A recent lament has been heard in reference to the fact that certain portions of pioneer history of Indian Warfare cannot now be written since those who were participants in those events of the long ago made no record that has been preserved or seemed to consider the events of the time of importance enough to make mention of them in any permanent form.
For this reason those who attempt to find authority for this phase of American history will look in vain for the sources.
Recently it was suggested that the points of interest in the campaign of Abraham Lincoln in the Black Hawk war be marked in some suitable way. This only emphasizes the tendency of the times to take more interest in fixing the points in local history while those yet living can verify the facts as they appear. This will leave in some form a distinct feature of the community.
Pride in one's own province is not a distinguishing characteristic of the moving population that settled this portion of the United States. Only enough remain to furnish a suggestion of the former early settlers and they are the ones who must furnish the data for all the unmarked or unrecorded material that one may rightfully use in an attempt to write on any topic.
A visitor to New England is constantly reminded of the events in his country's history that took place in that vicinity. He cannot escape the sight of monument, inscription, or relic, and he is led to inquire why these should be in this part of the United States and so few in comparison in his own environment. Many things that should have been recorded and those concerned been the better able to relate or preserve for future relating are now passed beyond recall. Future generations will never continue a custom for which no incentive is furnished. That should be the aim in all attempts in writing history—to furnish some inducement to the generations following to produce a better citizenship, a better method of doing things, that those who come after may endeavor to rise higher in the attempt to reach ideals.
It is not expected that every item of importance can be gathered into a small volume by any one in a brief time, but a grouping of events topically, that will give a fair account of the times in which they occurred, will be the measure of
sincere effort. The first aim is truth, the second the place where the truth is found so far as it can be located.
The history of a county may lead one far astray in the search for the beginning of things and the temptation to follow these suggestions to the end has been very great. The limit, however, must be placed somewhere and all would not agree on the point. It ought to be safe enough to stop with matters that have to do with the development of the county directly and its relation to its neighboring territory.
Cedar county citizens were interested in the preservation of all that goes to assist in the preparation of such a volume as early as 1868. At that time the members of the Board of Supervisors and other citizens met in the clerk's office in the court house for the purpose of organizing, in some way, to forward historical facts to the state department at Des Moines. This was the object of the meeting as stated by Lawrie Tatum, one of the leaders in the movement. He emphasized the fact of the necessity of such action if the history was ever made possible. John S. Tuthill was the chairman of this meeting and Wm. Elliott the secretary. Resolutions offered by Lawrie Tatum were adopted in the following form: Resolved, That there be at least one person appointed for each township to collect and collate all the facts and circumstances attending the settlement, rise, and progress of his township, and forward the same to Judge Tuthill by January 1st if possible.
According to this the members of the committee so appointed were: Center, W. H. Tuthill; Pioneer, A. B. Oakley; Fremont, J. C. Batdorf; Dayton, J. P. Ferguson; Massillon, H. B. Potter; Springfield, Thomas Shearer; Red Oak, W. A. Rigby; Cass, Robert Gower; Inland, Hiram Frank; Farmington, Frank Butterfield; Sugar Creek, James H. Leech; Rochester, John Baker; Iowa, Lawrie Tatum; Springdale, Wm. S. Chase; Linn, John Dance; Gower, R. E. Campbell.
Ten years after this the first attempt to put the collected account in book form was undertaken. No authority is given for the conclusion, but one may judge that the material put into the letters from "Antiquary," published in the "Post" came largely from this source. The information particularly desired at that time was concerning the very first settlers; when and from where they came; progress and prosperity of the township; religious interests; church organizations, and denominations; incidents in the lives of persons best known and biographical matter.
If such a plan had been carried to a conclusion, and if such a conclusion had been continued the township history would have been easy to compile into a complete history of the county. The records do not show what became of this movement. If no record had been made of the past events, if no one had made any effort to put in print or manuscript the sayings or doings of the men who once could tell of things it would be impossible to compile the chapters of this book. Hence it is with due acknowledgment to all those who have done these things that this preliminary word is written.
The sources of the history published in 1878 are still available with the exception of the pioneers who were then living and they were of the greatest value. What they left must still be retained and effort has been made to do so. The county records are all in their places. One may read on a fly leaf of one this
memorandum: "Reuben Hallett of Mount Carroll, Carroll county, Illinois, perused this book in the month of April, 1878, for the purpose of compiling a history of Cedar county."
The "Cedar County Post," published in 1872 and '73, was found in the search for sources and this paper contains the substance of the old history of 1878. There are in the years it was published, twelve or more papers, written by "R. L. R." on the "Outlines of the History of Cedar County." "R. L. R." was a student in Cornell college at this time and afterwards taught school at Mechanicsville. At one time he edited a paper in Grundy Center and had some warm skirmishes editorially with Daniel Kerr, member of Congress from the fifth district, in after years. The full name of the young man was, or is, Richard L. Rowe, now of Vancouver, B. C. He did some excellent work in connection with the advice of Judge Tuthill and others of that time. It is well to call any work of this kind, "Outlines," for there is material enough available to make a library, had one the leisure and capital to collect it.
Another source of the former compilation was found in Durant, in the form of a brochure written by a teacher of the time, Mr. Fisher. It is quite evident that the material in the little pamphlet was arranged for the 1878 history and being a little too complete for the work was put in this form to preserve it—a very sensible thing to do. The citizens of Durant who happen to have a copy of this do preserve it now very carefully.
Judge Tuthill was a contributor to the Post over the non de plume "Antiquary." He was a constant student of historical events and one of the prime movers in an attempt to organize a society for historical study in 1868, when Lawrie Tatum suggested it. J. A. Berry and assistants edited the history mentioned and H. F. Kett published the work. C. L. Longley was editor of the Advertiser at that time, and M. R. Jackson of the Conservative. Both these men were influential and sympathetic supporters of the movement.
The publishers of this first history, The Western Publishing Company, had previously done the same service for Brown and Henry counties, Illinois.
That certain surmises in the foregoing may be correct is fairly well established in the letter quoted below which came just at the time the final sections were being placed together. The reply is to one which had been started early in June and being returned a second attempt was made to reach Mr. Rowe.
VANCOUVER, B. C., Aug. 13, 1910.
DEAR SIR: Replying to your letter of July 5 I will say I am the person who wrote the "Outlines of the History of Cedar County" about forty or forty-one years ago. * * * When I wrote many of the old pioneers were still living: Washington Rigby, Andrew and Charles Crawford (Charles is still living about three miles south of Tipton, Cedar's oldest settler); Judge Wm. H. Tuthill, who made a specialty of Cedar reminiscences, and his collection cannot be excelled; Judge S. A. Bissell, with a marvelous memory; Wm. Knott ("Bill" Knott); William Baker; Henry Hardman, and others now nearly all gone. I was brought up in Cedar from childhood, and wrote largely from personal knowledge, assisted by my mother, who was a Crawford, and knew all of the early pioneers and much of their doings.
The "Cedar County Post" was founded by Murrow and James, and its early files went into the hands of "The Advertiser," I think. C. L. Longley might know about this. Jesse James was county clerk or auditor for a number of terms, and if living can doubtless tell about the files containing these sketches. I kept no data after the story was done.
The old files of the early board of county, or territorial commissioners, county probably, who held sessions in Tipton in the forties, in the form of record books were in the office of the county clerk or recorder (county auditor—Ed.) largely in the handwriting of Wm. K. Whittlesey, clerk. Many records about roads and other early acts for public improvements were found therein.
Most of the living records are gone—in the form of men and women who could then recall the facts, and you will have to depend largely upon the recorded data you can locate.
Very truly yours,
RICHARD L. ROWE.
With the "News-Advertiser," Vancouver, B. C.
All the sources mentioned in the foregoing reply had been covered long before the letter reached the author of it and the reply received. It is a source of satisfaction, however, to find Mr. Rowe, in order to bring to light all the authorities quoted.
Finally the editor must express his appreciation to all those who have furnished information or data as referred to throughout the volume in a general way and so far as possible in specific instances. To the staff of advisers who were selected by the publisher special thanks are due for the suggestions of certain sources of information. To Judge Treichler and Hon. J. T. Moffit in their own profession, and public matters, Sherman Yates for the use of the continuous files of the Advertiser, Mrs. McClure for approval of the first section, and to Mr. Boyd for being willing to do anything his time would allow.
The editor of the first volume has nothing to do with the second and can claim no authority over it.
C. RAY AURNER.
