1838-1938
| West Liberty History 1838-1938 | |
Source: One Hundred Years of History
* Commemorating a Century of Progress in the West Liberty Community * WEST LIBERTY, IOWA
LOG CABIN HISTORY Chapter VI
THE MORMONS Late in the autumn of 1836 there appeared a company of emigrants in the settlement. Among these were four brothers by the name Huntsman. They erected cabins in the timber along both banks of the creek in township 78-4 and prepared to spend the winter there. They brought stock in considerable numbers with them, but came too late to make any adequate provision in the way of forage for them through the winter; so they resorted to the expedient of cutting elm and bass wood trees for the stock to browse on the tender shoots and buds. But much of their stock died of starvation and the rest were so weakened they were very long in gaining strength when grass started in the spring. The central cabin of this company which seemed to be their headquarters was at the Big Spring in section 10-78-4, now in the pasture of John Miller. This was far more commodious than any of the others, and comfortable. Some were the merest make-shifts of a habitation; mere log pens roofed over; no floor or windows. There was at least one in the northwest quarter of section 10, and probably two, while there was one in the northeast quarter of section 14, near where John Rejahl lives and one in the northwest quarter of section 13, on the present site of U. D. fairground, while a number were erected on the east branch of the creek in section 5-78-3 and section 1-78-4. This company of emigrants were said to be a part of the Mormon commune. At this time the great body of Mormons were drifting from the then headquarters of Mormonism at Kirtland, Ohio, to their rendezvous at New West, in Missouri. They were scattered all through the country between these points, wintering however that season overtook them, and sometimes remaining for a year or two in a place, to replenish their provisions and clothing.
In the spring of 1837, this company of emigrants on the Wapsie, as soon as their stock regained strength to travel, moved on towards Missouri; but the rude cabins which they left remained, mute relics of this peculiar people, and were utilized by a number of new arrivals that season, while they more leisurely viewed the land and made their selection of claims. Among these were Asa Gregg, who took possession of the one situated in the northwest quarter of section 10-78-4. He afterward built on the north edge of the same description, but further west, the house standing not far from the present residence of Mrs. Deming, where he remained until 1840, when he sold to E. T. S. Schenck and moved to the southeast corner of section 2-78-4.
William Corns came with his family that same season and located in the northwest quarter of section 13, just at the northeast corner of Oakridge cemetery. They afterward removed to the northeast quarter of section 12-78-4, on what is known as " King's Cross Stock Farm," owned by T. J. Harris. William Bagley settled for a time at the big spring in section 10, and later, on the southeast quarter of section 12-78-4. W. A. Clark, a bachelor, made his home in the woods in a cabin in the southeast quarter of section 11-78-4, where he lived until after his marriage, and then built a new log house on the prairie in the northeast quarter in the same section. It stood very near where the south barn stands on J. H. Clark's place. Bradford Hinyon built or took possession of a cabin on the northeast quarter of section 1-78-4. It stood at the foot of the hill west of the creek, near a small spring, on the place now owned by Frank Speight. It was the merest excuse for a dwelling, being a low, one-roomed cabin, with a shed roof. Afterward this property came into the hands of George W. Van Horne, and a commodious double log house was erected on the hill west of the timber where Frank Speight now lives, in the northwest quarter of section 1-78-4. Cornelius Lancaster located farther down the creek, as did also Mr. Cox. The cabin of Lancaster was said to have been one of the Mormon cabins. It was rough and small and had a floor in about one-half of it. Just north and east of the creek in the northeast quarter of sec. 1-78-4 near where Mr McGuire or the Quier place, Lancaster and Hinyon erected a horse grist mill for custom work, probably the first grist mill west of the Cedar River. I presume the mill was no great affair, as a smile is liable to be noticed on the faces of the men of that period when speaking of it. It was in 1838, before the family of Lancaster came. Very soon after their arrival the mother was taken sick, and her sickness developed into small pox. She recovered, but one of the children sickened and died of it.
A family by the name of Huliett had made a beginning for a home on the east bank of the East Wapsie in the northwest quarter of section 7-78-3, now owned by S. G. Hogue, late in 1836 or early in 1837, but the mother and child soon sickened and died and he, disheartened, left the country. This occasion is worthy of passing notice, as it was the first death to occur in the new community and the necessity was now upon the settlers to select a spot that should be sacred to their dead. After consideration they chose a spot in the northwest quarter of section 3-78-4, now known as the Friends' cemetery. There, with the bodies of this mother and child, they dedicated that new " God's Acre." It was centrally located as to the various settlements springing up in the new country. As the few neighbors gathered there on that bleak and windswept prairie to perform the simple and sad rites of the occasion, they little realized a per cent of their number were soon to slumber there.
Samuel Hendrickson and Gamaliel Gatton were also of the number who visited the region and took claims in 1837, Hendrickson choosing the north half of section 6-78-3 and Gatton the southwest quarter of the same section. These were claims held by Mormons and were purchased of them. After Huliett left his claim Francis Foot took possession and resided there until the time of his deathin 1838. This Francis Foot was a man of considerable education, and while he lived, was one of the leading members of the community, taking an active part in all their social occasions, and giving life and tone to the community.
Two brothers, George and Robert Patterson, spent a part of the season of 1837 in the community above the forks of the Wapsie, but took no claims there. George returned to the east, but Robert went to the southeast part of the county and located on the southeast quarter of section 17-77-1 east, where he afterward married Miss Nye of that place, and this family figured largely in all later accounts of the early settlement of the county. Two other brothers by the name of Conklin were then living in cabins in the timber above the forks of the creek in section 24-78-4, Mrs. Myers, a widow, with two stalwart sons, resided on the east bank of the creek farther up the stream. None of these parties took claims there. They were simply a part of the floating population that always accompanies every new settlement and moves on as soon as a semblance of law and order is established.
In the winter of 1827-8 there occurred a deplorable circumstance that came near embroiling the whites and Indians in open hostilities. One evening a few Indians were gathered at a low resort near Moscow, kept by a man named Ross, who supplied them with liquor till they became noisy and quarrelsome, when Ross ordered them to leave, and proceeded to enforce his order. In the struggle that ensued,one of the Indians was beaten with a club so he died. Meantime the other Indians withdrew and declared vengeance for the murder of their comrade. The murdered Indian was said to be the brother of Poweshiek, the chief of the tribe. Ross became frightened and fled, and the Indians, following the traditions and usages of their race, when they could not glut their vengeance on the slayer of their brother, were ready to appease their wrath on any hapless victim that came in their way which, in this instance, chanced to be a Methodist preacher by the name of Atwood, whose home was on the west branch of the Wapsie, in section 28-79-4, where Hanson Gregg afterward settled. He had been over on the Iowa river at work and was returning to his home across the prairie alone, when he was attacked by the Indians and tomahawked and scalped. This tragedy very much disturbed the security of the settlers along the creek, and the winter was passed in fear and dread. But the wrath of the Indians was appeased and no further violence occurred.