamp in the middle of a dense growth of dry grass, and let a fire sweep over their camp, to their serious injury. But with ordinary intelligence and caution, a traveler on the prairie need have no fear of a fatal catastrophe, or even of any serious danger. If the head of a fire is approaching, it is usually an easy matter to get to one side of it, and when it has passed, pass over the side fire on to the burnt prairie, which can easily be done by getting on to a spot of dry, rolling prairie, where the grass is seldom more than eight to twelve inches high. Or, if the head fire is too wide, and its speed too great to allow getting around it, then at once set a fire to leeward, and when it has burnt a short distance, put out the fire on the windward side of the place of setting, and pass on to the burnt prairie and follow the fire till far enough from the dry grass to be out of danger. There are places on low, moist prairie bottoms, or sloughs, where the grass and weeds were ranch heavier than on dryer land, and their burning was terrific and dangerous; but these places could be avoided, as an approaching fire could be seen a long distance, giving time to prepare for its coming. The early settlers will ever have a vivid recollection of the grand illuminations nightly exhibited in dry weather, from early fall to late spring, by numberless prairie fires. The whole horizon would be lighted up around its entire circuit. A heavy fire, six or seven miles away, would afford sufficient light on a dark night to enable one to read fine print. When a fire had passed through the prairie, leaving the long lines of side fires, like two armies facing each other, the sight at night was grand; and if one's premises were securely protected, he could enjoy such a fire exhibition hugely, free of cost; but if his property was exposed, his enjoyment of the scene was like a very nervous person's appreciation of the grand and majestic roll of thunder—the sublimity of the scene lost in the apprehension of danger.