08/07/2008
By Pat Baker Dakota City is celebrating its sesquicentennial! In honor of its 150th birthday, the town will host activities on Main Street, hold a bicycle parade, and dedicate courthouse lights on Saturday, Aug. 23. In spite of the rivalry with neighboring Humboldt, the county seat of Humboldt County has survived and is better than ever. This year The Humboldt Independent has been featuring articles about Dakota City in honor of this celebration. Most of Dakota City's history has been written by men from Humboldt, who often belittled the town. Let us look at it more objectively, re-checking the facts, and take the opportunity to discover stories that have been buried in the archives. Edward McKnight was a native of Pennsylvania who came to Humboldt County in 1854 when he was 19 years old. A rich man's son with a good education, he spent the summer trading with the Dakota Indians at McKnight's Point in Wacousta Township. He bought the land and revisited it from time to time (see photo). The name "Dakota" is the tribal name of the eastern bands of Plains People now known as the Sioux, the western bands calling themselves Lakotas. The name "Sioux" is not an Indian, but a French word. In September of 1854, McKnight greeted Charles Bergk, Christian Hackman, and August Zahlten in Dakota. They each made claims on parts of Section 6, Dakota Township. However it was traded, McKnight ended up with the town site. Early settlers were discouraged at first by Humboldt County's many small lakes and marshes. This hilltop site seemed to be a very good location for a town: high and dry, with plenty of trees. Charles Bergk was a native of Saxony, Germany. Born about 1825, he was a student in Berlin in 1848 when the revolution began. He left Berlin and was a volunteer in the Schleswig-Holstein army for 2-1/2 years. He immigrated to this country in 1851, locating at Pella. He stayed there until 1854 when, finding the Hollanders were exclusive, the three Germans came to Humboldt County. He was 29 years old. According to history books, during the hard winter of 1854-55 Bergk, Hackman and Zahlten stayed in a dugout cave in the ravine below where Dakota City now stands. They ate hearty meals of cracked corn and wild game, with coffee made from acorns. Not wanting to live in a cave, McKnight built a cabin in section 24 Corinth Township with Newton Dowling. They lived there until the severe cold weather set in, then moved to Ft. Dodge. He returned to Dakota in the spring. Dakota City Zahlten and Hackman soon moved to Kossuth County, selling their shares of Section 6 to Bergk. Ed McKnight laid out the town site of Dakota City in 1855. It was surveyed by William Safford. Isaiah Van Metre reported: "I am informed by one of the chain carriers that a large quantity of whiskey and molasses was consumed in laying it out, the weather being warm, and the mosquitoes more numerous than an army of grasshoppers on a raid." McKnight could not file the plat with Humboldt County in 1855 as Humboldt County did not exist then. He waited until 1858, after the county was organized. The original city plat looks different from today's plat. There were 84 blocks of 10 lots each. A public square was formed in the center of the intersections of (now) 1st Avenue and 5th Street South. These streets, named Broadway and Main, were wider, showing they were the principal avenues. Wahkonsa Park, 3 blocks long and 1-1/2 blocks wide, was on the western edge of the town, overlooking (now) Humboldt. Main Street (now) was called Mill Street, but it was not subdivided into smaller retail lots. Later it joined Humboldt's Sumner Avenue and some retail lots were created along the street. According to the 1884 county history, "the first log building in Dakota was erected in 1855 by Harlow Miner, William Miller, B.W. Trellinger and J. and F. Johnson. Miller used it as a residence." It is important to know that this log cabin was built in Dakota Township, not Dakota City, and it was more likely 1853 or 1854. Miller's place, near the forks of the East and West Des Moines Rivers, was later called Glen Farm. The log cabin standing below the A.W. McFarland property in the ravine may have been hauled from Glen Farm after Miller moved away in 1858. It was used as a stable in 1884. Dakota City Mill McKnight set up a steam saw mill near Dakota City in 1855 on the East Fork of the Des Moines River. To do this, he had to purchase the equipment, haul it to the site, and know how to construct and run a sawmill. The native lumber (oak, basswood and walnut) sawn at the mill was used to build many of the first buildings in Dakota City. No small accomplishment. A typical cabin was 14 x 16 feet on the ground, with 10 feet of studding, made of native lumber and covered with split shingles fastened to ribs or narrow boards. The stagecoach house (22 - 6th Street South) and hotel had a second story. McKnight's mill passed into the hands of Charles Bergk with the other property of McKnight in 1859. A bridge over the East Fork of the Des Moines River was erected in 1860. The bridge washed out during the spring flood in 1867 and was rebuilt the next year. In 1871, a substantial iron bridge was constructed. Country roads were soft and muddy in April 1875. W.H. Locke and his son, Walter, took advantage of the east fork of the Des Moines River to float a fleet of rafts carrying lumber from the Algona railroad yards. They arrived in Dakota City in 19-1/2 hours. The Lockes often transported lumber this way when the water was high enough. C.H. Brown, who came to Dakota City in 1866, took over the mill in 1879, converting the saw mill to grain processing. Because of the arrival of the railroad to Dakota City in 1879, good quality lumber was available and they no longer needed to rely on local timber. The mill farmhouse (now museum) was completed that year. In 1890, the mill was re-built, (see photo). From the Humboldt Independent July 31, 1890, "The old Dakota City mill is now entirely dismantled and is entitled to be listed among the things that have passed away." "The new mill is built upon a solid stone bank high above the reach of the wildest of the raging waters, is a fine structure and a credit to the enterprising firm who have built it. A new flume will be put in the old place and a wheelhouse will cover one of the latest and best water wheels made, which will be connected with the basement of the mill by a line of shafting that will carry some of the finest mill machinery in the west. We heartily wish the firm of C.H. Brown & Sons the largest success." The mill was in the Brown family for about 50 years. The dam and gristmill brought many farmers to the area. However, cheaper flour from the Minneapolis mills was available to local consumers by train. Wheat farming gave way to livestock, and the railroads provided necessary transportation, so in time, the small mills were phased out. The Dakota City dam was the last dam in Iowa to furnish waterpower for a mill in operation. In June 1943, the dam went out during a flood, and the July of that same year the mill burned down. First Settlers Newcomers, William Cragg and Charles Adelsberger, settled in Dakota City in May of 1855. In 1856, new arrivals were Walter Thomas, G.L. Hess, Henry Foster, Mr. Boswick, Patrick Sheridan, Egbert Hulbert and D.F. Howell. At the time of the 1856 census, the James M. Kelly family, Ed McKnight and Charles Bergk were living in the Dakota City Hotel along with hotel owners, the Albert B. and Washington Clark families. Located at 22 - 6th St. South, it was 16x20 feet, with a 12x14 lean-to. Like other hotels of the time, it was two stories high, and had few partitions. Beds placed in a row accommodated the weary travelers. That was where the stagecoach stopped. Present owners say the hotel was built of "green wood" that bowed. Washington and Jane Clarke became the parents of the first child born in Dakota City in 1857. They named her Dakota. The Clarkes were succeeded as hoteliers by Alexander McLean in 1857, who was followed by B. Chauvet. While it was in his hands, the hotel burned to the ground. They soon rebuilt it, with more partitions, and some of Taft's colony stayed there in 1863. Later, Capt. William H. Locke managed it. Living in Dakota Township at census time 1856 was the C.C. Dewing family of seven, with surveyor W.S. Bradford who was boarding there. Andrew Schaeffer and his mother, Hannah, lived together. C.S. Davison, W.W.C. Miller, and A.C.S. Winter, farmers from New Jersey, had their separate place. Whether they were single or had families back East, no one knows. The William Miller family of 11 was listed at the forks of the river (Glen Farm) in the 1856 census of Dakota Township. Living together in the James Porter household were John and Jane Johnston and their son John, Jr.; John McKitrick; John Means; John Farney and Robert McCauley. Alexander McLean lived by himself. The first post office in Humboldt County was established in Dakota City in 1856. Charles Bergk was commissioned Postmaster. He carried the mail in his pocket and delivered letters personally, if not promptly. Sometimes it took a while for letters to reach those in outlying parts of the county. Folks back home waited anxiously for word from settlers, wanting to know if they were well, or if they received the money, land documents and goods sent. As Humboldt County did not exist in 1855-56, mail was often sent to "Webster County," "above Dakotah," "Kossuth County," or "Lott's Creek." In 1857, Eber Stone had his own post office in his log cabin in Humboldt Township. It was appropriately named "Eber." Other post offices were soon established, but for the first few years mail service was not dependable. Things got lost. Religious services were provided to Dakota City residents in 1856 by the Rev. Chauncey Taylor and the Rev. L. David McComb of Kossuth County, who each visited twice. A Methodist circuit rider, Rev. Lawton of Fort Dodge, led worship in 1857. In 1858, a union Sunday school was organized. Humboldt County Seat Humboldt officially became a county on Jan. 28, 1857. State Commissioners W.C. Stafford and Asa C. Call were instructed "to meet on the second day of March 1857 at the house of Edward McKnight and proceed to locate the seat of justice (county seat) as near the geographical center of the county as convenient." Dakota City was chosen the county seat because at that time it was supposed the lower townships of Humboldt County would be restored. Edward McKnight bitterly disputed claims made by the wily John Duncombe of Fort Dodge that Webster County was entitled to hold onto the lower tier of Humboldt County's original townships. Some say McKnight was tricked into "loaning" these townships to Webster County so Fort Dodge could become county seat. No record was made of this "deal," therefore no proof exists, one way or another. Duncombe's political connections enabled a law to be passed to set the county boundaries where they were in 1856. McKnight lost the legal battle, which had been appealed to the Iowa Supreme Court. As a result Humboldt County has only 12 townships. New settlers S.S. Booth, William Blythe, a Mr. McDougal and Gilbert Forest came to Dakota City in 1857. W. Calvin Beer was another new man in town. He gave the oration at the 4th of July celebration in Dakota City. On that occasion, the Rev. John Sheridan of New York City, NY, brother of Patrick Sheridan, was chaplain. Patrick soon moved to Rutland Township. A town hall was built by McKnight in 1857, on the SW corner of (now) 1st Avenue and 3rd Street South. During the July 4, 1857, celebration, bowers of branches were erected about the town hall and a substantial dinner spread. Dancing followed. The town hall was used for official meetings, as a gathering place by the locals, and for mass by the Roman Catholics. When the Rev. S.H. Taft came to the area, he used it as his first place of worship. Also on July 4, 1857, the county was officially organized and officers were nominated for the ensuing election. Under laws of the state at that time, the local government was vested in the county court, which consisted of a judge, clerk, and sheriff. The newly elected officers soon appointed an assessor so taxes could be collected. The first store building in Dakota City was erected by Edward McKnight in 1857, built with native lumber from his sawmill. The firm Burchard & Kinsman operated the general merchandise store, but for them like many others that depression year, the business failed and the men left the country. John E. Cragg operated the general store in 1858, Samuel Goodyear beginning in 1866, and George L. Cruikshank from 1868 to 1875. He was followed by J.M. Youngling and B. Chauvet. McKnight Sells to Bergk In June 1858, McKnight filed the city plat for record in the county's books. On March 10, 1859, McKnight sold the town site of Dakota City, all 312.13 acres, first to John L. Cragg, then to Charles Bergk for $3,000. Bergk had been serving as deputy to Humboldt County Treasurer and Recorder Alexander McLean since 1857, and was elected to these posts in 1859. Bergk continued to sell town lots to those wanting to build homes or speculate. The first issue of the Humboldt County Independent was dated Aug. 2, 1860. The equipment to print the newspaper was brought by ox team from Fort Dodge by A.S. White and editor Charles Bergk. It was discontinued after the first issue "for want of patronage." The newspaper began again July 3, 1868, under the leadership of Bergk and M.D. Williams. The population of the whole Dakota Township was 128 in the 1860 census, including a painter, carpenter, blacksmith, clerk, teacher, two-day laborers and 31 farmers. The rest were women and children. They were not all bachelors. Edward McKnight described his occupation in the 1860 census as "gentleman." One woman remarked, "McKnight received a fine education and possessing a rather romantic turn of mind, became enamored of the stage. This not suiting the taste of his pious parents, who would rather he had chosen the pulpit, it was arranged for him to go west, and he chose Dakota." "Later, while taking a party of visitors around, one of our group asked for a recitation from Shakespeare. After much persuasion he consented, and they were charmed with choice selections, admirably recited, from Othello, Hamlet, Macbeth, Julius Caesar, and other noted plays. How strange it seemed to listen to the same words on the wild prairie, which have so often charmed me within the frescoed walls of Metropolitan theatres." McKnight won election in 1863 for the 58th District of the Iowa House of Representatives, serving both Humboldt and Kossuth Counties. During the Civil War he was a Lieutenant in Company A, Northern Border Brigade, defending the settlers from Indian attack. There he demonstrated not only his leadership skills, but also his sense of humor. Edward McKnight left Dakota City in 1867 and lived about 30 years in Fairfield, IA, alongside other McKnights. He died back home in Pittsburgh, PA, in 1903. In his death notice, The Humboldt Republican dismissed him as "an eccentric character" that "was here in an early day." McKnight was so much more: he was the founder of Dakota City. Dakota City, 1862 In 1862, A.D., Bicknell came to Humboldt County and Dakota City for the first time. He reported that there were only a few small buildings in the town. Being from New York State, he remarked that none of the buildings had a chimney. This was because the buildings were heated with stoves, with stovepipes. Bicknell was surprised to find that Charles Bergk had a piano in the bedroom of his small house/office. His genial host played the piano and sang for his new visitor. Charles Bergk married schoolteacher Maggie Cruikshank on July 4, 1864. They built a fine home northeast of the public square and became parents of three children. At first, supplies had to be hauled from Dubuque. By 1863, ordinary goods could be purchased at Fort Dodge. Their food was of a frugal kind yet was sufficient to keep them in good health and working condition. Lumber was harder to get. The first pine building in Dakota City was a schoolhouse. The pine lumber had to be hauled by wagon from the end of the rail line in Cedar Falls, sometime after 1861. The Civil War halted construction on that rail line until 1865. On another railroad, supplies could be obtained from Nevada, IA, in 1864, and matters gradually improved. The pine school was located on the NW corner of (now) 1st Ave and 4th Street South. Eber Stone reported to the Iowa Agricultural Society that the first brick building was completed in the county in 1865. It could have been used on the school. "The brick and lime used were both of home manufacture and very good quality." The clay for the brick came from the west slope of the Dakota City hill. Bellows had the lime works. After the red brick two-story school was built in 1881, the original school building was used for worship by the Zion Evangelical Church of North America, who enlarged it. The brick was later covered with stucco. In March 1866, a group of men gathered around the pot-bellied stove in the lobby of Capt. W. H. Locke's hotel in Dakota City. They knew that newcomer A.M. Adams was a Mason. They decided to organize a lodge. With a membership of 14, they received their charter in 1867 and met in upstairs rooms with rent $75 per year. Masonry has been the fraternal home of many of Dakota City and Humboldt's prominent citizens. |
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The Humboldt
Independent • Official paper of Humboldt County
Telephone: (515)
332-2514 |
