Standard Historical Atlas of Jasper County, Iowa

UNDERGROUND RAILWAY

During an early day many of the settlers took an active part in the Underground railway, that passed through the east portion of Jasper county from South to North.

"Old Shady" states that on the 4th day of November, 1857, while returning from Newton in company with Mathew Sparks, they overtook three negroes about one-half mile out from Newton on the road leading to Lynnville. Mr. Arnold spoke to them, assuring them that he and his companion were their friends, and told them to get into the wagon and ride. They seemed gad of the opportunity, and after getting in, asked them where they were going. Their reply was Lynn Grove. The darkies' eyes began to enlarge and show plenty of white. They then inquired if either of us knew Arnold or Sparks. Upon being informed that the two gentlemen to whom they were talking were the persons asked for, the poor fellows were overjoyed at the announcement. One of them took a ragged and solid piece of paper from his pocket. On this slip was the names of Arnold and Sparks which they said was furnished them by a certain party who had formerly lived in this neighborhood, but now a resident of the Territory of Kansas.

He had instructed the colored gentlemen that Arnold and Sparks were safe conductors on the underground railway. They were taken to C. B. White's house in Lynnville. Soon after a good many local stockholders in the line assembled, a meeting having been called by Arnold and Sparks. About 9:00 o'clock one of the darkies made a speech in which he said: "I have never saw so many friends in all my life and would not be anything but a 'Nigger' tonight if I could. God bless you, I am gwine to de norf, stah." After furnishing the darkies with means and proper passage, they were taken on to Grinnell. Their names were James F. Miller, Henry May and John Ross, and were from the Cherokee nation. The same year, a darkie, his wife and child, the latter about one year old, were brought to Jos. Arnold, who kept them until about day light, ferried them across the North Skunk river and took them to Jarvis Johnson, where they were secreted until the next night, and sent on to the next station, Grinnell. That station was then superintended by Hon. J B Grinnell himself. On one occasion a slave catcher met Arnold, and after having noticed, very particularly, the covered wagon he was then driving, the Missourian, a rough, profane man, stopped the team and in an abrupt manner said: "You haint seen nuthin of no niggers along here lately, have you?" Arnold soon saw the defect in this man's grammar, and answered him "No!" He said his niggers were in here somewhere, and that he would catch them as sure as h____--. He didn't, though.

PROTECTION SOCIETY.

In the spring of 1846, a Claim Protection Society was formed by the settlers of Lynn Grove. The meeting place was by a pile of logs in a clearing on the farm of John R. Sparks. All the settlers in the vicinity attended. Rules were adopted substantiality the same as those found effectual in other counties, and the clerk of the meeting made a plat of the precinct on which all the claims then made were noted, and also registered on a separate piece of paper. When a new comer put in his appearance he was advised to inspect the plat kept by the clerk in order that he might see what land was already claimed. Any of the settlers would gladly spend a day, or more if need be, with him in hunting up a desirable location. Settlers were very sensitive about the movement of strangers who were not fully vouched for. Jasper county, however, did not suffer as much from claim jumpers as many of the counties further east. Many of the professionals in that line having been taught a lesson before coming here.

LYNN GROVE FIGURED IN EARLY HISTORY.

The people of Lynn Grove township have always figured prominently in nearly every branch of the early history of Jasper county. The commissioners appointed by the legislature in 1846 to locate the county seat were Thomas Hendedson and Richard Fisher. John R. Sparks was later chosen as agent for Jasper county to borrow money for county seat purposes, and instructed not to pay to exceed 20 per cent. He and Nathan Williams afterward gave their individual notes to A. T. Prouty for a sufficient amount to enter the land at the land office at Iowa City on which was located the original plat of the city of Newton. A large part of this money for many years was unpaid. The county commissioners finally assumed the payment with all accrued interest and costs.

Among the first grand jurors of the county were Wesley Stallings, William T. Mayfield, M. T. Mathews, David Campbell and J. W. Swan of Lynn Grove. Wm. T. Mayfield was among the first petit jurors.

POSTOFFICE.

At this writing Lynnville is supplied with a branch of the Iowa Central R. R. running from New Sharon to Newton. It affords ample means of transportation, and the U. S. mail service car attached delivers our mail on time. This is a wonderful contrast with the one horse mail carrier in the person of Mr. Eli Wolf, who in the year 1848, and on into the 50's made a "weekly trip," or a "try" weekly trip, it should he said, for the roads were in such condition and many times the snow drifts so bad that the route had to be abandoned. John R. Sparks was appointed postmaster when the office was first established. He kept it in a small building near where the hotel now stands. In a short time, it being inconvenient for him to attend the duties of a postmaster, Mr. Sabin Stanwood, a returned Mexican soldier, was appointed. He lived about one and one-half miles west of Lynnville, on land now owned by Mr. Dunnick. In 1853, Joseph Arnold was appointed by Franklin Pierce, and commissioned by James Campbell of Pennsylvania, then postmaster general. The desk that was turned over to him was of black walnut about three feet long, 15 inches wide and eight inches deep. This with a roll of paper comprised the furniture, and was carried by me from Stanwood's house to Lynnville under my arm. I set up the post office in the cabin in which I lived, which was located on what is now lot 1, block 3.

FRIENDS - 1856

Parris Mendenthall and family and Solomon Edwards and family, from Indiana, organized the first Friends' meeting. It was to be a monthly meeting and under the care of Oskaloosa. The first preaching was by Jeremiah A. Grinnell, of Cedar county. This effort of the Friends on the frontier attracted the attention of those of like faith and practice and a rapid increase followed. Other meeting places were soon established-Sugar Creek, four miles north, Chester, four miles southwest; and another in the neighborhood of Kellogg, formed what was known as the Lynn Grove Quarter with a membership of 631.

FRIENDS (ORTHODOX.)

This church was formed in Lynnville in 1851. Previous to its organization, Ambrose Osburn and family settled here. Soon after him came Jarvis Johnson and his wife Melissa, and with them their four sons, Joseph, Albert, Charles and Henry. They had emigrated from Indiana, also Nathan Arnold and his wife, Sarah, Jesse Arnold and his wife, Mary. There were six children in this family, among them Joseph, who was then a single man, Henry Zimmerman and wife. These were the first members of this church.

OLD SETTLERS.

January 8, 1881, an Old Settlers' organization was effected. Joseph Arnold drew up the preamble, constitution and by-laws, and they were recorded in Book III, page 282, in the recorders' office of Newton. There had been several annual meetings of old settlers held in the grove previous to this, but no organization had been effected or any record of the proceedings kept. John R. Sparks was chosen president, and Joseph Arnold secretary. In 1884, five acres of land was selected and purchased by the society, which is one-half mile southwest of Lynnville, and is called the Old Settlers' Park. On this ground annual meetings are held which are usually attended by the thousand.

CHESTER CHURCH.
Lynn Grove Township, by Rev. Charles Renaud.

The history of the Chester Church of Friends is closely connected with the history of the first settlers of the neighborhood.

Among the early settlers who were influential in establishing the church may be mentioned the families of Lemuel and Thomas Butler, Warner Bufkin, William Dysart, A. T. Kirk, Eli White, James Williams and others. These friends came from Indiana desirous of making for themselves comfortable and pleasant homes in the west. Most of them had large families.

The first prairie was broken in this locality in 1855 and the first house was built in 1856. While they were improving their land and building their houses they did not forget to look after the religious and educational training of their children. For a while they attended Friend's meetings near Lynnville but soon a meeting place was established at home. The first meeting was held in the house of Lemuel Butler. After the school house was built that was used for meeting purposes until 1867, when the present church building was erected.

The first minister that resided in the neighborhood was Jane Jones. Mattie Bufkin, Anna White, Aaron Symons and his wife Anna were other ministers who did much to strengthen and build up the church. These, and also a great majority of the members moved away several years go.

Since the year 1887 Charles Renaud has faithfully ministered to the spiritual needs of the people.

Mary Ann Bufkin is the only surviving member of the founders of the church that now resides in the neighborhood. The membership is small but the remaining few are faithful and ever remember the promise of our Savior when he said, "Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them."

Early Days in Mound Prairie.
By SETH W. MACY.

On the 15th day of September, 1854, Jonathan W. Macy started from Kingstown, Indiana, with all his worldly goods to move to Iowa. His effects were loaded into two wagons, each drawn by a pair of horses. They arrived at Tool's Point October 6th. We drove on three and one-half miles to the Colonel S. B. Shellady farm, then owned by Mr. Start, and after father explained to him what we wanted, he proceeded at once to empty the best room in the house for us. What we needed for use in the house we unloaded and put in order that night. The remainder of the goods were stored in the barn except the large and well filled tool chest, which was left in the wagon. The first night in Jasper county was very agreeably spent, as we had everything necessary to our comfort. The next day, after dinner, father and I started for our land, and to locate the spot where the first cabin was to be built on the northeast quarter of Section 19. We then drove on to the upper end of Slaughter's Grove, where there were two log cabins eight feet apart, the space between roofed and enclosed. These cabins were occupied by John and Edward Thomas, brothers. The cabins were of logs with the barks left on. They were chinked and daubed with mud, and each had a stick and mud fireplace. Each brother had a wife and three children, two beds and trundle beds, so that each had a spare bed for travelers. We secured bed and board with Ed. Thomas until we could build our cabin. The next day we went down into the timber for our first load of logs for our new cabin. Father cut the logs, and loaded them and I hauled them out and unloaded them. I was then 13 years of age, and of a necessity had to play the part of a man. Six weeks later, we moved into a very neat and comfortable hued log house, 14x 16, with sawed oak floor.

Now that we have the cabin built, we will look around and see who lived in Mound Prairie township. In passing up from Tool's Point over the old Indian trail, we entered this township by coming on to section 33 from the south. On the north-east quarter of this section lived E. R. Peck, who afterwards became well known by taking a great deal of interest in other people's property. Just north of the Peck cabin on the south-east quarter of Section 28, was another cabin occupied by a Mr. Thomas. These were all the improvements on the south side of the township. On the east half of the northwest quarter of Section 19, there was a small cabin built the year before by Riley Van Scoyac, who occupied the same until 1857, when he sold to Isiah Coomes who lived there for many years and died on the farm. On this farm Mr. Cooms made the first crockery in this portion of the county. Mr. Van Scoyac's father lived south on the east half of the south-west quarter of the same section, and sold about the same time as his son to Daniel Shepherd. All of these places mentioned thus far, were so new that they had no grain or produce to sell. The Thomas brothers of whom we have spoken lived on Section 12, in what is now Washington township. Joseph Slaughter, who lived on Section 5, was the first settler in what is now Mound Prairie township. He came here in 1845, erected a cabin, went back east and returned with his family in the spring of 1846, and had a good farm in cultivation when we came, and plenty of grain and stock.

Samuel K. Parker settled on Section 4 in 1847. This was at the river crossing, now the Ross farm. Mr. Parker had a saw mill on the river forty rods below the river bridge, which was then run by Robert Warner, who we still have with us, one mile south of Colfax. In 1853, John Sumpter settled on Section 7, on what is now known as the Hartley farm. Mr. Sumpter was the first justice of the peace in the township, and no better or truer man could be found either then or now for the place. This was all the permanent settlers in the township except a few on the east side of the river, now known as the Metz corner, where some very excellent people settled at an early date, among them the two Miller families, Geo. W. and brother. The first was L. D. Simms, who came in 1849, then his son S. S. in 1851. James. John and G. W. Miller came in 1853. These are all that we know settled in Mound Prairie township prior to 1854.

In every new country there are always quite a number of comers and goers of a migratory disposition. They were here, but as I was a small boy, I don't remember any of them.

Now we will look around a little, our postoffice was at Tool's Point, our grist mill at Red Rock, our corn cracker at Indian Creek northeast of Colfax, and all the merchandise had to be hauled in wagons from the Mississippi river. What would you think of paying $7.00 per barrel for salt and 15 cents per pound for nails, and at other articles in proportion?.

In the spring of 1856, an eastern Indiana farmer came out to look at the country. He arrived at Ft. Des Moines in the evening, and took a little walk on Second street where the business was nearly al1 done. Seeing some salt barrels in front of a grocery, he inquired the price, and was told $7.00 per barrel. "What! $7.00 for a barrel o salt?" "Yes," responded the grocer. "Well, no country can be settled where salt costs $7.00 per barrel." He took the first stage for Keokuk and returned home as soon as possible. Those that remained here, however, have seen the Hawkeye state grow and develop until it is the grandest state in the union.

A few years later, we are informed, this same Indiana farmer heard of the famous lock salt beds in Kansas, moved there and prospered.

Mound Prairie has made a very creditable showing in many respects. She has kept out of politics and built no cities. She can only boast of Metz and Seevers, but let's see what she has done. The Slaughter coal bank was discovered in May 1846, by a young fellow stopping at Slaughter's. He was out hunting wild turkey one morning before breakfast, and on jumping off of a fallen tree, slid the earth from a chunk of coal. This, so far as I know, was the fist coal discovered in the county.

The first grain cut with a machine was in 1857. It was a Rugg machine, bought by William Jordan, who owned a part of what was afterwards the Jesse Long farm. Jonathan W. Macy afterward bought the machine and cut the grain in the township that harvest.

In 1856, Mr. Macy bought some registered Short Horn cattle of Milton Wilson, who went through here from Wayne county, Indiana, to Madison county, Iowa. Johnathan W. Macy was the originator of the Macy potato, later called the White Meshanoc, and of the potato industry which has made the Prairie City famous. He was a pattern maker and mill wright by trade, and one of the most skilled and perfect mechanics that could be found in any country. He built the first pile driver ever used in Jasper county. This machine was fully half a century in advance of the age in which it was built. See what J. R. Rodgers has to say of this machine. He helped drive the first piles that were driven in the county with it.

Mr. Macy made a set of carpenter's tools before his arrival here, such as planes, bit stalks, screw clamps and a wooden bench vice, that would puzzle the modern mechanic to construct and equal to many of those now made by machinery, most of which are now in my possession.

The mineral water that has made Colfax so famous was first discovered on Section 6, Mound Prairie township by Sidney Williams, John F. Dixon and Arch Duncan. They were prospecting for coal along the railroad track east of Colfax just below the Sanitarium. This was in 1874.

THE FIRST SCHOOL taught in the township was a private one taught by Mrs. Chas. Kendall in the kitchen of her small house in 1856. The building was located on the southwest quarter of Section 8. The first school house built, in the township, was on the southwest corner of the east half of the south-west quarter of Section 7. Among the first teachers who taught in this house were Samuel Gooden, I. M. Loudenback, who afterward enlisted in the Civil War and was killed, and Hon. L. C. Blanchard, now of Oskaloosa, Iowa.

We will now see what the early settlers did and how they did it. All crops had to be fenced in those days for the oxen, horses and cows, had to seek their own living on the prairie. Fencing was no small matter. There was no barbed wire in those days, and but few saw mills. You would often see a man bring a log twenty miles to get some lumber sawed to lay a floor in his cabin. "Young man, what would you think if you had to split rails and haul them out to your new home to fence your crops?" This is the way nearly every fence was built, and this is one of the principal reasons why pioneers usually settled in the edge of the timber. Their stock was also much better protected from the storm of winter by the timber and the wonderful thick growth of underbrush which was universal around the skirts and, through all the groves.

The winters were usually spent in splitting rails, and hunting and trapping to supply the family with meat. I remember that I made two small stick traps for prairie chickens, and that we always had all we could use, and by the way, no meals of our life were more thoroughly enjoyed than those of our first winter, when we had hot corn cakes and prairie chicken with plenty of lard for cooking.

Our farm was three miles from timber, so it required much more work and exposure to get a start. When spring time came, the pioneer's greatest concern was to get some prairie broken and sod corn planted. The plows had to be made by the local blacksmith, and they were very crude affairs, if compared with the plows of today. If the sod was cut about 21/2 inches thick, the best crop could be obtained. Twenty to thirty-five bushels of corn per acre could be produced if the corn was chopped in with an axe, as we then called it. This mode required a man with an axe and a boy or girl with seed to drop. The man would split the sod with the edge of an axe and the dropper would put the seed into the split. The man would then strike a hard blew with the poll of the axe about one inch to one side of the split. This would close up the gap and compress the sod on the corn so that it was sure to remain moist and come up soon. It would not grow fast, however, until the sod commenced to decompose, or rot, as we called it in those days. Peas, beans and all kinds of vines did well in the sod. The next year every kind of crop could be grown.

In the fall of 1854, quite a number of new comers settled in Mound Prairie, and regularly every spring and fall, increasing numbers of new cabins would appear on the prairie, and when I tell you that you could go on top of your cabin and count nearly every one of the families around, some could be seen for twenty miles, you may be surprised, but such was the case. I desire to say that no country was ever settled by a more honest, honorable and industrious class of people, and as evidence of this statement, it is only necessary to refer you to the development and progress they have wrought on what was then naked prairies, and all within a short time.

Something as to who passed through Mound Prairie. We are told that in 1843, the mounted soldiers, then called dragoons, who were sent to the Racoon Forks, Ft. Des Moines, passed through this township from Iowa City via Newton, and crossed the Skunk river at Sam K. Parker's, now the Ross Farm, then on, by Joseph Slaughter's and the Insley cabins occupied by the Thomas brothers in 1854, when we came to Iowa.

In 1849, there was a heavy emigration along this same track by those on their way to California, generally known as '49ers.

In 1856-7 large numbers of Mormons passed this way on their way to Salt Lake, in colonies of from 500 to 1,500 in a body, with hand carts loaded with their worldly goods and provisions, all working, pushing and pulling that were old enough or well enough. Each company would have a few wagons and good tents for the leaders and the sick. The hand carts were very crude and unreliable, which added much trouble and labor to the already exceedingly hard and hazardous trip.

In 1859 the same road was lined from morning till night, week in and week out, with Pike's Peakers, and during that entire season, the Skunk bottom was almost impassible. The amount of real suffering that this same bottom has caused is almost beyond human understanding. A few years later the grade at this horrible crossing was built, which very much lessened the trouble of crossing the Skunk bottom from that day to this. If you will go to Denver, Colorado, and attend the meeting of the '59ers, you will be sure to hear some horrible stories of misery and suffering while crossing this bottom.

In 1867 our township was crossed by the first railroad, the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific.

In 1894, your humble servant put down the first prospect hole for coal that had ever been sunk so far out from the river in this township, and found five feet of very excellent coal. Later on a local bank was opened here, by Hanson & Naylor We now have the Colfax coal and Mining company on the farm of H. N. Stewart, section 17, one of the most valuable coal properties in this part of the state.

The winter of 1854-5 was a very mild one. A large part of it were clear days, roads dry and dusty most of the time. The prevailing features were dry weather, sunshine and wind. The winter of 1856-7, known as "the hard winter of 1856" was much colder with more snow and will never be forgotten by any one who were in the west. On the day of the September equinox, my father sent me to a saw mill at Green Castle with a horse team and the running gears of a wagon. It was certainly the coldest and most stormy day I ever experienced so early in the season. At the mill several men were standing as close to the boiler as possible, trying to keep warm, and discussing the weather. One remarked that Mrs. C said that today was to rule the winter. Another quickly replied: "Well, by I hope she lies." Time proved her to be a true prophet. One of our good pioneers said: "During that winter that the almanac says, if the month comes in like a lion, it will go out like a lamb, but this winter they all come in like lions and went out like H-." On the 8th day of November, 1856, there was a snow fall of nine inches. The next day a Mr. Fleming, who was moving a saw mill into Slaughter's Grove, was over to see my father, who told him that hard winters were sure to come early and hold late. The regular rule of the winter was five days of snow and blow each week, and two days of calm and turn colder. The snow was 26 inches deep in the timber where the wind could not move it. Just imagine yourself in a small cabin three to five miles out on the prairie, no wood to keep you warm except as you hauled it from the timber, and the snow drifting so bad that you could never get through with more than half a load, and the air so filled with flying snow that you could only see a short distance, some days not more than 50 yards at a time, and the thermometer from 10 to 34 below zero.

Early Days in Palo Alto.
By S. H. REES.

The first settler in what is now Palo Alto township was Thomas Rees, his wife and two children, who located on Section 22, township 79, range 19. They arrived here in November, 1848. Not until the summer of 1852 was there a neighbor to this pioneer family nearer than four miles, and during the first three months of their stay here, Mrs. Rees did not see the face of a white woman. The Indians were numerous here at that time, but were always on friendly terms with this pioneer family, who often entertained them, allowing them to sleep upon the floor near the huge fireplace in their log house.

In the summer of 1852, Shelby Baker located on the place now owned by Mrs. M. W. Atwood. Later on a man by the name of Finwick located on the LeRoy Livingston farm, which is now owned by Samuel Squires. Others that came in that summer were Joshua Guessford, Jacob and George Elmantyier, E. B. Sloan, Wesley Watkins and Wakefield Trotter. There were not many new comers after this until 1856, when David D. Pryor, Joel Guessford, Stephen Guessford, Allen T. Drake, James Early, Riley Ashley and LeRoy Livingston located in the township.

February 17, 1857, the county court of Jasper county, which was then presided over by W. R. Norris, formed a new township to be called Palo Alto. The first election was held at the house of Thomas Rees. The following judges and clerks were chosen from the bystanders: Thomas Rees, James Dunn and Isaac Bennett. Those that voted at this election were: Thos. Hasket, Jonas Hasket, Pleasant Trotter, Conrad Keller, B. B. Sloan, Ballenger, Aydelott, John Livingston, John Guessford, James Early, Joshua Guessford, J. C. Aydelott, Isaac Bennett, A. S. Gray, David D. Pryor, Anson Jones, S. L. McDonald, John Hodson, Wakefield Trotter, Sr., Joseph S. Wilson, John R. Bain, James Dunn, John L. Gray, James Livingston, Sr., Francis Livingston, and Thomas Rees. The following officers were elected: Justices of the Peace, Thos. Rees and James Dunn; constables, James Early and Jonas Hasket; trustees, David D. Pryor and Wakefield Trotter, Sr.

At the election of 1858 the vote of the township had not increased. In 1859 there were forty-nine votes cast, and on the 6th of Nov., 1860, there were one hundred and twenty-eight, denoting a population of over five hundred.

THE FIRST WEDDING in what is now Palo Alto township was Henry Adamson and Mary Jane Baker, February 10, 1853. Shoes were a luxury in those days, and either for looks or luck the bride borrowed shoes of Mrs. Rees.

The first birth-was daughter born to Thomas and Mary A. m Rees, March 25, 1849, now Mrs. H. McVeigh, of Keb, towa.

The first death-was the infant son of the same family July 26, 1854. The next was Mr. John Miller, March 12, 1855, age 47.

The first school-was a subscription school taught in a log house which was situated near where the Wild Cat school house now stands. The teacher was Miss Hattie Bain, now Mrs. Rinehart of Monroe. The first public school was taught in the Wild Cat school house by Miss Eliza Henderson in the summer of 1858.

The first church services-were held by Rev. Thos. Merrill and Rev. Ami Shaffer and were held in the above school houses.

The first church edifice erected was the United Presbyterian in 1870.

Palo Alto township furnished twenty soldiers for the civil war: James C. Livingston, Company H, Third Iowa Infantry, and Justice Dunn of the same company; Company B, Fifth Iowa, L. F. Shelley; Company I, Tenth Iowa, M. W. Trotter; Company B, Thirteenth Iowa, Sergeant N. H. Johnson; Company C, Twenty-second Iowa, John Myers; Company K, Twenty-eighth Iowa, Captain M. W. Atwood, Jonathan Gibford, Daniel Gibford, Jonas P. Haskett, L. D. Jones, Leander French, J. S. Wilson and William Oblenis; Company D, Fortieth Iowa, S. F. Newcomer; Company B, Forty-eighth Iowa, Corporal William A. Livingston, Spencer H, Rees, Wm. Eggart and Wm. Hill, Company G, Seventh Iowa Cavalry, Frank Gibford and W. T. Kennedy; Company L, Ninth Iowa Cavalry, Trumpeter Wm. Allen and James Early.

There were two drafts made in this township, but had the enlistments been properly credited, the drafts would not have been made.

The present township officers are: clerk, Geo. Shelley; assessor, Bert Squires; trustees, Chas. Sipe, T. C. Harshner and G. R. Hill. School board, F. H. Bennett, president, William Brown, treasurer, and S. H. Rees, clerk.

REFORMED CHURCH OF GALESBURG.

Early in July, 1891, the Reformed Church in America began mission work at Galesburg, and on Oct. 22nd, of the same year, the Reformed Church of Galesburg was organized. At first the congregation worshiped in the M. E. Church, later in the Christian Church, and then for a time, on the second floor of the parsonage. In the fall of 1897, the building of a church was contemplated, and on the 11th of April, 1898, the corner stone was laid, and on July 13th, of the same year, this neat mission church was most joyfully dedicated. People from different parts of the country, and pastors from various denominations participated.

REMINISCENCE.
By J. R. CRAWFORD.

In looking back over the years that have come and gone since I first saw Jasper county on April 19, 1854, we are led to exclaim: 'What a change!" Then it was new, very new, with its wide expanse of fertile acres awaiting the plow of the husbandman, or, in other words, the prairie broken with his ox team of from four to six yoke of cattle to turn over the prairie sod and bring it under subjection, that the farmer might plant his crops, that those dependent upon him might have bread to eat and to spare, for the all-wise Creator, in His infinite wisdom and kindness, had stored up so much richness in the soil through the ages past that it simply needed the cultivation of the soil to bring forth abundantly. And indeed this cultivation in many instances was done in the most careless and slipshod manner-nevertheless the abundance of the crops produced was surprising.

This is all changed. The settlements and improvements were then almost confined to the groves of timber that grew along the streams and were jetted here and there over the great expanse of prairie. We are sorry to say that many of the early settlers were rather shiftless farmers, and it seemed as if these pioneers of the country could not long stand prosperity, but they have passed away and given place to others more energetic and prosperous.

In those early days in traveling across the country, you were not compelled to hunt for or follow roads, as these were scarce, there being only trails across the prairies from one settlement to another, but anyone could go anywhere or in any direction they wished, provided they had sense enough to keep out of the miry sloughs. But these conditions have also passed away, and the northern part of Jasper county, of which we are writing in particular, has become thickly settled with prosperous farmers. Much of the northern part is settled with energetic German farmers, possessing good homes and good improvements, and all seemingly in a happy and prosperous condition. Many, if not all, of these German farmers commenced with the virgin soil, when the country was new, and by good, common sense, accompanied with perseverance, pluck, and energy, have made for themselves fine homes of which anyone might he proud.

The education of the young and rising generations has, by no means, been neglected, as is well attested by the nice, well-kept school houses which can be found located in every two miles square.

Stock raising has had for many years, and still has, a permanent place on the farms of the county, there being a number of fine herds of thoroughbred cattle in the northern part of the county. Indeed, in Jasper county can be found as fine herds of thoroughbred Short Horns as can be found in the state.

The raising of horses has also been carried on to quite an extent, there being many fine young horses on the farms of the county.

Corn, grass, cattle, horses and hogs are the main products of the county, and these have proven to be quite a profitable business to the farmers.

Our location all these years has proven to be very healthful, with fine drainage and most excellent water. Thus we acknowledge that we have a blessed heritage, and should be thankful, prosperous and happy.

REMINISCENCE.
By J. W. MURPHY.

Soon after the right of the Indians as extinguished in the territory now embraced in Jasper county, frontiersmen pushed their way into the same with that ever roving spirit of American life, super induced by the love of adventure, change and bettering of condition. To these early pioneers the present generations owe much, for the trials, privations and sufferings they endured in settling up this country. No tongue or pen can fully describe what they passed through.

That part of Jasper county now known as Buena Vista township was settled on Elk Creek as early as 1845, in what is now known as Hixson and Adamson Groves. Moses Lacey, from Illinois took a claim on the southeast quarter of Section 18 in March, 1845, built a cabin and sold his claim to Evan Adamson, who moved to the same in the spring of 1846. Adamson came from Missouri. Nathan Williams settled on the northwest quarter of Section 20 in the fall of 1845, sold to Bill Smith, known as Fool Bill, in the spring of 1846. He sold to Enos Adamson, he to James Robb, and he to William Robb, the present owner.

David Edmundson took a claim on the northwest quarter of Section 18 in March, 1846, and the April following sold to Abraham Adamson. He had seven sons, and from this family the grove took its name.

M. D. Springer took a claim on what is now known as the Sam Squires farm, and moved on it January 1, 1846. He sold to Elijah Hammer. Down the grove, southeast, on Section 20, Ira Hammer took a claim in 1846, and died there. The land afterwards passed out of the family's hands. Farther east, William Cheneworth, an Ohioan, and later from Missouri, settled in 1846 or 1847. He died in 1857. His son, A. J. Cheneworth, now resides on part of his father's farm.

Henry Smith took a claim in 1846 on the spot where John Wells now lives. He sold to Moses Darling in 1847.

In the Hixson Grove settlement, on Elk Creek, Ballinger Aydelott took a claim on the southwest quarter of Section 8, locating on the same in March, 1845. He sold to Samuel McDaniel in 1851. The property is now owned by Milton Vanscoy.

James Plumb, Sr., settled in a cabin about three rods north of the dwelling house now owned by J. W. Murphy, in 1848. In this cabin the Rev. James Plumb was born. Plumb sold to Roush and Ledrick in 1853, and they to J. W. Murphy in 1856.

John H. Franklin took a claim and located on the southeast corner of Section 6 early in the spring of 1845. His cabin stood west and a little south of the present school house on Section 5. In this cabin the first school in the grove was taught. The teacher was William Smith, afterward Judge Smith of Marshall county.

William M. Springer took a claim and settled on the northwest quarter of Section 7 in the fall of 1845. That is now known as the C. M. Davis homestead. David Edmundson settled on the spot where the county poor house now stands in the spring of 1846. He sold to Theodore Allen, he to S. H. Wilson, and the latter to Jasper county. Jacob Bennett took a claim on the northwest quarter of Section 6 in 1845. He kept a house of entertainment. James Pearson settled on Section 5 in 1845. The property is now owned by Daniel W. Murphy.

The gold fever of 1849 affected a great many of the settlers in this locality, and in 1850 and 1851 many of them went west.

LOST YOKE RING.

A story is told for the truth, that John A. Franklin turned out a yoke of oxen, with the yoke on, to browse and graze. When the cattle were found the big ring and staple were gone. Franklin heard that one of his neighbors had the ring and proceeded to swear out a search warrant before Esquire Smith, which he placed in the hands of Constable Evan Adamson, who not desiring to do the unpleasant job, urged him to get someone else to serve the papers; but as Franklin insisted, it was finally agreed that, they should go together. The constable arming himself with a bottle of the "Over Joyful," preceded the house of Jerry Weatherby, the premises to be searched, and said: "Mr. Weatherby, I have an unpleasant duty to perform, that of searching your house for a lost yoke ring. Before we begin, however, let us take a drink.'" All agreed, a little talk, and another drink, the search began-overhead, tinder beds, under floor-and no ring found. Weatherby said: "Constable, you have not searched our bureau and insisted that the officer do his full duty. The bureau was searched, staple and ring found, and Weatherby was taken as a prisoner to Squire Smith, who, after hearing the proof in the case, found the prisoner guilty of theft, and said he would send him to the penitentiary. Some denied his authority to do so. He therefore took matter under advisement until the next day, the prisoner to remain with the constable over night, during which the prisoner escaped, and unless he has been stopped, is probably running yet.

From 1850 to 1856 the people poured into this county like bees to a buckwheat patch. G. T. Saum entered the southeast quarter Section 1 in October, 1852, moved to the same in the spring of 1855, and is still a resident on his original claim, the only person in the township who lives on the land no entered. James Fenwick settled the northwest quarter of Section 21 in 1852, where the widow Dooly W now lives. Leonard Lickens settled on the northeast quarter of Section 27 in 1852 or 1853 Levi Cook settled on the northeast quarter of Section 3 in 1854, and built a frame house, and for many years it was known as the steep-roofed house" by hundreds of people in Jasper and other counties. About this time the first post office, east of Newton, on the Iowa City road, was established on the southwest corner Section 35, in what is now Kellogg township.

GOING TO MILL.

In the winter of 1846 and 1847 James Moss went with an ox team to Duncan's mill, on the South Skunk River, near Oskaloosa. On his return trip he was caught in a northwest blizzard. It became very cold and the team and himself became bewildered and laid out all night. When he was finally found he was badly 'frozen. Later, both feet were amputated at the instep. There were no surgeons or doctors here. James Pearson performed the surgical operation with a pocket knife. It is said, and saved the young man's life.

In the winter of 1847 and 1848 the snow was so very deep on the prairies that it took all the men, oxen and horses in the neighborhood two days to break a road from Elk Creek, near where Dan Gifford now lives to the Lynn Grove mill; the neighborhood having been out of all meal, flour or bacon for about four or five weeks, and had subsisted during that time on pounded and boiled corn, grated potatoes and wild meat. The same winter Nathan Hammer took two yoke of small cattle hitched to his wagon, and with a grist of corn went over the same road. The snow was so deep he uncoupled his wagon, put the hind wheels on the front axles, loaded on his grist and completed his journey to the mill, where he stayed all night. The next day he started for home and was caught in a southwester which filled up the tracks from the previous day. He became very cold, and when he arrived at his home his feet were badly frozen. They foolishly applied a poultice of roasted turnips, and he was obliged to wear moccasins until spring.

The first school in Adamson's grove was in a log cabin situated on the southwest quarter of Section 17, in the timber, about midway between the present residence of T. J. Wheeler and the present school house. James Moss, the cripple, taught the first school in the winter of 1847-48.

FIRST COURT HOUSE.

The first court house built in Jasper county was hickory poles, in the brush on the Samuel Squires farm. Judge Williams, of Davenport, was here to hold the first term of court in March, 1846. There being no business, after the usual formality, court was adjourned. During this session a road was cut from the door of the court house through the brush to the prairie.

The winter of 1847-48 is remembered as the winter of the big snow, severe cold and great suffering. Wild animals could hardly move about, and it is said that turkey, deer and elk became so tame that they would come near the cabins of the settlers and feed upon the small patches of corn.

FIRST EVENTS.

The first woman settler on Elk Creek was Mrs. James Pearson, in 1845. Jesse Aydelott might have been the first white child born, only from the fact that his people were in Oskaloosa at the time of his birth, but soon returned to the settlement. Allie Springer, son of William M. and "Aunt Sally" Springer, was the first white child born in Elk Creek or Buena Vista township, and was born in the winter of 1846-47.

THE FIRST MARRIAGE, so far as found, in Buena Vista township, was a double marriage at the cabin of Thomas Pearson, which stood near where D. B. Murphy now lives. The contracting parties were Jesse Rickman, afterward Judge, and Nancy Pearson; John Wilson and Josie Pearson, Ballinger Aydelott tying the hymeneal knots. He was then justice of the peace, and the date was March, 1847. The wedding supper consisted of corn bread of the good old days of long ago, crabapple pie, crabapple sauce, roast chickens-prairie and tame-cabbage, slaw, roast pork, and vegetables. Those girls were just as sweet, just as loving, and just as lovable as their mammas or their daughters.

THE FIRST SERMON PREACHED was at the house of Joab Bennett, in March, 1846, by an M. E. minister. Five persons were present: Bennett and wife, John Wilson and a foster son, John H. Franklin, and Ballinger Aydelott. In the fall of 1846 William Furgeson organized a Christian society at the house of Ballinger Aydelott. This was probably the first church organization in Buena Vista township.

FOURTH OF JULY. The first Fourth of July celebration in Buena Vista township, or so far as learned in Jasper county, was held at the house of Ballinger Aydelott in 1846, on the farm now owned by Milton Vanscoy. The families participating were: M. D. Springer, William M. Springer, Jacob Bennett, James Pearson, Moses Lacey, Fool Bill Smith, Esquire Ballinger Aydelott, and John H. Franklin. They met early and remained all day. The Declaration of Independence was read by William M. Springer. The Mexican war was on hand at that time; this and the settling of the new country was talked over, and all came to the conclusion that Iowa would not be settled in their day. Some of them are still living and have watched the wonderful growth and development with great interest. They had plenty to eat; all the families brought the best they had. Lacy had killed a deer a few days before, so they had venison; Bennett had found several bee trees, so they had plenty of honey; Bill Smith had been to Oskaloosa and had brought some flour, so he furnished the pie crust; Aydelott had gathered a lot of wild gooseberries, so they had gooseberry pie, and plenty of that ever dear old crabapple pie. They had new potatoes and garden beans, plenty of maple molasses and sugar.

The first person buried in Adamson grove was Henry Adamson, a nephew of Abraham Adamson. He had come here in the summer of 1846, took a claim west of Newton, was taken sick with malarial fever, was brought to his uncles, and recovered so as to walk about. While in the woods with his uncle, sitting on a fallen tree, he remarked that if he died he wanted to be buried on that piece of ground. He took a relapse and died, and was buried as he requested.

The first person buried in Saum cemetery was Mrs. Sarah Saum, wife of G. T. Saum, October, 1855.

The first person buried in Hixson Grove cemetery was Harriett Ann Russell, daughter of J. W. Russell, June, 1861 of diphtheria.

An experience of some of the early settlers with bees is worth recording in history. About two years after the settlement of Lewis Herring on his claim, his wife, in the early spring, found a bee tree, their hiding place being in a limb of a large and stately oak. The cutting of this tree, however, was put off until the following June, when her husband and Ballinger Aydelott were called upon to secure the honey. When they had succeeded in falling the tree, the limb in which the bees were secreted broke in this particular spot and badly crushed both- bees and honey. Mrs. Herring, seeing the honey going to waste, clambered alter it, not thinking that the bees were there to protect their precious store. She soon found, however, that they were making desperate efforts in this direction, and darted out, into the timber, and the way the leaves and brush were switched over her person was a caution. Owing to her scanty attire she suffered very severely, the results of which many of the neighbors could testify.

Another matter of historical interest in Buena Vista township that should be mentioned, was the fine plum orchards that existed along Elk Creek. Here the finest, large and small, plums ever grown in the state grew in these early orchards, and the one on the farm now owned by J. W. Murphy should be particularly mentioned. Some people may doubt the size of some of the plums produced on this farm. One in particular grew to the enormous weight of two hundred pounds, and is now officiating as a Methodist minister.

A wild man that was discovered in this region, and had roamed about here for some length of time, finally escaped to the Rocky Mountains, and has not been heard from for years.

THE HOLLAND SETTLEMENT OF JASPER COUNTY.

Prominent among the substantial farmers in Jasper county are the Hollanders that are now settling in different parts of the county, therefore a brief history of their first settlement in this section will not be out of place. The settlement here is an offshoot of the Holland Colony that located in Marion county in 1847.

Those familiar with foreign history know the trouble that existed in Holland, commencing in 1835. The overbearing doctrines of the National Reform Church in the Netherlands caused many of the prominent clergy and laymen to withdraw and form themselves into an independent organization. For some time thereafter they were persecuted and imprisoned at the instigation of the Synod of Holland, but instead of having a disastrous effect, as was anticipated, their numbers increased steadily. The government seeing this, soon became discouraged, and shortly after William II. came on the throne, all persecution ceased entirely.

Prominent among the new organization was Rev. Henry P. Scholte, who, knowing how hard it was, and how hard it would continue to be, for the poorer classes to eke out an existence in the then overcrowded Netherlands, set out to establish a means of relief. Several different countries were corresponded with, and after due consideration the United States seemed the most favorable to locate a colony, which was his plan. Meetings were held, and an organization effected, and in December, 1846, Rev. Scholte was chosen as president. At this same meeting a committee was appointed, whose duty it was to receive numbers on certain conditions. It was not essential that any should belong to a church, but no atheists or infidels were admitted, and Roman Catholics were entirely excluded.

Each member of the organization was required to be industrious and moral. Another measure was that each member of sufficient means should take charge of one or more persons or families who wished to go but were too poor to defray their own expenses. In the spring of 1847 four vessels were chartered, three sailed from Rotterdam and one from Amsterdam. The fleet arrived at Baltimore early in June. Here they were joined by Rev. Scholte, who had preceded them by steamer. They were conveyed to Pittsburg by canal, and by boat to St. Louis. Here a halt was made to allow the emigrants to recuperate and lay plans for further action. Marion county was decided upon as the place for the colony to locate, and the majority settled within two townships, situated between the Des Moines and Skunk Rivers.

The new colony went to work in earnest, and soon transformed the raw prairie to comfortable homes. Many of the first cabins were of logs, some of slabs, and a sod house was no uncommon thing. But these have long since passed out of existence, and beautiful homes now dot the country over. The younger people now branching out for themselves form an important part of the settlement in several townships in Jasper county. They are as industrious as their fathers, and are lovers of beautiful and comfortable homes, which most of them now possess.