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Historical Information on Henry County, Iowa
SALEM
The village of Salem is pleasantly located in the southwest corner of Henry County. In the center of the town is a beautiful public square, containing a number of shade-trees, around which is built the principal business portion of the town. Its inhabitants are industrious, thrifty and highly moral, and the educational and religious institutions receive much attention, and are well sustained. It is known throughout the State as an educational center, and Whittier College which is located there, has a reputation second to no institution of learning in Iowa. The mercantile and other business interests are in a prosperous condition.
Aaron Street, Jr., and Peter Boyer laid off the village of Salem, on March 30, 1839.
The first people who came and settled at this point were R. W. Joy, R. F. Joy, Peter Boyer, Aaron Street, Jr., Isaac Pigeon, William Pigeon, D. W. Henderson, J. H. Pickering, Henderson Lewelling, William Lewelling, Peter Hobson, John W. Frazier.
Peter Boyer kept the first hotel, and John Bell the first store.
Gideon Frazier was the first physician.
The first Postmaster was Aaron Street, Jr.
A Mr. Schafer and Elizabeth Dunham were the first couple married.
Salem today has a population of, perhaps, eight hundred people. The vote cast at this precinct is a little over 300.
There are in the place nine general stores, two drug stores, two hotels, three shoe stores, two harness shops, two tin and hardware stores, one cabinet and furniture establishment, two wagon shops, three blacksmith shops, and one livery stable.
There was once a flour-mill here. It was built in 1863, by J. H. & A. H. Pickering, who run it until 1876. The machinery was afterward moved to Donald Station, in Lee County.
The town was incorporated in 1840, and a renewal of the charter was granted in 1860. But there are no books to show who were the first city officers, neither whose names have composed the list of succeeding ones. Neither does the memory of the citizens furnish these facts.
THE LODGES
Salem has two Lodges. These constitute the benevolent institutions of the place.
Salem Lodge, No. 48, I. O. O. F., was organized in 1853. The charter members were: C. V. Arnold, N. G.; Lloyd Chambers, V. G.; Richard Spurrier, Joe Chambers, William Johnson, Samuel Smith, C. M. McDowell and J. S. Bartruff.
Salem Lodge, No. 17, A. F. & A. M., is in a thriving condition.
RELIGIOUS
The Society of Friends is the oldest religious denomination at Salem. The first meetings were held in 1837. Meetings were carried on at the private houses of the citizens, until the year 1840, when the society built a church, the Rev. Thomas Frazier being the first minister. The society erected a brick church in 1853, which lasted them until 1867, when it was moved to the lot now occupied by Whittier College, and made to serve as a beginning for that institution. A new frame church was built in 1876 and is now occupied.
Next in age to the Society of Friends is the Methodist denomination, organized in 1840. A log church was soon built, and was not replaced by a more commodious building until 1855. The building yet serves.
The Congregational society was organized about twenty-five years ago, at which time they erected a churchy the same one being used at the present time.
The Baptists organized a society here twenty-five years ago and continued worship in rented buildings until 1873, when a church was put up.
A Universalist society was organized here twenty-five years ago. In 1873, D. W. Henderson purchased a house in which the society held meetings one year, when a windstorm demolished the building. This disaster seemed to throw a dampening spirit about the society, for since that time they have held no meetings.
THE SCHOOLS
The first schools of Salem were held as early as one year after the town was settled, and the private houses accommodated the scholars. This system continued until 1853, when a dwelling-house was purchased and turned into a schoolhouse. Fifteen years ago a public schoolhouse, containing four rooms, was built. The roll contains the names of 200 scholars.
WHITTIER COLLEGE
The Society of Friends (Orthodox) at Salem united with others and formed an association for the purpose of erecting and establishing an institution of learning with all the powers of an academical character usually exercised by colleges.
The Friends having a sincere admiration of the life and character of the Quaker poet, John G. Whittier, and desiring in some proper manner to manifest their appreciation of his services to the cause of freedom and humanity, and believing that the association of his name with an institution of learning would tend to impress the minds of students with the philanthropic and humane principles which have directed his life, it was decided to call the college by his name.
The college association was duly incorporated the 17th of May, 1867, by the following corporators: Harvey Derbyshire, John H. Pickering, Isaac T. Gibson, Henry Dorland, Eric Knudson, Amos McMillan, A. B. Marsh and John M. Corsbie.
To manage the business of the Association, the following Board of Directors was chosen: Isaac T. Gibson, John M. Corsbie, John H. Pickering, Jonathan Votaw, Henry Dorland, James E. Bailey, L. M. Pickering, George Hartley, Peter Holson, Wheeler Davis, Samuel Comes, Enoch Beard, Eric Kundson, Matthew Trueblood and J. E. Pickering.
The Board organized by electing John H. Pickering, President; Isaac T. Gibson, Secretary, and Eric Knudson, Treasurer.
The Friends kindly offered the use of the upper story of their large brick church, handsomely located in the suburbs of the town, which was fitted up and furnished for the reception of students. The first term was opened the 20th of April, 1868, by Prof. John W. Woody and Mrs. Mary C. Woody, Principals of the male and female departments, whose energy and industry made the college an assured success.
They were succeeded, in 1872, by C. C. Pickett and Miss Anna E. Packer, and in 1874, by D. S. Wright and J. B. Wright. In 1875, the attendance of students was so large that it was necessary to provide more accommodations for them. The college had been sustained thus far, mainly by a few liberal Friends in and near Salem. The Board obtained the services of Elwood Ozbun (a Quaker minister) to solicit assistance among wealthy Friends in the East, with some success. Subsequently, Miss Hannah Beard was employed to canvass in the same field and also at home, with gratifying success. The Board purchased the church of the Friends, remodeling and fitting up the building in convenient apartments for school purposes.
In payment, the Board built for the Friends a new church near by, better adapted to their needs.
Valuable additions were now made to the library, the American and Chambers' Cyclopaedias and other standard works of reference. Whittier and others made handsome donations of valuable books.
Rare and valuable specimens, by gift and otherwise, were made to the cabinet, and to the chemical and philosophical apparatus. The number of students in attendance was 125. William P. Clark and E. P. Griffin assumed charge in 1876, and continued two years.
The Faculty at present are: Miss L. L. Homey, Principal, and Prof. C. F. Wahrer, Levi Gregory and T. F. Price.
We should name, in connection with these different managers, some of the teachers who have done good work in their respective departments, and are entitled to a share of the honor of building up such an institution as Whittier now is, to wit: L. D. Lewelling, H. H. Pidgeon, Barclay T. Trueblood, Mrs. Sarah Wahrer and B. F. Stowe.
The Institution has had its trials, but there has been no intermission in its work, and, beside the regular sessions, it has generally held a Normal term during the summer.
The first class graduated in 1871. The whole number of graduates is forty-seven, who may be found, with many others of Whittier students, not only pursuing the plainer duties of life, but honoring the various learned professions, and as missionaries and teachers in the South among the freedmen; in the Territories, among the Indians, and on the Pacific Coast with the Chinese.
There are five literary societies connected with the Institution; two are sustained by the males, one by the females and two by the males and females together.
The teaching in the College is not sectarian, but with a view to establish the student in an evangelical faith, impressing principles rather than forms of religion.
The history of the college may be gathered by the following extract from a report made in 1875:
The Whittier College Association was incorporated the 18th of Fifth month, 1867, to establish and maintain at Salem, Henry Co., Iowa, an institution of learning with all the powers of an academical character usually exercised by colleges, to be conducted according to the principles of the Society of Friends, and open alike to all who will conform to its rules and regulations.
The zeal and determination manifested by the teachers, patrons and friends are taken as satisfactory evidence that it will continue to be self-sustaining. In the past we have been much favored by receiving donations for the library and cabinet from our friends, John G. Whittier, William P. Wood, John Harvey, J. H. Pickering, Reuben Johnson, Obadiah Brown, and others.
It is our purpose, with the continued favor of Divine Providence, to do in the future as we have done in the past—make each succeeding term more profitable and attractive to the student, and keep pace with the growth of general intelligence.
Those who may desire to aid the institution in its struggle for means to increase its usefulness, can do so in the following ways: By sending us students; by sending us contributions for our cabinet; by direct donations; by legacies; by circulating our catalogues and diffusing information concerning the school; but above all, by their prayers that we may be kept faithful to the teachings of Jesus Christ.
The prosperity of the institution during the past school year, has been unexampled in its history. During the winter term of '75, the study and recitation rooms were crowded to their utmost capacity. In view of this fact, the Board of Directors anticipating a still increased attendance during the coming year, have secured the entire building in which the college is conducted, which they propose to remodel and adapt to uses of the institution. This arrangement by which the capacity of the building will be more than doubled, will be completed by the commencement of the winter term.
Whittier College is handsomely situated in the suburbs of the town, and is approached by railroad, via Mount Pleasant, the county seat; thence by daily coach, ten miles south; and is one of the most moral, temperate and healthy towns in the State, and is surrounded by a community of like character.
The following compose the present corps of teachers: Lizzie L. Horney, A. B., Principal, Metaphysics, Ancient Languages and Didactics; C. F. Wahrer, B. S., Higher Mathematics and Natural Sciences; Theodore F. Price, Prof. Rhetoric, Elocution and English Literature; Levi Gregory, B. S., Bookkeeping, Commercial Law and Commercial Correspondence. Competent assistants in common branches are secured.
The Board have managed the finances with marked economy, doing more with a few hundreds than many colleges have with thousands of dollars. One secret of their success has been to avoid involving the institution in debt, which is a rare virtue among college managers. The founders have no doubt but Whittier will take her place among the first colleges of the United States.
The names of the present Board of Directors are as follows: John M. Corsbie, Moses Votaw, A. K. Trueblood, L. D. Lewelling, Mrs. Anna M. Gibson, J. H. Pickering, Henry Dorland, Isaac T. Gibson, Enoch Beard, William S. Hockett, William Davis, William Marshall, Levi Gregory, Joseph Ozbun and Mrs. Gurlana Beard.
Officers: J. H. Pickering, President; Isaac T. Gibson, Secretary; Henry Dorland, Treasurer; Levi Gregory, Corresponding Secretary.
Standing committees for 1878-79: Committee on Finance, William Davis, Chairman; Building Committee, W. S. Hockett, Chairman; Teachers' Committee, Levi Gregory, Chairman; Committee on Library, Anna M. Gibson, Chairman; Committee on Books and Apparatus, Joseph Ozbun, Chairman; Auditing Committee, Moses Votaw, Chairman.
An idea of the method of government may be gained by the following regulations:
Motto—He conquers most who conquers himself.
“Entering the school as a pupil or teacher is regarded as giving a sacred pledge to make an earnest and faithful endeavor to comply with and sustain the following requisitions: Regular attendance; promptitude; decorum; courtesy: no unnecessary noise; no communication; no immorality; no games of chance. Students are not to visit each others' rooms during study hours, 7 to 9 P. M. They are also expected to be in their rooms for the night by 10 o'clock P. M."
The average attendance upon this institution is about one hundred scholars. There were one hundred and twenty-five during one term.
MISCELLANEOUS
Robert Russell, the stage-driver, whose route lies between Salem and Mount Pleasant, and who resides at the former-named place, has achieved a distinction which may here be recorded. He has driven over the route every day for the past sixteen years, and those trips have amounted to twice the distance around the world.
Henderson and William Lewelling, of this place, started the first nursery, and their sprouts have been distributed to such an extent as to furnish the entire county with trees. Theirs was the sole supply-nursery for many years.
Underground Railroads
The most important event that ever transpired in the southeast corner of Henry County, and of which Salem was the cradle and her citizens the nurses, was the outbreak in 1848, between June 5 and 8, and caused by the hiding away of slaves by the Salem people, the blacks belonging to Rural Daggs, of Clarke County, Mo.
Nineteen slaves belonging to Rural Daggs made up their minds they would escape, and knowing that the spirit of the freedom loving Quaker people was in opposition to the chain and lash, they concluded to start for Salem and pray for succor and secretion.
The negroes got as far as Farmington on Saturday night, and by Sunday morning they had reached the Salem timber. The planters over the line having learned of the escape of the slaves, made up a small party and started in pursuit of them. This fact coming to the ears of those who had shouldered the task of aiding the slaves to escape, the former advised the slaves to hide in the timber southwest of Salem. They did this, remaining there two or three days, during which time great baskets of bread and provisions were smuggled to the forest where lay the negroes, by the good people of Salem. Chief among those who fed the slaves were John H. Pickering and wife. The latter baked the bread and after nightfall her husband would carry it to the wood. "Auntie, why does thee bake so many loaves?" the neighbors would ask. "Well, thee knows I have many in my family to feed," would be the evasive reply. And thus the secret did not leak out.
Perhaps all would have gone smoothly and the slaves accomplished a successful escape, had not three of the party been so indiscreet as to leave the shades of the forest, and show themselves within the borders of the town. Their presence was made known by some one living at Salem, who was in sympathy with the planters. The sympathizers met the planters below the town, and communicated the fact stated. The planters immediately returned to the vicinity where lived Rural Daggs, and started the report that the slaves were being cared for by the Salem people, and, that in order to capture the fugitives it would be necessary to raise a force of men, proceed to the town and surround it.
On their way to Salem, the planters entered the office of Esquire Gibbs, at Hillsboro, and swore out blank warrants for the arrest of certain Salem people, on the charge of fostering, aiding and abetting the escape and seclusion of Rural Dagg's slaves. The planters, armed with these warrants, rode into town, and forming themselves into divisions, proceeded to the business of searching the houses. To this mode of procedure some of the citizens objected, while others freely threw open their doors and bade the planters enter and seek.
One of the objectors was Henry W. Way. When the planters came to his house he said to them, having set a ladder up to the window of the loft: "You may go up if you wish, gentlemen. There are three negroes hidden away in that loft. But mind you, it is risky business to make an attempt to carry out the search. The first man who touches a rung of that ladder is in danger of his life." And at the same time he drew a pistol and defied the crowd. "I am armed, gentlemen," he continued, "with enough of these little instruments to make just thirteen holes in your flesh." The planters gave up their search of Mr. Way's house, and departed on their rounds.
Not being successful in their search for slaves, the planters now set out to carry into force that power and authority vested in them by the blank warrants. They arrested John H. Pickering, T. Clarkson Frazier, Erick Knudson, Elihu Frazier, Isaac C. Frazier, John Comer and a few others. These they confined in a hotel, where they were kept during the night. A strong guard was placed around the hotel, and about 10 o'clock the next morning the citizens were released on their own recognizance. Suits for damages were finally instituted, and the planters in time recovered judgment.
But of the slaves. Only a few of them were ever captured, and it was partly on this ground that the damages were allowed.
During the excitement, a number of men on horseback rode into Salem to aid the citizens, but the final return home of the planters avoided bloodshed. Sheriff W. S. Viney was also sent for, and perhaps his coming helped quiet the ruffled spirits of the slave-owners.
There were some interesting incidents connected with this so-called "Underground Railroad."
A reward of $500 each was offered for the heads of Ely Jessup and Joel Garretson. These were supposed by the planters to have been the main instigators of the plan to escape. Jessup was secreted in a potato-hole, while Garretson was hid at his house.
Dr. Harris had in his possession a colored woman whom he desired to escape before the Missourians should have searched the houses. He, therefore, clothed her head in a long, drab Quaker bonnet, tied a veil over her face, handed her into his buggy, and drove through town unmolested by the entire band of planters, whom he passed on the way, they thinking the woman his grandmother.
It is charged that E. Frazier, through the excitement, leaped on his horse and started toward Denmark on a dead run. A saddle belonging to Mr. Maddocks, was hanging over a fence-post on the road he was obliged to pass. Frazier noticed the saddle was being swung round and round by the wind, and thinking the object was the head of a Missourian, he put the spurs to his horse and rode into Denmark crying, "Hell fire ! Hell fire!" This is vouched for by the Salem people as a fact.
The Denmark people, when they rode into town, had all, with the exception of one man, managed to trim their horses' saddles and bridles with red flannel. To complete the horse-uniform, this man doffed a vest he had borrowed, and, tearing the back of it into strips, bound them about the straps and girdle.
Among the arrested ones was Clarkson Frazier. When being marched to the guardhouse, he made a special request of Mr. Pickering's daughter to tell his wife to be sure and change the name of his child to that of its father (Clarkson) as he might never again see his family. In his excitement, he had forgotten that the child was a girl.
A short time previous to this date and the event already mentioned, a like attempt at escape was made by slaves, but the ending of the effort was closely akin to the one narrated.
[The History of Henry Co., Iowa, 1879]
Submitted by Cathy Danielson
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