CHAPTER 3

The United States Land Office was established in Council Bluffs, in the spring of 1853, with Joseph H. D. Street, Register, and Dr. S. M. Ballard, Receiver. These gentlemen only held the offices until June, when they were superseded by Lysander W. Babbitt, as Register and Enow Lowe, as Receiver. The office was first held in a log building on Broadway, and the first entry was made, March 12, 1853, by Joseph D. Lane, and the fourth by Maria Mynster, being the section on which her lime-kiln is located. At that time, the Receiver was required to deposit the public money in Dubuque, and the journey there and back generally occupied two or three weeks. At a later period, St. Louis was made the depositing point, and the gold and silver collected by the Receiver were conveyed to this point on board the steamboats running on the Missouri River.

The first public sale of Government lands took place on the 7th day of June, 1853. The office continued open for private entry until the 31st day of May, 1856, when it was closed on account of the passage of the law granting public lands to Iowa railroads, and from this time until the 23d of February, 1858, entries were only made under the pre-emption law. On the last-named day, a second public sale took place, which sale called together a large crowd of people, who bought large tracts of land. Nearly a million of acres wre entered by the end of the year.

In 1857, new officers were appointed. James Pollard became Register, and A. H. Palmer, Receiver. Mr. Pollard resigned the Register's office in 1858, and Lewis S. Hill was appointed to fill the place. Mr. Hill had been a clerk in the office for several years before his appointment as Register. The next change in the office was made May 20, 1861, after the election of President Lincoln, when Frank Street became Register and D. C. Bloomer was made Receiver. At this time, nearly all the public lands in this vicinity had been sold. In 1862, the new homestead law passed, and the first entry under it was made January 1, 1863.

Up to the close of the office in Council Bluffs, in May, 1873, the whole number of homestead entries was 648. Of this number, 194 were "proved up." In the spring of 1869, Mr. Sylvanus Dodge was appointed Register. He remained in the office until his deah, in January, 1871, and in January, 1872, Mr. Nehemiah Baldwin was appointed Register, and held the office until its removal to Des Moines. Hon. D. C. Bloomer remained receiver of the Land Office for over twelve years. The whole number of cash entries made at this office during its existence was 13,049, and the whole number of land warrants located was 18,647.

The 600,000 acres of land in Pottawattamie County are well watered by the Missouri River and numerous other streams, and it is bounded on the north by Harrison and Shelby Counties, and on the east by Cass County, and on the south by Montgomery and Mills Counties, and on the west by the Missouri River. The Boyer River, in the northwest corner, enters from Harrison County, and meanders down the Missouri bottom about fifteen miles, where it joins that great father of waters about ten miles about Council Bluffs. The next stream eastward is Honey Creek, a tributary of Boyer River. This stream rises in Harrison County, and runs in a southwest course for about twelve miles through Pottawattamie County, and enters the Boyer about three miles northwest of Crescent City. In it course it passes through what is known as Honey Creek Lake, a small lake containing about eighty acres. It is supposed that at one time this was a portion of the channel of the Missouri River.

Big Pigeon Creek comes next, on the east. It enters from Harrison County, about fifteen miles east of the Missouri, and runs in a southwest course to a junction with the said river, about ten miles about Council Bluffs. Along this stream, it is said, some of the finest farming land in Iowa is to be found. The Big Pigeon affords some fine mill privileges, with two or three mills already in operation on it.

The Mosquito Creek also enters from Harrison County, about twenty miles east of the Missouri River. It runs in a southwest course entirely across the county, touching the city limits of Council Bluffs, and enters the Missouri Valley a short distance below the city. This stream affords some good mill sites, and one mill, valued at $20,000, is already in operation on it. About six miles above this city, on the same stream, can be found an excellent woolen mill. The valley of this creek contains some of the very best of farming lands. The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad enters this valley four miles south of the north line of Pottawattamie County, and follows it, nearly on a direct line, to Council Bluffs.

The next stream east is Keg Creek. It also enters from Harrison County, twenty-five miles east of the Missouri River, and runs in a southwesterly course, and affords sufficient fall and water for small mills.

Silver Creek has its head in Shelby County, and enters Pottawattamie about thirty miles east of the Missouri River, and runs in a southwest direction. Middle Silver Creek is a tributary which rises in the north part of the county, and runs nearly south to its junction with the main stream on the west side.

The West Nishnabotna River enters from Shelby County, about thirty-four miles east of the Missouri River. It also has a branch two miles farther east. These two streams form a junction four miles south of the county line, and flow in nearly a south course across the county. This is a good mill stream, and several grist and saw mills are in operation along its banks. The rich and beautiful valley of the West Nishnabotna contains some of the finest farms in the State, many of which are highly improved.

Jordan Creek rises in the northeast part of the county, and flows in a southwest direction. This stream has several small tributaries, the largest being Mud Creek.

Walnut Creek rises in a small lake near the northeast corner of the county, and runs nearly south across its limit. The next stream is the East Nishnabotna, which flows about seven miles through the county, across the southeast corner of the same.

To the streams mentioned above can be added numerous other small tributaries, such as Pony Creek, Little Silver, Little Mosquito, Indian Creek, etc. These streams are well distributed at regular intervals, and afford an abundance of water to every section of the county. Many springs of pure, cold water flow from the bluffs and along most of the streams in the county. The wells are not generally deep, and they give excellent water.

Timber

It may be well enough in writing up this history to state that, while timber is not abundant in Pottawattamie County, it is to be found in such quantities as to answer all necessary use, if properly husbanded. The largest bodies to be found are the cottonwood groves along the Missouri, but there are also some excellent bodies of various kinds, on West Nishnabotna, Honey Creek, Pigeon and Musquito Creeks.

Two varieties of cottonwood are to be found on the Missouri River, known as white and yellow. Among the other varieties of timber found are burr oak, black oak, red oak, walnut, white elm, red elm, ash, soft maple, linn, honey locust, hickory, etc. Nearly all the streams herein mentioned are skirted by groves of timber of greater or less magnitude, but in quantities for fuel, convenient to all parts of the county. The largest supply of timber will be found in the western part of the county. If the prairie fires could be prevented for ten or fifteen years, timber would be abundant in every section of this and other counties in Iowa.

Wild Fruit

It is a well-established fact, that some very delicious wild fruit is to be found in this county, particularly along the Missouri slope. Here you will find plums of good quality and various kinds; grapes, raspberries, gooseberries, strawberries and crab apples, all growing luxuriantly.

Stone

It was generally supposed that stone, in this county, was not to be found, but upon investigation, the facts show an abundance of lime stone and some sandstone. These can be obtained in large quantities whenever the various quarries in Pottawattamie shall be opened up properly. Limestone can be found on Section 36, Township 75, Range 38, and on various other adjoining sections. In the south part on West Nishnabotna, limestone suitable for building purposes can be obtained. North of Council Bluffs, two and a half and four miles, on Mosquito Creek and along the Missouri River, are to be seen exposures of limestone. In Township 74, Range 40, an excellent quality of stone for burning lime it to be had. At various points along the Missouri Bluffs are "masses of coarse sandstone and conglomerate, formed by the percolati9on of lime water through the beds of sand and bebbles belonging to the drift deposits." These beds of sand and pebbles having been deposited in layers, and being cemented in that position, present in many places the appearance of a rocky ledge.

The best of brick can be manufactured in the bluffs and all parts of the county, where the best of sand and clay are obtainable for the purpose. Many of the sidewalks made of these bricks have endured for many years.

Coal

Some years ago it was stated that coal had been discovered a few miles up the Missouri River, in the bluffs, but up to the present writing no such discovery has proven correct. Coal is abundant in some parts of Iowa, and may in time, by deep boring, be discovered in this county. If this article of fuel should become a commodity of this section, it would be a great blessing to those who have but little timber, and in fact, it would be beneficial to all classes. Coal is one of the cheapest and best heating substances yet discovered, and its importance to the public can scarcely be calculated by dollars and cents, for it has a value beyond the money that is in it. Many of the citizens of Pottawattamie County seem confident that coal will yet be found in the vicinity of Council Bluffs.

The climate of the Missouri slope is salubrious and bracing, and in consequence of this fact, many persons have located in the city of Council Bluffs and the County of Pottawattamie. At one time the idea prevailed that much of the Missouri River bottom would prove too wet for agricultural purposes, but this idea has long since been dispelled, for these lands are of the very richest in the county, and yield the most abundant corn, grass and other crops. Here cattle and stock growers find the very richest spots on earth for their business. The luxuriant growth of grass on these bottom lands causes cattle men to drive their stock for many miles for the feed that is to be found from early spring till late fall. Thousands of head are fed and fattened ehere for the market with but very little other feed than the grass they find upon this land. Often cattle are driven from these pastures directly to the slaughter house, where they are killed for the market.

Nearly every acre of this bottom land is susceptible of excellent drainage, and when reduced to cultivation, it presents a moist, loamy surface, easy of tillage and is unsurpassed for productive qualities. The uplands are alos rich, and the best of health prevails among the settlers. Alll the climatic conditions of this county are such as to attract special attention from persons who are naturally weak or debilitated. Here many have gone out upon these prairies, and have become strong and healthy, and are now among the most prosperous people of the county. Persons seeking homes for health and rich soil, have found them in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, and with but few exceptions, are satisfied to remain..

In 1804, when Lewis and Clark were holding their first council with red men of the forest, no such grand things as have occurred could hve been hoped for this country. But the time has arrived when everything can be hoped and looked for, and many things not now expected will be seen. The day for doubting the healthfulness, the productiveness and the prosperity of this large and extensive county has passed. No one any longer seems to have fears or doubts as to the future greatness and growth of Pottawattamie, for these are inevitable, and her increase and prosperity only depend upon a little time. Climate, water, soil, a navigable river and railroads all combine to complete the grandeur long since begun.

End of Chapter 3

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