CHAPTER III.
SETTLERS PRIOR TO COUNTY ORGANIZATION (CONT'D).

SOON FOLLOWED MR. CONRAD.

Three other settlers located in Cass county about the time of Mr. Conrad's first arrival--James D. Campbell, on section 7, of what is now Grove township; William S. Townsend, on the 'Botna, near Indiantown; and Peter Hedges, on Seven Mile creek, Union township, on the tract of land which afterward became known as Hedges' Grove. They all came to these localities in 1850.

Mr. Campbell remained about two years, and his house and grove, situated on the west side of the road not far from the later brewery, seems to have been a favorite resort for the young huntsmen of the locality; rumor has it that his several captivating daughters formed the main cause of this popularity. In 1853 Mr. Campbell moved into Pottawattamie county.

Mr. Townsend also lived in a grove on the banks of the Nishnabotna, being familiarly called "Buck" Townsend. In 1852, he removed into Edna township, which derived its name from that of his wife. In 1853 Mr. Townsend left Cass county altogether, emigrating to Missouri.

JEREMIAH BRADSHAW.

Jeremiah Bradshaw, who came more than a year later, shares with Vincent Conrad the honor of being placed in the local annuals as one of the real founders of Cass county. By birth he was a Kentuckian, but in 1840, when he was eighteen years of age, he removed with the other members of the family first to West Virginia, and then to Paris, Ill. They left West Virginia in a small boat, which contained also their household goods and provisions for the journey, passing, on their route, the small village of Terre Haute. It should be stated, however, that the father, one of the three brothers and a cousin, made the trip overland, taking with them the cattle, horses and other stock. The other members of the family consisted of a sister and the mother. On reuniting at their destination in Illinois, they settled down to the hardships and comforts of an agricultural life, Jeremiah remaining thus engaged until 1847. He then passed a few months in Wapello county and about four years in Mahaska county, Iowa, and on the 12th of September, 1851, arrived at Cold Spring, where he found about half a dozen Mormon families. There were also two charming Mormon widows who were supported and cared for by this remnant of the community. Mr. Bradshaw always asserted that he found the Mormons to be upright people and good neighbors, and that he liked them all except "old Ferrin," whom he considered to be a scheming selfish old sinner, who simply stuck to the Mormons Saints for the "loaves and the fishes."

Besides having his own large family with him, Mr. Bradshaw was accompanied by his son, V. M. Bradshaw and his young bride, Jesse and Lewis Hyatt and their wives, and James Sprague and family. They all located land near the present site of Oakfield, Audubon county, but were prevented from crossing the 'Botna river by the high water of that year, and returned to Cold Spring where they permanently settled.

ELECTION AT BRADSHAW'S HOUSE.

Soon after locating at Cold Spring Jeremiah Bradshaw succeeded John Pettengill, the Mormon, as postmaster at that point. He also kept a hotel and a stage station, and as his house was the largest in the neighborhood the next election--the second in the county--was held at his residence. The election was for justice of the peace and constable, and fifteen votes were cast, although four were thrown out as illegal on account of non-residence, or transient residence. Mr. Bradshaw's son acted as clerk of election. At this famous election, held in the fall of 1851, following Mr. Bradshaw's arrival in Cass county, the party division was fourteen Whigs and one Democrat and the candidates elected were naturally Mormons.

CASS COUNTY'S FIRST DEMOCRAT.

And here a break in Mr. Bradshaw's sketch must be made to say a word regarding this one Democrat--the first in Cass county, and A. J. Millslagel by name. For miles around he was known as "Old Slagel," and he was the first professional prairie breaker in the county; that is, he was paid for breaking the soil for those new comers who were not provided with the wherewithall to do it themselves, or were too lazy to do it.

But Old Slagel's chief title to distinction was his eating capacity. It is said that he could starve longer and eat more at a sitting than any man, Indian or white, in Iowa. Hunters who knew him would not allow him to accompany them, because it was so difficult to fill him; for him a quarter of venison was hardly an appetizer. One time in the winter of 1853 Jeremiah Bradshaw was many miles north of the Indiantown settlement on a hunting expedition, and his family started Mr. Slagel toward him with an enormous supply of provisions. The messenger and bearer traveled by ox team and therefore very slowly, and when he reached Bradshaw's camp there was scarcely any provisions left.

It is also claimed that late one summer afternoon Old Slagel shot a doe with its fawn, and that (with what weak assistance he could get from another man) he managed to eat the fawn and the foreward half of the doe before dinner the next day. Vegetarians will be pleased to learn that this ravenous eater of flesh came to a bad end. He afterward removed to Montgomery county, where he shot and killed a man, being sent to the Fort Madison penitentiary for a term of fourteen years.

BRADSHAW AND HIS TROTTING ELKS.

It would seem, also, that Jeremiah Bradshaw was a unique old pioneer, but one of most reputable character in every respect. He was passionately fond of pets, and attached to his household when he first came into the county were seven elk, four deer, two badgers and a sand-hill crane. He had one pair of large elks which were taught to work like horses and which he frequently harnessed into a sleigh. As they could trot as fast as ordinary horses could run, he and his family cut quite a dash driving through the country; but he finally sold his driving elks to a man from Missouri.

On the first Monday in April, 1853, when the first county officers were elected Mr. Bradshaw was chosen judge. His office was the most important of the list, as upon him devolved the duty of perfecting the organization and dividing the county into townships. His store was one of the designated polling places, and he held the office for one year. Mr. Bradshaw was twice married, the second time during the spring of 1865. During the Civil War he served in the ranks and as a recruiting officer in Cass county. Afterward he continued farming, but after the death of his second wife in 1880 moved into the village of Lewis.

FIRST BIRTH OF A GENTILE CHILD.

The first white child of gentile parentage born in Cass county was a son of Victor M. Bradshaw, mentioned above. In 1851 he was married to Mahaska county to Mary A. John, a native of Indiana, and their son was born at Indiantown September 6, 1852, being christened Jeremiah in honor of his grandfather.

"Compendium and History of Cass County, Iowa." Chicago: Henry and Taylor & Co., 1906, pg. 48-50.
Transcribed by Cheryl Siebrass, August, 2018.