Guthrie Co. IAGenWeb

History | 1876 History

Guthrie county is situated between the 41st and 42d parallels of north latitude, and is twenty-four miles square, which gives it an area of five hundred and seventy-six square miles. It lies in the fourth tier of counties from the south, and also in the fourth tier from the west line of the State. It is bounded on the north by Carroll and Greene counties, on the east by Dallas, on the south by Adair, and on the west by Audubon county.

The soil partakes of the general character of the prairie soil of the west, sand loam, and on the margins of the streams alluvial, all highly productive, as our numerous and bountiful crops testify. It is well watered and as well timbered as most counties in the west part of the State; though the bodies of timber may not be as large as along the larger streams of some counties, yet the numerous streams, whose valleys and ravines are covered with an average quality of timber, some quite good (said to average a mile in width), make up our lack of large tracts. Bear Grove, containing eighteen hundredd acres, is the largest in the county. It is situated in Bear Grove township, in the middle western part of the county, while others of less extent are distributed along the various streams, at more or less convenient distances, from the open prairies, some sections being three, some five, while no section is more than ten miles from timber.

A great many "artificial" groves have been and are still being planted, which besides being a protection from storms, to buildings and orchards, may in time afford a limited supply of fire-wood.

The insufficiency of timber for fuel is abundantly compensated in the coal fields, which underlie many parts of the county. The native forests embrace several kinds of oak; hickory, walnut, cotton-wood, maple and elm. The artificial groves are maple and cotton-wood, with an occasional one of willow.

Where there is any protection from the fires which sweep the prairies in the late autumn and early spring, considerable tracts have been covered with a vigorous growth of hazel, oak, etc., as that on the uplands of middle 'Coon near Panora, where it is said not a shrub was seen in the early settlement of the county.

The principal streams of the county are, Middle river, middle and south Raccoon rivers, with their numerous tributaries, the most important of which are, Brushy Fork, Bear, Beaver, Willow, Seely and Mosquito creeks. South Raccoon rises in the divide about four miles south of the north-west corner of the county and runs in a south-easterly direction, receiving near the centre of the county, Brushy Fork, which enteres the county in the north-west corner and is the most important stream of the two.

Middle Raccoon enters the county four miles east of Brushy Fork and runs nearly parallel to it, at a distance of, from two to six miles; its course is south-east and leaves the county in Jackson township, about eight miles from the south line, while south 'Coon makes its exit four miles below.

The stream next in importance is Middle river, which rises in Bear Grove, and pursues the same general course as the others, leaving the county one and a-half miles east of Casey, on the southern boundary, or about eight miles from the west line. Its chief tributary is South Fork of Middle river. Troublesome creek in the south-west part of Bear Grove township, receives the numerous small streams of that part of the township, and runs in a south-westerly direction. The larger branches of south 'Coon are, Seely

creek, in Bear Grove and Centre township, Bear creek, which drains Centre and part of Valley townships, Beaver creek, from Valley and Beaver townships, and Deer creek and Long Branch from Penn.

The chief branches of middle Raccoon river are, Willow creek, from Highland township and Bay's Branch, from Cass. Mosquito creek, which rises in a lake of the same name in the eastern part of Dodge, drains Richland township, as does also a small stream called Greenbrier. The lakes (which are small) are, Pilot, Swan and Mosquito in Dodge, and Lone Tree in Richland. This latter takes its name from a single cottonwood tree that stands upon its shore; the name is very suggestive, and in the early days, before artificial groves were made, this lone tree was a pleasant relief to the eye, from the wide stretches of prairie, which on a very warm day were apt to become monotonous. We remember the stories that used to be told to "us green ones" about seeing this tree from Dalmanutha, a distance of twenty miles and even further, forgetting that we might possibly think of the obstacles to be overcome in seeing a thing at so great a distance,--the rotundity of the earlth's surface, the limit of mortal vision, etc.--but perhaps they thought we would think this a "mighty" tall tree, (a westernism we learned about this time).

The rivers afford sufficient water power for all manufacturing purposes; there are two large woolen mills, with a number of grist and saw mills located on them, all doing a good business; of these we will speak hereafter.

As you enter the county on the east, the prairie sweeps away in gentle undulations, as far as the eye can reach, and should you view it for the first time, on a balmy June morning, when the breezes gently sway the tall prairie grass, just close your eyes and imagine yourself on deck of an ocean steamer, and when you open them again you can scarcely realize that you are upon terra firma. But I was thinking of several years ago; the farmers are fast changing that billowy green ocean, into cultivated fields

and gardens, dotted with neat little cottages, orchards, groves and shade trees.

But going back to the uncultivated "surface," as you approach middle 'Coon valley the scene changes; the prairie becomes high and rolling, and as you near the river, rough and broken. To the westward of this river the surface is a succession of symmetrical ridges, the sight of which, make you wish you were a child again, that in winter you might coast upon these hills to your heart's content, or in summer, lie down and roll from summit to base. Though Time's gentle hand has painted numerous silvery steaks [sic? streaks?] above our brow, we never pass these hills but sympathy with these childish diversions takes possession of us.

These ridges or high undulations, continue to the great water-shed divide, which separates the drainages of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, and marks our western boundary.

These ridges as well as the less rolling prairie are considered valuable farming lands, while all parts of the county are adapted to stock raising. Taken as a whole, Guthrie county is one of the best grazing and farming counties in the State.

There is an abundance of coal, mines of which are being opened in many localities throughout the county. The first one opened was that of J. T. Frazier in 1858, three and a-half miles south-east of Panora. Mr. Frazier at that time delivered coal at ten cents per bushel.

In 1865 we paid thirty cents a bushel, for a most inferior quality of coal; now we get very good coal for just half that price.

We have stone that affords excellent building material, quarries of which have been opened on south 'Coon, Beaver and Deer creeks, and 'Coon's branch. At Farnsworth's quarry on the latter named stream, a superior article is found. This quarry furnishes stone for the foundation of the new court house.

Besides possessing mineral wealth, a soil unexcelled in fertility; timber in moderate supply; water power abundant for all manufacturing purposes, and in connection with the fine grazing lands for stock raising, scenery unsurpassed in beauty, Guthrie county possesses the advantages of railway communications, having the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific on her southern border, and the Chicgoa [sic Chicago] and Northwestern and Des Moines and Ft. Dodge within easy reach on the north and east.

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