nesses, together with the present officers and attorneys of the courts, and believing that we have given all that would be of interest to the reader we dismiss the subject.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
When the Indian title to the lands in Story County was extinguished there was a large extent of country thrown open to settlement, of which there was much choice land still east and south of us, and more readily reached. It was several years before there was a heavy rush for these lands, and meantime their entry and settlement was confined to localities near bodies of timber and the larger streams. This continued until 1849, when there was a large emigration to California, and then settlers began to locate near the California trails. One of these passed through Newton and Des Moines. It was not until Jasper and Polk had considerable population that the first settler found his way into Story county. This honor has been claimed for different persons, but it is believed that Wm. Parker (now of Collins Township) was the first settler. Mr. Parker, without suspecting it himself for a year or two thereafter, is said to have located within the limits of Story County as early as April 14, 1849. He was very near the Jasper County line. Since writing the above I have a letter from Mr. Parker which settles this question. There is no other person that claims to have settled in Story County as early as April 14, 1849, the date given by Mr. Parker. He says: "June 23, 1876. Dear Sir:—In the fall of 1848 I came to Story County and built me a little log cabin —size, 12 by 14 feet. April 14, 1849, I came to my cabin. It had no opening for door or window. I cut nut a door with my axe so I could carry my goods in, and moved into the pen without roof or floor. I cut a tree for boards to cover the cabin; took my wagon bed apart to make a floor in my mansion to keep the two little babes off the ground, and being root hog or die my better half and I went to work. Some people say it is hard times now; they don't know hard times when they see them. Let them take it rough and tumble as I did, and then they may talk.
We lived in thin but till the next August, when I put me up what was called a good house in those days.
I went sixty miles to mill. It took me about a week to make the trip. We had a cast iron mill in the neighborhood that we used to run by hand. We were often glad to get a peck of corn cracked on this mill. Now I can go to mill and return in half a day.
I have now two hundred and thirty acres of land, all fenced except eleven acres. Collins Township has improved in proportion.
Yours truly,
WILLIAM PARKER.