Jasper Co. IAGenWeb
Atlas Table of Contents

Standard Historical Atlas of Jasper County, Iowa

The Huebenger Survey and Map Publishing Co.,
Davenport, Iowa, 1901.

REMINISCENCES

Could you have stood on the Southwest quarter of Section 82, Township 78, Range 19, about 10 o'clock a. m., the first day of May, 1848, you might have seen two men traveling west, near the timber, each carrying a blanket, a hatchet, and some provisions. These were the pioneers of Jasper County. Their names were Adam M. Tool and William Highlands. They soon struck camp.

After dinner they proceeded to stake and blaze claims, as required by law, each claim supposed to contain 320 acres. The country was not yet surveyed. When night came on they had two claims staked and blazed. When they laid down to rest for the night, they were 70 miles from settlement, and had done the first work towards subduing Jasper County soil and making what was then a wilderness now blossom as the rose.

In anticipation of the opening of the Sac and Fox Indian country to settlement, a great many families had stopped along the frontier line, awaiting the purchase of the land from the Indians, which was finally accomplished in the fall of 1842. The east part extended as far west as Red Rock, on the Des Moines River. A line running north and south from that point would divide Jasper County about in the center.

The Indian title expired at midnight the last day of April, 1843. About the middle of April Adam M. Tool and a company of seven or eight neighbors started from Locust Grove, Jefferson county, to look for a location for future homes, going northwest about 30 miles to what was then called The Narrows. This locality they selected, and returned to Locust Grove. After resting and making arrangements for their home matters, they provided themselves with blankets and about 10 days' rations, and on the 23rd of the month returned to the point they had selected, but to their great surprise and disappointment found one or two home seekers on each of their former selections. As all had equal rights, some must be disappointed. Under the circumstances, Adam Tool, William Highlands, John Frost and John Vance decided to look farther. Going up Skunk River the night of the 28th, they camped near where Monroe is now located. On the following day they went south to Red Rock, thence down the Des Moines River to where their former comrades were. They were tired and somewhat discouraged, but no-wise inclined to give up. After consultation, it was arranged that Adam Tool and William Highlands should go to where the party had camped on the night of the 28th and mark out four claims. John Frost and John Vance to stay at The Narrows until James A. Tool and Robert Curry should go after and return with team, axes, saws, plows and provisions. It was arranged that they should start from Locust Grove on the morning of the first of May, for until then no teams or implements, except a hatchet, was allowed to be taken across the line. On the 2nd of May, about 10 a. m., the team with the supplies arrived at the Narrows. There Mr. Curry, and the goods belonging to those that had remained at The Narrows, was left on the prairie, to remain there until they were sent for. The rest of the company traveled the remainder of the day, expecting to reach Tool and Highlands that night. About 8 p. m. they struck camp, for it was then so dark one was obliged to go on foot before the team to keep the Indian trail. A fire was soon started. Supposing they were near their destination, guns were fired, but they could not start the pioneers. When daylight came, one of the party who had been on the former trip, took the horse and rode out on the prairie, but soon came hack, reporting that it was at least eight miles further on to the northwest to where the claims a located.

Adam Tool and William Highlands had, on the 2nd, finished marking out the claims as agreed. On the morning of the 3rd, being short of rations, they ate a slight breakfast, saving a small piece of cornbread for dinner, not knowing when supplies would reach them. They spent the morning reconnoitering. As they were on their way to the camp to eat their last crust of corn-bread, about the same place and about the same time of day, they might have been seen on the 1st of May, looking south, their hearts were gladdened and their spirits revived by the sight of the covered wagon and companions bringing supplies, thus insuring them of a full meal, something they had not had for 36 hours. The party then spent the afternoon looking over the country. One of them found a bee tree. The next morning the tree was cut, and in it about four gallons of honey were found. Not having spare vessels to put it in, a wooden trough was made to hold it.

DIVIDING CLAIMS.

Adam Tool was the oldest in the party, and was therefore given his first choice in the claims that had been selected. He took the one farthest west, and where Monroe now stands. William Highlands being the next older, took the third one east. Frost and Vance both wanted the same one, so they drew cuts. Vance got the one between Tool and Highlands, Frost taking the one farthest east. Between Vance and Highlands' claims there was a space of about a mile. The claim question being settled, all hands went to work to build a house for Highlands, as he wished to move his family first. By the evening of the 5th the house was raised, clapboards riven and roof on, James Tool, John Frost and John Vance notching the logs, or raising the corners, it was then called. That night the party slept in the first house built in what is now known as Jasper County.

Vance, Frost and .James A. Tool then started back to Locust Grove. They had one horse between them. It being very warm, they rode by turns, and that night arrived at The Narrows. Here they found a cabin that had been built by a Mr. Parker, but as yet no doors or windows had been cut out. The horse was tied to a log of the cabin, fed a ration of corn he had been carrying all day, and allowed to take care of himself. After eating a cold supper they crawled under the logs into the cabin and slept on the ground. Having no blankets, their only covering was the roof. The next morning it was quite cold. Vance and Frost said they did not care to ride, and as Tool had the care of the horse, they would allow him to ride all the time. The horse traveled faster than the footmen, but all arrived home that night. Adam Tool and William Highlands followed three or four days later, to move the latter's family to their new home, which they did, landing them there on the 12th.

Tool had put in some garden before going after the Highland family, but on his return found two young men on his claim, and on their refusal to leave he walked 65 miles to Agency City to see a lawyer, whom he had met before, to get advice. The lawyer said: "Go back to your claim; go to work on it; don't quarrel with them; soon the country will be districted and officers appointed. If they have not left by that time, come to me and I will see that you hold your claim." When he returned they had plowed up his garden with other land, and had three or four acres planted in corn and potatoes. Mr. Tool went to where he had first made his garden and commenced making it again. The Casnor boys, Jonas and Henry, for that was their names, came and wanted to know if he could not make his garden some place else. Tool said, "No; that was where he made it first, and that was where he wanted it." They hung around all the evening, and wanted to know what he was going to do with them. "Well," he said, "you seem to be pretty good workers; I suppose I will have to let you work." But that did not satisfy them. The next morning they came back to him, and he finally told them what his intentions were, but if they would leave he would pay them for the work they had done. This they agreed to. The money they received was $15.00.

They made a claim east of the one taken by John Frost. That gentleman and his family landed on their claim about the 10th or 11th of June, accompanied by Joseph Linder, Gabriel and Michael Cassel and James A. Tool. They each made claims, and within a week cabins were erected on three of them. Joseph Linder located on what is known now as the John Williams farm, Michael Cassel on what is now the Cyrus Nolan farm. Gabriel Cassel's claim took in what is now known as the John Woody and Dr. Loar farms. Of the four young men, only. James A. Tool became a resident, the others selling their claims. Their last work before returning to Locust Grove was to help Adam Tool raise his house to the square, which he afterwards "scutched" down, that is, scored and hewed the logs after the house was up. It was a structure 14x14. The cabin on James A. Tool's claim was completed June 12th, and was on the same site of his present house.

Adam Tool's family was the third that came to the settlement, arriving on the 2nd day of September. They had remained in Jefferson county during the summer to raise a small crop, while Adam put in some eight acres of corn and potatoes in Jasper county. This was in the edge of the timber on his new claim, a patch he had cleared off. During the summer he had erected a cabin to shelter the family, and had boarded with Mr. Highlands walking a mile and a half to his work each day, which was quite task for him, for he was then 50 years of age. When the Tool family finally arrived, halted near the cabin, built a fire by the side of a log, cooked and ate their first meal in their new home, there was "joy in that household."

There, among the weeds, grass and pea-vines, the cabin was used as a bedroom for all except the boys, who slept in the covered wagon. A shed was soon put up near by, covered with bark peeled from elm and lynn trees, and used for a kitchen. Their cooking utensils were a cast-iron oven, a skillet, tea-kettle and a sheet-iron frying pan with a long handle, so that it could be held while frying anything.

Scarcely was the wagon unloaded before travelers began to stop for meals and feed for their teams. The cabin was in sight of the main trail and the only house from The Narrows, which was three miles southeast of where Oskaloosa now stands, to Old Ft. Des Moines, a distance of 65 miles.

It was now the 10th of September. Winter would soon come on, the family was 75 miles from supplies, there was a more suitable house to build, hay to make, corn to cut and shedding to prepare for stock; so father and son went to work in earnest to prepare for winter. Logs were cut, hauled together, scored and hewed, James doing most of the scoring, his father doing the hewing. They cut lynn and split puncheon for the floor and made clapboards for the roof, hiring one-half month's work done. About the middle of November a house 17x19, one and one-half stories high, was enclosed; a chimney was soon erected of sticks and clay on the outside of the house, after which it was ready for occupancy, but was yet without plastering or upper floor. By this time it became necessary to make a trip to Burlington to lay in flour and groceries, for it was evident that many travelers must be cared for during the winter. While his father made that trip, James split and hewed puncheon for the upper floor, dressing them on both sides. The house was completed about the 1st of December.

Joseph Linder sold his claim to Mr. Worley and returned to Virginia. Michael Cassel fell in with a family by the name of Smith. This was in the spring of 1845. That fall the family took sick and Mr. Smith died. They were living in the timber on Burr Creek, near the farm now owned by Joseph Henry Woody. A neighbor moved his house near by on what is now the Whitted farm, and waited on them day and night. Dr. Warren, who resided 16 miles southeast, attended them. One or two of the family died. When the weather became cool the surviving ones moved to Jefferson county.

Gabriel Cassel removed to Jefferson county in the fall of 1845, and soon after was killed by damps in a well he was sinking.

In 1844 Washington Fleenor settled on a claim between the Frost and Casnor claims, and died a few years afterwards where Henry Jarnagin now lives.

Dorwell Fish made a claim northwest of Linder's, attended his farm, kept tavern, and traded with the Indians. He afterwards sold out to Martin Tucker and removed to Eddyville.

Of all the settlers above given only one is now known to be living, September, 1901, James A. Tool.

John J. Mudgett settled, in 1844, on what is known as the Byers farm, on Section 30, Township 78, Range 18.

GOING TO MILL.

Seventy-five to one hundred miles from mill, and that run by water-power, when not too high or not too low, made milling an uncertainty in those days. In the winter of 1843-44, Adam Tool, William Highlands and John Frost made a trip to mill. They went to Locust Grove, Jefferson county, there procuring some grain took it to Brighton's mill, some 25 miles northwest on the Skunk River, arriving there Saturday night. The miller would not run his mill on Sunday, but agreed if a certain man could be hired to tend the mill, he might grind their grain. This man was secured, and the grain ground, so they started home early Monday morning. It required ten days to make the trip.

In April, 1844, it became necessary for the same parties to go to mill again. Corn and money was scarce. One Mr. Eller, however, had corn to sell at 25 cents per bushel. They all secured the necessary amount except Mr. Highlands, who had no money and too slight an acquaintance with Mr. Eller to secure credit. However, Adam Tool and John Vance went his security for five bushels of corn. That was all the bread stuff that family of seven or eight had, until they could grate new corn in the fall. This is given to show those now living what was endured to prepare the way, and secure the comforts, the present generation now enjoy.

During the year 1845 a mill was built by Mr. Dunken on the Skunk River north of Oskaloosa.

In the winter of 1845-46 the snow was deep and drifted so that it was almost impossible to cross the prairie between Tool's Point and Ft. Des Moines, therefore, all travel to and from Des Moines left the Prairie Road four miles west of where Pella now stands, and followed the Des Moines River, which gave them a timber road, consequently, there was no broken road from Tool's Point, in the direction of the mill, nearer than eight miles. Bread stuffs were running out and must be provided soon, so the neighborhood turned out to break the roads, starting from John Frost's, where McDuff and Dunnaway now live. They broke two miles of road the first day, and returned home for the night. The next day, by hard work, they got through to the broke road, and stopping at a house, put up for the night, rejoicing at their success.

A few incidents of this kind go to show what bread was worth in those days.

FIRST WHITE CHILD.

The first white child born in what is now Fairview township, and, in fact, Jasper county, was born in December, 1843, to William and Ellen Highlands, a boy, Robert. This occurrence was quite fitting, for the mother was the first white woman to settle in the township.

FIRST WEDDING.

The first wedding in the township took place at Adam Tool's, in February, 1845. The contracting parties were William Hill, a young officer in the company of dragoons, then stationed at Ft. Des Moines, and Susan A. Tool. Rev. Pardoe, who was then acting chaplain for the soldiers, officiated.

FIRST ELECTION.

The first election was in April, 1844. The voting place was at the house of Adam Tool, and was called to elect township officers. The territory now comprising Jasper and Marion counties was attached to Mahaska county. William Highlands was elected justice of the peace and clerk; Washington Fleenor, constable; Adam Tool, trustee. Part of Marion county voted at Adam Tool's.

TOOL'S POINT.

In March, 1845, the Mahaska County Commissioners made the territory now comprised in Jasper County into Washington Precinct, the voting place at Adam Tool's. By this time the locality became known as Tool's Point, as it was known afterwards from Maine to California.

JASPER COUNTY BOUNDARIES.

The boundary of Jasper County was defined by act of the Legislature, approved January 17, 1846. The first election held as a county was held in April of that year. There were three voting precincts, Tool's Point, Elk Creek and Lynn Grove. Less than 50 votes were cast in the county. Manly Gifford was elected County Commissioner from Tool's Point, and Washington Fleenor, County Judge. William Highlands and Adam Tool were summoned jurors to attend the first District Court. When the time came for them to attend, there being no roads across the country, they were somewhat delayed, but on their way they met Judge Williams, who notified them there was no business and that court was adjourned, but instructed them to go on and sign the clerk's docket as having appeared, and in due time they would get their pay, as Uncle Sam paid the bills.

FIRST DEATH.

The first death occurred at what is now known as Warren's Grove. In the fall of 1844 or in the spring of 1845, a family settled there, consisting of a man, wife and one child, and the wife's brother. In the summer the brother died without any medical attendance or any one knowing of his sickness until just a few hours before his death. John Brown and James A. Tool cleared off the hazel brush and dug the grave, after which they sat up with the corpse all night. The lumber used for the coffin was hewed plank taken from the loft floor of Adam Tool's house. He was lowered to his final resting place by the hands of strangers in a new country. His name now forgotten, his resting place unmarked, but it was within the bounds of the present corporation of Monroe, and on land now owned by Mrs. Huddelston. The same fall two others died and were buried near by.

RELIGIOUS SERVICES.

In the early part of the summer of 1844, while Adam Tool was on his way to get supplies for a new house, he met a stranger on the prairie on horseback. He proved to be a Methodist preacher, sent out to preach, and was then establishing a circuit. Mr. Tool invited him to make his house a preaching pace; a day was set, the appointment was filled, and a four weeks' service held by the Rev. Johnson. In 1845 two ministers were sent. Their circuit took in the Old Agency, now Agency City, and Tool's Point, making the circuit 75 miles long. In 1846 the work changed so that it extended northwest to connect Tool's Point with Coon Mission, extending to where Boonesboro is now located, then across the Des Moines and Coon Rivers at Ft. Des Moines, then down the Three River country. With so many unbridged streams to cross and but few ferries or canoes, swimming the streams was a frequent occurrence, and the early preacher's life was anything but a 'flowery bed of ease.".

FIRST CHURCH ORGANIZATION.

The first church organization was established by J. A. Hammond in the latter part of 1846 or early in 1847. Susan H. Tool, David Worth and wife, Washington Fleenor and wife, Susan A. Hill, E. R. Wright and James A. Tool were the first members. E. R. Wright was soon appointed leader of the class. A Sabbath school had been established in the summer of 1844, and met at the house of Joel Worth. just over the Marion county line; Clayborn Hall, superintendent. During one of the sessions of Sabbath school, having as the lesson the scripture where Christ sent his disciples to preach and were not to take shoes or staves, the question was asked, "What was meant by staves." After discussion, which did not settle the question, Elias Prouty proposed, as staves came next to shoes, it should be passed as meaning socks.

The second religious organization was in 1848, made up of different branches of the Baptist church. Their place of preaching was at the house of Hartwell Hayes, on what is now known as the old Lackey.

FIRST SCHOOL HOUSE.


The first school house stood near William Highlands, on land now owned by Lucy Whitted. It was built of round logs, 8x10 glass for windows, hewed slabs for floor, seats of the same, with holes bored in and pins for legs. E. R. Wright was the first teacher. The building was used also for church services.

WILD GAME.

Wild game was not very plentiful on the first arrival of the settlers in this locality. In a short time, however, deer and turkey became more plentiful. The wolf had always been in evidence. In the winter of 1848-49 the snow was very deep and was also so light that the turkeys could not fly to their roost. One morning Hugh Patterson, living near by, went into Tool's orchard and rode down and picked up as many turkeys as he could carry. About the 1st of May, 1849, I stood on the Skunk bluff, on what would now be the southeast corner of the Silas Nolan farm, and counted, on the bottom northeast, 41 deer. They were supposed to be migrating, for the like had not been seen before and has never been seen since.

J. A. TOOL.

The writer of the foregoing sketch was born June 25, 1825, in Washington county, Virginia. In 1836 with his parents he moved to Coles county, Illinois, and in 1841 to Jefferson county, Iowa, and in 1842 to what is now Fairview township, Jasper County. His claim was four miles east of where Monroe now stands. At first he simply done work enough on his claim to hold it, remaining with his father until he was 21 years of age.

October 80, 1847, he was united in marriage to Sarah Fouts. In January they commenced housekeeping in their new home. The house was a cabin 12 foot square, puncheon floor, clapboards for roof, a stick and clay chimney built in one corner. Here they lived happily, adding improvements to their home as they could. They reared a family of five sons and four daughters, all of whom are living, married, and have families of their own, except the youngest daughter. All settled within four miles of where they were born. His wife, Sarah, passed to her heavenly home in July, 1890, and in 1892 he was united in marriage to Mary E. Barnes. They reside on his claim of 1843, the only person living that made a claim in Fairview township up to 1846.

When the land came into market, which was in about 1846, he bought 320 acres from the government, none of which has been transferred.

His family consists of nine children, 41 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Most of them as they have grown to maturity have become members of the M. E. church, of which he has been a member since 19 years of age, and a local preacher about 43 years.

Thus the Lord hath led us on To him be all the praise.

[Signed] JAMES A. TOOL.

A FEW 1843 SETTLERS.

JOHN B. FROST was a native of Virginia, married a Miss McCollum and settled in Fairview township in 1848. He sold his claim in 1846 or 1847, going farther west.

JOHN VANCE was a native of Washington county, Virginia; was a bachelor; made a claim and sold to Manly Gifford in 1845 or 1846, and removed to Mahaska county.

ADAM M. TOOL was born in Augusta county, Virginia, July, 1794. While young his parents moved to Washington county, that state. His father was a teamster and was away from home most of the time. John, the oldest brother, had learned the cooper's trade. This left Adam at home, the care of the family devolving upon him at an early age.

When 19 years of age Adam entered military service at Norfolk, Virginia, and remained about six months.

October 8, 1817, he was united in marriage to Susan H. Stinson; he was then about 23 and his bride 17. The young couple settled down to meet the conflicts of life. They soon purchased a small farm, to which they added as they could afford. Here they resided until a family of five daughters and two sons were born: Eliza, who afterward died in Illinois; Mary Stinson, Susan Adaline, James Alexander, Maria Elizabeth, Martha Cassandra, and John McCullough.

Being dissatisfied with the slave system, and wishing to avoid all connection with it, in 1836 with his family he settled in Coles county, Illinois. Here Mr. Tool entered a tract of land and made a farm near Caliston. The country proving unhealthy, he determined to make another move, having in the meantime buried his eldest daughter. In the fall of 1841 the family left their beautiful home, this time principally in the search of health, having as their objective point the Sac and Fox Indian country in Iowa, soon to be opened up. Having relatives in Jefferson county, Iowa, the family stopped there to await the new purchase.

In accounting for the family; it should be stated, Mary S. married Washington Fleenor in 1841; Susan A., Willard Hill; James A., Sarah Fouts; Maria E., H. B. Mitchell; Martha C., W. W. Moore, and John M., to Jane Paul.

WILLIAM HIGHLANDS was born in Pennsylvania in 1803; removed to Ohio when a young man, and married Ellen Slaine. In 1837 he removed to Illinois and there became acquainted with Adam Tool. In September, 1842, he located in Jefferson county, Iowa, to await the opening of the Indian country. He reared a large family, one daughter marrying James Fudge, and now lives in Poweshiek county, the balance of the family having removed from these parts.

THE CASNOR BOYS.

The Casnor boys, the fifth claimants of Jasper county soil, proved to be hard cases. After leaving Adam Tool's claim, details of which is given elsewhere, they made claims for themselves, built a cabin and put in some corn, and seemed to he quite industrious. In the fall, however, they went to their home in Missouri. In the winter they returned with their father and one or two others. Soon after they commenced making frequent trips to and from Missouri. It was soon noticed that almost invariably when they went away some Indian would be looking for his pony or some of his other effects. They later committed all kinds of depredations, at one time robbing a poor Indian's tent, during the absence of the squaw, of all the blankets, buffalo robes, camp kettles, and in fact everything that was worth carrying. That night when the Indian returned and discovered his loss, he started for Casnor's with a gun and butcher knife. Arriving at Frost's, the latter persuaded him to stay all night, fearing he might get killed if he went there in the night alone. The following morning he went to Casnor's and found his goods, but while there parleying about them, one of the boys came running in, saying to the Indian, "There is a turkey out here; let me take your gun," which the Indian did; but the young man forgot to return, and while the Indian was in search of the young man to get his gun, the goods disappeared, and he never saw them afterwards. During the trouble that followed the Indian got his hand shot, and claimed it was done by Jonas Casnor. In the fall of 1845 Jonas finally got his just deserts at the hands of a mob near Old Ft. Des Moines. It was government pay day at the Fort, and when Jonas was discovered hanging around, a party painted like Indians, but probably all whites, seized Jonas and ran him to the woods and gave him an unmerciful flogging. There was no trial and no questions asked. They said his curses were frightful. That fall the family went to Missouri, but afterward returned to Iowa, bringing a large amount of stock with them, which mostly died during the following winter. Typhoid fever soon broke out in the family; the old man, his eldest son, Henry, and several younger ones died. The balance of the family scattered, Jonas locating in the Three River country, where he resided until 1861 or 1862 and crossed the plains.

VENTRILOQUISM.

During the fall of 1843, perhaps in October, two strangers, young men, stopped at Adam Tool's house for the night. They said they were from St. Louis. They were dressed in buckskin trousers and hunting skirts nicely fringed with the same material. After supper, all were sitting around the campfire. One of the strangers stepped back from the circle. Soon sounds came from the roadside like one in distress. The stranger called for a lantern, the man by the roadside saying his horse was down, and was crying for assistance. The lantern secured, the stranger, accompanied by James A., started to assist the horseman, but when they arrived at the spot from whence the sounds had proceeded, the stranger called out, "Where are you?" "Here, a little ways off! Come quick!" was the answer. Running about in this manner for a time, the stranger remarked, "The fellow must be drunk. We won't go any farther," and returned to the fire. In half an hour or so there was a call in another direction. The stranger was again interested, and with lantern in hand, again accompanied by James, they started to assist him. Soon after, James discovered there was a trick in this, and ventured to say he believed it was a ventriloquist, and explained to the stranger, at his request, what a ventriloquist was. They soon returned to the fire. The stranger, dropping behind James, barked like a dog and caught him by the pants leg. By this time the women folks had retired for the night, and after the lights were blown out, all sorts of barnyard noises proceeded from this man's couch, chickens crowed, cats squalled and babies cried, the rest of the family not understanding the joke until the following morning.

Reminiscence of Lynn Grove.
By Jos. ARNOLD - "OLD SHADY."

In the spring of 1844. Wesley Stallings, his son William. and David Campbell, came to Lynn Grove to establish a home. Their conveyance was an ox team. Previous to their arrival here, however, five men had made claims, and on two of these claims, cabins had been erected. Soon after their builders concluded that the country would never be settled and abandoned them. On the arrival of Campbell and Stallings, they took the two claims on which the cabins had been erected. These pioneers broke about twenty acres of prairie, and when their plow became dull, were forced to travel seventy-five miles to get it sharpened, and broke prairie to pay the bill. While on this trip they met W. T. Mayfield and wife, Nancy, with their family of six children. They urged them to locate in this section of the country, which they did, arriving here in August, and on their arrival took up their abode in the Stallings cabin. Stallings and Campbell finally returned, and after sowing some turnip seed and making some other arrangements, they returned to Illinois. When Stallings cams back to Jasper county with his wife and five children, he had $1.75 in money.

In the spring of 1845, David Campbell and family returned, arriving here April 19th. These are all that can be definitely stated that came to Lynn Grove in 1844.

John H. Sparks, with wife and eight children, came in March, 1845. He had about $25.00 in money, one span of horses, two yoke of oxen and two yoke of steers. They located on Section 10. He relates that there was no trouble with the Indians at that time, the most to be feared were the wild animals. "We have had our house so full of Indians that they would stick out from under the bed." He lived and died on his original claim. His wife died June 7, 1886, and he August 17th of the same year. They were buried in the Odd Fellow's cemetery near the Old Settler's Park.

Mathew T, Mathews came in company with John H. Sparks. He had a wife and five children, the youngest three weeks old. they set up housekeeping in a cabin without doors or windows.

J. W. Swan, the first treasurer of Jasper county, located on his present farm in April, 1845. He made many a coffin for those that died in those early days.

Jabez Starr located in Lynn Grove township in 1847. He had a wife and eight children, a yoke of Oxen and no money, but had plenty of faith in the future of Jasper county.

FIRST CHILD BORN IN LYNN GROVE. The first white child born in what is now known as Lynn Grove township was the second born in Jasper county, a boy, to W. T. and Nancy Mayfield in October, 1844. The ladies who were present were from Godby's Grove, Mahaska county, eight miles away. The child born was a strong, healthy boy, which was named on the spot Napoleon Bonaparte.

THE FIRST SAW MILL. In the fall of 1846, John H. Sparks completed a saw mill on the North Skunk river in Lynn Grove, and by the end of harvest in 1848, he had a flouring mill ready for grinding. This was by no means a rude make-shift, as were must of the pioneer mills, but a good, substantial structure. The burr stones were of the best French make. The construction of this mill was a great advantage to the people of Jasper and surrounding counties. Mr. Sparks operated both saw and grist mill, and each was a source of increasing wealth, it being at that time the farthest mill west in this section. It had a wonderful custom, sometimes forty teams at one time around the ground waiting for their grist, and at times some were obliged to wait three and four days.

In 1848 Sparks sold the mill to Ambrose Osburn, who afterwards sold it to Jesse Arnold, my father, who operated it during the remainder of his life, his death taking place in 1865. Since that time, it has passed through many hands. A first-class flouring mill has taken place of the old structure, and is fitted with all the modern appliances, and is both a steam and a water mill. The present owner, A. K. Wagaman, is a practical miller, and has the capital to do business in manufacturing and shipping the proceeds of his mill, which fact is a great help to Lynnville.

THE FIRST SCHOOL in the grove was held in a rude log structure a few rods west of what is now the "Old Settlers' Grounds" It had paper windows, linn puncheon for floor, the doors, seats and writing desks were of the same material. Here Mr. Joshua Trease taught the first school. He wielded the rod liberally, so I am informed by one of his pupils, now an old man, who well remembers that it was by this teacher's stripes that he was made to mind.

The second school house was located in the south part of the grove, on Walter Turner's claim. It was the same style and make of the one above described, except that the seats and writing desks were made of sawed lumber. The first teacher was a Mr. Fester, in 1850.

A. O. Silver was a teacher of 1855. The families of Stallings, Mayfield, Campbell, Swan and John R. Sparks all refer to these schools with pride and evident satisfaction in the instruction their children received at them in those early days.

THE FIRST TOWNSHIP ELECTION was small. The ballot box was a tin cup with a spelling book for a cover. In the evening we counted the votes and found there were fourteen cast. Jabez Starr was elected squire.

THE FIRST COUPLE MARRIED in this township was Alexander Davis and Mercy Shoemaker, which occurred in the winter of 1848 and '9. The second was Jesse Hammer and Margaret Sparks.

THE FIRST DEATH that occurred among the new settlers was a ten-year-old daughter of Wesley Stallings.

THE FIRST SERMON preached in what is now Lynn Grove township was by John Cameron.

THE FIRST NEWSPAPER published in Lynnville was a six-column folio. The proprietors were Ben Evans and B. F. Arnold. It made its appearance November 26. 1868. It continued for about six months when Evans, having collected all the advance subscriptions he could, took a vacation and left Arnold to settle up the business. The paper was soon discontinued, and Lynnville was without a paper until September' 16, 1876, when B. F. Arnold started the Iowa Interior News. In 1878 he removed it to Kellogg.

Lynnville was incorporated in 1875. O. C. Meredith was the first mayor. In a few months he resigned the office and removed to Newton. B. F. Arnold was elected to fill the vacancy, who also resigned in a short time and removed to Kellogg. At a special election Joseph Arnold was chosen and remained in office for fourteen years in succession.

THE KNOW NOTHINGS.

In 1855-6 there was organized in nearly every state in the Union a party known as the Know Nothing Party, the object of which was to keep all foreigners from holding office or taking any part whatsoever in the government of the United States. The meetings and lodges were held in secret, with armed force if need be, to prevent any foreigners from entering or to know of the business transacted.

This gave a favorable opportunity for crafty office seekers to manipulate plans for their own elevation to office. A. T. Alt the treasurer of the county, whose first term was about to expire, wished to be elected for another term. This he thought an opportunity to immortalize his name and secure his election for a second term. He attended meetings in an adjoining county which was headquarters for Know Nothings and got the appointment to organize lodges in Jasper county. He set a time and place and notified the leading voters and foreigner haters, that he would be down in Lynn Grove and organize a lodge and fit them up to do business. At that time there was a log cabin in the midst of the woods located on Section 3, one-half mile north of the home of John R. Sparks. In conformity with previous arrangements, Sir Alt came down from Newton with the appliances to organize the American Party of Know Nothings. About sunset there was a large gathering of the voters of the township up in the woods near Sparks. About dark we wended our way to the cabin, Alt called the house to order. The first thing done was to place sentinels out to see that no foreigners should know of the business or purpose of the meeting. All being ready, Alt unfurled the Stars and Stripes which made a fine display in that dark and forlorn place. In an elaborate speech he told us of the danger that the United States was in from the foreign element. After getting us fully awakened, he proceeded to initiate us as members of this mystic organization. The initiation fee was nominal, not exceeding $1.00 for each one initiated. I well remember the pass-word, -'Have you seen Sam?" The sign was to take hold of your coat on the right side with all of your hand except the index finger, which should be pointing straight out. Then the arm in a natural movement to be brought toward the left side, the index finger placed on the left breast near the region of the heart.

After a general hand shaking this meeting closed about 1000 o'clock without benediction. William R. Mathers, Jeremiah S, Sparks and Joseph Arnold are the only survivors of that organization. A. T. Alt was defeated, and soon the Know Nothing party, in all the states, was a thing of the past. This meeting was on Saturday night.' On Sunday morning I went to our little Quaker meeting and saw as soon as I got-into the yard, Jarvis Johnson, true to his trust, he gave me the sign by taking hold of his shadbelly Quaker coat with his right hand, bringing his index finger near the region of the heart: I, true to my pledge, returned the sign. We both saw we were brethren, and no foreigner could have our support, for we were full-fledged-Know Nothings, and the government still stands.

Atlas property of Wayne Shannon; transcribed and formatted by Barbara Hug
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