This township is one of the most irregular in
shape of the twenty two in Clayton County. It is
situated in ranges 93 and 94 north,, and ranges 2 and
3 west. It borders on the Mississippi, and is
bounde3d on the north by Mendon Township, on the west
by Farmersburg and Garnavillo, and on the south by
Garnavillo and Jefferson. It contains twenty-seven
whole and eight fractional sections. It is drained on
the north by the Sny Magill and tributaries, and on
the south and west by Buck Creek and tributaries.
DISCOVERY AND
EARLY SETTLEMENT
The territory comprised with the limits of Clayton
Township was first seen by Marquette and Joliet, in
the month of June, 1673. There is no reliable record
for over 100 years after this visit. In 1812,
however, it was again visited, this time by a scion
of French nobility in the person of Chevalier Marais,
and adherent of Louis the Sixteenth. When the
revolution of 1792 swept over the kingdom like the
waves of mid ocean, the friends of royalty had to
flee into exile, and he, young and gifted, on whose
education no pains had been spared, reared in the lap
of luxury, fled from his native land, and for
twenty-two years he was a penniless wanderer, during
which time he penetrated these Western wilds, living
in accordance with and patterning after the modes and
customs of the natives. He finally established a
small trading post for traffic with the Indians, at a
point near the mouth of Buck Creek, in the southern
part of this township. This point was known as French
Town, and he remained till the restoration. He then
returned to la belle France, taking with him his dark
eyed bride, a daughter of the head chief of the
Iowas. In 1820, Messieurs Lapointe and Charles La
Tranch, were located in at French Town, as the
successors to Chavalier Marais in the Indian traffic.
In the early settlement of Clayton County, French
Town was the point on the Mississippi River where
many of the settlers landed their supplies. In 1836
Messrs. J.W. Gillett and McMasters, having made land
claims on the Garnavillo Prairie, received their
supplies at French Town from the steamer
"Warrior," that made regular monthly trips
from St. Louis, with Government stores to the
military posts above.
Mr. Gillett slept for the first time in Clayton
County about one mile up the hollow from French Town,
in the winter of 1836. It is claimed that he sowed
the first oats in the county. He purchased sixty
bushels at Cassville, transported them across the
river in a canoe, and with Bob Ross carried them on
their backs up the Mississippi Bluffs, whence they
were hauled to his claim with oxen. It is also said
the he first put the plow into the Garnavillo
Prairie. About 1846 Orrin Keeler and James Powell
entered a small fraction of land at foot of Sny
Magill, and established the next year a ferry. They
surveyed their land into town lots, and in honor of
one of the proprietors christened their town
Keeleroy. After running their ferry for a time,
Powell tired of the partnership and endeavored to
sell out to Keeler, who had built a house and brought
his family. Keeler was willing to sell to Powell, but
did not feel able to purchase his partner's interest
in the flat or scow used for ferrying such emigrants
as chanced to come to Iowa, crossing at that place.
But Powell would not buy Keeler's interest, and swore
that the partnership should be dissolved. He then
proceeded summarily to dissolve it be sawing the
ferry-boat exactly through the center, dividing it
into tow equal parts, one of which he reserved for
his share. After this novel dissolution, Keeler, out
of the ruins of the old business, purchased an old
end-less-chain horse-power, built a flat boat and
propelled the same with one horse.
The first warehouse built in this township was
built at Keeleroy, by Messrs. B. F. Fox and Alvah C.
Rogers, in 1848, from which they shipped the first
wheat to St. Louis, and for a year or two Keeleroy
could boast of shipping more grain than any other
point in the county, during which time the
proprietors indulged in visions of a future
flourishing town. But Keeler and his amiable wife now
sleep their last sleep, resting side by side in the
churchyard at Garnavillo, while his town is known
only on paper.
In August, 1849, Frank Smith, of Dubuque, and
Messrs. Gilbert and Douglas, of Garnavillo, slept for
the first time on the site where now stand the
village of Clayton. They were then examining this
point for the purpose of starting a town. Having
decided to commence improvements here, Mr. Smith
formed a co-partnership with Thompson, Sage and
Davis, of Elkader, under the style of Frank Smith.
Messrs. Sage and Davis had previously entered the
land for the purpose of making a landing and shipping
point for their flour manufactured at Elkader Mills,
it being the nearest feasible point on the
Mississippi to Eld(k)ader, for shipping. They sold
and undivided half interest to Messrs. Noble, Watson
and Douglas of Garnavillo, and then the proprietors
went to work with a will, clearing off the brush and
surveying the land into town lots. They named the
town Clayton, in honor of John M. Clayton, and before
winter set in Smith had a store built and in full
blast. The proprietors had built roads to the place
and Clayton had commenced with fair prospects of
becoming an important business town; and for five or
six years after Clayton was an example of business
thrift, energy and enterprise rarely excelled in any
now Western town.
CLAYTON
CITY
Clayton was laid off on section 1, township 93
north, range 3 west, in November, 1849. The
proprietors were Timothy Davis, John Thompson,
Chester Sage, Ruben Noble, James Watson and Elizabeth
Douglas. Lower Clayton was platted in August, 1853 on
land owned by Elizabeth Douglas, Robert R. Read,
Elizabeth Read and Frank Smith. Upper Clayton was
added in 1853 by Ralph Campbell, and West Clayton in
1854 by John M. Ballou, Mary Ballou and Elizabeth
Douglas.
We have already, in the township history, traced
the beginnings of Clayton, and seen how prosperous it
was the first few years. It never fully recovered,
however, from the commercial revulsion of 1857.
Before that year there were built large and
substantial warehouses, hotels and business houses,
flouring mills, saw and planing mills that would be a
credit to any town. The streets were blocked with
teams from early in the morning until late in the
evening with produce, for which gold was always paid.
Teams were often seen in its streets from the country
directly west o Dubuque and from Buchanan County
loaded with wheat and pork, and taking back generally
lumber and goods on their return. Large stock of
goods were kept by the merchants, and for a few years
Clayton was clearly ahead of all competitors in the
county. Messrs. Clark & Roger's stock at one time
consisted of fifty-three hogsheads of sugar, 110
barrels of molasses, twenty tons of iron,
seventy-five stoves and furniture, fifty chest of
tea, and dry-goods, boots and shoes, queensware,
hardware, in proportion, amounting in the aggregate
to $50,000; and their sales reached as high as $500
in a single day.
FIRST THINGS
Frank Smith & Co. built the first store and
sold the first goods sold in Clayton. Clark &
Rogers built the first warehouse and shipped the
first grain and produce. Mr. Ruckle kept the first
boarding house, and J. A. Brown built and kept the
first hotel, known as the Clayton House. H. Williams,
G. A. Whitman, Mark B. Sherman, D. G. Rogers, A. C.
Rogers and Samuel A. Clark built the first flouring
mills at Clayton, known as the Clayton City Mills, at
a cost of 31,000, including the wood, land and
appurtenances, miller's residence, cooper shop, etc.
Nestling in one of the most beautiful valleys of
the Mississippi, surrounded on three sides by high
bluffs and hills, and its western boundary washed by
the great Father of Waters, lies the thriving village
of Clayton. Civilization early found its way to this
lovely spot, and to-day the finely cultivated farms,
the hum of machinery, and on every side the signs of
busy, active life, are ample evidences of its rapid
progression. The town was laid out in 1845 by Frank
Smith, Timothy Davis, Jack Thompson and Mr. Sage, who
named it and have been instrumental in building up
the town. Among the pioneers of the township may be
mentioned John Lossing, W. C. Stearns, C.H. Kuempel,
Ralph Campbell, who built the first blacksmith shop
in the town on what is now Main Street, Clayton City.
He is now dead. Frank Smith erected the first store
and sold the first goods in the township. The store
stood where the C. M. & St. P. depot now stands.
He also, in company with Mr. Davis, built and ran the
first steam saw-mill in the town, this being about
1853. Mr. Smith now resides in California. In 1858 a
large stone flour-mill was built at a cost of about
$43,100, and operated successfully until 1874, when,
owing to the failure of the wheat crop, the owners
were compelled to suspend business, and it has been
idle since. The failure of this mill was a great loss
to the people in the vicinity of Clayton.
Some twelve years ago Krueger & Co. built a
large four-story mill, 60 x 120 feet, at a cost of
$75,000. They did a large and lucrative business
until the failure of the wheat crop six years ago
when they closed the mill, and it has been in
operation since. They manufactured the finest flour,
and their failure was a great loss to the
manufacturing interests of the township.
In 1878 C. H. Kuempel built a furniture
manufactory, which is still in operation and does a
good business.
The first hotel was built by J. A. Brown.
BUSINESS
INTERESTS
Shroeder Bros., dealers in barbed
fence-wire, stoves, belting, tin, and shelf-ware,
embarked in this business in 1880. They carry an
extensive stock and do a profitable business.
Ernest Rantzow established the boot and
shoe store which he now occupies, in 1872, and has
been very successful.
J. Pahl, formerly of Brush Creek, Iowa,
engaged in the tailoring business here in 1882.
Mrs. Pahl, milliner and dressmaker, located
here in her present business in May, 1882, and
carries a complete stock of goods.
Mrs. D. Clark has been engaged in the
millinery business in Clayton Center since April,
1882, and is making it a financial success.
Shroeder, Beckman & Stearnes, livery,
feed and sale stables, embarked in this business in
1877, and have been financially sd(u)ccessful.
Wancel Smasar, blacksmith, embarked in
business here in 1862.
J. H. Wiegand, boot and shoemaker, engaged
in his present business in 1860.
H. C. Stinson, general merchant, commenced
business in 1867 and has an extensive retail trade.
J. M. Siple, dealer in general merchandise,
embarked in this business in 1877, and carries a full
line of goods.
Beckman Bros., among the leading business
men of Clayton City, established their present
business, that of dealers in agricultural implements
and farm machinery, in 1875, and have met with
deserving success.
M. H. Adams, grain dealer, established
business in 1879.
John J. Hauschen, blacksmith, located here
in business in November, 1881.
Beckman Bros. & Co., dealers in general
merchandise, established this business in 1870. They
carry a complete stock of goods and are the
recipients of a profitable trade.
August Ruegnitz, proprietor of the city
saloon, established this business on May 1, 1978.
SCHOOLS
There are five school buildings in the township,
valued at $3,500. The number of children enrolled in
the year 1881 was 350.
RELIGIOUS
Clayton City contains but one church building,
that of the Catholic organization. It was built in
1870 at a cost of $2,000. They have no regular priest
at present.
The Methodist organization consists of twelve
members. Their meetings are held in the school-houses
of the township.
The United Brethren Society numbers twenty
members. A minister by the name of Kauffman preached
the first sermon in this faith in the township. He
also held a protracted meeting, and some twenty-five
or thirty names were added to the church. They have
no regular pastor, but the word of God is preached to
them by the traveling ministers of their
denomination.
REMINISCENCES
The following remarkable bear story
is told by several of the early settlers of the
county, and its truthfulness vouched for. A party of
hunters, among them R. Hatfield, weight 240 pounds;
John Gillet, weight about 100 pounds; Eli Daniel and
William Carlin, average weight about 180 pounds,
William Knight, Edward Follett and others, all of
Clayton County, Ia., in the winter of 1842, started
out on a bear hunt. One of the party tracked a bear,
followed him to a cave, but upon reaching it found
the opening too small for him to crawl through. He
notified the remainder of the party, who joined him,
and they all stayed around the cave two days,
partaking freely of whisky, and getting gloriously
drunk. It was not long before the largest man could
crawl into the cave. A piece of lighted tallow candle
was placed on the muzzle of the gun, and one of the
men crawled into the cave, holding this beacon, thus
prepared, in advance of him. One of the bears, on
smelling the tallow, came up and began licking the
lighted candle, whereupon the gun was instantly fired
and the bear killed. The supposed dead bear was
dragged to the mouth of the cave and proved to be a
half-grown cub. The men all then lighted their
candles, crawled into the cave and succeeded in
killing eight bears in that and an adjoining cave.
Such was the difference between a sober and a drunken
man. This is one of many true stories of thrilling
interest that might be told of the early pioneer life
of Clayton County.
Colonel H. F. Landers, formerly of
Breckenridge County, KY. Came to Clayton County in
1831, being among the very earliest settlers. He
helped to build the fort at Cassville, Wis. The
Indians along the Turkey River were very troublesome,
stealing whatever they could lay their hands on, and
always having a dog or two with them. Colonel Landers
one day took a goose-quill, filled it with gunpowder
and stopped the end up with a piece of punk, touching
it with fire. He slipped the quill into a piece of
fat meat which he laid down for the dog, then stepped
up to the Indian and engaged in conversation with
him. The dog ate the meat, powder and all, and in a
few moments commenced to whine; the powder exploded
and blew a hole in the side of the dog which fell
dead at the Indian's feet. The Indian looked around,
smelled the powder and said: "Ugh! My dog go
off."
