Pioneers of Marion County by Wm. M. Donnel, 1872

Part II, Chapter IV

Lake Prairie Continued - George Gillaspy - James L. Warren -
Indian Worship - Short of Provisions - Tribute to the Memory of Dr. Warren

Among those who came to the county before the memorable First of May, was the no less distinguished personage, than George Gillaspy, and we proceed to open this chapter with a brief sketch of his history.

Mr. Gillaspy was born in Shelby county, Kentucky, July 15, 1814. At the age of 13 years his father moved to Johnson county, Indiana, where he remained about five years, and then returned to Kentucky. From thence he came to Iowa in 1840, and settled in Louisa county, and from thence to Marion county in the spring of 1843, stopping in the timber near Lake Prairie on the evening of the 24th of April. That night he took his wagon to pieces and covered it in different places to prevent the dragoons from discovering it, in which case it would have been subject to seizure and himself to expulsion from the territory.

As midnight ushered in the long desired first of May, Mr. G. marked out his claim, as did many others who had made selections and been awaiting the time to establish them legally. After securing his claim Mr. G. boarded for some time at Wellington Nossaman's, making rails for twenty-five or thirty cents per hundred. In the spring of '46 he was appointed assessor, and in August of the same year succeeded James Walters as sheriff,* and was re-elected to the same office in '48.

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*When Mr. G. was canvassing the county as candidate for sheriff, he carried his horse feed with him in a sack. We note this simple fact merely in contrast with his late tours through the state as a candidate for governor.
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In '49 he was elected to the office of treasurer of the board of public works. On the 7th of October, '49, he moved to Ottumwa and took charge of the state land office. In '50 was re-elected to that post, and in '52 was appointed by Gov. Hempstead register of the state land office. In '53 (the legislature having made the incumbent of that office elective by the people) he was elected to fill it two years. At the end of this term he commenced mercantile business in Ottumwa, but two years later sold out and engaged in land speculation with considerable success. In '56 he was elected a delegate to the constitutional convention that came off during the year following. In the fall of '57 he was the nominee for lieutenant governor on the same ticket with Hon. Benj. M. Samuels; and in '69 headed the democratic ticket as candidate for governor.

Mr. Gillaspy still lives in Ottumwa, engaged in buying and selling cattle and hogs, and in packing pork in Chicago. In person he is a somewhat remarkable man, being of almost giant proportions.

Not less distinguished, nor less favorably remembered among those who settled in this township at a very early date, was Dr. James L. Warren, who died at his residence near Peoria, Mahaska county, Jan. 18, 1870, aged 69 years. He was born in Green county, Tenn., July 1st, 1801; immigrated to Iowa and settled in Lee county in 1841. He made his first claim in what is now Mahaska county, where he cut some logs and employed a man to put them up in the shape of a cabin; but he afterwards abandoned the idea of settling there, and made a claim about three miles south-east of where Pella now is, where he succeeded in planting about twenty acres of corn and wheat in the spring following.

Those who came up at the same time and helped to found a settlement were John B. Hamilton, Robert Hamilton, Henry Miller, Green T. Clark and Henry McPherson. On their way up the dragoons refused to let them pass Libertyville with their wagons, so they packed on horses what provisions they thought would last them till after the first of May, and proceeded. Approaching an Indian village near the present location of Oskaloosa, the Doctor, who had some practical knowledge of military tactics, called a halt, and suggested that they march through the town in military order. This was agreed to by all except an old man named McPherson, who thought such a maneuver would be regarded by the Indians as a challenge to fight. Being excused from service the old man made a wide circuit to the north of town, still keeping in view, in order to witness the result, whilst the remainder obeyed the command to "forward march." On entering the place they found the inhabitants engaged in worship, in consequence of which they paid little or no attention to this mock military demonstration. The men were collected in a large tent, seated in a circle, singing in a monotonous, drawling tone to the equally musical rattle of beans in gourds, that they shook up and down, as an accompaniment to their voices. The door of the tent was closed against intruders, but Robert Hamilton, having an ungovernable curiosity to witness the performance, raised the tent wall near the ground and peeped under. Not one of the solemn-face worshipers took the least notice of this breach of good manners; nor did they for an instant seem to permit their attention to be diverted from their devotions; but an old squaw, who seemed to be standing guard without, noticed the intruder, and indignantly ordered him away. Not being instantly obeyed, she took hold of Robert, gave him a violent pull, and uttered the word "Manitou" (God), as an explanation of the sacredness and privacy of the place and performance, at which he deemed it advisable to desist. Soon after leaving town our heroes were rejoined by McPherson, who was rejoiced to find them all safe and unhurt.

On the 26th of April they reached the present location of Pella, and contemplated making claims there; but, owing to its distance from timber, they thought it very probable that it would be many years ere much improvement could be made there, and the land become valuable. So they made choice of the timber about three miles to the southeast.

But ere the time came for them to get thier wagons, and the remainder of their provisions, what they had brought with them began to come short. As soon as possible Green B. Clark was sent for the wagons, and some of the others resorted to hunting as a means of economizing the scanty remainder of breadstuffs. But the bread finally quite gave out, and hunting, even in those early days, was not so reliable a means of supporting the demand for food as some might suppose. It is said that game was plentiful, which was generally true, but, like fishing, the taking of it depended upon skill and good luck. An instance is related of an old settler named Cunningham, who still lived in Mahaska county, who, by hunting, maintained a half starved existence for eight or ten days, on his claim near Oskaloosa, not daring to leave it lest it should be "jumped." Our settlers now found it necessary to use energy and skill or starve. Hunger already incited them to do their best. Robert Hamilton shouldered his rifle and went in search of a turkey, or anything else he could find that would do to eat, whilst Henry Miller went in search of a bee-tree. Both were successful; and, what added much to their good fortune, their wagons came the next day, bringing breadstuffs and other conveniences.

Dr. Warren was among the first ministers of the M. E. Church who preached in the county, and organized the first class west of Libertyville. He was licensed as a local preacher in 1828; ordained deacon at Oskaloosa in 1852, and was ordained an elder by Bishop Ames in 1863. He also commenced the practice of medicine in 1831, which he continued till a short time before his death. In this he was very successful during his residence in this county, especially in the management of the miasmatic diseases, to which the early settlers were subject, and his field of practice often extended from Oskaloosa to "Tool's Point," now Monroe, Jasper county, and over a large territory north and south of this route. Over this wide field he ministered both in spiritual and temporal things. He was a man universally loved and respected by all who knew him. Many instances illustrative of his charitable nature, and many acts of kindness performed by him, have been related to us, and are well remembered by many who have shared the privations of pioneer life with him. His departure was made joyful by the hope of eternal life.

Green T. Clark and Robert Hamilton still live in the township. The latter is at present a citizen of Pella, whilst his brother, John B., lives in Kansas, whence he emigrated in 1862.

Transcribed by Mary E. Boyer, 12/06, reformatted by Al Hibbard 12 Oct 2013