PAST AND PRESENT
OF
SHELBY COUNTY, IOWA

by Edward S. White, B.A., LL. B.,1915
B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY, INC., INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA
VOLUME I

NOTE: Selections from this volume are being gradually transcribed.
If there is no link, the selection has not yet been transcribed.

DEDICATION, AUTHOR'S PREFACE

PUBLISHER'S PREFACE

HISTORICAL INDEX

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I -- GEOGRAPHY, TOPOGRAPHY ---- 33

Location of Shelby County -- Natural Features -- Groves -- Rivers of Shelby County and Their Names -- Other Streams of the County.

CHAPTER II -- GEOLOGY ---- 39

Geological Surveys -- Geological Report of 1870 -- Soil Deposits -- Drift -- Altitudes.

CHAPTER III -- WEATHER ---- 42

Careful Weather Observations -- Statistics for the Period 1899 to 1914 -- Snowfall -- Blizzards -- Rainfalls -- Changes of Temperature -- Hail Storms -- Tornadoes -- Earthquakes.

CHAPTER IV -- FAUNA AND FLORAY ---- 73

The Fauna of Western Iowa -- Records of Lewis and Clark Expedition --Audubon's Diary -- Collins Herd of Buffalo -- Birds -- Trapping -- Fish -- Reptiles -- The Flora of Shelby County.

CHAPTER V -- INDIANS ---- 90

Little Evidence of Indians in Shelby County -- Indian Trail -- Early Settlers Visited by Indians -- Indian Treaties -- Father DeSmet's Impressions -- The Pottawattamie Tribe.

CHAPTER VI -- PIONEERS ---- 100

Origin of Early Settlers in Shelby County -- First Settlements in the Groves -- Galland's Grove Settlement by Latter-Day Saints -- Other Settlements in the Groves -- Pioneers of Clay Township -- Jackson Township -- Cass Township -- Shelby -- Fairview -- Grove -- Monroe -- Douglas -- Early Settlers of Westphalia Township --- Important Beginnings There -- Pioneers of Center Township -- Polk Township -- Jefferson Township -- Washington Township -- Lincoln Township -- Greeley Township.

CHAPTER VII -- EUROPEAN IMMIGRANTS IN SHELBY COUNTY ---- 125

The Germans -- Danish Pioneers -- The Norwegians -- The Irish Element in Shelby County -- The English Element Among the Pioneers -- The Scotch and Welsh Elements in Shelby County -- Miscellaneous Foreign-born Citizens.

CHAPTER VIII -- REMINISCENCES OF THE PIONEERS ---- 135

Gen. Grenville M. Dodge -- John I. White -- Recollections of Henry Custer -- Vivid Story of an Old-time Blizzard -- Reminiscenses of Jacob B. Stutzman -- Ira Stevens -- Prof. A. B. Warner -- H. P. Hack -- Hon. A. G. Wolfenbarger -- Hon. G. Smith Stanton -- Lewis Shorett -- Mrs. Christian Goodyear -- Prof. George R. Chatburn -- Chris Anderson -- Rev. A. Johnson.

CHAPTER IX -- ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT ---- 179

Early Government of Iowa -- Various Jurisdictions Over This Territory -- Admission as a State -- Origin of the Name "Shelby" -- Boundaries of Shelby County -- The County Judges -- Place of Shelby County in Larger Districts of State and National Government -- Early Judicial Districts -- Congressional Districts -- Pioneer Legislative and Senatorial Districts of Which Shelby County Was a Part -- Later State Sentorial Districts -- Later State Representative Districts -- Early County Government and Records -- First Events -- Later County Government -- Poor Farm -- Court Houses and Grounds -- Jail -- Prohibitory Amendment -- Intoxicating Liquors -- Bridges -- Voting Precincts -- Coal -- Hail Storms -- Tax Ferrets -- Supervisor Districts -- Drainage Districts -- County Officers -- Board of Supervisors.

CHAPTER X -- TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT ---- 210

United States Surveys of Shelby County -- History of Civil Townships -- Early and Later Township Government -- Shelby Township -- Galland's Grove (Grove) Township -- Lincoln Township -- Union Township -- Cass Township -- Jackson Township -- Present Township Officers.

CHAPTER XI -- CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES, PAST AND PRESENT ---- 223

Villages that Have Vanished -- Shelbyville -- Somida -- Manteno -- Itan -- Mallory -- Fiscus -- The County Seat and Present Towns and Villages -- Harlan -- Plats and Additions -- Incorporation -- Primitive Days -- Business Men, Past and Present -- Busness [sic] and Professional Men of the Seventies and Later Periods -- Early Advertising -- Present Business Directory of Harlan -- Town and City Improvements -- Official Roster -- Postoffices and Postmasters -- Early Finances and Assessed Valuations -- Saloons -- Early Impressions of Harlan -- Shelby -- Incorporation -- Business and Professional Men -- Portsmouth -- Panama -- Earling -- Defiance -- Irwin -- Kirkman -- Elk Horn -- Westphalia -- Corley -- Botna -- Tennant -- Jacksonville -- Redline -- Rorbeck -- Prairie Rose.

CHAPTER XII -- TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION ---- 284

Mails and Mail Routes -- Primitive Handling of the Mails -- State Roads -- Early Roads in Shelby County -- Railroads.

CHAPTER XIII -- TRADE AND COMMERCE ---- 299

Telephones -- Mills -- Early Market Prices -- Comparative Prices and Various Periods.

CHAPTER XIV -- BANKS AND BANKING ---- 304

Early Need of a Bank Among the Pioneers -- First Banks Established -- Later and Present Banks.

CHAPTER XV -- INDUSTRIES OF SHELBY COUNTY ---- 314

Introduction -- Observations of Noted Travelers -- Settlement of the Prairies -- Breaking the Prairie -- Crops -- Statistics -- Sorghum -- Potatoes -- Oxen -- Acreage -- Buckwheat -- Grasshoppers -- Horticulture -- The Farmers' Alliance -- Anti-Horse Thief Associations -- Shelby County Farmers' Institute -- Farmers' Mutual Insurance Associations -- Shelby County Agricultural Exchange -- Shelby County Fine Stock Exchange -- Shelby County's Great Herds -- Shelby County Fair -- Baby Show -- Grazing Days -- Early Breeders of Registered Stock -- Standard Bred Horses -- Shetland Ponies -- Aberdeen Angus and Other Breeds of Cattle -- Hogs -- Horses -- Chckens -- Sheep -- Manufacturing -- Grasses -- Patrons of Husbandry, or Grange.

CHAPTER XVI -- PROTESTANT CHURCHES IN SHELBY COUNTY ---- 378

Religious Spirit Among the Pioneers -- Earliest Religious Workers -- Salem Branch of the Latter-Day Saints Church, and the Branch at Harlan -- Methodist Episcopal Churches -- Baptist Churches -- Danish Baptists -- Dunkard Church -- Presbyterian Churches -- Congregational Churches -- Evangelical Church -- Episcopal Church -- Christian Church -- Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church -- German Evangelical Friedens Church -- Danish Adventist Churches.

CHAPTER XVII -- CATHOLIC CHURCHES, MISSIONS AND PRIESTS ---- 403

The Missions at Earling, Portsmouth, Panama and Defiance--The Knights of Columbus and Fraternal Societies--Westphalia

CHAPTER XVIII -- EDUCATION ---- 410

Earliest School Houses in Shelby County -- Schools and School Teachers -- Some Noteworthy Careers of Shelby County Teachers -- County Superintendents -- Teachers' Institute -- Spelling Schools -- School Statistics -- Wages of Teachers -- Kirkman Consolidated School -- Tennant Consolidated School -- High Schools -- The Western Iowa Vocational College -- Elk Horn College.

CHAPTER XIX -- LITERARY DEVELOPMENT ---- 430

Literary and Debating Societies -- Harlan Literary Club --Friday Club of Harlan -- Loyal Home Workers' Club of Shelby -- Chautauqua -- Authorship and Literary Composition.

CHAPTER XX -- MUSIC ---- 448

Earling German Cornet Band -- Early Music in Harlan -- Shelby County Musical Union -- Early Musical Efforts -- Singing Schools -- Miscellaneous Musical Organizations.

CHAPTER XXI -- SOCIAL LIFE ---- 455

Common Level of Early Pioneers -- Fourth of July Celebrations -- Good Templars -- Dancing -- Church Socials and Other Functions -- Dramatic Entertainments -- Center Country Club of Center Townshp -- Self-Improvement Club -- The Woman's Union.

CHAPTER XXII -- ATHLETICS ---- 469

Early Sports -- Baseball Organizations -- Foot Racing -- Roller Skating -- Football -- The Harlan Field Club -- Clarence Whisler -- Wrestling -- Farmer Burns -- P. J. From -- The Famous W. L. Baughn Hose Team -- Later Harlan Hose Teams -- Corn Husking.

CHAPTER XXIII -- FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS ---- 486

Freemasonry in Harland and Shelby County -- Order of the Eastern Star -- Independent Order of Odd Fellows -- Daughters of Rebekah -- Knights of Pythias -- Woodmen of the World -- Brotherhood of American Yeomen -- Royal Neighbors of America -- Chapter A P of P.E.O. -- Ancient Order of United Workmen -- Legion of Honor -- Grand Army of the Republic -- Catholic Knights of America -- Knights of Columbus.

CHAPTER XXIV -- THE PRESS ---- 501

The First Newspaper in Shelby County.

CHAPTER XXV -- THE BAR ---- 509

First Attorney in Shelby County -- Council Bluffs Lawyers -- Lawyers Who Have Achieved Distinction -- Some Noted Cases -- Stories of the Bar -- Roll of the Bar of Shelby County, Past and Present.

CHAPTER XXVI -- THE MEDICAL PROFESSION ---- 521

Hardships and Noble Services of Early Physicians -- First Doctors in Shelby County -- Later Arrivals -- Medical Society -- Dentists.

CHAPTER XXVII -- MILITARY HISTORY ---- 528

Shelby County's Part in the Civil War -- Her Roll of Honor -- Nativity of Her Soldiers -- Spanish-American and Phillippine Wars.

CHAPTER XXVIII -- POLITICS ---- 532

Politics Taken Seriously by the Pioneers -- Queer Features of Early Elections -- Political Affiliations of Some of the Pioneer Families -- Spectacular Campaigns -- Political Rallies -- Presidential Vote in Shelby County.

CHAPTER XXIX -- SOME FORMER RESIDENTS OF SHELBY COUNTY
AND THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS ---- 540

Miss Isabella Beaton -- Hon. Cyrus Beard -- Rev. Park W. Fisher -- Hon. H. W. Byers -- Rev. Alva W. Taylor -- C. M. Christensen -- B. S. Morrissey -- Miss Bessie Brown -- Mrs. Guy W. Sarvis -- Rev. P. C. Nelson -- J. P. Garmong -- Capt. George S. Gibbs -- John Kuhl -- Rev. John W. Geiger -- F. W. Hanna -- C. Durant Jones -- George A. Luxford -- Hon. Guy H. Martin -- Edward P. Noble -- Rev. H. F. Porterfield -- Chesley Rogers -- C. H. Whitney -- Ray F. Weirick -- Demain Ledwich -- W. A. Yoder and Others -- Shelby Township.

CHAPTER XXX -- SOME UNUSUAL MATTERS AND EVENTS ---- 572

Feud Between the Johnston and Cuppy Families -- Killing of Adam Cuppy -- Tragedy at Elk Horn, Clay Township -- Strange Disappearance of Francis Richardson and Others -- Murder of James and Jasper Robertson -- Tragic Story of the Last Days and Death of William H. Whisler -- Laying of Corner Stone of Court House -- A Stinging Revival -- Paying Attention to One's Own Business -- "Father" William McGinnis -- A Rip Candidate for the Better Land -- Lost His "Groceries" -- Unappreciative -- A Legal Fish Story of 1881 -- Shelby County Ghost of 1876 -- A Patriotic Marriage -- A Prophecy.

CHAPTER XXXI -- INVENTIONS, INVENTORS AND PATENTS ---- 597

Little Scientific Training Among the Pioneers -- "Necessity the Mother of Invention" -- Leytham's Husking Peg -- A Grasshopper Destroyer -- Baker's Devices -- Many Other Useful and Ingenious Devices by Shelby County Citizens.

CHAPTER XXXII -- STATISTICS ---- 601

Interesting Facts from the Census of 1910 -- Population, Statistics, General and Comparative -- Agricultural Facts and Figures -- Land Values -- Iowa Census of 1875 -- Agricultural Facts and Figures -- Land Values -- Iowa Census of 1875 -- Agricultural Statistics for 1875 -- Comparative Population of Shelby County.

CHAPTER XXXIII -- STORIES AND INCIDENTS ---- 606

First Session of District Court and Grand Jury -- A Bibulous County Officer -- A Farm in the Woods -- Thirsty Oxen -- Primitive Commerce -- Gallantry of 1875 -- A Plain Political Letter of the Pioneers -- A Nominating Speech -- Story of a Storm -- Lost on the Prairie -- Didn't Expect Pay.

CHAPTER XXXIV -- YOUNG PEOPLE OF THE COUNTY WHO HAVE ACHIEVED DISTINCTION ---- 612

BIOGRAPHICAL MENTION--------------------------------------------------------------------- 615

Transcribed August 2013 by Cheryl Siebrass from the Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, by Edward S. White, P.A., LL. B.,Volume 1, Indianapolis: B. F. Bowen & Co., 1915.