Past and Present of Fayette County Iowa
By George William Fitch, 1910 B. F. Bowman and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana
Transcribed by Nancy Piper
CHAPTER 3 -
CHAPTER III
ORGANIZATION AND SETTLEMENT OF FAYETTE COUNTY
Pages 68-92
Territorially speaking, Fayette county was originally one of the largest counties ever organized. It had a nominal
organization on the 21st of December, 1837, when its boundaries included an area of about one hundred and forty
thousand square miles. It included within its limits all of the present state of Minnesota west of the Mississippi
river, extending on the north to the British dominions, and included all of the territory of the Dakotas east of
the Missouri river, except a small tract in the southeast corner.
Clayton county was constituted on the same date, and both were partly organized from territory then embraced in
Dubuque county. Clayton at that time included a portion of Allamakee county, and the county seat was established
at Prairie La Porte (now Guttenberg). Nearly all the counties in northeastern Iowa, and some others, were formed,
in whole or in part, from territory originally embraced in Fayette county. But this was only a "paper county,"
having no organization in fact until reduced to its present boundaries in 1847, and finally organized in 1850.
Previously the county had been attached to Clayton for judicial, revenue and election purposes, and an election
had been held April 27, 1841, as ordered by the commissioners of Clayton county. The election was held at "the
New Mission," and was designated as precinct NO.9, the bounds of which shall be designated by the bounds of
the neutral grounds. It would seem, therefore, that the Clayton county commissioners exercised jurisdiction over
the Winnebago Reserve. The polls were ordered opened at the house of David Lowrie, and H. D. Brownson, John B.
Thomas and David Lowrie were judges of the election. H. H. Singer was messenger, and Silas Gilmore was clerk. It
does not appear that there were more than three or four voters in Fayette county territory at that time. This is
probably the first election for any purpose ever held for the accommodation of Fayette county voters. An election
was ordered on the 7th of April, 1851, for the purpose of locating the county seat. The contestants were "Centerville"
(at the geographical center of the county), Lightville (afterwards Lima), at Light's Mill, on the Volga river ,
West Union, Auburn and Claremont, now Clermont, and once called "Norway."
According to the conditions of the legislative enactment, the two places having the highest number of votes were
required to hold another election to decide the matter, and West Union and Lightville held the deciding election
on the first Monday in May, following, the result .being in favor of West Union. This matter was decided by vote
of the people in May, 1851; but two years later, under legislative enactment, commissioners were appointed w ho
located the county seat on the southwest quarter of section 17, township 93, range 8, Westfield township. The law
also prescribed that a vote should be taken on the question of removal to the new location. This was done in August,
1853, and resulted in favor of retaining the county seat at West Union. The conditions were complied with, a court
house erected, and the official headquarters established. Another vote in April, 1860, ordered by the county judge,
upon petition, resulted in favor of retaining "Vest Union as the seat of justice. Another election was held
in October, 1867, Fayette and West Union being this time the openly avowed candidates; but after a hotly contested
canvass of the county, wherein some bad blood was engendered, West Union was again successful. The next and final
effort looking to the removal of the county seat was made in June, 1873, when the county board of supervisors was
petitioned to submit the question to the electors of the county. The territory was thoroughly canvassed by both
parties to the controversy, and it is very evident that a pretty general expression of the people's wishes was
secured. But a large number of the petitioners also placed their names upon a remonstrance, the assumption being
that they had changed their views subsequent to signing the petition. A law question .arose as to the legality
of counting the names of the remonstrating signers on the petition, and an injunction was served upon the board
of supervisors, restraining them from counting these names as petitioners. This action threw the matter into the
courts and delayed the counting of the names until the time for submission had expired by statute, and West Union
still retains the coveted prize. All except the first effort at establishing a county seat may appear irrelevant
at this stage in the recital of early historical events, but with the purpose of exhausting the subject, it is
all presented here in consecutive order. Having now the county organized, a county seat established and the first
officers elected, it is proper to proceed with the chronological history.
Soon after the first settlers began to locate in Fayette county territory, the United States government established
a military post about west-northwest of the old Clayton mission, on the Turkey river, near the southwest corner
of Winneshiek county. This was called Camp Atkinson, or Fort Atkinson, in honor of General Atkinson, of the United
States army. There a fort and barracks were erected, and a new mission was established about four miles south of
the fort, with Rev. David Lowry, a Cumberland Presbyterian clergyman, in charge. The mission buildings were located
just north of the Fayette county line, but some of the lands included were located in what is now Auburn township,
in this county. Several hundred acres of land was broken up and rendered fit for farming purposes. The Winnebago
Indians, then occupying the northern portions of Fayette county and adjacent territory, were placed upon this reservation,
first, with an idea to Christianize them, and secondly, to protect them from the incursions of unfriendly tribes
of other nations. There were about two thousand nine hundred Winnebagoes thus provided for at the expense of the
government. They were generally a peaceful band who obtained their living by hunting in the forests of Fayette,
Clayton and Delaware counties, and seldom had any trouble with the white settlers. In the adjustment of affairs
a small farm was allotted to each head of an Indian family, and all the inducements within the power of the government
were extended to induce the savages to abandon their former mode of
"living and settle down to civilized life. Schools were established for the benefit of the children, but their
attendance was governed, in a measure, by the condition of the home larder and, if well supplied with the fruits
of .the chase, they would neither work nor go to school. N either did they take kindly to the religious instructions
imparted, and after an expensive experiment covering a period of about eight years, the effort so generously put
forth had to be abandoned, and the Indians were removed to Minnesota in 1848.
Mr. Lowry was succeeded by James McGregor, and he by J. E. Fletcher, by whom the Indians were removed.
With the establishment of the military post at Camp Atkinson a trail was opened between that point and the pioneer
settlements in Clayton, Delaware and Dubuque counties, and in that portion of Fayette county which was included
in the Black Hawk purchase, and-along this trail the first white settlements were made. This trail entered Fayette
county near the northeast corner of Putnam township, assuming a northwesterly course until it crossed the Volga
river, about four miles above Fayette, thence north through Center, Windsor and Auburn townships, crossing Little
Turkey river in section 29, Auburn township, thence north to the "Fort." It constituted the main thoroughfare
then open to the pioneers, and a visit to the fort was considered an outing not to be despised. But the fort also
afforded quite a local market, and many of those who visited the place did so with an eye to business. One of our
surviving pioneers, Andrew J. Hensley, visited the mission in 1845, while William and John Paddleford brothers,
and very early pioneers on the
Volga bottom below Wadena, were at the fort during its building in 1840. On that occasion they witnessed the revolting
spectacle of a Winnebago "burial." In this case the corpse was placed on a platform constructed for the
purpose, in a tree, the religious superstition being that when so elevated he could the more easily reach the happy
hunting ground. There were many such burials discovered by early pioneers in this county, the most numerous of
which were in Illyria township.
The territory now embraced within Fayette county comprised three subdivisions of Indian lands, and was opened to
settlement at different times, this being in accordance with the terms of a treaty entered into on the first day
of June, 1833. What subsequently became the northern half of the county was included in the neutral grounds, or
Winnebago reserve; the southeastern portion was included in the Black Hawk purchase, and the southwest corner,
including the lands now embraced in Oran and Fremont townships, and a portion of Jefferson, remained in possession
of the Sac and Fox Indians until ceded by them to the United States under provisions of a treaty ratified on the
21st of October, 1837. At the date last written there were but four full townships surveyed in the county, these
being Putnam, Fairfield, Smithfield and Scott. But with the cession of territory in 1837, irregular boundaries
(though for the most part imaginary) were straightened, and the outlines of the county established as at present.
The area of the county is seven hundred and twenty square miles, being four congressional townships east and west
and five north and south. More than one-fourth the area of the county was originally covered with timber, much
of which was of excellent quality. But for many years after the settlement began, wood was the only fuel and the
only fencing material, while the forest supplied the building material in crude form, thus the timber was depleted
much more rapidly than economy in later years, combined with diligent efforts at reproduction, have restored it.
The varieties most common were the various species of oak, maple, elm, hickory, walnut, cherry, basswood or linden,
cottonwood, iron wood, some scraggy pine and cedar, willow, etc. As the natural timber began to disappear, and
in many instances before that period was reached, the permanent residents began the propagation of artificial groves
and "windbreaks," both for purposes of adornment and protection. Some have also planted liberally of
quick growing forest trees with a view to replacing the rapidly disappearing forest growth. With quite a number
of well-to-do farmers, this has become an item of considerable interest, twenty acres or more being thus planted.
And almost every homestead in the county is now more or less adorned with handsome groves, some of which are very
beautiful. With the successful introduction of fruit growing came also the planting of evergreens and the cultivation
of evergreen hedges, the two combining to render conspicuous the many beautiful homes so adorned.
About the southwest half of Fayette county was originally termed prairie land, and" but little natural timber
grew in that section. It was also the more level, and though well watered with small streams and many springs,
the larger streams, and consequently the heavier belts of timber are located in the northeastern half of the county.
Along the Turkey river, through Eden, Auburn, Dover, Clermont, Pleasant Valley and Illyria townships are the heaviest
belts of natural timber, the most rugged bluffs, and the most rough and hilly land to be found in the county. But
there are also to be found some of the most valuable farms in the county, and some of the most picturesque valleys
to be found anywhere. The valleys are especially fertile, though the upland is excellent for farming purposes and
stock raising. With the added value of the timber, much of which is still standing on the steep hillsides, it is
an open question as to whether this land is not as valuable as other lands more favorably situated. There are numerous
streams which flow into the Turkey, the most important of which are Little Turkey, Crane creek and Otter creek,
in the northern part, each of which drains a large area of country and furnishes water power for small industries,
more prolific in former days than now. By flooding a large area of level land at Alpha, sufficient water power
was secured to operate a flouring mill and other industries, as will appear more fully in the article on Alpha.
Crane creek, a large stream, flows through a beautiful and fertile farming country in Eden township, and empties
into the Little Turkey on the line between Eden and Auburn townships. Otter creek, a stream of considerable volume,
flows in an easterly course through a heavily timbered country and rugged hills, past West Union and Brainard,
and enters the Turkey near the county line just below Elgin. The Volga and its numerous tributaries drain the south-central
portion of the county from northwest to southeast, passing through Bethel, the northeast corners of Banks and Harlan,
and easterly through Center, Westfield and Illyria, leaving the county at section 25, Illyria. This river is next
in size to the Turkey and, like the latter, is skirted with timber, s~me of which was originally of excellent quality;
but most of the arable land has been cleared and is now cultivated in farms. For many years some of the best timber
lands in Illyria township were held by non-resident speculators, the price asked for it being largely in excess
of that asked for improved farms near it. Small tracts were sold to the farmers in the prairie districts, some
of whom hauled their fire-wood, fencing and other necessary timber a distance of ten or twelve miles. This was
also true of the Turkey river district, in the northern part of the county. The early settlers in Bethel, Banks
and western Windsor townships were supplied from the "Auburn timber," hauling it ten to fifteen miles.
When it is remembered that this was the only means of getting fuel in winter unless the people resorted to the
doubtful expedient of burning corn, as they sometimes did in emergencies, we can readily discern one of the serious
hardships of pioneer life. Driving across a trackless, treeless, fenceless prairie in deep snow, which was then
the rule rather than the exception, as now, the present-day citizen can form some idea of the hardships endured
by his ancestors (probably) in the early development of Fayette county.
These small tracts of timber land, as cleared, were purchased for farming land, and when many of them were combined
in one body, the result was an excellent timber farm without the expense and labor of clearing it. But it is a
well known fact among timber residents that section "thirty-seven" yielded more desirable saw-logs and
building timber than any other section in Illyria township ! [Section thirty-seven does not exist; it was the timber
thief's refuge.]
The Little Wapsipinnicon traverses the southwestern portion of the county, flowing southeasterly through Fremont
and Oran townships. There are also numerous creeks, all flowing south, among which may be mentioned Buffalo creek,
Pine and Otter creeks, thus affording excellent drainage through a level prairie country. The timber in" that
section of the county is not as good as in the northern and eastern sections, though all the streams are fringed
with some timber along the level valleys which skirt the streams in that locality.
The soil of Fayette county- is nearly all peculiarly adapted to diversified farming. While there is some difference
between the character of the land in different localities, there is none of the arable land in any section which
does not produce a fair recompense for intelligent effort. The hilly land in the northern and eastern parts of
the county is usually a clay soil, adapted to wheat growing and grass, in preference to corn raising. The soil
in the valleys along the streams is a very fertile black loam, often containing a little sand, and occasionally
a tract of considerable dimensions is quite sandy, this being true, also, of some of the prairie districts. Where
not too sandy, this soil seems to be especially adapted to corn raising, and the Turkey valley soil, under the
manipulation of such farmers as Henry George, William A. Anderson and others, has captured some valuable prizes
at the corn and fruit exhibits at Omaha and elsewhere. The prairie townships, of which there are ten in the county,
and some considerable portions of others, are very uniform in the character of the soil, nearly all being a deep
black loam, some underlaid with gravel and others with hard-pan or clay.
Much of the unimproved prairie land was originally "sloughy," especially the level portions of it. In
an early day a system of blind ditching was inaugurated which was of material benefit to those who could employ
that method, but many could not, on account of the cost. A machine was employed which was so constructed as to
force aside the easily yielding soil, and by using the power furnished by five or six yoke of oxen, this appliance
was forced through the ground at a depth of three or four feet, its depth being regulated to the desired point.
This left a comparatively small passageway for the water, which, of course, constantly wore larger. A standard,
not much larger than a plowshare, cut the tough sod to the top of the ground, and this aperture quickly "healed
up," leaving only the drainage way underneath. The propelling power was attached to this standard. But the
impracticability of the device was soon apparent when the sod on top began to cave in, when it became anything
but "a blind ditch!" In recent years a good deal of tiling has been used, and in all cases with satisfaction.
But with the opening up of adjacent lands, and the gradual reduction in the amount of rainfall, many of the "sloughs"
have become rich farming lands without any effort at drainage, other than surface drainage from plowing. This class
of land, when once reclaimed, has proved to be the most fertile of any surrounding it, when intelligently planted
and cultivated. Swamp lands and shallow lakes have been drained and the beds turned into the most profitable of
corn fields, both in our own and adjoining states.
Other streams worthy of mention are the Maquoketa, Brush creek, Bell creek, Prairie creek, all of which, except
Bell creek, flow through the southeastern part of the county and empty into the Volga. There is an Otter creek
in the northeastern part of the county and another stream bearing the same name flows south through Jefferson township.
There are many fine springs of pure water, and the stock farm without running water is decidedly an exception.
The pioneers, in seeking sites for their cabin homes, sought a location near some good spring if possible, regardless
of prospective roads or farm boundaries; and in later years it often became necessary to relocate the home site
in order to be established on some highway, hence they often left the spring and its environments behind and were
compelled to dig for water. The surface wells of early days, though affording a supply reasonably satisfactory
as to quantity and quality, were not sufficient to supply the demands upon them in later years. They were usually
shallow and yielded only surface water, often seriously impregnated with impurities. Being "dug" or open
wells, they required attention as to the matter of cleanliness, and within the knowledge of the present generation
three men lost their lives at Elgin from fire-damp or marsh gas, while engaged in cleaning out a well. These shallow
wells have given place in later years to the deep wells rendered possible through the invention and use of well-drilling
machinery and wind engines now so universally in use. Both the quantity and quality of water have been greatly
improved, and such a thing as driving a herd of stock in dry weather, three miles to a river or creek is now unknown,
though a sprightly remembrance of men now living!
FIRST SETTLERS
We believe that it is now generally conceded, though for many years disputed, that Franklin Wilcox was the first
actual settler in Fayette county. But there are some extenuating circumstances which seemed to justify a difference
of opinion on this subject. Besides his wife and daughter who accompanied him from Indiana to Fayette county in
1838, Franklin Wilcox's brother Nathaniel came at the same time and took up a claim just east of his brother's,
on what subsequently became section I, of Smithfield township. Robert Gamble came with the Wilcoxes from Ead's
Grove and selected a home on land which proved to be on section 13, Center township, and near the geographical
center of the county. For ten or more years this location was known as "Gamble's Grove," though since
known as "Dunham's Grove." A post office was established at Gamble's Grove in 1850, with Thomas Woodle
as postmaster. But Mr. Gamble did not remain long, being taken sick in the fall of 1840 and returned to Ead's Grove
and never returned to this county. The first settlements in the county, including those previously mentioned, were
made south of and near the Winnebago reserve line, in territory included in the Black Hawk purchase. They were
also near or on the trail between the pioneer settlements in Clayton, Delaware and Dubuque counties. It is claimed,
traditionally, that an attempt was made to encroach upon the rights of the Winnebagoes in 1836, by a couple of
adventurers named Edson and Grant, and that they commenced preparations to build a mill at Elgin, or in "Shin-Bone
Valley," as that locality was called in early days. Joseph Quigley, a reliable citizen and very early settler
of an adjoining township in Clayton county, is authority for the statement. He claimed to have been well acquainted
with the parties. Mr. Quigley said they came from the Turkey valley, below where Elkader is now located, and commenced
building a dam, digging a mill-race, getting out and hauling mill timbers to the spot chosen, and otherwise making
the best possible use of a "squatter's right." It was claimed by the parties that they were unaware of
their trespass, and when they discovered their error they promptly left the territory. Another version is that
the Indians entered complaint to Mr. Lowry, at the mission, and that he compelled their removal. The Indians burnt
their shanty, set fire to the timber and destroyed the dam.
Samuel Conner, who came to the vicinity of Elgin in 1848, verifies this statement as to the presence of mill timbers
there at that time, the first settlers having used the charred remains as fuel for their lime kilns. This was unquestionably
the first attempt of white men to permanently occupy any part of Fayette county; but as the effort was unauthorized,
and, in fact, positive violation of existing laws, the recital possesses but little historical significance.
Of seventy pioneers who spent the winter of 1849-50 in West Union and immediate vicinity, only three are now living,
namely: Mrs. J. W. Rogers, John Cook and De Witt Stafford. "All of these have had a home in West Union since
their first locating here.
At the beginning of 1850 there were but little more than five thousand acres of land entered in Fayette county,
and much of that was controlled by speculators. The distribution of early settlers on the date above written was
about as follows: Auburn township, as then sought to be organized, J. B. Earll and others at the embryo village
of Auburn; Gild Mission, in northwest corner of the township; Benjamin Iliff, at the present village of Eldorado,
now in Dover township; Carlton and Sawyer, near the village of Norway (now Clermont); Diamond Conner and Forbes,
at the present site of Elgin. West Union township, in 1850, extended north to the county line and included the
east half of the present township of Dover. On this territory were the landholders, Lorenzo Dutton, Jacob VV. Rogers
and William Wells. As stated in a preceding paragraph, there were many other families in the town who had not taken
up land, but who became permanent residents. P. F. Sturgis and Thomas Woodle had taken up land in what is now Center
township, but the western tier of townships was entirely unoccupied, as were also Harlan township and the southern
tier on the "border of Buchanan county. In Westfield were the Light, Ludlow, Douglass and Beatty entries,
while the Culver trading post was alone in Illyria. But there is good evidence that Thomas Fennell, Heinrich Hidinger
and the Lockwood family located in Illyria about the time of which we are writing, and they or their descendants
have remained in the county since J. E. Robertson, Robert Alexander, the Wilcoxes and A. J. Hensley had all taken
up land in the southern part of Westfield and the northern part of Smithfield townships. Possibly Fairfield township
was at this time the most thickly populated section of the county, there being some nine entries made, and which
included the Brooks settlement, the Voshels, Perkins, Moyne, Sperry, Newton and Finney families. All the persons
named were residents of the county prior to 1850, and some of them were here in the early forties.
From this list of. pioneers the first county officers were selected at the organization of the county in 1850,
and were as follows : Organizing sheriff (temporarily appointed for this purpose), Capt. R. R. Richardson, then
a resident of Corn Hill, at which place the returns were to be made to him. June 18, 1850, was the date fixed by
him, returns to be made on or before July 22, 1850, and one of his precepts was dated at Jacob Lybrand's store,
June 23, 1850. It does not appear from the records that there were any election precincts at which votes were cast
except at Auburn and West Union; but as there were numerous voters in the Brooks settlement in the southern part
of the county, it is quite probable that there was an election precinct there of which we have no record. Thomas
Woodle, from the vicinity of Dunham's Grove, was elected county judge; Jacob W. Rogers, county clerk; G. W. Neff,
sheriff; G. A. Cook, recorder and treasurer; William Wells, Charles Sawyer and Jared Taylor, county commissioners,
with C. M. Jones as clerk of the board of commissioners. These were the officers who started the wheels of progress
in Fayette county more than sixty years ago, and the people of today can have but little appreciation of the onerous
duties devolving upon them. Let it be remembered that there was not a public building in the county, and not a
bridge nor a road worthy of being called such. The townships were not organized, except those of Auburn and West
Union, and they only partially so. School houses and churches had not been established, and w hen they were, a
crude log building was pressed into service to answer the purpose of each. The board of commissioners was deluged
with petitions for the organization of townships, the establishment of roads, and the thousand and one things which
came within their jurisdiction. There was no money to pay the necessary expenses of the county, nor was there,
as yet, any tangible means of providing it. Markets were far removed from the environments of Fayette county, and
to reach them at Dubuque, the nearest point, required a week of arduous toil to make -the round trip with the ox
teams, which were the "motive power" of nearly every pioneer in the county. The location of the county
seat had not yet been determined; hence the county business was often transacted at the home of the official sought.
The office of county commissioner was soon abolished by the Legislature, and the duties of that office were performed
by the county judge. But one set of county commissioners was ever elected in this county, and the county judge
system prevailed for about ten years. Then followed the complicated system of electing one member of the board
of supervisors from each township, thus constituting an unwieldy body of twenty men to perform the duties formerly
entrusted to the county judge. While both systems were objectionable, it is believed that the latter was less satisfactory
than the former. At all events, when it was sought to change to the present system of three members of the board
of supervisors, under a law similar to that under which the county commissioners were elected in 1850, there was
practically no opposition, and the present system has been in satisfactory operation for nearly forty years.
In 1850 Iowa had but two representatives in Congress, viz.: Hon. Daniel F. Millar, who represented the south half
of the state, and Hon. Shepherd F. Leffler the northern part. The two United States senators from Iowa were Gen.
George W. Jones, from Dubuque, and Hon. Augustus C. Dodge, of Burlington. General Jones was one of the most active
and influential men who ever represented this state in the Senate of the United States. He was a representative
in Congress from Michigan territory when it included all of that state as now organized, all of Wisconsin, Iowa,
Minnesota and the unorganized territory west to the Rocky mountains. He introduced the bills under the provisions
of which both Wisconsin and Iowa territories were organized, and was a zealous and tireless worker in the organization
of our own state and in the early development of her institutions. General Jones had the honor of serving in Congress
with Clay, Webster and Calhoun and public men of their time. He lived to a ripe old age and died in Dubuque in
1900. At the time of which we are writing Fayette, Allamakee, Winneshiek and Clayton counties constituted a representative
district, with Hon. Eliphalet Price in the lower house of the Legislature. He was a typical pioneer in the territory
which he represented thus early in its history. Judge Price, now of Elkader, is his son. Eliphalet Price is well
remembered by all the Fayette county pioneers of his day and, like Judge Murdock, is revered as a man of sterling
integrity and blameless life. He came to Iowa in 1832, and was one of the first legal white settlers at Dubuque.
In 1834 he explored the Turkey valley, and being impressed with its beauty and fertility, decided to locate, and
was a resident of Elkader for nearly forty years. He was the first clerk of the board of Clayton county commissioners
and took the first federal census after the admission of the state, for the counties of Clayton, Fayette, Allamakee
and Winneshiek, and was elected to the Legislature from these counties in 1850. The services and influence of Mr.
Price were sought in the adjustment of Fayette county's county-seat troubles, which were precipitated about the
time of his election, but he declared himself as unfavorable to the commissioner system, whereby two or three men
were empowered, according to the petitions filed with them, to locate the county seat; and instead of securing
the appointment of the commissioners, he secured the enactment of a law by the Legislature whereby the people of
Fayette county were authorized to make choice of the place for the county seat, at an election to be held on the
first Monday in April, 185 I. The "candidates" were also designated, as previously mentioned in this
chapter, and the condition of a tie vote or no majority in favor of any place, provided for. Mr. Price was subjected
to some unjust criticism by reason of his obvious intention of shifting responsibilities, and yet after the lapse
of sixty years, no one now questions the absolute fairness of his action.
One of the first official acts of the board of county commissioners after their election in 1850 was the appointment
of three road viewers to establish a road through the county from the county line east of Taylorsville, through
that place, thence northwest through the Brooks settlement, from which place it took a northward course to West
Union. The viewers appointed were Stephen Ludlow, who lived one mile west of Lightville; Chauncey Brooks, who lived
on the farm where he died half a century later, and Zopher Perkins, of the well known Perkins family in the Brooks
settlement. These viewers were to meet and report at the house of Jared Taylor, in Taylorsville, on the 19th of
November, 1850. The fact that this was the first road officially established in the county is evidence that the
village of Taylorsville was even then considered a place of some importance. In later years it became one of the
principal towns in the southern half of the county, and was, until after the close of the Civil war, one of the
stations on the stage line between Manchester and northeastern Iowa. It contained a hotel, numerous stores and
mechanical shops, t\VO or three church organizations, and a progressive citizenship. 1 t was named in honor of
Jared Taylor, who figured conspicuously in the early history of the county. But the advent of the Davenport &
St. Paul branch of the Chicago, Milwaukee &St. Paul railroad through Brush Creek (now Arlington), only three
miles distant, sounded the death knell of Taylorsville. Most of the buildings worth moving were hauled over to
Brush Creek, and with them most of the business people of the town. But little remains of old Taylorsville except
the beautiful site, a handsome, well-kept cemetery and one or two houses on the original town plat.
On the 8th of October, 1850, provisions were made by the county commissioners for the holding of elections in several
of the townships not previously organized into election precincts. For this purpose the board designated congressional
townships 92, range 8 (now Smithfield), and 93, range 8 (now Westfield), and 93, range 9 (now Center), as one election
precinct, to be known as Westfield. The judges of election in this territory were Stephen Ludlow, Michael Hinman
and Andrew J. Hensley, and the house of Stephen Ludlow was designated as the place to hold the first election.
Fairfield township was to include its present territory, and, in addition, the south half of Illyria township,
with Jared Taylor's as the voting place, and Daniel Finney, Henry Baker and David King as judges of the election.
West Union township was reorganized at this time, the east half of Dover being set off to that township, and the
northwest one-fourth of what is now Illyria attached to West Union for election purposes, the judges being W. P.
Cavenaugh, Henry F. Smith and Lorenzo Dutton. The election was ordered held at the house of William Wells. Pleasant
Valley township, with its present boundaries and the addition of the northeast one-fourth of Illyria, was constituted
an election precinct, with the election held at the house of Joseph Forbes, and he and John Conner and Simeon B.
Forbes were the judges. Clermont retained its boundaries as at present, but no election was called. Dover township
remained without change, and as at present organized, and the election was held at the house of Eli Elrod, who,
with Benjamin Iliff and Jacob Hoover were constituted judges of the election.
Auburn township was also reorganized at this time, and when so reorganized included all of the present townships
of Auburn and Windsor. It is not known that when attached to Hewitt township, Clayton county, Auburn ever held
an election, though it is presumed that it did so at the time of the vote on county organization. An election was
ordered, and the polling place designated at M. B. Earll's, "at a newly commenced village known by the name
of Auburn," but no judges of election were appointed for Auburn township at that time. But at the time of
reorganization an election was again ordered at the house of M. B. Earll, who, with Oliver Brown and James Austin,
were appointed judges of the election.
On the 2d of November, 1850, the commissioners ordered elections held in all of these precincts on the third Monday
in that month for the purpose of organizing into townships, as set off at the October session.
The first recorded meeting of the board of county commissioners of Fayette county was held August 26, 1850, probably
at the house of William Wells, and one of their first official acts was the establishment of four road districts,
viz: No. I, West Union township, Henry F. Smith, supervisor; No. 2, Clermont township, Chauncey Leverich, supervisor
; No. 3, Illyria township, Oliver P. Gallagher, supervisor, and NO.4, Auburn township, with Morris B. Earll as
supervisor. In addition to this, numerous other road matters were passed upon at this and succeeding meetings during
the existence of the county commissioner system.
It would seem that there was no provision for the election of a school fund commissioner when other county officers
were elected, and Joseph W. Foster was appointed to that office by the clerk of courts, prosecuting attorney and
sheriff, who assumed that as there had been no election to that office they had authority to fill the vacancy.
Then the legal question arose as to the existence of a vacancy, since no one had ever served in the office. To
provide against all contingencies the third General Assembly of the state was asked to legalize the official acts
of Mr. Foster, and his appointment was approved by that body on the 5th of February, 1851, and his official acts
made valid and binding in law.
According to the census of 1850 there was a population of eight hundred and thirty-five souls in Fayette county
when the organization was effected, and of these one hundred and two votes were cast at the first general election,
held in August, 1850. It is a reasonable presumption that a full corps of county officers were again elected at
this general election, since the la w of 1847, under the provisions of which the county was organized, so provided.
In other words, those officials elected at the organization of the counties were to serve only until the succeeding
general election. But the records of this important transaction, if ever made, have been lost or destroyed.
In April, 1851, the county commissioners voted to allow Capt. R. R. Richardson the princely sum of twenty dollars
for his services as organizing sheriff of Fayette county. But previous to this they had decreed that orders should
be issued to pay the judges and clerks of the elections held in July and August, 1850, and yet the county treasury
had no abiding place and no money. The first tax levy was made in July, 1851, at which time six mills were levied
for county purposes, three mills for state revenue, two mills for roads and one mill for school purposes. This
was the last official act of the county commissioners, the county judge system coming into operation the next month.
But previous to the final adjournment of the board of county commissioners much important business was transacted,
mostly in establishing roads and in ordering elections to select township officers and complete township organizations.
Few of the roads established at that period were laid out to correspond with congressional surveys, but meandered
along streams or on the high ground of the prairies, regardless of "right angles," and were, for the
most part, established only with a view to present needs. As the years have passed, -these were changed, where
possible, to conform to section lines, and in the prairie townships especially a road is now found on nearly every
section line. At the meeting of the board of commissioners on January 6, I8S I, six road petitions were favorably
acted upon, and "viewers" were appointed in accordance with the request of the petitioners. Francis S.
Palmer, George Smith and Samuel Holton were appointed viewers for two of these roads, which ran eastward from West
Union, via George Smith's; thence by the nearest practicable route to Simeon B. Forbes'; thence along the line
between sections 22 and 15, township 94, range 7 west; thence due east to the county line. The other road over
which these viewers had jurisdiction was to commence at the east line of the county at or near the northeast corner
of section 13, township 94, range 7 west ; thence to cross the Turkey river at the mouth of Otter creek; thence
southwest by the nearest practicable route, until it shall intersect the road leading from West Union to the county
line, this being the road described in the preceding description, and the one which established communication between
West Union and Elgin.
Another road petitioned for at this session of the board was to extend southeasterly from West Union, crossing
at the "upper ford" of the Volga and thence "by the best route to the county line toward Fort Clark."
The viewers on this route were William P. Cavanaugh, William Root and Thomas Woodle.
Petitioners asked that a road be established from Elrod's mill, running in a southeast direction "upon the
most direct route practicable, by way of Turner's, Hoover's, Hartsough's and Brunson's; thence to intersect the
road leading from West Union to McGregor's Landing, on the Mississippi river." Eli Elrod, Hiram Jackson and
H. S. Brunson were appointed viewers on this route.
Two other roads provided for at this session extended from Clermont, one by way of Elgin to the county line at
or near the northeast corner of section 24, township 94, range 7 west. The other took a southern direction from
Clermont until it reached the Turkey river, thence down the river to the section line between sections 10 and 11,
thence due south to the quarter post between sections 22 and 23, in township 94, range 7 west, thence on the best
route to J. B. Stephenson's, thence to the twelve-mile post, on the road leading from Elkader to West Union. Chauncey
Leverich, John Conner and James B. Stephenson were appointed viewers on both of these roads, with instructions
to meet and report at Clermont on the 24th day of February, I851.
It will be noticed that the principal thoroughfares of the county were established through the rougher timbered
sections, the prairie roads being established at a much later date. The topography of the county was such that
a team could be driven over the prairie districts without serious trouble, and trails were soon established between
the principal points, and so continued until the fencing of farms forced the establishment of public roads.
In later years some attention has been given to the matter of "good roads," and considerable agitation
of the question has been brought out in farmers' conventions, public speeches and in the newspapers. But, unfortunately,
the results are not yet apparent to any considerable extent, though the use of improved roads machinery has enabled
the people to accomplish much more work with the means at hand than in earlier years, while a sentiment favorable
to better roads has stimulated the workers to greater and more intelligent effort. But, except in the towns and
villages, the use of crushed rock or gravel has not been introduced as a road-builder. Turnpiking is about the
only improvement over the earth roads of earlier years, though the hollow log and "corduroy" culvert
have given place to the modern system of metallic or earthenware culverts. But the highways of Fayette county compare
favorably with those of any other agricultural county in the state, while the bridges excel most of such structures
in northeastern Iowa, The people have always been liberal in authorizing the expenditure of public money for the
common good, and there is scarcely a stream in Fayette county that is not properly bridged, many of such structures
being built according to the latest and most scientific knowledge in bridge-building. The expenditure for bridges
in the county during the ten years ending with December 3 I, 1908, was two hundred and seventy-one thousand, two
hundred and ninety-two dollars and forty-nine cents, or a yearly average of over twenty-seven thousand dollars.
The road fund provided by taxation for the year 1908 was twenty-six thousand, six hundred and eighty dollars, about
equally distributed among the twenty townships, and mostly expended for labor, tools and culvert material. In addition
to this, each of the thirteen incorporated towns and cities provide the means of working their own streets and
therein thousands of dollars are annually spent. The cement walk fad has also struck the county, and the smallest
of our incorporated towns, as well as the larger ones, are instituting a commendable rivalry in the matter of excelling
their competitors in building walks. It is to be hoped that the experimental stage will soon be passed, and that
this industry will take its place along with others of permanence and durability.
MORE EARLY SETTLERS
Mention has been made of the earliest settlers, or those who located in the county prior to 1850. But in the year
last written the population of the county increased rapidly. In 1850 there were eight hundred and twenty-five inhabitants,
and by 1851 this number had increased to one thousand, two hundred; in 1852 the population was two thousand and
sixty-five; in 1854 it was five thousand and forty-two; in 1855 it had grown to eight thousand, two hundred and
seventy-five, while in 1859 there were eleven thousand, three hundred and one. It is evident that this rapid increase
in population stimulated industrial progress and added a new impetus to general progression. Land entries increased
with the increase in population, churches and schools were organized, mills were built and roads established to
accommodate the people. By the year 1859 the first comers were considered "old settlers," and it is true
that none of their later followers endured the hardships and privations of the earliest pioneers.
It would be impossible at this late date to record the names of all who became residents of Fayette county during
the early years of settlement; and if, in an effort to do so, any are omitted, the reader will kindly consider
the magnitude of the task, and not attribute the omission to any desire to be unfair or discriminating in the selection
of names. From 1850 until 1860, nine-tenths of the land in Fayette county open to settlement was entered at the
government price of one dollar and twenty-five cents. an acre. But much of it was entered by speculators and considerable
on land warrants issued to soldiers of the Mexican war. The latter usually was occupied by actual settlers, but
the speculators-then, as now-held the land for the rise in value, and for a long period of years controlled some
of the most valuable timber lands in the county. The only recourse which the actual settlers had upon them was
in levying high road taxes against such property, the settlers in almost all cases paying their own road taxes
in labor, the prices for which were fixed in accord with the five-mill levy (that being the highest limit), while
the non-resident speculator paid in cash. Undoubtedly this system of levying road taxes brought some hardships
to the settlers who sought, in later years, to buy this "speculator land," since through their own manipulations
a fictitious value had been established.
The population of the county was considerably augmented during the year 1850, and we will give the names of those
who came during that period, with the explanation that we do not consider them any more entitled to this distinction
than those who came a few months later, or in any period of the early fifties. But since it is impossible to mention
all the early settlers of a later period than 1850, We must be content to give the record of those who have become
identified with the county's history in later years.
Samuel Holton first settled in Illyria township, where he was township clerk, assessor and, for a brief. period,
postmaster. He moved to West Union more than forty years ago, and was engaged in the hardware business with H.
B. Hoyt for many years. He finally engaged in the grocery business alone, and continued in that line until he retired,
a short time before his death. Mr. Holton's wife, who was Mary Strong, came to the county at the same time Mrs.
Dutton came, and died in Ohio soon after the death of her husband, who died in West Union. A brother of Mrs. Holton,
Charles W. Strong, a very early pioneer of Illyria, owns the same farm he has occupied for more than forty-five
years. Like his neighbor, "Uncle" Robert H. May, he is, one of the few survivors of the pioneer period,
and a citizen of more than ordinary usefulness in his day. [R. H. May died since the above was written.]
Harrison Butler ("Elder Butler," as he was better known) settled on the farm in Westfield, where his
life was spent. He reared a large family, all of whom, we believe, except Mrs. B. W. Finch and Joseph Butler, now
living in West Union, were born in this county, and the survivors still live here.
Elisha Hartsough first settled in Dover township, but soon removed to Center, where he resided for many years.
He died in Fayette. He was the father of Rev. William Hartsough, of whom more extended notice is given in the military
chapter.
John T. Hanna settled on a farm in Westfield township, but most of his life in the county was spent in the hotel
business in West Union, Fayette and elsewhere.
Samuel H. Robertson was among the earliest settlers in Fayette and built the first frame house on the village plat,
though some four years before the town was platted. Mr. Robertson was one of the founders of the Upper Iowa. University,
as appears more fully in the article on that subject. He died in Fayette in 1899.
Rev. Harvey S. Brunson was one of the most useful and active men of his time. He came to this county in 1850 and
settled on a claim north of West Union, where he remained until 1864. In that year he moved to Fayette and remained
an honored resident of that town until his death. He was a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church from 1840
until his book of life was closed. He served the church in every capacity assigned to the pioneer minister, and
rounded out nearly sixty-five years of very active work, not alone in the church, but in various official capacities,
to which he brought a high degree of intelligence and capability. He served a term in the State Senate, beginning
in 1863, that most trying period in the history of the nation. He was an honored member of the county board of
supervisors for a number of years, and served the people in various capacities of lesser importance, but always
with that unwavering fidelity which characterized his entire life. He reared a family in whom any parent could
justly feel a commendable pride. The family residence was moved to Fayette in 1864 that the children might have
the advantages of higher education, as afforded by the Upper Iowa University, of which 1\1r. Brunson was a trustee
for many years. He attained a ripe old age, having celebrated his ninetieth birthday on May 10, 1904, and was then
in the full possession of all his faculties. He preached an eloquent sermon on the Sunday following, from Hebrews
ii :10. The death of this venerable pioneer occurred at his home in Fayette, December 8, 1905.
William Morras, a native of England, located in Illyria township in 1850, on the farm which subsequently was purchased
by the county for a poor-farm. This title, however, was a "misnomer," in that it was, and is today, one
of the best farms in the township. Mr. Morras removed to Westfield township, where he owned and operated the Homewod
farm until some time in the seventies, when he sold out and went to the Pacific coast, where he died.
Remembrance Lippincott located just east of West Union and remained here for many years. "The old Lippincott
farm" is an accurate designation of the locality, even at the present day, and is fully understood by the
younger generation.
James Holmes first located, temporarily, in Dover township, but entered land a mile south of West Union, and owned
his original entry until his death. He was a soldier during the Civil war, serving three years in the Sixth Iowa
Cavalry. His death occurred in West Union, where his widow and some of his children still live.
C. C. Finch, of Fayette, was an early settler in Illyria, but does not come within the 1850 list, though his wife
does. She was Miss Sarah Gibbon.
B. W. Finch, late of West Union, a cousin of the above, came to the county in 1857 and was a pioneer teacher until
the Civil war, when he enlisted in the Thirty-eighth Iowa Regiment and served three years. He married Mary E. Butler,
daughter of the pioneer, Harrison Butler, and she came to the county with her parents in 1850. Mr. Finch was a
man of sterling integrity and upright character. For many years he was in the grocery business in West Union, and
also served a number of years as justice of the peace. A more complete sketch of him appears elsewhere in this
work.
Mrs. Abba J. Cullen, Mrs. Roxena Smith, N. W. Butler (another family of Butlers), J. T. Bishop, John Burke, L.
C. Phillips, Chauncey Smith and H. C. Martin were all among the arrivals in 1850. Several of these are still living
in the county, and all have left their impress as early pioneers.
John R. Cook, son of Daniel Cook, who opened the first mercantile establishment in West Union, and commenced the
building of the first hotel, the "United States House," came with the parental family and has been a
continuous resident of West Union since. For many years he was associated with John Owens in the stock and implement
business, but during the last eight or ten years he has been special excursion agent for the Chicago, Milwaukee
& St. Paul Railroad Company. In these various capacities Mr. Cook came in contact with people from every locality
in this and adjoining counties, and is probably the most generally known of any man in Fayette county.
George L. Whitely and his family came in this year, and his sons, Fred, Henry and George, are still well known
residents of the county.
Oscar W. Rogers, son of Hon. J. W. Rogers, was born in West Union, in October, 1850, and became a lawyer of some
prominence in his native county. But he retired from the profession and engaged in other lines of business, in
the prosecution of which he was called to other cities. For a number of years he was located in New York, where
he was interested as a promoter of some mechanical devices in railroading and electrical appliances. Just as success
seemed within his grasp he was called from earth, in the prime of life and apparent good health.
Another native of the county, born in 1850, is Robert L. Newton, of Arlington. He is a son of P. F. Newton, who
came to the county in 1846.
Joseph McGee, a veteran of the Mexican war, entered land in Westfield township in 1850, and has remained there
to the present. He served under Capt. Zach. Taylor, afterward President of the United States, and was with General
Scott at the capture of the city of Mexico. He participated in five engagements, in one of which he was wounded,
and draws a pension for resulting disabilities; but in later years all veterans of that war were- granted pensions,
regardless of disabilities. G. H. Thomas, late of West Union, and an early pioneer merchant, was also a veteran
of the Mexican war.
James A. Iliff is another native of the county who was born in 1850, and enjoys the distinction of being the first
white child born in Dover township. His father, Benjamin Iliff, located there in 1849, and was the first settler
near Eldorado. The land which he entered at that time has never been transferred but once. James Iliff has spent
most of his mature years in West Union, where he owns a pleasant home and a small farm. He served several years
as a constable, and is recognized as an aggressive temperance worker. For a number of years he was engaged in the
pump and wind-mill business, but now gives his attention to fire insurance. His son, Ben Iliff, is deputy state
dairy commissioner , while another son, Royal, is a mail carrier on a rural route out of West Union. His son, Earle,
is a student in electrical engineering and surveying under the tuition of his uncle, J. N. Iliff, another pioneer
of this county.
The Brooks family in Fairfield township was a numerous and prominent one in early days, coming to the county in
1847. The last one of the original family was Nelson, who sold out and removed to Oklahoma a few years ago, after
a residence of fifty-five years near his old parental home. All the older members of this family have died or removed
from the county, though a few of the younger generations remain to perpetuate the name.
Sylvester Underwood and wife came to the county in 1850, the former being prominently identified with the early
history of the Fayette County Agricultural Society, and with the social and political affairs of Clermont, where
the family home was maintained for a great many years. "Squire" Underwood was a resident of the county
for more than half a century, and was well and favorably known. Both he and his wife died in Clermont.
James George came in 1850, and located in Dover township, where he lived until his retirement a few years before
his death, when he moved to West Union, where both he and his wife died in advanced old age. Their son, Henry C.
George, lost his life at the battle of Shiloh. They then adopted an infant whom they named for the lost son, and
who now owns and operates the old parental homestead in Dover township. See personal sketch of Henry George. Mrs.
George was, in maidenhood, Sarah A. Albright, and in her youth became the wife of John W. Cooley, with whom she
came to this county in 18so, and located on a claim in Pleasant Valley township, about two miles from Elgin. There
Mr. Cooley died, Their son, the late James C. Cooley, of Elgin, accompanied his parents, the family coming from
near La Porte, Indiana. James C. Cooley was a member of Company H, Thirty-eighth Iowa Infantry, and served three
years in the Civil war. He died in Elgin a few years ago. Mrs. James George was a sister of Rev. William K. and
John O. Albright, who located in the northeast corner of Illyria township in 1854, and remained there until they
died, both being well advanced in years. Rev. William K. Albright was an early minister of the Methodist Episcopal
denomination, and his son, Rev. W. F. Albright, has served a number of years as a missionary in China.
William Harper came to this county in 1850, and six years later located on the farm which is known to this day
as "the Harper place." He and his wife, who was Elizabeth Cruzan, reared a large family of children,
some of whom still reside in the county, while several have died and others removed to other localities. Both Mr.
and Mrs. Harper died on the farm which was the family home for many years.
John Knox, a native of Ireland, came to West Union in 1850 and resided on a farm near by until the infirmities
of old age compelled his retirement. Both he and his wife died in West Union in advanced old age.
E. N. Phillips is a man well remembered by all early settlers of the county, and one of whom it may be truthfully
said "he gave his life for his country." He came to this county in 1850. In 1862 he enlisted as a member
of Company H, Eighteenth Iowa Infantry, and received a wound on the 8th of January, 1863, at Springfield, Missouri,
from the effects of 'which he never recovered.' Being discharged by reason of the resultant disability, he returned
to West Union and was commissioned postmaster, a position he held until his death, though he died in Colorado,
where he had gone in hopes of recovering his health. His widow, who was Emma Cox, and a daughter of an early pioneer,
Thomas Cox, still resides in West Union, true to the name and memory of her soldier husband. But one of their three
children, Everett M., is now a resident of the county. He married the daughter, and only child, of another early
settler and patriot who lost his life in the Civil war. This was Milo Lacy, who enlisted from West Union, and whose
death occurred three years after his discharge, from disabilities incurred in service. His wife, who in maidenhood
was Jennie E. Hines, is another faithful war widow who still cherishes the name and memory of her soldier-husband.
She spent her earlier years as a teacher in the public schools of the county, in which profession she attained
an enviable reputation as a successful and popular educator. During her many years in the school room she not only
reared and educated her only child, Anna Lacy, but also laid aside the nucleus to a pleasant and valuable home
in West Union, where the family now lives. Miss Anna became the wife of Everett M. Phillips, of whom mention is
made above.
Joseph W. Foster came with his wife, who was Aurilla Griffith, on the 4th of July, 1850. Mr. Foster was the first
school fund commissioner in the county, and was otherwise prominent in the organization period. His wife survived
him many years.
F. S. Palmer was an early merchant in Clermont, He also served several years as county surveyor, and was often
employed as a viewer of proposed roads, his knowledge of surveying giving him special qualifications in this respect.
Edwin Stedman came from Ohio to Clermont in 1850, and was an early hardware merchant there, in which business he
continued for many years. It is said that his wife was the first school teacher in Clermont, and however that may
be, it is known that she was among the first. Her death occurred in 1862. Edwin Stedman was an honored member of
the board of supervisors under the old system of electing one member from each township, and served on the board
during nearly the entire period covered by that system.
Andrew Martin was another "Buckeye" who came to Clermont in 1850.
He was a farmer and mechanic. His wife, who was Alvesta Sawyer, came the same year as Mr. Martin, though they were
married in Fayette county.
John Phillips came from Illinois and settled on a farm near West Union. He was a native of Muskingum county, Ohio,
and was married there, in 1832, to Mary Reeve, who came here with him in 1850. Both he and his wife died on the
land upon which they settled.
The Rosier family was among the early settlers of West Union township. There were three brothers who were best
known in the county, Jacob K., George N. and Frank P. They came from Logan county, Ohio, and soon became identified
with the best interests of early-day farming. All removed from the county within comparatively recent years. Lawrence
Rosier was born in Clayton county in 1850, and accompanied his parents to this county the same year. He is the
eldest son of Jacob K. Rosier, and is a prosperous farmer and stock raiser in the county at present.
A. C. South came to Fayette county in 1849 and lived on his farm near West Union during his remaining years of
life. He and his wife, who was Anceline Billings, reared a family of eleven children. Mr. South served two terms
as deputy sheriff of the county. Dr. J. H. Stafford and wife brought their family to "Vest Union in 1850 and
the Doctor built and kept the first public house in the town. His son, D. C., came with his parents and is today
numbered among the few surviving settlers of that period. He lives in West Union, where his father lived to a ripe
old age and died here. Palmer F. Newton, before mentioned in connection with mention of R. L. Newton, of Arlington,
came to this county November 11, 1847, and lived on his farm near Arlington (formerly Brush Creek) until his death,
in advanced old age. He was one of the organizers of Fairfield township, and the family has been prominently identified
with educational affairs in the county, at least three or his children being successful teachers in the public
schools.
Killen Voshell settled in this county in 1848. He married Thankful Perkins, a representative of another pioneer
family in the vicinity of Brush Creek, and reared a family of six children, most of whom still reside in the vicinity
of their birthplace.
John McMillan, late of Elgin, but for many years a prosperous farmer in Illyria township, came to Iowa on a prospecting
tour in 1850, but did not bring his family here until the next year. He located on the northwest quarter of section
5, and entered the land at Dubuque. He brought his family from Janesville, Wisconsin, in a wagon drawn by four
yoke of oven, having also the necessary appliances for commencing the work of opening up a new farm, which was
mostly timber land. At this time there was but one house between McMillan's and Elkader, a distance of some fifteen
miles. John McMillan thus became one of the first settlers in northern Illyria, and in point of usefulness and
prominence so continued during his long sojourn in that locality. One of the early post offices of the county was
located at his house, on a route established between Independence and McGregor, and a brother of the writer carried
the mails between these points across the trackless prairies of Buchanan and Fayette counties. The motive power
was a small mule named Bob, and Bob and Eli became well known to the patrons on the route, and were eagerly looked
for as the only means of communication with the outside world. During the first year of the Civil war the people
used to line up along the road and interrogate the boy as to the "war news," but the next year he enlisted
and went to the front to assist in making "war news," and Bob and the mail pouch became the charges of
another. Mr. McMillan has told the writer that many times he feared the delicate boy would be unable to withstand
the rigors of an old-time Iowa winter, but he always was "on time."
During the later years of his life John McMillan and his son, Henry, owned and operated the lime kilns west of
Elgin, but the father retired from active labors some time before his death in 1908. John McMillan is authority
for the statement that there were but three hundred voters in Fayette county in the fall of 1851, divided as follows:
One hundred and seventy-five Whigs and one hundred and twenty-five Democrats.
It is not assumed that the foregoing is a complete record of all the pioneers who settled in Fayette county in
1850, but further mention will be given, not only of that class, but of other early settlers and prominent people,
in connection with the township and village histories. This is considered the more rational method, since it cannot
be assumed that the bare fact that a family settled here on a definite date supersedes in importance the achievements
of a later comer, whose life record is indelibly fixed as a part of Fayette
county history.
We will therefore conclude this chapter and reserve for another a few reminiscences of pioneer days, characteristic
of the times, and relate further personal experiences in connection with the history of the towns and townships
where the participants were located. Of the first of these attention is called to a land-hunting trip of our venerable
ex-governor, who relates his experiences in his own terse and comprehensive manner. The article first appeared
in the "Annals of Iowa," in 1893, and is republished here with the permission of Mr. Larrabee. It is
entitled, "Lost in a Snow Storm."
©2008 Genealogy Trails
|
