Chapter IX
There is much of individual heroism in common life
that is lost to history, and which is not blazoned among the
distinguished deeds which make some men famous and their names
immortal. Some Military chieftain in the nick of time, and by
natural genius and adroitness as well as personal courage, drives
the enemy into a general slaughter, and his government, with
fulsome praise, sends his name down the ages, and all time has a
hero fearless and undaunted. Sometimes the greatest of all heroic
acts are manifested by one in the humblest walks of life, which
find no recognition in the record of history, for it is only in
the exalted stations of life that the names of men glitter on the
scroll of fame, and much that is the most heroic of all heroism
dies with the hero. We have an old newspaper which recites the
conviction and execution of a Negro slave, in which case Henry
Clay was the public prosecutor. The Negro was a faithful servant,
and had not been accustomed to the degradation of corporal
chastisement. During a temporary absence of his master, he was
placed under the charge of a young and passionate overseer, who,
for some slight or imaginary offense, lashed him cruelly with a
horsewhip, and brought wicked blows about the head that were
unmercifully given. The spirit of the slave was aroused, and
seizing a weapon that was near him, he laid his overseer dead
upon the spot. Soon after, he was borne to the place of
execution, and the pride of character he there displayed was
worthy of a Roman patriot. Being asked whether he was anxious
that his life be spared, and, answering under a feeling of the
injustice that had been done him and under the fact that he was
in bondage, he replied proudly and sternly: "No! I would not
live a day longer unless in the enjoyment of liberty. The pages
of history might be searched from the beginning to the present,
and nothing in the notoriety of preserved evidence would exceed
this personal proudness and bravery of an obscure slave, whose
words are lost in the din of pyrotechnic words over names which
were prominent with the people.
Carrying the thought still further, one does not need to go to a
battlefield, or to find tragedies in blood, for the world's
greatest heroes. Many unknown in life, bearing its burdens under
difficulties and under depressing circumstances, and under the
crushing conditions of poverty and misfortune are heroes, and the
women who toil with them are heroines. The writer in the early
seventies knew several families in Northwest Iowa who were
without money, without friends-for the world is cold and
uncharitable to the borrower-whose crops were an utter failure,
and where existence was continued by living on anything that was
accessible, and whose diet principally was corn ground in a
coffee mill. We who are living in the present progress and
prosperity of Osceola County cannot realize the crushed and
despondent heart of many a mother whose little ones, in the early
days of the county's history, were crying for bread, and where
but inch boards protected them from the severity of winter,
huddled around a fire made by twisted hay, and whose one hope was
in a change, which the future, dark and doubtful, would bring to
them. These early settlers who were thus battling against the
misfortunes of the county then were heroes.
The early days of Osceola County, from 1871 on, were hard and
trying to settlers who were endeavoring to make a home here and
establish a farm on the prairie. Most of them came without means,
and depended on their grit and muscle to pull through. Those that
brought money with them, and were reasonably well fixed to start
on, seemed to be the most unfortunate after all, especially when
the grasshoppers came, for the reason that they did not hesitate
to use their means in building good houses and surrounding
themselves with comforts and conveniences, expecting an early
return for their investments. But when the pocket-book became
empty, and no crops as expected and no value to land, they were
not only discouraged but disgusted, and soon got out, while the
fellows who started with nothing were more inclined to stay it
through, still hoping to realize and get return for their labor.
We can easily see how much grit and determination it took to stay
here several years, one after the other, without a crop at
harvest time, and still stay another winter and burn hay and take
chances on enough to eat. Money could not be obtained only on
gilt-edged security at a rate of interest from three to eight
percent a month, and sometimes at ten. Many a farm and much live
stock and farm machinery of these early settles passed into the
hands of these money lenders; we cannot say unjustly so, but as a
matter of business, because the money was due, the debtor unable
to pay, and that insatiate and inexorable Shylock, the chattel
mortgage, must have what its description calls for, and without
delay. Some were crushed under the burden of debt, and ran away
from it, glad to escape the annoyance of creditors, and into an
atmosphere of peace.
Others still kept working on, toiling in the hope of better days,
and under a feeling that no matter how black and hideous were the
clouds of adversity, there was still a silver lining, and that in
time the sunshine of prosperity would change the condition of
things and gladden their hearts.
The days of Osceola County hardships are over. It has passed the
period of settlement, of hard times, debt and adversity, and is
today one of the most thrifty Counties in the State. In 1870 its
beautiful but unbroken prairie land was waiting in mute silence
for coming events; today its well cultivated farms, extensive and
magnificent forest trees, with beautiful and comfortable
residences show the wonderful progress and prosperity that can
come to a country by the industry and thrift of a people, who
under a government like ours know the value of a home. The county
is still advancing, its population increases each year, its
unbroken prairie is diminishing rapidly, and before another
decade not a foot of wild land capable of cultivation can be
found in the county. Its people are full of energy, have the best
of social qualities, are intelligent and loyal. School districts
and municipal township governments are the County administration,
are all in the hands of men who are honest, capable and
economical, and the future of the county is brilliant in
everything that can lead a people up to the highest conditions of
contentment, happiness and success. The older settlers, who have
borne the "burden and heat of the day" and are here
yet, have a feeling of pride in what the years accomplished, and
the later incoming settlers realize that there is no fairer or
more fertile agricultural country that the sun shines upon or was
ever watered with the dews of heaven. However much of adversity
or hardship our early settlers had to contend with, the clouds
have now rolled by, and other people in the experience of a like
misfortune cannot only have our sympathy, but would find us
charitable enough and sufficiently able to pour into their lap
the surplus treasures of our own productive soil.