1836
The pioneer settlers of 1836, when
they first looked upon the broad acres and beautiful forests of Mills county,
had in reality no compelling reason for believing that they were not created
especially for them. They came not to scenes of pleasure, but to places of most
arduous toil. The land was new, its advantages still unknown, its resources
undetermined. To enter a country so wild, and engage in its settlement, implied
not only a willing heart, but the ability to do and to dare.
1844
About the year 1844 a series of disturbances occurred
in the State of Illinois, which were to have great consequence in the
settlement of Mills County. A new religious group had been organized
in western New York headed by a young man named Joseph Smith. This
group, known as Mormons, found the east an extremely unfavorable
locality for their growth and they headed toward the west. They first
settled primarily in Missouri but were soon driven out. Crossing the
Mississippi, they settled in Hancock County, Illinois, founding the
city which they called Nauvoo. Their number increased rapidly by
immigration from nearly every country in Europe. After the murder of
Joseph Smith in Carthage, Illinois the Mormons were compelled to
leave the state. In February of 1846 some 1600 men, women and
children crossed the Mississippi on the ice and traveled with
ox-teams and on foot, penetrating the wilderness to the Indian
country near Council Bluffs, on the Missouri. The area around Council
Bluffs was just a stopping off point for many of these pioneers on
their way to the valley of the Great Salt Lake, but many others of
these persecuted people did not cross the Missouri. They remained at
divers points in the State of Iowa, attracted by the pleasant climate
and beautiful woodlands. Among their stopping places were
Kanesville, (now Council Bluffs) Silver Creek,
Traders Point (this place has long since been washed away by
the Missouri. The same fate was the lot of Bethlehem, the
present East Plattsmouth, the town of the present being situated far
to the eastward of its older site. St. Mary's shared a like fate).
(See Townships)
Kanesville, although in Pottawattamie County, was a most important
point to the early settlers of Mills county. The general government
had, at an early day, erected a flouring mill for the benefit of the
Indians on Mosquito creek, and this mill was the main source of
supplies for some years. Previously to the coming of the Mormons
there were no pioneers in the county who could properly be called
settlers. The first white man, who afterwards became identified with
the county's earlier history, was Henry ALLIS. He was a missionary in
behalf of the American Board of Foreign Missions to the Pawnees in
Nebraska, and in 1836 was known to have been in this county at
Trader's Point. He found here at that time, Colonel Peter A. SARPY,
who was engaged in trading with the Indians at a point on the
Missouri river near the site of old St. Mary's. Sarpy had been
in the county at least two years prior to this time; he remained for
many years, and at length became noted as a ferryman over the
Missouri (see Early
Transportation)
1846
Until 1846 there were no additions to the white
population of the county. That year, as has been mentioned, witnessed
the advent of many persons of the Mormon faith coming originally from
Illinois. Among them were Rufus O. JACKSON, Franklin STUART, A. J.
STUART, Otho WELLS, James ELDRIDGE, Frank EASTMAN, Almond WILLIAMS,
R. K. HAMAR, Russell ROGERS, Joseph HARKER, George GATES and William
BRITAIN. These perons settled along Keg creek, at a point which they
named Rushville; William BRITAIN was perhaps the very first man to
locate at that point, and may justly be regarded as the oldest and
first settler in the county. He is still living (in 1881) at an
advanced age, in Oak township, hale and hearty, and proud to be
considered one of the few who helped to redeem Mills county from a
wilderness. The town of Rushville had a very short existence. It died
almost as soon as it was born. Later in the same year there came to
Lyons township (in this and all other mentions of townships it refers
to their area in 1881) Messrs. RIX, WHITTLE, EGGLESTON, MATTHEWS,
McDONALD, BURNS, STEEL, BURDICK, BAKER, WOTH AND ROOKS, all of whom
were Mormons and the most of whom came from Illinois. Later, a number
of the Rushville people went on to Utah, whither the majority of the
Nauvoo population had gone. Joseph HARKER and George GATES, who have
both been previously mentioned, built log cabins in the southwest
part of the county, near where Egypt was, and these are supposed to
the oldest houses erected for dwelling purposes next to that of
William BRITAIN.
The year 1846 was a momentous one for this county. The coming of
the Mormons and increase of population brought the usual
circumstances of birth and death. The first child born in the county
was A. J., son of A. J. and Eunice STUART, which event occurred in
October of 1846. So far as known, this was the only birth of the
year.
James EASTMAN, a Mormon elder, was the first preacher in the
county, if we except the visit of Henry ALLIS, the missionary. The
place of service was a log cabin at Rushville. It is
interesting to note in this connection that the settlers did not
await the erection of houses consecrated to divine worship, but
gathered at one another's homes to listen to the tenets of their
various faiths. Gathered from every land and speaking many tongues,
the earliest people of Mills county entered heartily into the
exercises imposed by the new departure.
1847
The year 1847 was marked by two features deserving of
mention. First, a large number of those who settled at Rushville and
its vicinity recommenced their weary march to Utah. Second, those who
remained scattered to various parts of the county, and were further
strengthened in numbers by many of their brethren from Kanesville and
vicinity. In April of this year, W. H. SHEPPERSON located in Silver
Creek township, and broke the first sod that plow ever touched in
that neighborhood. There came to Indian Creek township in the
same year H. ABEL, Joseph FLETCHER, and Lewis DALRYMPLE, from the
eastern portion of the state. Mr. ABEL located on what is now known
as the BETTS farm; the others located on Silver Creek, but the
precise point cannot be detemined. Mr. ABEL came from Hancock county,
Illinois. The only settlement of moment in this year, was Cutler's
Camp, on the farm of Daniel HEWS, along Indian Creek. A number of
persons under Alpheus CUTLER there located, but a permanent
settlement was not contemplated. Many of them under the same leader
subsequently moved within the borders of Fremont county, and founded
the old village of Manti. The first settler within the present limits
of Rawles township came also in the year 1847. His name was
Joseph RAWLES, and from him the township was called. He came from St.
Joseph, Missouri, and laying out his claim on section six, made the
first farm in that township. Subsequently he went to California,
where he died. William BICKMORE also settled in Rawles township, but
finally removed to Salt Lake City. Whether he improved any land is
not known. In the present limits of Center township a farm was
commenced by Sterling DAVIS, who was probably the first white settler
in that township. The second birth in the county, and that of the
first female child was the daughter of William and Mary BRITAIN,
Caroline L., now Mrs. DEWELL. She was born in a log house at or near
Rushville, January 12. Among other incidents of a notable character
connected with this year is that of the first death in the county.
Rev. James EASTMAN died and was buried at Rushville on Keg Creek. The
monument or headstone erected to his memory is almost the sole relic
of a town of which few of the living residents of the county ever
heard, and that fewer still have never seen. On this first monument
ever placed at the grave of any person in the county of Mills, is
simply inscribed "J. EASTMAN, died April 10th, 1847, aged 60 years."
The headstone is native limestone, and was probably obtained at the
exposure of native rock along the Missouri bluffs. There were two
schools started in this year, but which has priority in point of
time, it is impossible to determine. A man named McCARTHY taught one
of them, and his compensation was some fifteen dollars a month, most
of which was paid in provisions, from which we may reasonably infer
the school was a private enterprise and conducted on the subscription
plan. Mrs. SPENCER, whose husband was then absent in the Mexican war,
taught the very first school in Silver Creek township in this same
year. The school was in her own dwelling. That of McCARTHY was held
in the first school-house, erected this same year, and was, perhaps,
at or near Rushville. The number of pupils whom he instructed was
some twenty five. Another, and the second death of the year, was that
of Mrs. FREEMAN, who died on section thirty of Lyons township.
The first physician in the county came in 1847, and was Libeus T.
COONS, who afterwards became the founder of Coonville, and finally
went to Utah. He came from the vicinity of Council Bluffs to this
county, and to that locality from Nauvoo.
1848
In the year 1848, the population of the county was
subject to the same increase as in the year next preceding. There was
no great influx of population, such as had occurred in 1846, but it
was more slow and destined to become permanent. There came to Silver
Creek in this year, Greenberry JONES, Daniel MOODY, William WOLF,
Jonathan KERNS, Noah COTTON, and Benjamin F. MERRITT. The last named
came from North Carolina. Among the inhabitants of Silver Creek there
had been up to this time no physician. But now came a Doctor SPURGEON
from Missouri, who was the first to care for the sick and sore
distressed. In the same year Washington LEWIS located in Indian Creek
township, and is thus entitled to be called one of its earliest
settlers. The first gentile preacher in the county dates his advent
from 1848, and was the Rev. MARTINDALE, who held services in Lyons
township in the interests of the Methodist Episcopal faith. In the
neighboring township of Rawles, matters of very great interest were
transpiring. The first school had been opened on section seven by Eli
WITHROW who came from Fremont county; the weaknesses to which flesh
is heir had been treated by the first resident physician, Dr. John
SCOTT, who was also the postmaster at Wahbonsie P. O., instituted
that year but not extinct. Among the newcomers, as settlers, to
Rawles in 1848, were A. H. BERGER, James WOODLAND, and Samuel BERGER,
the last named coming from Cedar county, Missouri. In Anderson
occurred the first male birth in the township, that of Charles, son
of William and Maria MATTHEWS. In Platteville township there
had located the first settler, a man named O'NEAL, who came from
Hocking county, Ohio. The first cloth known to have been woven in the
county was this year made by Mrs. HOLMAN, who resided about two miles
southwest of Glenwood. The foundation of Coonville were laid in this
year, by Libeus T. COON, Silas HILMAN, Ira HILMAN, William BRITAIN,
G. N. CLARK, and a number of others who were attracted by the
beautiful site of the town. J. W. COOLIDGE had come in the earlier
part of the year, from near the present city of Council Bluffs, and
had found a suitable location near Keg creek, southeast of old
Coonville.
See Organization of the LDS
Church, Coonsville Branch, for additional information
1849
The year 1849 was ushered in when spring opened by the
coming of James BERGER and Mrs. Nancy BERGER, to Rawles township. The
first school of that year opened at the house of Dr. SCOTT, and he
taught the pupils gathered under his charge in the interval of his
more strictly professional duties. The school was conducted on the
subscription plan, for free schools were unknown at that date in this
county. In the winter a somewhat notorious event had transpired in
the same township. James WOODLAND, an early comer, had died at his
house under suspicious circumstances, and been buried on the farm of
Joseph RAWLES; his death was never properly investigated, and while
exciting suspicion could not be legally investigated, for at the time
of which we are writing Mills county was still unorganized. Soon
after his death his brother, William WOODLAND, married his widow, and
both left for parts unknown; thus occurred the first mystery within
the borders of the county, but it has had frequent like experiences
since.
In Lyons township had located Michael KERNS and W. E. DEAN, both
coming from Missouri. In Indian Creek had located Peter HUNTSMAN from
Maryland, on section twenty-seven; H. ABEL from Canada on section
twenty-one; and a Mr. DAVIS on the same section with the last named.
In the same township, in the winter, John SIMONS, son of James and
Sarah SIMONS, had been born, making his birth one of the earliest in
this portion of the county. A like event, the very first of its kind,
had taken place in Platteville township, being the birth of Albert,
son of James and Rachel O'NEAL. Only one settler was known to locate
in Silver Creek township and he came in October. His name was R. L.
MERRITT. In Anderson township had located James FRY, John
HOLDEN and John McINTYRE, all from Indiana. In the same township the
first birth had occurred, being that of Fanny, daughter of Noah and
Lucretia COTTON, on the twenty-fifth of September. Up to this year
the residents of the county were without a mill. This is one of the
most important features of a newly opened country, and indispensable
to its people. Kanesville on the norh, Oregon, Nebraska City and even
St. Joseph on the south were the only points where flour and meal
could be had. The enterprise of J. W. COOLIDGE intervened to supply
this much needed adjunct of pioneer life. In the summer of 1849 he
built a mill on Keg creek, which afterward became the site of
GORDON's mill. The site of the mill adjoined Glenwood, of which place
Mr. COOLIDGE became an early and valued settler.
1850
The year 1850 added largely to the population of the
county. The settlers sought houses in almost every part of its
territory, and especially along the streams. Many of them came from
thickly wooded and hilly countries, and these facts led them to seek
the same kind of territory here. Few, if any, farms were being
selected on the open prairie, for prairie farming was then an untried
experiment in western Iowa. Along streams and in or near groves of
wood were to be found the most desirable location for farms and
future homes, and these the settlers eagerly and rapidly occupied.
Among the newly arrived settlers in Rawles township were Laurence
RAINS, in June, and William J. RAINS, then a lad, who passed his time
in school. Among the first or early births was that of a daughter of
Joseph RAWLES. In the early spring a daughter of Lena AITNEY died,
and was buried on section seven.
A commodious log school house was built, but two years afterward
it burned to the ground, being the first conflagration of that kind
in the county. George, a son of James L. and Nancy BERGER, was born
on September 4, thus entitling him to be placed among the historic
worthies of the county's earlier days. The first cloth known to have
been made in Rawles township was this year woven by his mother, Nancy
BERGER, of Silver Creek township.
Mrs. MERRITT has the honor of weaving the first cloth, which was
also made in the winter of 1850. Julia BARNES and George CLARK had
both become residents of Plattville township and Mrs. HOYT had taught
one of the first schools in the township of Lyons, at her own house,
the pupils numbering ten, their tuition being paid by subscription.
There are preserved remembrances of but two settlers in Lyons for
that year, John and William L. LAMBERT, both coming from Kentucky. A
like number are remembered as having settled in Anderson township,
Augustus RICHARDS, from Virginia, who located on section 10, and
Samuel BADHAM, from England, location not known.
1851
The year following, 1851, witnessed the first marriage
in Indian Creek township. The oldest daughter of Abel CAREY, Melissa,
was married to Mr. SILKET. In the same year occurred the first death
in the township, that of Homer HOYT, who was buried a little north of
what is now known as the Carey burying ground. On section 21 was
built a log schoolhouse, after the manner of the early settlers, by
gratuitous labor, and if not the first, it was at least one of the
earliest in the township. In Oak township, October 3, occurred
the first birth, that of Thomas GUNSOLLY. William McPHERSON and
William KESTERMAN,(this might be McPHERRON and KESTERSON) both
located farms in Rawles township, as did also Luke WILES, all three
of whom afterward became largely and closely identified with the
county's interests. Among the old residents who came in that year
were J. H. BUCKINGHAM, from Missouri, to Lyons township, William REED
to the same locality, David M. BUCKINGHAM, also from Missouri, to
Lyons, Simon TROTH to Lyons, Geo. R. McKNIGHT to Lyons and John
HAYNIE to Plattville.
In this year 1851 the county was properly organized as Mills
county in the commonwealth of Iowa. From this time on the matter of
growth in both numbers and prosperity is very marked. Of adventurers
there were few or none now being added to its population. Most of the
incoming settlers had definite objectives and came to realize plans
and hopes of long standing. They had come from Illinois, Indiana,
Ohio, New York, the New England states, and a few from the south.
Unlike these later comers had been the first settlers. They came
unwillingly, and tarried with equal regret. Driven from pleasant
homes and a prosperous city there was in their hearts a vague unrest,
not unmixed with bitter and hostile feelings. The objective point of
their weary and dangerous journey lay far to the westward, and
thither their faith looked in the hope of rest and peace.
So many of them had left for the far west the year following their
advent here. In this year of 1851 many of them cast their first and
last ballot and aided in organizing the county. While the events we
have narrated were transpiring, the gentile population of the county
had increased. Already, in the neighboring county of Fremont,
strenuous endeavors were being made to wrest from the Mormon
population of that county the strength and prestige which superior
numbers insured. It remained now to accomplish the same object here,
and to this the gentile population addressed all its energies.
Opposition first found expression in denying the rights of suffrage;
in disallowing the privilege to sit on juries; and in open hostility
to the judge of the district court, as has elsewhere been shown.
Hence, these causes led to the final removal of the immediate
followers of Brigham Young to Utah. Many still remained, and becoming
interested in the county's prosperity contributed largely to its
material wealth, and made both excellent and exemplary citizens. As
has been said, of a far different nature was the coming of the later
settlers. With the year 1851 the arrivals were so numerous and the
population became so scattered that it is a matter of excessive
difficulty to trace their location and the subsequent changes made.
Glenwood had been founded as an offshoot from Rushville, Bethlehem,
afterward East Plattsmouth, had been started, and the now extinct
Wahbonsie had a struggling existence in the southwest. In the east
and south no permanent villages had been established, nor had any
attempt in that direction been made. Some short time previously a
town called California City had been started in Platteville township
by Daniel AMBROSE, and George and James CLARK, the exact date of
which is not known.
1852
In 1852 the principal events of interest belonged to
Platteville and Anderson townships. In the latter the first death of
the year was that of Augustus RICHARDS, on December 10, who was
buried in Farm Creek graveyard. This year, in the same township,
appeared the first physician, Dr. John JOHNSON, who came from Ohio,
and afterwards moved to Missouri. The first services of the Methodist
Episcopal church in Anderson, were conducted by Elder Peter COOPER,
at the house of Widow RICHARDS, and were the funeral services of her
husband. The first school was also opened, taught by Miss Mary E.
McCLENAHAN, now the wife of D. HOUGAS. The students numbered nine,
and the compensation was eight dollars per month. In Plattsville
township was built a hewn log school-house, on section eight, the
first building of that nature, so far as can be learned in the
township. In the spring a school had been opened on section thirteen,
by Miss Angelina MAYFIELD. E. GILLILAND, who still resides in the
township, came from Missouri to Platteville. In this year the first
marriage in Rawles township, John WOLF to Julia KESTERSON, by the
Rev. Mr. TOWNER. On the 28th of August was born Alvira, daughter of
William and Alvira HUNTSMAN, in Indian Creek township. Of newcomers
in this year the following names have been collected: Jesse MILLER,
who located on land now occupied by the poor farm; Henry SAAR, from
Missouri, to which state he had gone in 1842, and who settled in Oak
township; T. M. BLAIR, in Rawles, from Missouri, Alfred B. McPHERRON,
A. WILLIAMS, Urbin WILLIAMS, Richard ESTES and W. NEWELL, all of whom
located in Rawles township. To Lyons township came R. SHAW, Sarah
HAYNIE, William ESTES and George FOLDEUX. S. C. PITZER and F. M.
BRITT, from Missouri, located in Center township, and made farms. In
White Cloud settled James HUGHES, one of the oldest residents in the
township. Among these persons may have been some who were rough and
uncouth, but beneath the rugged exterior beat true and manly hearts.
1853
The facts of preceding years were repeated in 1853. In
Rawles township the first marriage of the year was that of David
UTTERBACK to Rachel ALLISON, by Rev. Mr. ARMSTRONG, of the Methodist
Episcopal church. He had followed the pioneer Methodist preachers,
Revs. CANNON and WITTER, who came as missionaries of that faith. In
Anderson township was born Calvin A., son of John and Harriet
RICHARDS, in the month of December, and this is supposed to be the
first male birth in the township. Among the settlers who came to
Rawles in this year were Fred. TERRABERRY (Terryberry?), Joseph
MUNSINGER and Isaac TOWNSHEND. In Oak township settled J. M. WARREN,
E. H. BUFFINGTON, from Illinois and J. H. COTTON, from Lafayette
county, Missouri. Other old settlers are John CHAMBERS and S. BARBEE
in Center township, M. J. MARTIN, in Glenwood village, Charles
L. EPPERSON, in Lyons and William HOXIE, in Plattsville township, who
came hither from the state of Michigan.
1854
In 1854 Mary A. COTTON died in Anderson township on
December 9th and lies buried in the COTTON graveyard on section
thirty six. The second female born in this township was Violet,
daughter of Samuel and Mary BADHAM in November. Newcomers located in
nearly every portion of the county. In Lyons were J. A. TIPTON, John
GILLENS, Thomas CONNOR, John JACKSON and James HUBBARD. H. P. FOWLER
came from Lafayette county, Missouri, and located in Oak township, as
did, also, John HUTCHENS, who came however, from Andrew county,
Missouri. In White Cloud occurred its first marriage, that of
Pleasant SILKET to M. A. MORRIS. The first female child born in this
year, so far as relates to White Cloud, was Darah V., daughter of
James and Caroline HUGHES. J. J. KENADY died and was buried south of
the old village of White Cloud. To Rawles township came John M. WEST,
Daniel TERRYBERRY and John A. DAVIS. In other portions of the county
numerous farms and homes were commenced, by Joseph FOXWORTHY, Charles
KESTERMAN, William H. RODMAN among others.
1855
In 1855, G. W. PATRICK, W. S. VIOLA, from Ohio, A.
LEWIS, F. M. WILSON, H. C. SHEPPARD, D. O. BRIGGS, A. R. WRIGHT, from
Indiana, James LAMBERT, T. K. HAMMOND, who located in Lyons township.
In Rawles township settled O. B. RUSSELL, James BOYD, William E.
UTTERBACK and A. R. GRAVES. To White Cloud township came Stephen D.
DAVIS, Jas. M. SUMMERS, William VAN DOREN, H. W. SUMMERS, and many
others.
1856
In 1856 and 1857 witnessed the coming of William
WEAVER, William G. SUMMERS, Valentine PLUMB, W. B. WILSON, J. W.
DEVORE, Thomas R. KAYTON, Frank MOORE, John GRAHAM from Indiana, John
TINKER from Wisconsin, Henry KISBY from Wisconsin, but originally
from England, Henry RUSSELL, M. W. HURLBURT, M. C. PEARSE, John
BUTLER, R. H. HURLBURT, Solomon JONES, H. A. NORTON, John BYERS and
L. D. PRINDLE.
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