Yale University Library

I nr\

JO.

YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

Purchased from the income
of the bequest of
WILLIAM ROBERTSON COE
Honorary M.A. 1949, for
material in the field
of American Studies.

Bremer

COL. W. V. LUCAS
Santa Cruz, Calif.
county pioneer, whose letters
book possible.

made this

PIONEER DAYS
o| Bremer County, Iowa

Compiled from Letters to The Waverly Democrat
by COL. W. V. LUCAS
Santa Cruz, Cal.
Appended by
HARRY HAZLETT
L. C. OBERDORF
H. B. MILLER

JUNE, 1918
WAVERLY DEMOCRAT
Waverly, Iowa

INTRODUCTION
THIS VOLUME, Pioneer Days and History of Bremer County,
Iowa, was made possible through a series of letters which
were written by Col. W. V. Lucas, of Santa Cruz, California,
and published in the Waverly Democrat, but without any thought by
the writer that they would be published in book form. Col. Lucas,
a pioneer of Bremer county, and a man well posted on the lives of
the people and conditions during the early days of the county, was
asked by the editor of the Democrat to furnish this paper a story
of the early settlers, knowing that it would be of great interest to
its readers. Col. Lucas complied with this request, the first letter
' appearing in June, 1917, with weekly installments thereafter up to
January, 1918. These letters were intensely interesting, and before
the series was completed the publishers of the Democrat conceived
the idea of issuing them in book form, so that much valuable history,
which they contained, would be preserved for future generations.
But, as stated, the writer having no thought of these being published
other than as newspaper articles, did not confine himself to routine
dates, but merely selected incidents concerning the most important
events of pioneer days of the county.
For the arrangement of these articles there is no apology to
be made. While they are probably not in the order in which the
writer would have arranged them, had he known they were to be
published in book form, they contain historic facts that will be
interesting and valuable to the present and future generations.
Thus was Pioneer Days in Bremer County brought about.
Following the letters of Col. Lucas, Harry Hazlett, another
pioneer of the county, now living in Sioux Falls, S. D., contributed
a series of articles for the Democrat, dealing with early settlers,
and these are embodied in this volume. Mr. Hazlett possesses a fund
of knowledge both as to the early settlers and their lives, and his
contribution will lend strength to the book.
L. C. Oberdorf, of Waverly, a pioneer settler of the county, and
a man who possesses a thorough knowledge of conditions during
the early days and down to the present time, has contributed a series
of articles which, when interwoven with the biographical sketches
of the pioneers, makes this book complete. No better or more

competent person than Mr. Oberdorf could have been secured for
compiling this data, for his statements are based on facts which
he looked up carefully.
This introduction would not be complete without mentioning the
chapter by H. B. Miller, of Waverly, who has written interestingly
of people with whom he was closely associated and of his experiences
of early days. THE PUBLISHERS.
June, 1918.

COL. W. V. LUCAS WRITES OF THINGS ALMOST
UNKNOWN TO THE PRESENT
GENERATION.
AS VERY MUCH delighted to receive your
letter, which told me of the good time and
success of the Old Settlers' Meeting at
Waverly. I realize what a treat I missed
by being absent. My mind and heart were
with you all the day, and all that kept me
from being present in person was a cir
cumstance over which I had no control.
It was my loss, and goes into the budget
of disappointments that come to us in
life's journey. In fancy I can see the
large crowd of old settlers gathered on the square in front of the
old court house, enjoying a reunion such as comes on such an occasion.
I congratulate them, that they had such a pleasant time and got
away safely, for I feared the old ramshackle court house might take
a tumble down the hill, and bury the whole caboodle of old settlers in a
bunch. For sixty years it has stood in majestic silence as a monument
to the honesty of its construction. It is made of native material of
Bremer county, the timber cut from her forests, the brick from Lorenz
Selbig's yard on top of the hill, near where your father (Theodore
Hullman) owned and operated one of the first stores established in
Waverly. (It was in that store I first met your father and mother, in
April, 1856.) The lime came from a kiln up the river, north of town.
The architect was Capt. Hinkley F. Beebe; the contractor and builder
were George W. LeValley and H. F. Beebe; the brick-layers were
three or a trinity of Georges — George Corey, George W. Briggs and
George G. Evans, three master workmen whose hands never forgot
their cunning, when doing a job with brick and mortar. The car
penter work was done by Sam Geddes, whose skill and genius as a
prince in wood work was never excelled by any manipulator of the
plane in Waverly. The only weak spot in Sam was his devotion to
the god Bacchus, as dispensed by Dow Hinton from a jug and tin
cup. Sam was ably supported in his work by "Mayor" Wood, who
was the equal of the master workman in skill and speed, and who
at a later date became a soldier in the old and gallant Third Iowa
Infantry. My recollection is that he lived thru the war, but never
came back to Waverly. Another thoro workman on the court house
was William Reeser, who some years later returned to Pennsylvania,
his native state. Roswell Keith and W. R. Hillis, and perhaps some
others worked on the job. George Corey and George W. Briggs did
the plastering. Sam Geddes made the seats and built the stairs.
J. H. Brooks, Shadee Hinton, Jack and Joe Chandler carried the
hods. No more faithful crew of men ever worked on a job. All were
[ 5 ]

past masters in their line, and as faithful as the clock that kept the
time for them. Le Valley was tireless in his work and efforts to
produce a building that would be an honor to all who had any part
or lot in its construction.
When finished and turned over to the county it was the finest
and most imposing court house in the Cedar Valley. Linn, Benton,
Blackhawk, Chickasaw, Floyd and Mitchell counties were not in it
in comparison with "Little Bremer" for court houses.
There it has stood for three score of years, as a temple of
justice. Within its walls and at its bar, civil and criminal law has
been construed and administered by such very illustrious judges as
Wilson, of Dubuque; Williams and Murdock, of Clayton; McGlathery,
of Fayette; Fairfield and Reineger, of Floyd, and our own lamented
Ruddick, and still later by other able and clean men who honored
the wool sack on which they" sat. At the bar sentence of involuntary
servitude has been passed upon men convicted for crimes committed.
In its auditorium such devout men as Elder Gould, Elder Bur-
rington, F. X. Miller, C. M. Sessions, dear old Elder Swearingen and
others preached the Gospel. Within its walls Plunkett, Billy Marble
and Laughing Robinson held forth on the stage.
On one occasion Plunkett put on "Ten Nights in a Bar-room."
Dave Clark, Al Lawrence, Mayor Wood and Doc Pomeroy, the leaders
of Waverly's set of bright and mischievous young men, induced Sam
Geddes, Dow Hinton and Joe Chandler to go and see the play. They
were told it was one of great merit and high morals. They attended,
chaperoned by a bunch of these teasers. At every point of striking
interest they rubbed it in on Sam, Dow and Joe. When it was ended
the three were nearly paralyzed and as they straggled down town to
Frank Kimm's place, they commented on the scenes. When they
reached Frank's bar, they agreed that three rounds should be the
limit, and after that a drought would set in, for danger lurked in
the glass. At the close of the three rounds they shook hands and
passed out into the darkness to go home. Dow and Joe lived up on
the hill near the court house, and Sam down town in front of the
mill. After they separated Sam concluded he would go back and see
if Dow and Joe were in earnest about a drought. When he entered
Frank's place he found the boys lined up telling Frank they
had no confidence in Sam's promise to cut out all hard drinks,
while Frank in his French-English, was telling them he was expecting
Sam every minute, and for them not to hasten away, for Sam was
certain to appear soon. While they lingered the door opened and
Sam appeared. He expressed great astonishment that they were not
at home and in bed. They in turn told him they had doubts about
his sincerity and concluded they would not retire until they were satis
fied he meant what he said when the covenant was made. Sam
assured them he was in dead earnest, and only because of a raging
toothache was he there; he had dropped around to get some of
Frank's "Toothache Elixir," which was a sure cure. At this Dow,
the spokesman, replied, "We believe you, and we know Frank's stuff
never fails to cure the toothache, blues, rheumatism or anything
[ 6 ]

else, except lying; set 'em up, Frank." After three more rounds
they separated, the pledge renewed for a drought. Sam said after
ward that he kept the pledge two days, but when he found that Dow
and Joe stood o.ut only one day he decided he would call the
compact off.
This brings me back to the court house, for 1 am bound to say
it has served its day, has done splendid service, is honored and loved
for what it has been, but in the light of the progress of the times,
the wealth of Bremer county, and the necessities of the hour, it is
a disgrace to the county, a shame to its people, and some of these
days it will burn up or tumble down, and thus destroy records and
archives worth more to the taxpayers than the cost of an up-to-date
building. If I were running the Democrat, I would keep up such a
racket and give so many sound reasons why a^ new court house
should be built that something would be doing, if nothing more than
railroading me out of the county. I know that the people of Bremer
county are as proud and progressive as are the people in any other
county, and have more wealth than the average county.
Another thing the people of Bremer county should do that would
honor them and be a just tribute to the memory of one of her first
citizens and a pioneer honored in many ways; and that is to erect
a monument on the public square in memory of Lieut. Edward Tyrrell,
who fell on the awful 22nd day of May on the breastworks at Vicks
burg, while leading old Company G, 9th Iowa, to reach the rebel
flag inside the works. He is the only officer from Bremer county
killed during the civil war. He was a model citizen of the county
and a hero whose blood moistened the soil of his adopted country.
He left a family who honor his name and the county. As a mark of
patriotic devotion to country and respect for one of its foremost
citizens, Bremer county can do no less than build a soldier's monument
in the square, with Edward Tyrrell's name chiseled in the granite,
and below it put the name of Johnny Karker, from the same com
pany, who fell at Pea Ridge in March, 1862. He was the first soldier
from Bremer county who was killed in the battle. Johnny was a poor
obscure boy, but a patriot who died under the shadow of the flag
that has never touched the ground. Unknown in life, honored and
loved in his unknown grave, it would be patriotic and typical of
Bremer county to preserve the name of the first man from its borders
who was killed in the war for the freedom of a race.
I hope your readers will not think I am meddling or "butting in"
among their affairs, for I am not. If my home were in the county
I would have much more to say about a monument in the court
house square. Nearly half of the counties of the state, or perhaps
more than half, have creditable monuments to their soldiers of
1861-65.

[ 7 ]

TRIBUTE TO TWO DECEASED OLD SETTLERS
AND OTHER INTERESTING DATA.
Pursuant to a promise made to you, in response to your request,
I will scratch off some recollections of the pioneer days of Bremer
county in general and Waverly in particular. I have no data or
notes to refer to, so what I shall say will be wholly from recollection.
The dates may not be exact, but the facts in all cases will be essen
tially correct.
First of all, I want to pay a slight tribute to the memory of the
two old settlers, and among the best of Bremer county's women,
whose obituaries I read in your paper of the 14th inst.
When I landed in the smart and pretentious little village of
Janesville in April, 1856, two of the best known families of that
section lived on farms east of town. None were better known than
the McHenry's and the Bridens. Lizzie McHenry was a small miss
of many charms and sunny disposition, which made her a favorite
of the neighborhood. There she grew into womanhood, and after
the close of the Civil War she married Guy C. Farnsworth, one of
my best boys in old Company B, 14th Iowa, who to me is more like
a brother than otherwise today. Thus she became very near to me,
and I regarded her as a sister or daughter. She spent her life in the
vicinity of her childhood, and a busy and useful life it was. A model
wife and mother, a good Samaritan who did, as the Good Book says,
"what she could."
Susan Gish came to the county a few years later with her parents,
and spent all the rest of her days very near Mrs. Farnsworth. She
was a rosy-cheeked, vivacious girl, highly respected by all who knew
her. She married Horsman Briden, a son of William Briden above
mentioned, and gave b^er life to the family and the community, gladly
and freely. That she made the world better by living in it, no one
will doubt, who knew her.
In the death of these two women the Old Settlers' Society loses
two of its best members. They set examples .that the young women
of the day will do well to imitate.
When I first reached Waverly, in the last part of April, 1856, it
was a romantic but straggling village, tucked away among the young
trees and brush. Bremer avenue had been opened up from the river
east to the top of the hill, and there for the first time I met Theodore
Hullman in his store. The avenue was so full of stumps one could
hardly drive a team and wagon thru it. Most of these stumps were
hickory, and of good, fair size. It was comical to watch the wagons
bounce and twist about to pass thru. It was a poor outlook for a
town then.
Later on W. P. Harmon organized a grubbing crew to clear out
the stumps, of which crew Mose Lehman was foreman. The grubbers
were Dow Hinton, Jack and Joe Chandler, Sam McClure, A. C.
[ 8 ]

Barrett, Henry Bell, myself and several others who were transients
and whose names I do not remember. We tore the stumps out by
the roots, and in a week or so the avenue was a respectable highway.
When I quit the grubbing crew, I hired out to John Tyrrell, who
was doing the mason work on the Bremer House, to attend him as
mortar "jacky." Great haste was being made to have the hotel fin
ished before the 4th of July arrived, for great preparations were
being made to celebrate the day, and the hotel had to be finished
so as to open with a big ball. Squire Mathews had leased the hotel
and while Tyrrell was straining every nerve to finish his part of the
work, the Mathews family were moving in. Such confusion as
reigned thruout the house is past description. The chimneys had not
been built, which was a handicap to the cooking department. John
•began the kitchen chimney in the afternoon of the 2nd day of July,
and he and I worked until it was so dark we could not see. The
morning of the 3rd we were at work as soon as it was light enough
for him to see how to lay a brick. As the chimney grew in length
the hotter it got, for Mother Mathews had ordered a fire started
below, so as to be able to do cooking for the next day. All day long
the bread, cakes, doughnuts and pies were being shoved in and taken
out of the red-hot stove, while the heat and smoke at times strangled
John so he could hardly do a good job of swearing, to say nothing of
a good job of laying brick. When I suggested they were testing his
ability to build a chimney that would draw, he leveled his artistic
cussing at me, and when I taunted him with posing gracefully before
Esther arid Mandy Mathews and Mrs. Reeser, who were covered with
flour and pie dough, as the sweat rolled off their faces, I reached the
limit of his patience, and he threatened to throw me from the top of
the building. All day long I mixed mortar and lugged it to the top of
the hotel, and as the sun went down out of sight the chimney was
finished. John was as black as a negro, from working over the chim
ney in the smoke and heat. My consolation was that the girls from
the kitchen had kept me well fed on pie and cake all day, at which
Tyrrell growled because he could not stop to eat. But we were ready
for the celebration next day. Many a hearty laugh Mother Mathews
had in after years over the stress and strain of that day.
In those days Waverly had a bunch of as bright and keen young
men as ever gathered in a new frontier town. AsT recall their names
I wonder how many, and which ones, of them remain. The list as
I think of them were W. W. Brown, Mayor Wood, William Battams,
Alb. Goddard, J. P. Olds, H. K. Swett, Elias Groves, S. H. Curtis,
Theo. Hullman, Alonzo H. Curtis, H. J. Hoffman, Louis Case, Geo.
W. Briggs, Del Lawrence, Al Lawrence, Dave Clark, H. A. Miles,
MoseLehman, John Tyrrell, G. W. Ruddick, G. C. Wright, 0. P.
Haughawarit, R. W. Hills, Geo. G. Evans, D. M. Cool, J. C. Pomeroy,
William Mooney, John J. Smith, Wm. 0. Smith, Oscar Burbank,
Roswell Keith, Wm. Reeser, Jack Stroh., John W. Piggott, W. P.
Reeves, Bide Ellsworth, Gorham Ellsworth, and perhaps some others
whom I do not recollect. Of all those named, I am not certain that
any are living but Louis Case and Al Lawrence,
C 9 ]

At this point I will relate a circumstance. In the very early days
Alonzo H. Curtis and Hink Beebe operated a restaurant on First
street (now East Water street) in a Building opposite the grist mill.
The business was not a success, and Lon left the town, and so far
as I know, no one knew where he went.
At the battle of Pleasant Hill, La., in April 1864, which was a
hot and bloody field, just before dark in a rush on the enemy, our
troops captured several hundred prisoners. They were sent to the
rear and herded under guard. After dark I received a detail to take
charge of the guard and the prisoners during the night. The even
ing was cool, and little fires were started, around which the prisoners
were grouped. As I was passing a bunch of them I noticed a fellow
who was watching me attentively. A little later I passed the group
again and the same fellow looked intently at me. I inquired what I
could do for him, for I was curious to know why he was so interested.
He stepped up close to me and said, "May I ask what state you are
from?" When I told him he said, "And from Waverly?" I said,
"Yes." He gazed at me a moment and replied, "And your name is
Lucas." I told him he was correct, and he then asked, "Do you know
me?" I could not recall ever having known him, and told him so,
upon which he told me his name. I at once recognized him as Lon
Curtis. He then said, "There are three other Iowa boys among the
prisoners, Jones and two Quigleys, all from Dubuque." I spent a
couple of hours with Curtis, durinr; which time he told me that when
he left Waverly he went to Missouri and later married the daughter
of a prominent man there, who became an intense rebel when the
war broke out. He said his wife and his two children, all that he
had in the world, were living there, that his father-in-law was in
the rebel army and there was nothing he could do but join the con
federate ranks. He did so much against his will, but once in the
service he did his duty as best he could as a soldier. His story was
a pathetic one, and I pitied him, of course. He inquired eagerly
about all the men I have named above, and as I told him of those in
the Union army he was much affected, and said, "I thought they
would go." We spent most of the night in rehearsing old times and
incidents, much to his evident gratification. I was relieved at 8 o'clock
the next morning, and shook hands with him as we parted. I never
knew where the prisoners were sent, and I never heard of Lon Curtis
afterward. The incident brought very forcibly to my mind the
cruelty of that war between friends and blood relations. Sergeant
Keely and Steve Dicken, of my own company, each had a brother in
the rebel army, and they were always, when they could, examining
the batches of prisoners, expecting they might find a brother among
them, but they never did. Steve's brother lived to get home, but
Keely's brother did not, as I learned years after the close of the war.
In subsequent chapters, I shall refer to some unique characters
we had among the pioneers, and to incidents of early days.

[ 10 ]

FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION IN 1856.
The ambition and growth of Waverly made it necessary that the
4th of July should be observed in the year 1856. The country was
filling up fast with people who had come to make homes, and stay
with the fortunes of the country.
Wm. P. Harmon was the man of the town and of the times.
He was the embodiment of activity, energy and a vision. He foresaw
a great country, with possibilities concealed from the ordinary man.
His whole heart was wrapped up in the future of Waverly. Often
in his enthusiasm, he characterized the little town in the grove on
the banks of the Cedar river, as the "Lowell of the West," and as a
reason would point out the splendid water power of the stream, with
its high banks, only awaiting the genius and wealth of man to
harness it to whirring machinery to make it all that he dreamed of.
He gave it out that a celebration worthy of the day, the town,
and the people would be held. The country for miles about was
looking forward to the occasion.
It was a little difficult to select a spot for the gathering, because
most of the ground .on the east side of the river was covered with a
thick growth of trees and underbrush. Finally, .the spot chosen was
at the foot of the hill in the north part of town, where in after years
Jimmy Hayes built his home. Slabs from the saw mill were hauled
to the spot by Henry Harmon, and a lot of seats improvised out of
them. A modest platform was built on the upper side of the grounds,
on which the officers of the day, the honored guests, and the singers
were seated.
In the absence of an outside orator, Mr. Harmon filled the place
— and did it well. Geo. W. Mathews was president, with, several vice-
presidents that I do not recall. B. F. Perkins read the Declaration of
Independence. J. G. Ellis was then sheriff of the county and was
marshal of the occasion. Mrs. Dr. Cool led the singing, and was ably
assisted by Mrs. Wm. Reeser. Miles Comstock was a pretty good
fifer and was anxious to play. Mr. Harmon rustled up a snare
drummer, who was camped near while looking for a location. He
had his drum with him and consented to play. Mr. Harmon found
a bass drum in town, but lacked a player. He met me on the street
on the morning of the 4th and said, "I want you to beat the bass
drum; can you do it?" And I answered, "Yes, of course, I can and
will." I had never attempted such a feat in music, but extraordinary
occasions always require extraordinary effort. Comstock and the
snare drummer (I never knew his name) decided to practice a little,
and Harmon told me to join with them. We went down in the grove,
to about the spot where the Presbyterian church stood in later years,
and for a half hour we .made the woods ring. Finally Comstock
declared we would be a respectable band, and as a last piece we
would play "Yankee Doodle." In my efforts to make some extra
C H ]

strokes, I put on more steam than skill, and "busted" the head of my
drum. When we reached Bremer avenue, Mr. Harmon came tearing
up the street and asked Comstock how the band got along. When told
"fine, but the bass drum is out on account of a busted head," Harmon
turned to me and said, "Hurry down the street to Fosselman's shoe
shop and have him fix it." I went on the jump, for the crowd was
to meet at the grounds at 11 o'clock and it was then past ten. That
was the first time I had ever spoken to Charley. He was at work
on his bench and dropped his Work and fixed the drum. I shouldered
it and started to report to Comstock that his band was ready.
Charley stopped me and said, "I guess you forgot something. Pay
me 25 cents." I said, "Mr. Harmon sent me here, I guess he will
pay you." To that Charley said, "Nicht, you pay." I gave him a
quarter and said, "This is the 4th of July and you ought to help along
a little," when he retorted, "I work for cash, and not the 4th of July."
In after years, when we became the best of friends, when I wanted
to tease him I would ask him for a refund and interest. He still
owes me the quarter, and when I dunned payment eight years ago
when back to Waverly, he said, "It is outlawed." Many a hearty
laugh we have had over the affair.
The day passed off fine, a large crowd gathered from all direc
tions, many families coming in wagons that were drawn by oxen.
I believe it is not extravagant to say that there were 25 teams of that
sort in town that day. Everybody was happy and declared it was
"the best 4th ever."
At night a dance was pulled off, with Ezra Williams, Joe Baskins,
and Bill Reeser, musicians. They played the same tunes over about
every half hour. During the evening I danced several times with
the good mother of the present editor of the Democrat. She was an
artistic dancer, while I had the step of the Wabash style, which she
pronounced vigorous but lacking in grace and technique. When the
sun rose on the morning of the 5th, we were still dancing. Then
Mrs. Mathews appeared on the scene and told the merry crowd she
must have the dining room to serve breakfast in, and if the dance
continued we would have to go outside in the street. That order
closed the festivities of the 4th of July, 1856, in Waverly. I am
wondering how many of those present that evening at the Bremer
House survive. If Louis Case was among us, he is one, but I do not
recollect whether he was present or not. I know he was in Waverly
then, as I am glad to know he is yet, from a letter I received from
him this week. Louis was a sedate deacon sort of a boy then. He
stuck close to his work and saved his strength, which serves him so
well as he marches for the 84th mile post in life's' journey.

[ 12

UNIQUE CHARACTERS AND MEETINGS.
I mentioned the fact that Waverly had some unique characters
in its pioneer days. Dr. Oscar Burbank was the wag and joker
among them. A superior doctor and devoted to his profession. My
recollection is he was the first doctor to locate in Waverly and he
spent more than a half century there in active practice. For years
' a baby cduldn't be well born unless Doc was present and started it
in life. He never had a case that was so desparate he would not tell
a story or crack a joke some time in his treatment of the patient.
He once said, "People say I am frivolous and heartless in my: pro-
' fession. Nothing is further from the tnith than that, but I learned
early that jollity is good medicine for most everybody and I carry
a lot of it in one end of my pill bags." In later years I have reached
the conclusion that his philosophy was sound and his practice rational.
Among the early settlers in the town was Hiram Holbrook, a
blacksmith, whose shop was located on the south side of Bremer
avenue, near the east end of the bridge. He lived in the shop; it was
his palace. Never married, so far as anyone knew, and devoted to his
work. He wore the same suit of clothes from the time they were new
until worn out so that they would not hang on him any longer.
From his color, it was hard to tell whether he was a black or a white
man. In the town was John Gothard, a mulatto, a good citizen, and
the proprietor of an addition to Waverly. To tease Holbrook, some
of the mischievous young fellows would drop around to his shop and
in a confidential way inquire of him whether or not he was related
to Mr. Gothard. Before doing so, however, they would edge about so
as to be near the door and to know the coast was clear, for about that
time the air would be full of horse shoes Or any other pieces of iron
accessible for quick use. For some several days the fellow who had
ventured to stir old Hiram up would keep away from his shop.
Doc Burbank was very fond of teasing him, and because they
both came from Maine, he presumed sometimes to go too far, and
Hiram would order him out of the shop and forbid his return. But
time would soften the old man's temper and Doc would' venture to
visit him again. Doc kept a human skeleton in a secret room at
his home, and when Hiram learned this fact he cut Doc's company all
that he could. The teasers soon found out that 'there ' was a break
between them, and Hi gave it out that he believed Doc was waiting
for the time to come when he could dissect his (Hiram's) bones,
and from that time he was irreconcilable toward the doctor, and
would not let him enter the shop. To stir the old man to high pitch,
the boys would guardedly mention the skeleton to him, which was
certain to draw out from him a lecture upon the brutality of doctors
in general and of Burbank in particular.
The younger generation about' town also loved to tease him.
He had a habit of whistling, without tune, but in time with the blows
[ 13 ]

on the iron as he fashioned it into the required shape. The boys
soon became adepts at mimicing him. They would get as nearly in
front of the shop door as safety would allow and commence whistling,
then take to their heels as the hammer or anything that he happened
to have in his hands would be thrown at them with all the strength
and accuracy he could command.
But for all his peculiarities and quick temper, he was a good
smith and was very accomodating to those who sought his services.
Many is the meal he missed that he might help some one who had
a break-down in harvest or threshing time. He could always be
depended on in emergencies.
In the early part of the year 1857, C. T. Smeed arrived in town
and purchased the Republican from H. A. Miles. Smeed was, a total
stranger, so far as I know, to all the people of Bremer county. He
was a highly educated man and of a pronounced literary turn of
mind. His writings were scholarly, his style courteous, polite, always
logical and often deeply philosophical. He was dogmatic and per
sistent in his opinions and manner; strictly partisan in his politics,
and decidely heterdox in his religious expressions. He was a man of
Droad visions and, as I now believe, about a half century in advance
of the times in which he lived.
No sooner had he taken charge of the only paper in the town,
or the county at that time, than it was apparent it would be run on
different lines than it had been from its advent. Instead of being a
strictly local paper, and the organ of the republican party, it became
the personal expression of the editor's opinions. Local matters were
only incidents with Smeed; the chief mission of the paper was to
promulgate his individual opinions. In those days there was no news
service at all, only one little stub of railroad in the state, which was
from Davenport to Muscatine. No telegraph news at all, and only a
weekly mail came to Waverly by a Jim Crow stage line, which bad
roads or bad weather was liable to delay from hours to days. No
"patent insides" or power presses, nothing beyond the old Washington
hand press. The type was all set by the printer, and the matter
furnished by the editor. Not much news from the outside world
reached us then. Society news was unknown in those days. This
situation gave Smeed the opportunity to furnish editorials, from a
stickful to two columns in length, and most of them were as dry as
sawdust. While the long and ponderous articles were not particularly
interesting to the average readers, they were instructive and helped
many a young man to start out on higher grades with the ambition
to conquer larger fields.
Smeed lacked the social qualities that a country editor must have
to be a popular leader. To be a good mixer is worth a good deal, and
often does more to help the fellow along in the race of life than does
polished equipment. Smeed was not a mixer, he was always serious,
and rarely ever could see the point to a joke or a ludicrous situation.
The following circumstance illustrates his matter-of-fact make-up:
When he took over the Republican, at the head stood in large
letters "C. Tarbox Smeed, Editor and Proprietor." The gang of
[ 14 ]

mischievous teasers measured him up and were very anxious to have
some sport at his expense. They inquired cautiously how it happened
that he had the queer name of C. Tarbox. He was reticent and
unsatisfactory in explaining, but his sincerity was plain. So they
agreed to invite him to make an address, and then explain what he:
had hinted to be an interesting part of his naming. He consented'-
The old stone school house located northeast of the court house was
the Mecca for all sorts of meetings, from the divine service down to
debates. To it all classes of the people went at some time or other.
It was the place of wisdom, worship, political caucuses, polemics, and
mischief. It was the mass hall of the town. The meeting was called
and the room was crowded on that evening to hear his address, and
more especially to hear how it happened he bore the odd and singular
name of C. Tarbox.
When the audience assembled in the school house to , hear Mr.
Smeed, Dave Clark was elected chairman. This was eminently proper,
because he, more than any other person, was responsible for the
Unique meeting. It was a mixed assemblage. Quite a number of
the best people in town were there in high glee, and ready „to get all
the sport out of the occasion possible.' Even W. P. Harmon was
there. His presence was not for the fun the gangr expected, but for
the purpose of measuring" Smeed, who was so much of an enigma
that Mr. Harmon was anxious to size him up.
The foem was crowded, but perfectly orderly. Smeed seemed the
least concerned person present. It was his opportunity, as well as
the sporty fellows', and he was not ignorant of the purpose of the
meeting. Therefore, he was prepared to make the most capital for
himself while he pleased the "gang."
Clark, knowing he was to be chairman, was ready with a most
polite and courteous speech of acceptance of the honor of being
called upon to preside at such a meeting of respectable citizens of
the future "Lowell of the West." He really made a fine speech and
set everyone at perfect ease.
Dave's, introduction of the speaker of the evening was a master
piece forc,a, frontier town, in matter and in form, and was received
with rapturous applause. The reception of the speaker was no legs
hearty and cordial.
Smeed was a peculiar looking man. His manner was easy and
calm. ' He knew he was on trial before a jury whose friendship he
wanted to win. He thanked them for the invitation to address them
and then launched out into a discussion of the high privileges accorded
to young men in this country to be of great value in building up a.
high , standard of manhood and citizenship. He strenuously urged
that the true philosophy of life was to be in earnest. He pursued
this line of thought to some length and some of his deductions were
keen as rapier cuts, but well concealed by his vein of candor and
earnestness. His address was quite lengthy, so much so that un
easiness was . manifest on the back seats, where the "gang" were
grouped. A .suspicion stole upon them that Smeed had out-generaled
them, and they, were likely to be the victims., of the well -planned
[ 15 ]

scheme to have a lot of sport at his expense. But he played fair, and
finally reached the pitch of the meeting, which ended up in about this
way; He recited the anxiety of his friends to know how it happened
that he bore such a queer name. As near as I recollect he put it
this way: "In the year 1829, in the state of New York, a male child
was born, who was given the name of Caesar, in memory of the man
who conquered the world. The child grew into healthy boyhood, until
he reached the age of six years, when, to distinguish him from his
namesake, the boy added the more euphonious one of Tarbox, since
which time he has been satisfied to treat tbe name bestowed upon
him by his parents as a pseudonym, and to be known as C. Tarbox
Smeed. When he concluded the explanation, the "meeting was out,"
and the boys realized they had the information they sought, but
nothing more on Smeed. It was a clear case of failure to trap or
embarrass the new editor.
Smeed had very little care for society, and as I recollect, had
few, if any, close friends; and yet he was friendly with everybody.
He was indifferent to his personal appearance or dress, but was a
student of books and theories, a dreamer devoted to philosophies of
politics, religion and science. In politics he was a radical abolitionist
and affiliated with the republicans; in religion a theosophist, and a
scientist who adjusted the principles to sustain his theories..
In 1858, when the Cedar river was higher than ever before known,
the water flooded East Water street so it filled the basement of the
brick building on the south side of Bremer avenue, known then as
the Foster store and later as the Barker & Bacon store. On one
occasion Smeed came from his office over the Curtis hardware store,
with his pantaloons rolled up to his knees, bare-footed and bare
legged, and waded about in the water like a boy. Behind his ear was
stuck a quill pen. When laughed at, he declared in all sincerity that
he was hunting for an "item." Many little things such as the above
revealed the characteristics of Mr. Smeed.
Another case of a different sort illustrated his good nature and
lack of temper. As has been said, he was radical in his political
opinions and he unhesitatingly recorded them in his paper. The
democrats became incensed at him and decided their party should
have, an organ. Accordingly Col. Wm. Pattee was importuned to
establish a paper, which he did, and called it the Bremer County
Argus. It was pronouncedly straight democratic in politics and was
inclined to be belligerent toward the Republican. Col. Pattee was a
gentleman of the old school, stately in manner and imperious in his
utterances upon political questions. It was not long until the papers
clashed and the battle was on between them. The Colonel landed
with the intention, as he said, of squelching Smeed. Finally, in ans-r
wer to one of the Colonel's broadsides, Tarbox came back at him
by a string of ridicule and sarcastic logic that stung the pompous
old Colonel to tjje quick, and he declared that he would ignore Smeed
in his Argus, but if he persisted, he would use his cane on him.'
Smeed Was informed of the threat and cautioned to be on his
guard, to all of which he seemed to fee. totally indifferent, 'and p'ur-
[ 16 ]!

ALEX NICOL, Denver JOHN KERR, Tripoli
CHRISTIAN MOEHLING, Denver
JOHN CHADWICK, Tripoli GUY FARNSWORTH, Denver
Survivors of Co. B, living in Bremer county, commanded by Col. W.
V. Lucas during the Civil war.

sued his usual course of passing about taking observations of what
was going on. The office of the Argus was on the north side of
Bremer avenue, well up to where the Great Western depot is now
located. As Smeed approached the office on his way to the Court
House one morning, he discovered the colonol standing in the door of
his office, with his ever-present cane in his hand. Instead of dodging
or swerving from his course, Smeed kept on and when near the angry
old Colonel, Smeed saluted him, saying, "Good morning, Colonel, fine
day; I hope you are well." At this cool and taunting salutation,
Pattee replied, "Don't you speak to me, you whining cur!" Smeed
stopped, and looking at the angry Colonel, answered, "Why, Colonel,
I believe you are angry; I am sorry you have such a temper this
beautiful June morning. We should be glad and rejoice that we live
in such a health-giving climate and among such good people." The
Colonel was nonplussed, and responded, "Go ahead, you don't know
enough to be insulted." Smeed smiled and with seeming innocence
inquired, "Did you mean to insult me?" "No, no, go ahead," said
Pattee. For some time Pattee would grow furious when he was
nagged about the interview, as was done every day by some of his
best . friends. After a while he, too, would laugh over the affair.
Doc Burbank's office was near the Argus office, and he was a witness
of the scene, and it lost none of its dramatic qualities by his relation
of the story.
Smeed was restless' and wanted to get back east, so he placed
the Republican on the market and sold it to J. K. L. Maynard, who
arrived in Waverly in 1861. Smeed went to Washington, but what
he did or how. he was employed I think none of his friends ever
knew. But the sequel of his life closed by his filling his pockets
with stones and leaping from the Long Bridge into the Potomac
river. He was a man of good meaning, kindhearted, gentle in manner
and temper. That he was a sort of monomaniac in theosophical
religion is quite certain, and as he grew older he became partially
insane. He did much for Waverly in attracting the attention of rail
road men to the Cedar Valley in general and to Waverly in particular.
He wrote scores of long editorials upon the future of the valley, and
predicted what has come true. As I have said before, Caesar Tarbox
Smeed lived a half century ahead of his time. His vision was clear
and accurate, but his contemporaries called him "cracked in the head,"
when in fact he was a prophet.

HARDSHIPS AND WEATHER CONDITIONS
PIONEERS HAD TO CONTEND WITH.
The year 1858 was the wettest one the state of Iowa ever knew.
The Good Book says, "In the days of Noah the foundations of the
great deep were broken up." So they were in that year. The Cedar
river was a raging torrent for months. On January 26 of this year
the "high Water'' took out the first bridge built over the river at
[ 17 ]

Waverly. This bridge had been built by subscription in 1857. It
may be said here that the night following was extremely cold, so
that the next morning people were able to cross the river above the
dam on the ice. The high water also took out a part, or all, of the
mill dam. The water swept over ground never since covered by
water from the river. From the mill to the "Stone Corner" boats
were used, and as far up the avenue as P. B. Foster's brick store.
During the summer it rained so much and so often that much of the
small grain remained uncut in the fields and that which was cut
became so badly sprouted in the shocks and stacks that the wheat
(not much oats was grown) was of very inferior quality and the
flour made from it was quite dark in color and so poor in quality
that no good bread could be made. The corn was mostly unripe and
soft. This left the county short on grain. The ground became so
wet, that it was said, if one should go about midway between Waverly
and Tripoli and place a wide plank beneath his feet, to keep from
sinking out of sight, by jumping on the plank he could shake the
whole county.
One day W. R. Bostwick, who lived 'In Frederika township, sue=
ceeded in getting to town. Judge RUddick inquired i*06ut the 6§ri=
dition of the Wapsie, when BOstWick feiJlied; "She's 40 miles wide
and 30 deep." People talked seriously about the Cedar being a
navigable stream. I think a small steamer did ascend as far up
the stream as Cedar Rapids. A good many boats came up the Des
Moines river that year as far as the now capital city, and so sanguine
Were the residents of that valley, that they believed the transportation
question was solved for them, and thru Senator Dondge they suc
ceeded in having the Des Moines river declared a navigable stream
and secured an appropriation to clear out the obstructions. Two
things knocked the navigation project out, one was the mill dams
and the other a normal state of rain.
In a group of wise old farmers one day in Waverly; when
assembled to talk about the wet weather, they included the subject
of steamboats coming up the river. Mace Eveland said, "Boys, by
gum, we could have plenty of them come right up here, if it was not
for these mill dams." Then he told how the steamboats in "Eelinoy"
had solved the question of transportation for the farmers to reach the
markets for their produce, and ended by declaring, "The mill dams are.
an infernal nuisance." To which some of the listeners replied
"That's so, Mace."
The spot where the station of Irma now stands was coyered
with water eighteen inches deep, by the Cedar river overflowing its
banks. South of the station fifteen or twenty rods, the ground is
lower. I rode a horse down the lane there to inspect 40 acres of
corn I had on the west side of the road and the water was up to
the middle of the horse's sides. It was in August and the only thing
I could see of my corn was the tassles sticking above the flood. I
need not say I did not get even a "nubbin" from the whole 40 acres
I had rented the land from Thomas Halse, an Englishman. It was
comical to hear him discuss the flood and wonder what was to come
[ 18 ]

next, for he was on his farm the cold winters and recollected all
their horrors.
The result of the floods was a very light crop and to add to the
loss, nearly all the grain kept over from the year before was spoiled
because the granaries were covered with hay, and the water leaked
thru to the grain and ruined it. It was a cheerless year, and dis
couraged the people so that many of them left the country in the
spring of 1859, thoroly convinced Iowa was not a fit place for a white
man to live in. Following the crop failure came the panic of
money of which I will speak later. No silver or gold was in
circulation and even the worthless "stump tail" currency was hard
to get, for the people had nothing to sell, and if they had, there
was no market. It was a hard task to get money enough to buy a
postage stamp, for the government would not take anything but coin.
For a whole year I did not have a dollar in coin and not $10 in
"stump tail," except the $30 I sold a cow for, of which I will speak.
I asked Theodore Hazlett for a postage stamp, which I used in
writing a letter to my wife's father in Illinois, in which I told him
of our absolute poverty and asked him to send us some stamps, which
he did. The news got out some way that I had stamps. Jim Adair
lived four miles from my place and rode on horseback in a rain one
evening to "borrow" a postage stamp. Of course he got it; he wrote
to some friend in New York and got a dollar's worth as I had. Jim
and I furnished stamps for our neighbors so they could write "home"
for stamps. Everyone in the east would say, "why don't you quit the
God forsaken country and come back?" No doubt, some would have
done so, if they had not been so everlastingly poor they could not go
out of the township. I loaned stamps to Pat and Joe Boylson, and
after years when Adair, the Boylsons and I met, we went over those
days with much interest. The people learned how to utilize cornmeal
for bread-making, and many of the women became experts in making
"corn dodger." To this day I have a hankering for a "hunk of corn
dodger." The winter that followed was a hard one on the pioneers because
of the scarcity of foodstuffs, and many left the country the next
spring, generally returning to the east. But those who would not,
or could not, cheerfully put in all the crops they could and garnered
a large crop in the season of 1859. The trouble that faced them then
was the lack of markets and the total absence of all sorts of money,
except paper issued by irresponsible banks. A person might have
a wad of it filling his pockets one day that was current, and the next
day it would be worthless, for like lots of miserable sinners, it never
knew a redeemer. All such money was called "stump tail" or "rag
baby" money. As an illustration of its utter worthlessness as money,
I mention this case: I sold a cow to Jim Murphy on a Monday
morning for $30.00. The bank reporter classed the bank that issued
it "good" that day. I knew the danger of holding the stuff and
decided wife and I would hasten to town and spend every dollar of
it, for we were as poor as Lazarus was. When I told her my plans
she was busy with Monday washing and decided she could not go
[ 19 ]

that day. After a consultation, it was decided by her we would go
early Tuesday morning. I protested, but yielded to her decision.
During the evening we made out a list of articles we needed most,
and felt pretty rich over the thought of all we would have when
stocked up with our $30.00. Tuesday morning we arrived in town
about 10 o'clock, told Theodore Hazlett, with whom we always traded,
that we wanted a BIG bill of goods, and added that we were in luck
in selling a cow for cash. He inquired what bank issued our money,
and when I told him, the "Bank of Anamosa," he said they closed their
doors yesterday at 4 o'clock. I was not greatly surprised but awfully
disappointed. Wife, woman-like, could not understand the situation
all at once. We got into the wagon and struck for home with our
bill of goods in cold storage — I, mad at such a system of finance, and
she, crushed over the disappointment. Ever after, when I Wanted to
tease her, I would mention the $30.00 washing she put out on that
Monday. Millions of dollars of that sort of money was issued and scattered
all over the country by speculators with the full understanding that
before the stuff would get back for redemption by the bank of issue,
the doors would be closed and the holder would be the loser.
A bunch of speculators established a bank of issue in Florence,
Neb., on the west bank of the Missouri river, and issued an unknown
quantity of as fine looking bills as ever were seen. They sent agents
thru western Iowa with saddle bags filled with crisp and beautiful
bills to buy Iowa land. Hundreds of settlers were anxious to sell
their land and get back east. Thousands of acres were purchased
in that way, the sharpers knowing the sellers would carry most of
the money as far east as people would take it, and thus ample time
would ELAPSE before the COLLAPSE would come. The titles to
the lands were passed to the wives, or persons not responsible. They
held the lands until after the Civil War was closed, prices went up,
the lands were sold and the project of financing the Burlington,
Cedar Rapids & Northern Railroad was the net product.
The laws of the states failed to provide any way to control the
banking business, and no penalties were provided for failures of
banks. The only good paper money was that issued by states, and
that class was not in general circulation. No gold or silver was seen
in trade or traffic, and all was locked up. It was hard to get enough
to buy postage stamps with, and the federal government would take
no other. Talk about hard times! It takes an old-timer to tell the
story.

MORE ABOUT THE HARD WINTERS, AND SOME
OTHER THINGS
To begin with, I shall rely upon any and all the living old settlers
who passed thru those days as corroborating witnesses. If some of
the events have faded from their recollection, when they read what
[ 20 ]

I say I am certain they will recall the incidents very clearly and as
fresh as if it was only last year they had the experiences.
The winters of 1855 — 56 and 1856 — 57 were the most severe and
savage ones Iowa ever had in her history and the people were the
least prepared to meet such hardships as were forced upon them.
Prior to the winter of 1855 — 56 deer were plentiful, many herds
existing in or near the different groves or in the woods bordering
the rivers, but after the spring, 1856, there were but few left.
During December, 1855, the snow had fallen to a great depth
and in January it became crusted just enough that it would not
carry the deer, and in jumping in the snow their limbs became quite
sore so that when they had broken a path they refused to yield the
right of way to the settlers and would put up a fight rather than
leave the beaten path. Many of them were killed with clubs. Often
the deer were slaughtered just for their hides. So reckless was the
killing that when the spring of 1856 came, there were but few left,
as stated before.
The winter of 1854 — 55 was a remarkably mild and pleasant
one. Not very much snow fell and the temperature rarely fell below
zero. In the timber the ground was not frozen hard enough to pre
vent the limbs of falling trees from digging up fresh and unfrozen
earth. The. mildness and the beauty of that winter led the people to
believe that they were located in a banana belt, and the story they
told to new-comers misled them and put them at ease to climatic
conditions. The result was that in their exceeding haste and anxiety
to get homes built and preparations made for the coming year, to
open up farms, they did not make preparations to meet a hard and
long winter. For it must not be forgotten that the country was a
wilderness of expansive prairies, and all over them were dotted
settlers' homes built during the summer. Of course, they were crude
and primitive in form and construction. The one thing that was
plenty was hay. Most of the settlers were miles from timber, but
because of the mild winter the year before, little attention was given
to providing a good-sized wood-pile, for they reasoned that the matter
of fuel would be about the only thing they would have to look after
during the winter, and that would be more of a picnic than a hard
ship. Therefore, every day was used to complete the houses, to build
sheds for their stock, and tidy up things about the home. About the
middle of December, what is now denominated a blizzard swept over
the whole northwest, preceded by a heavy and deep fall of snow.
The temperature dropped to 10 and 20 below zero, and the high winds
drifted the snow, so all the low places were filled to a common level.
When the storm subsided, the temperature rose above the freezing
point for a day or so, which was followed by a light fall of warm
rain. At the cessation of the rain, suddenly a drop o£ the temperature
followed and froze the snow hard to the earth. The whole country
was covered by a crust of hard snow, or ice, so that from that time
till March, 1857, teams of all sorts travelled on a smooth, hard sur
face. The snow was deep enough, before freezing, to cover over all
the fences, so people travelled on air lines. My father kept a thermo-
[ 21 ]

meter hanging on the outside of the house, and a record of the
temperature, which showed that for the last part of December, all
of January and February, the temperature remained about zero, or
below as far as 30 degrees all those days. One storm after another
followed until about the last of February. The country was sparsely
settled, houses far apart. It is a fact that many of the women did
not see a neighbor woman for weeks at a stretch, and some who lived
remote from neighbors did not see a woman outside of the family
for three months. The savage winter discouraged many people and
they repented of having come to the arctic regions. When spring
came, in early May, many loaded up and left the country. About
all who had not bought land left. Those who had started their homes
decided to try the climate another year, and went to work with a vim
that caused them to forget their trials, for the spring opened up
fine, even if it was late. The crops in 1857 were fine; even sod
planting yielded good crops.
That spring thousands of acres of prairie land were broken up,
and in the fall the whole aspect of the country was changed, and the
real foundation for the greatness of Bremer county was laid. One
very noticeable thing was the planting of trees. Every farmer
planted cottonwoods, and in five years tall groves were in evidence
as far as the eye could see.
My father was reared in the forests of Ohio, and had a firm
belief that a country without trees was a failure. When he started
from Indiana in the spring of 1856, he had an old-fashioned Pennsyl
vania wagon with box bed that was about four feet deep. In it were
stored plows, hoes, etc., with household articles. Among other things
were two flour barrels filled with black walnuts, to be planted when
he got a farm. On reaching the Cedar Valley and finding as fine
walnut trees as he had left in the Hoosier state, he was surprised,
and his five boys had their own sport over "Dad's" "carrying coal to
Newcastle." When we rallied him about the two barrels of walnuts
he retorted, "These are not as good as mine are." He planted ten
acres north and west of the old home, and in a few years he had a
complete shelter from the northwest winds. With the walnuts he
planted many forest trees taken from the banks of the Cedar river.
The timber lot grew so dense it formed a harbor, for rabbits, and
they, in turn, peeled his fruit trees he had set in the protected space,
until war was declared on the cotton-tails.
The great big wagon I mentioned above was hauled by five yoke
of oxen all the way from Indiana, across Illinois, and from
Davenport, where we crossed the "Father of the Waters," north to
Waverly. The lead and wheel yokes were well broken, while the
three middle yokes were young and wild fellows. To myself was
assigned the job of driving this team and hauling what we boys
called "Dad's steamboat." For the first three or four days my outfit
used all the road; sometimes I had a yoke of the youngsters down
and dragged them, sometimes they would both be on the same side
of the lead chain, and occasionally the yoke would get turned from
the top of their necks to the bottom. But I soon learned to keep at
[ 22 ]

a safe distance from the seething mass of young steers, for they
had no respect for their drivers, and their driver had mighty little
respect for them. On one occasion in a muss I had with them in a
muddy flat in Cedar county (one that was nearly impassable), I got
tangled up in an effort to get one of the rebellious youngsters onto his
feet to save him from drowning, I forgot that mother was in the
carriage near by, a spectator of the struggle, and I swore in desparate
earnest. Dear mother was so shocked that she reproved me, much
to my chagrin. But at this time dad came to my relief and said,
"Let him alone, Nancy, it is enough to make anybody swear to see
oxen act so." But I got out safe and so did the ox, tho both of us
were a mass of black mud.
The flat I speak of was about a mile wide and every immigrant
who came that road had an experience in "Mud Flata." When we
reached it about noon I am certain that there were at least fifty
teams of all sorts, waiting to pass thru. A couple of men who lived
nearby each had two yoke of strong, sturdy oxen, and they did a
big business "ferrying teams over," for which they charged five
dollars a trip. After I landed our party on high ground, I put my
wild fellows into the work, and before I let them rest I had them
tame and quite decent oxen. I pocketed twenty-five dollars for the
afternoon's work, and best of all, I had good young oxen ever after
that day. Some three or four years afterward I met a Mr. Wheeler,
who lived on the Shell Rock river, near Waverly. He looked right
at me and said, "Aren't you the young chap who pulled immigrants
across 'Mud Flat' in Cedar county?" On being assured that I was
the chap, he said, "I thought so, you pulled my load thru that mud
hole." Ever after we were well acquainted. He was the father of
O. Wheeler, who lived in Waverly the last time I heard of him. Mr.
Wheeler delighted in talking about the experience. He had a heavy
load and only one small yoke of oxen, so he could not travel as fast
as we did, but it proved he was headed for the same section as we
were, and by chance we met years afterward to go over the incident.
Going back to our arrival in Bremer county, father decided to go
into camp at Janesville long enough to look for a farm, which he did,
and finally purchased the SWJ of Section 18, in Lafayette township,
and located there and spent the winter of 1856 — 57 in a log house he
built during the summer. I quit the ox driving business, and the
second day after our arrival at Janesville I hired out to work for
Matthew, L. Stewart for a month on his farm and at his lime kiln
in the Big Woods, near where Nick Kern had located. ' Mr. Stewart
and his family were excellent people, and he was specially my friend
as long as he lived. I never forgot his kindness and good advice.
In our case one of those opportunities offered by which I, was able
to return in a small way a favor to him. In 1883 I went to Dakota,
which was a wilderness of prairie. Thousands of settlers covered the
country on homesteads to make homes. Among others M. L. Stewart
and his good wife were numbered. He located in Buffalo county, on
the borders of an Indian reservation. Much of the land along the
border was in the zone of disputed titles, and upon a quarter section
[ 23 ]

of it Mr. Stewart had been located by an unscrupulous locator. For
three years or so no question was raised by the Indian department
as to titles.
Mr. Stewart had improved his land, built good buildings, and was
dreaming of comfort and pleasure in his old age. Suddenly an order
was issued for the abdication by the settlers from all such disputed
title land, which meant loss, if not ruin to many of them. I was
located at Chamberlain, in the next county south of Buffalo, and
engaged in the locating and contesting business, in which I had a
large practice.
I had not seen Stewart for a good many years and supposed,
whenever I thought of him, that he was yet on the old homestead
where I first knew him.
One evening he and Mrs. Stewart dropped into the hotel where
I lived then and inquired for me. I heard his voice as he talked
with the landlord, and instantly knew who he was. He told me his
troubles and said, "I want help, or I am ruined." Fortunately, I was
very familiar with the law and the practice in that class of cases.
Suffice it to say, Matt won his case, and held his farm until his death.
The queer part of the story is how the whirligig of time brings
about strange and unexpected things in our lives. Bread cast upon
the waters often brings us to rich returns. He had done many
favors for me when I was a boy trying to get a start in life, and he
did so without the hope or expectation of fee or reward. This in
cident offered me the opportunity to repay him in a slight degree for
his kindness. The bond between the pioneers was a strong and unselfish one
and could always be relied upon to furnish aid to one another when
in need of help. — But I must go back to early days in Bremer county.

BUILDING ONE OF THE FIRST RURAL SCHOOLS
When I finished the month with M. L. Stewart, I went to work
for John Tyrrell, as tender for him. He was an expert brick-layer
and could shove more plaster on a wall in a day than any other
man I ever knew. He was so cranky and particular about the prep
aration of mortar he used as a girl is about the way her hat sits on
her head. He built the brick school house east of Waverly, near
the well-known Baskins farm. It was one of the first rural school
houses built in the county. It was built in June and July, 1856, and
so far as I know was the first one built in the country. John laid
every brick in it, and I mixed all the mortar and carried it and all
the brick. He was a glutton for work, and would not tolerate talk
during working hours. At first we worked together without a word
being spoken all day on the job, except as to matters relating to the
material I handled for him. After some weeks we got to know each
other, and became the closest of friends, which friendship lasted as
long as he lived. When the war came, he enlisted in the 28th Iowa
[ 24 j

Infantry. The last time I saw him was at Alexandria, La., where he
was very sick in a field hospital. I heard of his being sick, hunted
him out and found him a total wreck. We visited as long as I could
stay with him, and I left him with the full belief that I should never
see him again, which proved to be a fact. I could do no more than
sympathize with him. I joshed him and recited our experiences while
working together. It was a sad parting of two devoted friends.
During the time we were building the school house, we boarded
at the home of Father Nicholas Tyrrell, who lived in the stone house
a half mile west of the site of the school house. It was then I first
became acquainted with the grand old man, Father Tyrrell, and my
admiration for him was almost an idolatrous one. He was a giant
in stature of brain, a man of broad ideas and wide experience among
men. He had travelled all over the world and was a master work
man as a brick and stone mason. To me his relating of experiences
among master mechanics on many great works was like reading a
first-class novel. His rich Irish brogue was enchanting, as he sand
wiched in anecdotes and comments upon great men he had come in
contact with.
He was a keen critic of all lines of practical stone, brick and
mortar work. He was more devoted to speculative Masonry, at that
time in his life, than he was to operative. He often advised me to
become a member of the fraternity. lie was active and persistent
in his efforts to have a lodge established in Waverly, in which he
succeeded, and in token of the respect in which his brethren held him,
the lodge was named "Tyrrell," and the number given "116," which
remains to this day. I may add here that three years after I first
knew him, I became a member of the fraternity, and in 1871, when
he laid down the burden of a long and useful life, at his request I
officiated at his burial and rendered the full ritualistic services at
his grave on the same farm where I first met and became acquainted
with him.
John Wesley Ward was the school director and had the official
oversight of the building of the school house I have mentioned.
Ward lived only a few rods east of the site of the work, and deemed
it his duty to inspect the brick, mortar, contractor, and mortar jacky
about a dozen times a day. His frequent meddling interfered with
the progress of the work, and kept John about half mad most of the
time. It was apparent that an explosion would happen if Ward per
sisted in meddling with the work. John's temper was of the Irish
brand, quick and fiery, and he declared that if Wesley Ward per
sisted in bothering him, he would drop a brick on his head. Very
soon after this threat, Wesley appeared one morning to inspect the
brick Lorenz Selbig was delivering from his yard on top of the hill
east of the court house. He found a few with chipped corners, and
was sorting them out and casting them in a heap as condemned
material. While engaged in this work he kept up a continuous
stream of commands not to use any of the brick that he had cast
aside. John was on a scaffold about six feet high. He stopped work
and said, "Ward, you are an infernal nuisance about this job and I
. [ 25 ]

want you to stay away from here.'' Ward replied, "I am an officer,
and it is my duty to watch you and see that you put good brick in
the walls, and I'll do my duty." John asked him to show him a
defective brick, and Ward carried a brick with a broken corner and
handed it up to John, that he might see the defect. Tyrrell took
the brick and explained that such a one laid in the inner course was
as good as a perfect one, at which Ward declared he would have none
such in the wall. As he grew earnest he walked up so he stood be
neath the scaffold; the brick slipped from John's hand and landed
on Ward's head. He had a straw hat on his head, and the brick cut
a hole in it and glanced off to his shoulder. As it went it peeled his
nose so the blood flowed freely. He was in a furious passion and
declared John intended to brain him so he could use the broken brick.
No sort of explanation or apology would satisfy the school director,
and he declared he would convene the board of directors and dismiss
the contractor. He went away after a while and the work proceeded.
In the afternoon N. M. Smith and Eugene Higgins, the other directors,
with Ward came to look the situation over. They examined the brick
and Nels Smith told Ward everything was all right, and thus the
trouble ended. Ward rarely came about the building afterwards. Joe
and Ab Baskins, who lived nearby and were as full of mischief as
two good-natured fellows could be, and special friends of John, egged
Ward on to maintain the honor and majesty of his office, if he
had to "lick" Tyrrell. Joe told Ward, "If you don't show your author
ity as an officer, you can't be elected again." But all their nagging
could not arouse him into further action. He was a character, and
was noted for his slovenliness. Joe Baskins, speaking of him, said,
"John Wesley Ward is one of the most careful and cautious men I
ever knew; he has been deliberating for six month whether it would
be good for his health to take a bath." And Joe said that, so far
as he knew, John Wesley never took the chance of being made sick
by a bath.

MORE UNIQUE CHARACTERS
I said in a former letter that Waverly, in the early days, had
several unique characters, and none of them was more interesting
than "Zeke" Ladd. In stature he was about five feet, and in weight
about one hundred pounds. His head was the shape of a cone, his
complexion as swarthy as that of a Spaniard; he was blind in one
eye, and by nature strictly religious. In manner he was deliberate
and simple as a child. He was the butt of many jokes. He fell
deeply in love with one of the fair damsels of Waverly who was very
much provoked at his attentions. The jokers soon understood how
matters were and determined to stop his annoying the lady and at
the same time have some sport at poor Ladd's expense. Word was
sent Ladd to the effect that the object of his heart's devotion was
ready to wed him, and would meet him at a given place from which

[ 26 .]

they would proceed to the court house where they would be "solemnly
united in the holy bonds of wedlock." In some manner some of the
lady's clothes were obtained and donned by one of the boys, and he
then proceeded to the appointed place of meeting. Ladd was over
joyed and the couple hurried to the court house where the ceremony
was duly performed in the presence of a goodly number of his friends
— the jokers. The poor fellow's disappointment was great indeed
when he discovered the prank that had been played upon him, but it
cured him of any further attentions to the lady. He never hesitated
to rebuke anybody whom he thought was irreverent or irreligious.
His scope of knowledge was very limited, his manner was quiet, sedate
and childish. In fact, he was innocent and harmless, but posed as
a biblical student of profound knowledge. The wags and mischievous
young fellows often plied him with questions about the teachings of
the Bible, for the purpose of drawing from him ,some of his queer
expositions. To see him strike an attitude of dignity when answering
questions was really mirth-provoking and laughable. No matter how
many might be cross-questioning him, they could not tangle him, for
he would stick to his own opinions like a hero, and when cornered in
an argument he ended it by saying, "I know it it so, for I read it in
the Book." The old stone school house was the Mecca of all knowledge, and
to it the "bunch" often resorted for general information. Zeke was
invited to occupy the rostrum to enlighten the public as to why he
so firmly stuck to the Bible as the only book of knowledge. He con
sented to accept the invitation and, of course, all the mischievous
fellows anticipated an evening of real sport, and accordingly all were
present. Zeke was at his best, in dead earnest, and as dignified as
a bishop. Dave Clark, as usual, was chairman of the meeting, and in
a highly complimentary address introduced the speaker, who was
greeted with hearty applause. Zeke, on taking the platform, stood in
silence for two or three minutes scanning the audience, then in a clear
voice announced his text: "But God hath chosen the foolish to con
found the wise." He mentioned his weakness and ignorance, and that
he stood beiore an audience of strong and wise men, and then, to the
surprise of all present, he rebuked scoffers and critics of the religion
he believed in. His manner was slow and deliberate, entirely
different from his style when talking on the street. The meeting was
a disappointment to the promoters of it, for they expected to have
an evening full of fun and sport, with Zeke as the central figure.
Among those present was "Squire" R. J. Ellsworth, a man noted
for his devotion to religious work; also Dave Milburn was present.
They were there more particularly to protect Zeke from the joking
and nagging of the bunch of mischievous young men. Speaking of
the meeting years afterwards, Squire Ellsworth declared he was
astonished at the cool and self-possessed deportment of Zeke, under
the trying situation. One of the astonishing features was the ap
propriate text the boy chose for the occasion — "But God hath chosen
the foolish to confound the wise."
Ever after this try-out, poor little Zeke was respected for his
[ 27 ]

calm and stubborn defense of his religious belief and faith. He was
a harmless, inoffensive little man, given to saying odd things, many
of which were really bright, or rather original, in connection with
his thoughts. He was dubbed "Ezekiel, the Prophet."
He was no more of a character than was his father, P. V. Ladd,
who was a one-legged man, fond of discussion and argument. He was
an intense republican, so partisan he could hardly be genteel toward
a democrat. To slur the republican party, or one of the party, was
to invite P. V. to fly to the defense. He would talk so loud and so
fast that his opponent could do no more than listen to him, and when
he had enough, pass on and leave P. V. roaring like an infuriated
lion. In fair weather his usual place was a seat on a box in front of
Hazlett's store. He and Zeke lived alone as long as they lived.
Another unique character of 1856 was "Jack of Clubs," whose
real name was Samuel McClure. He looked exactly like the picture
of Jack of Clubs on playing cards. He helped dig the stumps out of
Bremer avenue, under the direction of Mose Lehman. My recollection
is that Dow Hinton gave him the name of "Jack of Clubs" during the
time of digging out the stumps. Ever after he was best known by
that name. . He was loquatious, keen in repartee, and a good story
teller, and Mose said he was the best time killer on the job. Dow
said Jack could grunt the loudest and do the least of anyone on the
job. He was a good hater of England, and he and Jack Chandler
had to be kept wide apart, or they would spend all the time arguing
about what England did in the Revolution of 1776. Mose was careful
to put one of them at each end of the work. Chandler being the best
grubber, worked on the lower end, near where the east end of the
bridge now is located, because the largest stumps were there. When
we wanted a breathing spell, we would maneuver to get the two
Jacks together, which was certain to stop the work of all to listen,
until Mose would break loose with a lingo of Pennsylvania Dutch
profanity, ending with a threat to report the whole gang to Mr.
Harmon. This would stop all discussion and set the mattocks to
going. If all the funny incidents of digging out the hickory stumps
in Bremer avenue, from the court house to the river, could be collected
and put in a story, they would be side-splitting.

MARKETING, EDUCATIONAL AND RELIGIOUS
DIFFICULTIES
When spring came in May, 1857, after the hard winter I men
tioned, the pioneers set about planting all the broken land to crops.
The season was a propitious one and a very large crop was harvested.
Plenty, of the best, prevailed and the discouraged people took a new
reef in their belts and settled down to the belief that Iowa was
destined to be the best state in the Union.
Not all were so courageous, for many sold what they had for
what they could get, gathered their household stuff together, turned
[ 28 ]

their backs upon the country, with their faces set for the homes of
their wives' folks, east of the Mississippi, denouncing the "awful"
climate and the bleak prairies as fit only for Indians, wolves and snow
birds. Some others would have gone but could not because of poverty ;
they stayed with intention of going as soon as able to do so. But
the bumper crop changed their purposes, and afterwards they re
joiced that they could not run away.
As an evidence of the tenacity of the winter, it hung on until
about the first of May. In the middle of the month snow was plenty
in the low places, about buildings and hay stacks. On the 4th of
July my brothers and I dug from under hay back of father's cattle
sheds an abundance of clean, white snow of sufficient quantity, so we
had a snow balling game.
Corn was not planted until about the first of June, but the crop
was a good one of sound corn. The fall was fine and lasted until
about the first of December. The experience of the preceding winter
caused the settlers to make preparations to meet a like one, which
established confidence in the worth of the country.
The only handicap was the lack of markets for the surplus of
production. The nearest railroad was at Dunleith, opposite of
Dubuque, now East Dubuque. Not only this, but the cordon of ap
proaching hard times had begun to tighten up money, which paralyzed
the markets. The gold and silver was disappearing so fast that the
dearth "of a circulating medium affected all lines of business. Not a
man in a hundred knew then what it meant, but the lesson was well
learned before business times were better, of which I may speak in
the future. The lack of school facilities was seriously felt by families having
children. At that time there was not a school house in Lafayette
township, nor a place for public worship. A meeting of the citizens
was called to meet at the house of William Van Diver, now known
as the Peter White place, to consider how a school could be opened.
At the meeting were present Samuel Cave, Judson Hall, Edward
Fairhurst, Samuel Leese, Parker Lucas, W. V. Lucas, John Skinner,
Scoville Shattuck, John Wile and W. M. Colton. Parker Lucas was
elected chairman and myself secretary. The situation was gone over
carefully and it was unanimously agreed that a winter session of
school ought to be had. But a suitable place to have a school was
lacking. Mr. Van Diver had a log stable near his house, 20x30 feet
in size, which he suggested might be fixed up for a school room. The
whole bunch repaired to the stable to inspect it as a future Mecca,
from whence knowledge might flow. After, as a Sioux Indian would
say, "a heap big talk," it was decided the stable could be metamor
phosed from a place to herd stock, to one in which the growing and
future men and women of the neighborhood could be herded com
fortably. No sooner was the decision reached than committees were
appointed to put the stable in order. The cracks between the, logs
were "chinked" and daubed with clay mortar. Seats were made from
slabs procured at Harmon's saw mill in Waverly. Writing desks were
made by boring auger holes in the logs on the north side of the
[ 29 ]

building into which strong bearers were inserted, a standard resting
on the new slab floor supporting the other end. Upon these bearers
was fitted a 24-inch wide basswood slab gotten from the saw mill,
with the upper side carefully planed and polished by Uncle Samuel
Dirks, a confirmed old bachelor, who said in his Dutch lingo, "I haf
no shilder, put I fix him up gude for de poys and gals, py golly,
mit out pay." It was a dandy writing desk, and was dubbed "Uncle
Sam" by the pupils. Samuel Cave had a large old-fashioned cast
iron stove he had brought to the country when he came, but had
never used it for lack of room to set up the "steamboat," as the
school boys called it. It was just the thing to warm up the old
stable, then to be a school house.
By the first of December all the preliminaries were arranged
except a shutter for the doors. This was delayed and when the school
opened, the door was still unprovided, and a heavy carpet, loaned
by my mother, was improvised to cover the entrance. It served the
purpose so well, the managers did not provide a wooden door during
the term, but before the next winter's school this defect was cured
by a wooden door. The next important item was a teacher and by
unanimous vote I was elected to the place. It is my belief I taught
the first school in Lafayette township. I had 35 pupils enrolled and
an average attendance of nearly the full number. Among my pupils
were Philip Cave, now a well-known veteran of the Civil War, Mrs.
Esther Raymond, now of Floyd, who in later years was a teacher
in the schools of Waverly; Mrs. J. L. Rew, my sister, Amos Hall,
the Leese boys, the Shattuck girls, the others I do not rtow recall,
but all of whom grew up to be honored and useful citizens of the
community. At the old log stable school house were many gatherings
of the citizens at spelling schools, singing schools, polemics or de
bating schools, and political caucuses.
In the spring of 1858 Rev. James ^killen established regular
monthly preaching service, and occasionally Elder Burrington and
other ministers preached in the old school house. A Sabbath school
was organized of which my aunt, Mrs. W. R. Lucas, was super
intendent. This, I am certain, was the first Sunday school organized
in the township, and to it came each Sunday nearly all the people
of the neighborhood. Peace and harmony prevailed and a friendliness
existed that is pleasant to recall. All were on an equality and all
committed to the purpose of developing and making the county as
great as nature intended it should be. As I recall the names of the
grown-up people of the neighborhood, then residents, not one is living
now except Calvin S. Colton. Cal was a dashing young beau then,
and did not mix much with the young people of the neighborhood,
but found his associates in town, where he was well acquainted and
popular. In 1859 a new frame school house was finished. It was located
north of the present home of Peter White, and was intended to be
used for school purposes and all public meetings. It was the church
building for a good many years, and the rallying place of political
parties. Able sermons and political addresses were heard within its
[ 30 ]

walls. It was dedicated on July 4th, 1859, which was the coldest
Fourth ever known, I think, in that part of the state. The morning
was a dark, cloudy one. About ten o'clock snow fell for a half hour
or so until the ground was white. The temperature was down so low
that the people who came to the school house' wore their winter
wraps. The house was packed full of people, a roaring fire was
going in the big stove (the "steamboat" of the log house), tables were
spread with food, good cheer reigned, except some misgivings as
to what would happen to the growing crops. But about the middle
of the afternoon the sun shone clear, the temperature rose rapidly
and the evening was soft and warm and all danger passed. It was
a happy day after all and another danger was passed.

HARD TIMES IN 1859
The spring of 1859 found the pioneers of Iowa facing hard times,
such as they had not heretofore met. The preceding wet year not
only destroyed the growing crops, but as I have said, leaky granaries
had spoiled nearly all the wheat garnered from the good crop of 1857.
What little wheat not spoiled, was used for seed, this leaving only
a small amount for bread. Those who had more than enough for
seed for their own use generously supplied their neighbors who had
none, this they did without considering the prospects of pay. It was
a case of all standing together or all starving together. We had
reached a period when bread was a serious question with scores of
families. Corn had kept better than wheat or oats but there was
a scarcity of that article of food. Economy was practiced to the limit
for if a crop failure should come that year the wisest person could
not tell what would be the result. But by dividing what was available
for seed all were able to put in crops on all the tillable land. The
season opened auspiciously, and a bumper crop was the prize all over
the country. The struggle with most of the people was to tide over
from spring until the gardens began to yield supplies. In the interim
the faithful cow and hen were indispensible allies. Cornmeal mush and
rich milk was a standard diet in every family, and in some the only
food, except occasionally on a Sunday wheat bread was served as a
luxury, yet all families could not have even that plain and palatable
food. The housewives learned the art of making corn bread such as
few now know how to do. No people ever worked harder or more
anxiously. From dawn to dark they toiled, and watched every plant
grow with a lump in the throat for fear some insurmountable turn in
their progress might occur, for upon a successful crop hung the
future. In short, the crop was a success which insured plenty to eat
and revived hopes for the future. Indeed it was the turning point
in the history of Iowa, for from that year until this not a backward
step has been taken by the grand old state.
To solve the question of sweets, sorghum cane was introduced and
planted generously. In the fall, J. M. Moss manufactured all the cane
[ 31 ]

taken to his mill in Waverly, on the place where the Acken brick
house now stands, in the northeast part of town. Jim could make
good substitute molasses, but did not reach the art of making sugar.
But the syrup filled the bill for sweets until better days came. For
clothing in these trying days, all wore patched garments, or any old
thing, for dress. Good health and grit tided us over, until a change
came. But the present citizens and generation can never comprehend
the real hardships borne by the pioneers of Bremer county. Those
who went thru the days I have mentioned will testify that I have not
magnified the trials and hardships.
My regret is so few are left, for as far as I know the survivors
can be counted on the fingers of one's two hands. Some have removed
to other communities but most of them sleep under the sod of the
county they struggled so hard to make great.
My own experiences and struggles are better known by me than
that of others and yet my knowledge and observation warranted me
in saying, they differed from others only in detail.
I was not nearly so well fixed to maintain such a struggle as
some of my neighbors, for they had a reserve to- fall back upon while
I had only my hands and good health, with a wife and two children
dependent upon me. So when you have read my experience you have
before you that of scores of others of the pioneers of Iowa. My
school closed in early March and at once I began the spring work.
I had 60 acres of fine land to plant to crops, but was handicapped
for seed. John Wile, a neighbor, and one of the best men I ever
knew, divided seed wheat with me so I sowed 20 acres to that crop,
10 acres to oats and reserved 25 acres for corn and 5 for potatoes,
beans and truck in general. From daylight until dark I worked to
get the ground ready for the sowing of small grain which I accom
plished in splendid condition. Then I tackled the job of making rails
enough to fence a part of the ground, I made about 5000. On my
timber tract were 61 large sugar maple trees, which wife and I
decided should be used to help us out. I made, with an axe, sap
troughs out of basswood trees, spiles out of sumac, all growing among
the maples. I improvised a dirt furnace, borrowed three large kettles
from my neighbors, and was ready for the manufacture of sugar by
the time the sap would flow. I secured four 50-gallon barrels for
storing sap, piled up a lot of wood and waited for the season to open.
Our house was only a half mile from the timber and my work of
making rails was very near the furnace I had built, thus it will be
seen I had all my work close together. My brave and faithful little
wife decided she would move to camp during the day with our two
boys, and tend the fires under the kettles.
When the time came I tapped the trees and the sap flowed in
bounteous streams. She and the boys came to camp and the sugar
making was on. I carried her rocking chair and some blankets to
the camp. She kept the kettles roaring, I lugged the sap to the
barrels as often as the troughs were filled, kept the wood pile re
plenished and she kept the fires going. In the intervals I kept at the
rail making and by the time the sugar season closed I had all the
[ 32 ]

GEO. M. FOSTER ALBERT COLE
W. H. TYRRELL COL. W. V. LUCAS (Editor) HARRY HAZLETT
Waverly Pioneer Printers

rails I wanted. To this day is imprinted in my mind the picture of
my heroic little wife setting quietly in her rocking chair, her fingers
busy knitting stockings for our boys, with one foot she rocked a
trough cradle I hewed out of a basswood log, while in it snugly
ensconed was our baby boy of five months of age, now Hon. A. B.
Lucas, of the Idaho legislature, and editor of the Meadows Eagle,
her eyes watching the fires under the kettles. As she rocked back
and forth I could hear her singing snatches of old hymns, or a lullaby
for the baby. When the fires ran low she would lay aside the stocking,
put more wood in the furnace, replenish the kettles with fresh sap
and then drop into her chair, pick up the knitting, resume her rocking
the trough cradle and resume the singing which seemed to be a part
of the play of the drama of life she was acting. Often would she
turn her face toward me as I drove the iron wedges and wooden glut
thru the big logs, producing rails to fence our field. The picture is
crude and may not mean much, or anything, to the reader, but to me it
is more attractive and precious than the best one ever painted upon
the canvass by Angelo, Raphael or any other artist of fame or renown.
It is a reminder of our mutual efforts to get a start in life. It is a
reminder of the heroism of a plain and earnest woman to win a home
and its comforts. Never a complaint or a sign of surrender to the
difficulties with which we were contending. In the after years as we
recounted our struggles we would end it all by agreeing that hard as
they were, the happiest day of our lives were those which at the time
seemed the darkest. Within a mile or so of the scene of what I have
described she rests, awaiting a more "abundant life." To me the
shrine of her rest is a sacred one and to it I am bound by a golden
thread of affection. The result of our sugar making was, we put away
more than 300 pounds of grained sugar and 50 gallons of molasses.
Later I traded 50 pounds of sugar to W. P. Harmon for 200 pounds
of his best wheat flour and 50 pounds of buckwheat flour. From
that day ever afterwards the spector of hunger and want disappeared
from our home.
What happened to us substantially happened to all our neighbors,
while they did not make sugar, they did something else as valuable
to help them in the way of prosperity and security against want.
Here for the benefit of the fisherman in the Cedar river I will tell a
fish story. Our house was located about fifteen rods from the bank of
the river which was swarming with fish. 1 kept a rod and fish line
resting against the stable. When we wanted a fish for dinner I
would come from the field a half hour or so early, put out my team,
grab the fish pole, strike for a deep hole in the river nearby, and as
I went, pick up a grasshopper or two, of which there were plenty,
bait the hook and when I reached the "hole," cast the line,
haul out a fish. If it was a black bass of about two pounds,
would strike for the house, if it happened to be a pike, pickerel or
small bass, cast it back and reach for one of my choice. Rarely did
I fail to get what I wanted on the second trial. We were such
epicures we spurned all but black bass. In about fifteen or twenty
minutes from the time I started for the river, a royal fish would be
(2) [ 33 ]

in the pan. I never thot then fish would be scarce in the Cedar.
"Dutch" John Smith had a good deal to do with clearing the fish out
of the river, for I suppose he caught more fish out of the Cedar
than any one man in Bremer county, and he could catch fish when
the ordinary man could not get a nibble.
The very big crop of the fall of 1859 was a problem to the
farmers because of no market. Many hauled loads of wheat to
Dubuque, but thirty-five or forty cents was all they could get for it,
and that in store pay, as no cash entered into such deals.
Theodore Hazlett conceived the project of feeding a bunch of
cattle, and rented a part of the Hess farm, south of town, now known
as the George R. Dean place (now W. W. Brooks), for feeding
grounds. He had trusted about everybody during the hard times.
To collect some of the sums due him he advertised to take cattle and
hogs as well as corn, paying the difference in goods out of his store.
In this way he assembled more than a hundred head of cattle and
as many hogs. Corn poured in on him until he had to cut off all
purchases and confine himself to his debtors. This enterprise of Mr.
Hazlett enabled scores of people to pay their debts and get something
besides for their surplus. It was the first thing of the kind ever
attempted in Bremer county and resulted in relieving the farmers of
debts and enabling Hazlett to collect long standing accounts. He had
been a benefactor to the people, for he trusted people in distress
when nobody else could do so, even if willing. I hauled 400 bushels
of corn to his feed yards and paid a fifty dollar debt and got ten
dollars' worth of goods from his store. It was the best thing that
had struck the country for it was a home market. Scores of men
paid debts and had corn, as* well as cattle and hogs left. Mr. Hazlett
did well with his fat cattle which were driven on foot to Dubuque,
sold there and shipped to the Chicago market, the first products of
Bremer county to enter the stock market.

WHAT HAPPENED TO SOME OF THE NEW
TOWNS
Spring Lake post office was established in the spring of 1856
with Edward Fairhurst as postmaster. The name was suggested by
the existence of numerous springs gushing out of the north bank
of a bayou that juts back from the Cedar river. When the state road
was straightened out on the half section line, Fairhurst's house was
left several rods east of the road, then the post office location was
changed to Samuel Cave's home, near the school house, and he was
appointed postmaster and retained the office until it was discontinued
after the close of the Civil war.
In 1857 Fairhurst conceived the idea of starting a town upon the
tract of ground directly east of where Irma station is located. Wm.
M. Stephensen bought a steam saw mill plant and set it up, and got
[ 34 ]

ready to work up logs into lumber, when he awoke to the fact that
an impassable gulf lay between the mill and the timber in the presence
of old Cedar river. A few logs were brought over on the ice in the
winter, but in the absence of a bridge of ice, logs could not be gotten
to the mill. The result was that in 1859 the mill was removed to
the east side of the river and set up on Section 16, were it remained
many years. In addition to the mill Fairhurst secured a blacksmith
shop with Erastus L. Bruner as the son of St. Vulcan, to pound the
iron. When the mill was removed the town site scheme fell down,
and Bruner departed with his kit of tools. In 1883 when I went to
Dakota, I was in Bridgewater one time and met Bruner, whom I had
not seen or heard from after he left Spring Lake in 1860 until I
met him there.
Another town site scheme and saw mill to be run by water power
was evolved and promoted by J. M. Moss, Dr. Oscar Burbank and
Alf. P. Goddard in 1858 on the banks of the Cedar on a part of the
old Mason Eveland farm. A dam was built which was swept out soon
after its completion and rebuilt again and a saw mill was put into
operation for a short time. A town was laid out and given the
euphoneous name of Yell City. L. B. Ostrander and Samuel Pratt
located there with great expectations. A post office was established
with Ostrander as postmaster. He was also elected justice of the
peace. Pratt was acting mayor, town site agent, public dictionary
or information bureau. The location was nearly inaccessible, away
off from all thoros of travel. If the saw mill had been a success it
would have had a good business, but for some reason every move to
improve it failed and at last the promoters gave up poorer than when
they started. Its failure drove Alf. Goddard out of the county which
was a distinct loss to Waverly.
When the second dam went out, Doc Burbank, on being rallied
by a bunch of his cronies, declared he had a damn that had never
failed him when needed to express his opinion of such loafers as
was then teasing him about Yell City and added, "We made a
mistake in naming the place. We should have used (H) instead of
'Y' in the front of the name."
Another scheme for a town was tried by Silas Farr in 1855 at
a spot about a mile or less, north of the present site of Plainfield.
The name is all that was left of it after about two years or so,
which was later appropriated by the present beautiful town. In the
efforts to do something to develop the country and add to its in
dustries many suggestions were made. Mr. Farr decided he would
start a distillery and use up the surplus corn and barley. It was
generally believed to be a solution of the corn market question, and
as far as I recollect not much, if any, objection was made to the
enterprise. Accordingly the plant was put in and for a little while
was operated. The disappointment came when the farmers discovered
that such a plant would need but a little corn to make a "heap" of
whisky, not only so but the tendency of the institution was to attract
men from their homes to it, where they loafed and idled away their
time, if nothing worse happened. Mr. Farr was a good citizen and
[ 35 ]

of good morals, and he discovered the mistake he had made and
shut the plant up. He lost all the means he had, in the effort to do
something for the country, and for years he struggled to recover
from his embarrassments financially. He lived many years in the
beautiful valley where he had settled in 1855 and named it Plainfield,
which clings to it to this day.
Another town site scheme was started and promoted a mile or
so farther north about the same time by J. H. Woodcock and W. N.
Gaines and was called Syracuse. The latter built a large hotel and
kept it for several years. It was located on a very sightly spot and
in its youth promised to be some town. But like many other pioneer
enterprises it was prematurely born; born before the country could
support it. No town can go faster than the surroundings will sup
port. Both Woodcock and Gaines spent much of their capital in try
ing to make Syracuse a successful town. The former died many years
ago and the last I knew about Mr. Gaines he lived near Janesville on
a farm. Both were splendid citizens.
Harvey Hutchins bought the hotel in the early 60's and kept it
open for several years, but finally quit because of lack of patronage.

BOOM SPIRIT STRIKES BREMER COUNTY AND
TOWNS ARE ESTABLISHED
In the preceding article I spoke of the attempts of the pioneers
to locate and build up towns on the west side of the Cedar river.
The boom spirit was abroad then as now, not so much for individual
profit as to improve the conditions of the country, and to develop its
resources. As I then said, the original Plainfield was intended to be
a half or three-quarters of a mile north of the present location.
Silas Farr lacked the aggressive and snappy qualities necessary for
leadership in an enterprise of town building. He was a calm, quiet
and retiring man by nature, sincere and honest in his way of doing
things. If he had been possessed of the push and energy of W. P.
Harmon, he would, perhaps, have built up a smart village where he
began. In 1858 E. J. Dean arrived in the county and bought the quarter
section of land on which Plainfield now stands. He owned it when
the Illinois Central railroad came poking along in 1867, headed for
St. Paul. After a good deal of dickering between the town site
agent and Dean, the station was located where it now is. It was
Ephraim's golden opportunity, but his estimate of the situation was
so high that he failed to reap the harvest he expected, and the result
was he got at logger-heads with the road, to the detriment of both,
and lost out. Dean was a man of much learning, a book man, but
utterly impractical. His final career was spectacular and in a sense
a living tragedy. After his election to the legislature he lost all
interest in everything else outside of politics, and in that line he was
a total failure. He turned up in Dakota in about 1885 and located
[ 36 ]

in Jerauld county, some fifty miles from where I lived, and soon was
engaged in a contest suit for a quarter section of land, that became
very notorious all over that section of the country. He had no more
than a poor technical right to the land at best. At his request, I
looked up his rights, and advised him to drop the case, because the
law and the facts precluded him from winning. For this he declared
I was in the combination to beat him out of the land. That was all
the pay that I got. His antagonist was a hot-blooded Irishman, who
threatened to use a shillelah on Dean. The case ran the gamut
through the land courts to the secretary of the interior, each one
turning Dean down. When the final decision was reached he stub
bornly refused to abandon his "shack" in which he had lived on one
corner of the land at the time of the litigation, which lasted five
years. After the final decision was made and the parties notified,
instead of accepting the decision in good faith, Dean, like a contrary
setting hen, went back to his nest, where Mitchell, his opponent, found
him next day. Then the shotgun entered into the case, with the wild
Irishman at the trigger. He gave Dean five hours to get his traps
out of the shack and leave the premises, which he did; Mitchell
burned the shack, and the war was over.
There is a long story connected with Dean's subsequent career,
how he landed in Washington in 1894, married an adventuress there,
who believed Ephraim was a rich man, while he believed she was not
only rich but also a titled lady; how they decided to make a wedding
trip to the Pacific coast, and when they reached Portland, Ore., the
bubble burst, for they were stranded, neither one had a dollar, etc.,
etc.; but as it does not enter into my story of pioneer days any
further, I will drop Dean at this point.
July 4, 1858, was celebrated by all the people of Bremer county
on the west side of the Cedar in a grove near the river between
Plainfield and Syracuse. The day was an ideal one, and a big crowd,
for those days, assembled. The orator was Rev. A. K. Moulton, who
at that time held the office of county superintendent of schools. He
was a college man with a theologic finish, and was an orator above
the average. I am not certain which church he represented, but I
believe it was the Free Will Baptist. In those days the slavery
question was prominent and nearly always provoked discussion. It
was an issue in political parties, and to preserve harmony and peace,
it was forbidden, by an unwritten law, to enter into its discussion upon
non-political occasions. But Mr. Moulton was a positive man and
a rank abolitionist, and never a dodger. On this occasion he turned
his batteries upon slavery, and incidentally upon all who did not
believe in the abolition of the system of human bondage. In his
discussion of the Kansas and Nebraska situation at that time, he
arraigned the democratic party and held it responsible for the exist
ence of the iniquitous institution. His arguments were logical, clean
cut, passionate and eloquent, yet kindly and impersonal. In his
audience were a lot of democrats who were infuriated over his ad
dress, and at its close debates and arguments were heard all over the
grove. He had stirred up a hornet's nest, which seemed to please him
[ 37 ]

very much more than to disturb him. It was a great day for the
pioneers. The anti-slavery men were pleased, and chuckled over the
oration. The sequel of it was at the election in the fall of 1859,
when Mr. Moulton was defeated by George T. Sayles, a democrat.
As to the qualifications of the two men for the office, Moulton was
infinitely the better man, while Sayles was very ordinary in ability,
limited in education, and lacking in all respects to make the best
superintendent of schools. But the democrats were determined to de
feat Moulton for his 4th of July address at Syracuse grove.
Mr. Moulton left the county soon after the expiration of his term
of office. Where he went or what his subsequent services were, I
never knew. His home, while in Bremer county, was in Sumner town
ship, or Le Roy, as I recollect.
While I am about it, I may as well speak of the old towns of the
county. Horton was located in 1855, I think, and the town plat was
filed December 6, 1856. It became the center of population in Polk
township, east of the Cedar. Such prominent citizens of the county
as J. H. Eldredge, 0. C. Harrington, Lyman Nutting, the dean of
them all, Charles R. Hastings, Chauncey Lease, Elder David Terry,
Joseph Smith, and others whom I do not recall just now were the
men who gave tone and standing to Horton as a center. It never
grew into much of a town, but was at all times a substantial unit of
Bremer county, as I suppose it is today.
Jefferson City, now Denver, is an old town, laid out, I think, in
1854, by Jeremiah Farris, who was county judge for four or six years.
It maintained its identity on the map as a town, and beautifully held
its own among the smartweed, burdock and cockle burs for years.
It was the center of population for that section of the county, and
noted for being the home town of Matthew Farrington, Fred Bruns,
Squire J. S. Jenkins and Derillo Holmes, who built the flouring mill
there and operated it until after the close of the Civil War, also of
Aleck Fleming and Squire Meeker, both unique characters, the first
because of his devotion and loyalty to the school of "yerb" medicine,
and the latter for persisting in always wearing a high-crowned silk
hat and a pigeon-tailed coat. Thaddeus Keeley always declared that
Squire's plug hats were of the vintage of King George's reign, and
that Squire had only had one or two of the brand in his life time.
Jefferson City was located nearer to the site of the original white
settlers of the county than any other town. Charles McCaffree was
the pioneer of all pioneers of Bremer county. The history of his
coming and location, including the hardships he and his family en
dured, has been told so often and so much, better than I can tell it
that I will pass it by. It is enough for me to say he was pre-eminently
fitted and qualified for the mission of beginning the work of subduing
and opening up a new country. He was a courageous, sincere, honest
and industrious man. His family partook of all the good qualities
he possessed, and were worthy of such a husband and father. Some
of his posterity remain in or near the county yet, I believe, and are
worthy of the illustrious original pioneer.
[ 38 ]

Very soon after McCaffree's location came the Messingers and
the Tibbetts, all the right sort of people to start a country to grow
in the right direction.
The first postoffice located in the country was "Nautrille." When
the line between Bremer and Blackhawk counties was established, the
postoffice was found to be in the latter county. At this period all
the land was in what was known as neutral territory, for the Indian
title had not yet been established. The necessity for a postoffice
was apparent and when the department asked them to suggest a
name, they agreed that "Neutral" would be very appropriate, and
accordingly forwarded it. Just who conducted the correspondence
has never been clearly settled, so far as I know, but in writing the
name he spelled it "Nautrille" instead of "Neutral." The postoffice
department accepted the name and its orthography, and established
the office, which remained till some time about 1860, when it was
discontinued. I do not know who the first postmaster was or the
exact location of the office, nor do I pretend to know any of the facts
relative to the naming of the postoffice from personal knowledge,
but give them as I often heard them related in later years by those
who did know them.
About the little town were grouped many of the most substantial
pioneers of the county. When my company was organized for the
Civil War, a large contingent of it were boys of the town, and in
honor of them and the town the name of "Jefferson Guards" was
given the company. I have to this day a roster of the company in a
frame and I prize it very highly. It is a printed sheet, highly em
bellished with patriotic designs at the head. The list of officers and
men is printed in alphabetical order. I have kept it marked up to
the present, showing the disposition of each man. Today 15 names
remain on it as living, out of the original 110. I often wonder which
will be the sole survivor of the — to me — best company in the army
of the Tennessee. Three of the 15 reside in the old town, now Den
ver, viz: Guy C. Farnsworth, Christian Mohling, and Alex F. Nicol;
two others, John J. Chadwick and John B. Kerr, of the old company,
live in Tripoli. These five are all that are left in the county and one-
third of the whole number who survive.
Another old town in the county was Martinsburg, now Tripoli.
In 1855 Asa T. Martin settled on what afterwards became the town-
site and was called Martinsburg. The country between that place and
Waverly was a wilderness of tall grass with only one house between
the places. On the north line of Warren township in the northeast
corner of the township, William H. Cook located and built a large
house, for those days, and painted it white. For miles in all directions
it stood out as a signal that civilization was dawning upon the waste
between the Cedar and Wapsie rivers.
Mr. Martin built a commodious home, for the times, and before
he knew, or intended, he had a hotel for all travel between Waverly,
by way of West Union, to McGregor. Soon after he put up a saw
mill and a corn cracker grinder. Both did a good business, and his
house was often crowded with people who were traveling. His home,
[ 39 ]

like a cemetery, had to accept all who came, for there was no place
else for miles where people could stop.
Not long after Mr. Martin located, Eli Eisenhart arrived and
opened a store, as did also Jonathan A. Hale. Both carried a general
line of goods, and kept everything from patent medicines to farming
tools. At a later date Chris Wilharm put up a wagon shop, with all
necessary attachments, and carried on a paying business, and E. S.
Ober had a blacksmith shop. Martinsburg was the center and rallying
spot for all that section of the county, and noted for county conven
tions of all parties. At such times Asa T. fed all who came,
and all were equally welcome. He was not half as careful to collect
bills as he was to make everybody comfortable, and Mrs. Martin and
her girls could wait on more people and serve better meals than
anybody else in the county at that time. For years the Martin home
was a hotel because its doors were never closed to the needy. Only
one class was barred. The fellow who carried the smell of "booze"
about him could not dwell under the roof of Asa T. Martin's home,
or eat at his table, no matter how much he would pay; all others
could do so, whether they could pay or not, and were welcome. He
was the original prohibitionist of Bremer county, and often predicted
that the time would come when national prohibition would prevail.
The signs of the times point to him as a true prophet. About the
town settled many of the most substantial men among the pioneers,
men who made and directed public opinion. I need but mention such
men as Uncle Dave Gillett, the Lester's, Chapin's, Rima's, Waiting's,
Buckman, Shively, Turk and some other equally prominent, whose
names do not occur to me now. The name of the postoffice was
Tripoli, because a Martinsburg was already established in the south
ern part of the state.
From 1875 to 1885 Martinsburg, or Old Tripoli, was the Mecca
each year for the political conventions of all those who were opposed
to the rule of the republican majority which during these years was
quite large in Bremer county.
Here came the democrat, the anti-monopoly, the greenback and
the conventions of those who, regardless of party ties, did not approve
of some of the nominees of the republicans. These latter were called
"people's conventions."
Many exciting times and amusing scenes occurred at and near
these conventions. All kinds of parliamentary tricks were employed
to win for one or the other side in some question in dispute.
On one occasion some republicans were dissatisfied with one or
more of their nominees and a people's convention was called to meet
at Martinsburg at the same time that the democratic convention was
called for. In the first named convention there was a division of
sentiment over the advisability of uniting with democrats in nominat
ing a "fusion" ticket. The discussions were warm and exciting.
Those who were opposed to joining with the democrats, were
led by J. H. Eldredge, a republican war-horse of no mean ability.
In the preliminary skirmish he won out by succeeding in naming the
officers of the convention, and when it came to a vote on a motion
[ 40 ]

to unite with democrats, the president declared the motion lost. The
other side took exception to his ruling and called for a "division of
the house." Just at this point the democratic convention adjourned
and some of the members came in and when informed of what was
going on lined up on the side of those who were in favor of the
motion and Eldredge was beaten, much to his chagrin and the delight
of those who enjoyed teasing him.
On another occasion, while the conventions were in session a
dispute occurred on the street outside the meetings, in which several
blows were struck and some blood was shed. After the conventions
had adjourned, the friends of the disputants took sides and engaged
in a "free-for-all" fight in the principal street. During the fight,
which was "fast and furious," the then sheriff of the county drove
through the thick of the fight without trying to put a stop to it,
much to the disgust of the onlookers. On one side of the street, where
the fight occurred were several wagons on which were wood racks.
After some time there was a lull in the fighting and the combatants
sprang to the wood racks and each grabbed a stake with the inten
tion of renewing the strife. Had this occurred there can be little
doubt, some of them would have been seriously injured, if not killed,
but just then Eli Eisenhart, who was a justice of the peace, com
manded peace, and the fighters, realizing the seriousness of the
situation, were glad to obey his orders.
In time a railroad came thru from Dubuque and located their
town site upon the present site of Tripoli. This road was named
the Dubuque and Dakota, and for short was called the D. & D. On
account of the irregularity of its trains it was often spoken of as
the "D  ed Doubtful."
Tripoli is a good town and prosperous, because the country is
ahead of the town, as I am informed. No part of the county had a
sturdier or more solid set of pioneers than did that about old Mar
tinsburg, now Tripoli.
When I call the roll of the long list of pioneers of Martinsburg,
I don't think of a single survivor of 1856 to 1860. I refer, of course,
to those who emigrated to this place.

To leave the town of Le Roy out of the enumeration of the list
of towns would be to leave Hamlet out of the play. Le Roy was
started as a hopeful town by John S. Bingham in 1856 or 1857.
Whether it had high hopes of growing into a "smart" town or not
is not known to me. I do know that Squire Bingham was proud
of its name and jealous as to its right to be reckoned as one of the
promising villages of the county. It was his idol for some time and
he devoted much of his attention to its interests and sought to build
up a center of interest in it as a rallying point for a large section
of the splendid country about it. How it gained the soubriquet, or
nickname, of "Pin Hook" I don't know. I do know it vexed the
[ 41 ]

righteous soul of the townsite proprietor sorely. To call his town
"Pin Hook" was to stir his wrath to the boiling point. The more he
protested, the more generally the nickname was used, so generally,
in fact, that Le Roy was nearly forgotten. I believe the height of its
greatness never attained more than a postoffice, a store, a blacksmith
shop and a few loafers' benches for use in summer. Squire Bingham
was a dignified and imposing looking New Englander with pronounced
opinions in his religious and political faiths. He was a radical anti-
slavery man and a republican, as well as a prohibitionist. His willing
ness to discuss those questions invited fellows who wanted to tease
him to double teams on him at times and keep him busy for hours.
As in other portions of the county, many of the solidest men among
the pioneers settled within a few miles about Le Roy and, of course,
the embryo town was the center toward which all gravitated both
socially and neighborly. Among those most prominent were Ezekiel
Fay, E. E. Fay, Adam Broadie, Ephraim Watenpaugh, A. S. Funston,
Pat Burke and others. Funston was as ardent a democrat as Bingham
was a republican, and each was the leader of his party in the neigh
borhood. They often clashed, but in a general way got along well
together. So far as I know, Ephraim Watenpaugh is the only sur
vivor of the early pioneers about Le Roy.
Another valuable improvement was started in 1857 by John H.
Henry, at the present site of the town of Frederika. He began the
work of constructing a dam across the Wapsie river and the building
of a grist mill, which was what the settlers needed more than almost
anything else. Mr. Henry had many difficulties to overcome before
he reached success. He was a man of purpose and determination, as
well as untiring industry. He had much trouble to secure a. dam
that would stand, the pressure of the floods, but the defect of one
effort only whetted his determination to conquer all obstacles and
build a mill, as he had started to do. A man of less courage and will
power would have thrown up the sponge and quit, but not so with
John H. Henry. He stuck to the enterprise until he won out, and
"Henry's Mills" became well known all over the country. The com
pletion of his mill enterprise was a victory for him and of much
value to that section of the county.
Sometimes pessimists said that John Henry was a dreamer and
a crank on the mill business. Time proved he had a vision clear to
himself, tho obscure to the public, and he proved a benefactor to his
neighbors. He wore himself out in the work of completing his mill
scheme, was hard up most of the time while carrying out his original
purpose, but in his last days he was happy over his victory. Mr.
Henry was a sincere and honest man and a good citizen; as it is
written, "His works do follow him." Later on a smart and pretty
town grew up near the mill site as a monument to his energy and
persistent efforts. I don't know whether the mill property remains
active or whether it has gone as most country mills have, into "innocu
ous desenetude." At any rate, "Henry's Mill" served its purpose
well in its day, [ 42 ]

Another effort was made to build a mill on the Wapsie in Frank
lin township in 1857. The work was begun by Ichabod Richman and
the location was near the center of the township. Ichabod spent all
the money he had, or could get, and wore himself out in the effort
to build a mill such as he had in mind. But the gravity of the river
was not sufficient to afford sufficient power, and the surrounding
country was so flat and level that it was impractical to reach his
place much of the year. After wearing himself out and spending
all his means, he was forced to surrender his scheme and write
"Ichabod." But he stuck to his purpose until the beginning of the
Civil War. When I was recruiting for my company, he insisted on
enlisting. He was past the age, but strong and vigorous, and con
trary to my advice he enrolled and went with the company into camp
at Davenport. There he was rejected by the examining surgeon,
much to his disappointment and to my regret, for he was a man of
sturdy character, with balanced mind and high morals, just such a
one as was needed to help hold the irrepressible boys in line for
discipline and gentility. At that time the "Gray-beard" regiment was
being recruited in which none below the age of 45 years were accepted.
He enlisted in it and went south when it was organized some time
later. I never saw him after he left us at Davenport, but I learned
after we returned home that good Ichabod died while in the service
at Memphis. He was as good and sincere a man as I ever knew.
I never think of him, even at this late date, without a feeling of
sympathy for him welling up in my heart. His life was one of trials,
hardships, and disappointments, all of which he endured quietly and
cheerfully, as could be possible under such circumstances. His aims
and purposes in life were all good, but because of lack of sound
judgment he failed to measure up to his ideals and lost out. He was
full of patriotism and became a soldier at the period of life when he
should have been enjoying the fruit of patient toil and honest effort
to accumulate enough to tide him over to the end. His wife passed
away, leaving him, the lone oak of the family, to end a disappointed
life. He laid down his life wearing the blue uniform of a soldier.
He often said that his name, "Ichabod," was a sign manual of failure.

LAFAYETTE TOWNSHIP PIONEERS
Coming back to Lafayette township and going over the list of
the pioneers who settled in it in 1855 and 1856, I cannot think of a
single one who remains in it, and only of Calvin S. Colton, who was
a mature man at that time. Philip Cave, Jacob Eveland and Angeline
Stufflebeam (now his wife) were just budding into manhood and
womanhood, and all lived at the old homes of "Dad and Mam" and
they are all that I know of who still survive. "Jake and Angie" yet
live in the old township, I believe. (Note: Mrs. Eveland died since
this was written.)
Among the well-known pioneers of the township in those early
"days, none was known better or more favorably than Reverend James
[ 43 ]

Skillen, whose farm was in the northeast corner of the township.
He toiled early and late to subdue and open up his farm every working
day of the week, and would go somewhere every Sunday in the nearby
country and preach to the people. He was not only a religious man,
but a humane one, for he would not ride or drive his hard-worked
horses to the place of service, but would walk. Often he would go
on foot as many as five to ten miles to a meeting place. In summer
he would deliver a sermon at eleven o'clock and another at three
o'clock, and walk home so as to be ready for the week's work to
follow. He did this sort of evangelistic work for many years, without
the hope or expectation of fee or reward in the way of money. He
probably never received $25.00 all told for his services. He was par
ticularly concerned about people working on Sunday, and often de
nounced the desecration of the Sabbath in vehement terms. He knew
every man within ten miles of his home who worked on Sunday, and
often in private rebuked him.
Among the notorious Sunday workers was John Runyan, a neigh
bor and a special friend of the Elder, who very rarely attended church
service. One of the places where the Elder preached regularly was
the Wallace school house, later the Rew school house. It was his
home place for holding service, near to his and Runyan's homes. On
a hot Sunday afternoon the neighbors nearly all were present for the
service, and among them was Squire Runyan. He was a large, portly,
fine looking man, and known to every soul present. He took a seat
in the rear of the room near a window, so as to keep cool. The Elder
glanced over the audience and at once decided this was his opportunity
to tell the congregation what he thought of Sabbath breaking. He
took for his text: "Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy."
He proceeded in his plain and emphatic way to explain why this com
mand should be kept. He used all the logic and Scripture at his
command to impress upon his hearers their duty to obey the injunc
tion. All the way along none present was more attentive than Squire
Runyan. Finally, to illustrate and clinch his argument, the Elder
said he would tell them a story, which ran like this:
Two men were on a journey and travelled together for several
days, and finally reached the place where they would separate, each
to go his way to his home. One man had seven dollars in money and
was near his home; the other had no money and was a good many
miles from his home. During the evening they talked the situation
over, for they were to separate in the morning. The man who had
no money said he hardly knew how he could get home, for the lack
of money with which to buy food and pay for lodging.
The possessor of the seven dollars sympathized with him and fin
ally said to him: "One dollar will take me home. I have seven; I
will give you six and keep one, and thus both will be provided for."
The impecunious fellow expressed much gratitude and accepted
the favor. They retired to rest and sleep. In the night-time the
beneficiary of his friend's liberality sneaked out of his bed and stole
the one dollar reserved by his friend.[ 44 ]

The story ended, the Elder waited until the force of it had soaked
into the minds of his listeners, and then, looking all over the faces
present, he asked: "Don't you think he was a mean and ungrateful
man?" As he asked the question, he fixed his gaze upon Runyan,
who recognized that he was appealed to, and nodded his head in
assent. Rising to his full height, his eyes glued to the full, round
and upturned face of his neighbor, the preacher thrust the index
finger of his hand at Runyan, and in a voice that rang out like a
syphon, he cried out: "Thou art the man; God gives you six days
every week, and you steal the seventh."
Runyan sank back into his seat as if shot, the audience snickered
in smiles and laughter, for all knew that it was a center shot and a
deserved rebuke.
Runyan often said, "Elder Skillen broke me of working on
Sunday." Elder Skillen was not a great preacher, being an unlearned and
illiterate man, but his Christian faith was of such a rugged and
positive sort that he wielded a wonderful influence upon people who
heard him preach. In his life he did much good in his awkward and
stumbling manner, for like his prototype, St. Paul, he "shunned not"
to proclaim a plain gospel. He was a typical pioneer, a plain, honest
and sincere man. He lived up to his profession, and left his impress
upon his contemporaries. He was buried in the graveyard on the
river bluff, near the outskirts of the corporate limits, north of
Waverly. Here, while the water of the river flows rippling past at
the foot of the bluff, murmuring on and on forever, all that was
mortal of Rev. Skillen lies waiting the time when, as he firmly
believed, he shall hear the call to come forth to meet Him who said,
"I am the resurrection and the life."

BREMER COUNTY'S FIRST NEWSPAPERS AND
THEIR PUBLISHERS
As is well known by all, the first newspaper established in the
county was the Waverly Republican, in March, 1856, a few weeks
before I reached the county. The editor was Herman A. Miles, the
proprietorship was lodged in W. P. Harmon. The office from which
it was issued was over the hardware store of S. H. Curtis, in a frame
building on the lot on which now stands the Curtis hardware store,
The paper was a seven-column folio in style, all home print, for at
that time the auxiliary sheets had not been discovered. Will Ed
Tucker was printer, roustabout and foreman. "Tuck" left the Re
publican a year or so afterwards and went to Mason City to become
foreman of the Cerro Gordo Republican, and was working on it
when the Civil War began. He enlisted in Captain Coon's company
of the 2nd Iowa cavalry and served full three years. Coon developed
qualities that led to his promotion step by step until he had reached
the colonelcy of the regiment before the war ended. He returned to
[ 45 ]

Iowa and some years after moved to San Diego, Calif., where about
two years ago, while hunting, he accidentally shot and killed himself.
On "Tuck's" return home he took up his old trade in the same
office which he left to serve his country, and after a few years he
started the Express and published it until his death, a dozen or so
years ago. When I went to the Republican at Mason City in 1876,
we became contemporaries and had the pleasantest relations as long
as I stayed on the Republican, which I sold in 1883.
Capt. Miles managed and run the Waverly Republican for some
thing like a year, when he sold his interest to Caesar Tarbox Smeed,
of whom I have written in a former letter. In May of 1855 P. V.
Swan, a lawyer, issued the first number of the Janesville Banner,*
the first paper issued in the county. It only survived for a few weeks,
and was called the Bremer County Herald. It was revived in
November, 1856, by D. P. Daniels, as is stated in the note, but again
lived for only a few weeks. It was the pride of the town, which at
that date was the largest town in the county and was one of high
ambitions and great expectations. It was on the main line of all
travel on the west side of the Cedar and the east side of the Shell
Rock rivers, for Janesville was the junction of the roads, and that
year was one of large travel. Strings of immigrant teams crossed
the Cedar there, some passing up the river for points clear to the
state line, others diverging on the Shell Rock river road, bound
north to Clarksville, Marble Rock, Mason City, etc. This volume of
travel made Janesville very prominent, and then it seemed to be the
coming town of all the section north of Cedar Falls, which was the
"city" of a radius of many miles. Waterloo was not in it in com
parison with Cedar Falls and Janesville.
Swan practiced law when business of that sort showed up, but
most of his time was devoted to his paper that summer, but the cold
winter of 1856 — 57 froze the "innards" out of it. I believe it crippled
along into 1857, when it was discontinued.
The third paper launched was in 1860, when Col. Wm. Pattee
started the Bremer County Argus, as an organ of the democratic
party, and especially as an antidote for Smeed's Republican. The
war between them was on from the start and grew bitter and relent
less. The burst of war on the county in April, 1861, changed the
political status of scores of men. Up to that time I had been a
democrat, more because of inheritance than from knowledge and con
viction, and therefore my associations had been with the democratic

* As to date of establishment of the Banner I cannot say positively. My
recollection is it was in May, 1856. I was in Janesville at that time, and the thought
lingers in my mind that I was there when the first issue of the paper appeared.
Unless some record proof is found to the contrary, I shall believe my statement is
correct. It is a long time ago, but I may have slipped a cog. But my mind is
pretty clear as to the fact. I recollect the boast of Sam Hook, As. Leverich, Ezra
Fish, John T. Barrick and others, that "Waverly is not ahead of us now." If Dr.
Loveland is alive, I think he will recollect, but I think he is gone. If so. I can't
recall a single person who was there then. Mrs. Albert Webb may know, if her
mind is clear, for I think she was there then. Dr. Bradford came a little later in
1857, I think. [ 46 ]

party. My father was an ingrained, doubled and twisted democrat,
by inheriting the virus from a Virginia father, and the strain reached
the third generation. But the war segregated father's five boys from
his party, and they all lined up as republicans, much to his mortifica
tion. What happened in our family happened in nearly all families,
in many cases the father changed his politics with his sons.
The result of the upheaval left the democratic party a mere
skeleton, as compared with its former robustness.
In March, 1857, G. C. Wright arrived in Waverly and established
a law office at once. His arrival was an opportune one for him to
step in as the head and leader of the party in the county, which he
did, and held the place for many years. He was a Marylander by
birth, and educated in the school of politics peculiar to all the southern
states. Col. Pattee's Argus published the delinquent lists in 1860 and
1861, given to him by W. W. Norris, the democratic county treasurer.
In those days the tax list was "fat stuff" for the printer, often
amounting to three to five hundred dollars. The hard times of the
preceeding years made it utterly impossible for many of the people
to pay their taxes, so about all the resident real estate was advertised
for sale. When times got better lots of people found three or four
years taxes accrued against their property, the accumulated costs
and the interest amounting to nearly as much as the original tax.
Col. Pattee being a Bourbon democrat with very strong pre
judices, he could not admit that the war was one of salvation for
the country, but he classed it as a "Black abolition war," thus placing
his paper and himself covertly, if not openly, against all efforts to
subdue the rebellion. This position put him in opposition to two-
thirds or more of his party. The result was that his paper lost
business, and early in '62 he suspended the publication, and the Argus
went to the boneyard.
In the meantime, J. K. L. Maynard located in Waverly and "soon
bought the Republican from Smeed, who left for Washington, as I
have stated in a former letter. Maynard was a lawyer by profession;
a college man, and a splendid specimen of the Green Mountain state.
He soon took rank as a leader in all the efforts of the town to ad
vance. His office was located on the lot where the Masonic hall now
stands, it was a cheap, wooden building and was burned, with all its
contents, or nearly so, in the spring of 1862. It was a bad loss for
Maynard, who was just getting started in life. Not much of value
was saved, so he faced the problem of how to get a new outfit. As
usual, W. P. Harmon was on hand to advise, manage, and pay, when
necessary. The Argus had already passed out, to suffer the Re
publican to go was to have no paper in the town or county. After
a few weeks a new outfit was installed and the paper appeared as
the Waverly Phoenix arisen from the ashes. The change in the
name did not appeal to the people, especially to the republicans. In
response to the pressure the old name was restored and remained
with it, until recently it became the Independent-Republican under the
[ 47 ]

guiding hand of sturdy dear old Comrade Grawe, who never flinches
nor frets. About 1866 George Lindley located in Waverly as a partner with
S. H. Curtis in the agricultural implement business, under the firm
name of Curtis & Lindley, which relation continued for a year or so.
Lindley was a man of much ability, well informed and of wide in
formation. In politics he was a dyed-in-the-wool democrat, and
aggressive in his methods of work for his party. He soon forged to
the front as a leader and general. Mr. Wright had started the
Waverly News some time after the discontinuance of the Argus. It
was more of an organ than a newspaper. Wright did not give the
paper much attention further than to see it was ultra-democratic in
its utterances. It crippled along in some way, but was continually
on the ragged edge financially. Lindley sold out his interest in the
firm of Curtis & Lindley and took over the News. For a time the
change promised to make the paper a success and a leader as a local
organ of all interests pertaining to the town and county. But after
a time it fell back into the old groove of being strictly an organ.
Lindley's convivial habits grew upon him and finally wore him out.
He was found dead one morning in a stable north of Bremer avenue
and east of State street, near the residence of Jas. P. Olds. His was
a clear case of suicide by intoxicating drink.
After his death Wright again resumed the editorial duties and
management of the News, which finally passed out, and from its
ruins sprang the present clean, prosperous and newsy Democrat.

POLITICS AND POLITICIANS OF THE PIONEER
DAYS
In 1857 both parties held conventions and nominated full tickets
for the October election. It was really the first convention of the
republican party well organized. They named Thomas Downing for
county judge, W. B. Hamilton for treasurer and recorder, W. R.
Bostwick for sheriff, and H. S. Hoover for surveyor. The democrats
named George W. Maxfield for county judge, Chas. C. Allen for treas
urer and recorder, J. G. Ellis for sheriff, and A. S. Funston for
surveyor. The result of the election was the election of the democratic
ticket, except treasurer and recorder, where Hamilton won out over
Allen and Hoover won over Funston for surveyor. At that time the
county judge filled the place of the present supervisors, handled all
probate business and was auditor of all accounts — the most important
office in the county. The treasurer was ex officio recorder. The
clerk of the courts was elected in the off year and the superintendent
of schools in the spring. The law was changed in 1858, making the
election of the county superintendent at the general election in the
fall, instead of the spring. r 48 i

WM. P. HARMON
Founder of the City of Waverly

In pioneer days promises made to candidates were just of as
little value as they are in these later days, as an instance that I will
relate will show. Dave Clark was seeking election to some local
office in Waverly and had the unqualified and absolute promise of
support from 14 of the voters. As there were no more than about
28 legal voters in the town, he felt he had the office nailed, as these
14, with his own vote, would give him a certain majority.
You can imagine his surprise when the votes were counted and
it was discovered he had just one vote beside his own. But he was
still more surprised when on the next day each of the 14 men
emphatically declared he had cast the one vote. Dave did not dare
to call any of them a liar for fear he would hit his own friend.
The matter worried Dave exceedingly and he was wont to say that
even Solomon would never have been able to discover which were
the 13 liars.
In 1859 both parties were eager to try their cause before the
people by an election. Conventions were held and their strongest
men put forward. W. P. Harmon was the general who managed
the republican forces, supported by G. W. Ruddick, M. Farrington,
Louis Case, Matthew Rowen, O. C. Harrington, D. P. Walling, S. H.
Curtis, Thomas Downing, Samuel Jennings and many other such
strong men. At their convention they placed Thomas Downing for
county judge, Lyman J. Curtis, of Dayton township, for treasurer
and recorder, Nelson Smith for sheriff, H. H. Burrington for super
intendent of schools, and H. S. Hoover for surveyor. It was a well-
balanced ticket, and made up of good men. Mr. Harmon said it was
invincible, and so it seemed.
On the democratic side the fine Italian hand of Geo. W. Matthews
appeared in the game. He assumed command and mapped out his
plan of battle. He insisted that no Waverly man but Ellis should
go on the ticket. W. B. Kipp, who had a store about opposite to the
present county office building of Bremer avenue, was a candidate for
treasurer. Like Matthews, he was from Pennsylvania, and was a
trained politician. But Squire Matthews was looking for victory and
not for men. He cared more for location of the candidates than for
the candidates themselves. He and Kipp argued the question until
their friendship was strained to the limit. Kipp was determined to
have the Waverly delegation, which meant a nomination.
When all hope of a compromise was ended, both sides began a
campaign for the pending caucus, which was called to meet in the
old stone school house. John J. Smith was Matthews' whip, and for
days he was as busy as a bee tallying up the democrats. 0. P.
Haughawont and Elias Grove were Kipp's active men. The result of
the caucus, it was understood, would decide the nominations, hence
the struggle for the delegation. It was agreed that Geo. R. Dean
should be the chairman, for he was conceded to be a good par-
limentarian and fair-minded; he was a Kipp man, and the concession
that he should preside pleased Kipp so that he believed he had
Matthews down, and about all he had to do was to name his delegates.
He had not reckoned on the activity and persuasive eloquence of John
[ 49 ]

J. Smith, who had rounded up every democrat in the township and
passed the list to Squire Matthews, who had the same in his jacket
pocket. I lived in Lafayette township, and Matthews' candidate for
treasurer lived there also, so, of course, we were intensely interested
in the outcome of the battle between Matthews and Kipp; therefore,
all the democrats of Lafayette were on hand to leg on the side of
Matthews. Suffice it to say the result was that Kipp was defeated
easily, and fairly, too. He was outgeneraled by the smooth old squire
and beaten by the activity of Smith. Dean made an admirable chair
man. His rulings were fair in every test and his spirit was impartial
and conciliatory. Not once did he betray on which side his sympathy
was. Kipp had relied upon Dean to help him out by rulings on all
contested points, and his disappointment amounted to desperation
when he realized he was defeated. By a cartel of agreement before
the caucus was called to order, the defeated side was bound to
loyally support the decision of the meeting, and thus Kipp was
estopped from a bolt or a guerilla warfare upon the nominee.
At the close of the caucus, when the big crowd had gotten out
in the yard, Smith taunted Kipp, with words that stung the hot-
blooded defeated candidate so that Kipp struck a blow at John J.,
which was what he was fishing for. In a minute, as General Kearney
said to his fleeing men at Chantilly, "Stop, go in over on the right,
there is beautiful fighting over there." So it was between the two
men, who were about equal in size, weight and activity. The crowd
opened up a space and stood silently by and watched the gladiators.
But John had the science and skill, so he soon put Kipp out of the
ring, and the war was over.
The democratic county convention was called to meet at the W.
H. Cook home, out on the wide prairie in the northeast corner of
Warren township. My belief is there was not a house nearer to
Cook's place than Homer Case's home, four or five miles west. But
in every direction, at about ten o'clock, could be seen horsemen,
wagons, or footmen coming to the convention. Every township was
represented by full delegations, and enthusiasm bubbled like a peren
nial spring. The result of the deliberations was the nomination of
Geo. W. Maxfield for county judge, W. W. Norris for treasurer and
recorder, J. G. Ellis for sheriff, Geo. T. Sayles for superintendent of
schools, and A. A. Funston for surveyor.
Ellis was closing his second term as sheriff and was a very
popular officer, so his nomination was regarded as the strongest
possible to be made. The campaign was a hot and tireless one. The
republicans, under the leadership of Mr. Harmon, were confident of
victory on all but sheriff, and with Nelse Smith and his pair of horses
to plow the country, they hoped to dethrone Joe Ellis. But they lost
out, electing only Hoover, surveyor. It was a sweeping victory for
the democrats, and the last one in Bremer county for a good many
years. The keen foresight, knowledge of the science of politics, adroit
management and tireless head work of Geo. W. Matthews were the
[ 50 ]

fulcrum that brought the victory. He was as cautious as a fox, as
smooth as oil, and as vigilant as a sentry on guard. He was a good
mixer, but as loyal to his party and his friends as the steel is to the
magnet. As I have said before, I was a farmer in Lafayette township,
struggling to get a start, and the big crop of 1859 had helped me
to see rays of sunshine ahead, and I had hoped another crop or so,
such as I was reaping that year, would put me on hard ground and
lead a little later to independence. Having sold corn enough to Theo.
Hazlett to pay my debts, I had begun to hope we should next be able
to buy some new clothes for the dear, brave little wife and our two
boys, and that I might have a pair of pantaloons without patches all
over them. I was riot in politics at all, more than to help my little
as a neighbor and friend when I could. My ambition was to be a
farmer, as good a one as my father, -and Thomas Halse, John Wile,
and other neighbors. On an evening in November, W. W. Norris, who
was the treasurer-elect, and who lived in my township, on the east
side of the river, called at our home, and after a visit and a talk
about prospective crops the next year, he said to me, "I have come
to offer you the deputyship in the treasurer's office when I take it
over the first of January, and I want you." I was so surprised at
what he said that an answer was not forthcoming. Finally I replied,
"Wife and I will think it over and I will answer you in a few days."
He said, "Of course, you will accept, and I shall rely upon it." He
bade us good evening and left for home. This was one time when the
office sought the man, and the man accepted it, and that was the
beginning of my dabbling in politics. Here and now I will say that
W. W. Norris had as good a heart in his breast as any man I ever
knew. His intentions were good, his purposes honorable, and his
nature kindly.
I believe he was misunderstood by the people in general, and was
the victim of circumstances by which he was environed thru his
weakness and love of strong drink. His slavery to a depraved ap
petite caused his ruin and downfall. By nature and disposition he
was kind-hearted, honest and confiding in those he believed to be his
friends. Those were the men who robbed the county treasury of
its money, and W. W. Norris of his honor and good name, both made
possible by his appetite for drink. This weakness his associates and
pretended friends knew well, and they deliberately and premeditatedly
encouraged him to the fullest extent in various ways.
Norris was a man of much more than ordinary ability, well
educated, and a natural born mathematician. He was the only person
I ever saw who could add up long columns of five figures each at the
same time and set down the correct answer. Many times I saw him
do that on the cash book in the treasurer's office. The columns were
at least fifteen inches long. He would run his fingers along the
columns, and when he reached the end record the result, and not
once in fifty times would he fail, when duly sober. He could do in
three minutes what it took me fifteen or twenty minutes to do.
[ 51 ]

As I have said, strong drink proved his ruin, and this despite the
entreaties and warnings of his friends, and the declarations that he
made that he would reform his habits. But the influence and associa
tion of stronger men than himself controlled him. He lost his pride
and drifted away from his real friends. Many times I begged him
to cut loose from some associates I knew had a bad influence on him,
and he would declare he would do so, and for days he would seem to
be on the way toward shaking them off. But the demon of temptation
and the company of evil-minded associates would overcome his good
intentions, and the old story would be repeated.
During the last year of his term he neglected his office and
duties, and for two or three days at a time would not appear about
the office more than to drop in to inquire how the business was
getting along. It was pitiful to see the struggle he was making to
break away, but, like old Prometheus, he was chained to the rock.
As the time approached when he should turn over his office and the
funds in his charge, he was inclined to attend to his official duties,
but he was constantly besieged by his associates in one way and
another, so that he seemed dazed.
The man that had the most influence with him was Robert J.
Stephenson, chairman of the finance committee of the board of super
visors. Stephenson was not a man who drank to excess, that is to
say, rarely, if ever, was he seen to be drunk. He was a cool, cal
culating schemer. While I had no thought of him as meditating a
crime, my belief was that he was a dangerous associate for Mr.
Norris, and I ventured to warn Norris to shun him as much as possible,
to which he always replied, "Rob is a good friend of mine." I knew
that he came from a family of shrewd, scheming, money-loving men.
He was a son of the Stephenson of whom I have told about building
a sawmill near where the Irma station now is located, and subse
quently moving it across the river and locating it in the timber about
th'e center of Lafayette township, where the debris of it perhaps
remains to this day. His brother William was the man who burglar
ized the county treasurer's office in West Union, rolled out the safe,
loaded it into a lumber wagon and drove to Wilson's Grove in Sumner
township, in the northeast corner of Bremer county, where he tore it
open and got all the money that was in it. His wagon tracks told
the direction he went, and the officers found the wrecked safe in the
woods. After a few days they captured Stephenson and he was sent
to the penitentiary. While- Bob was never connected with the
robbery, he was suspected of having a hand in the crime. Of course,
he denied all knowledge of or connection with the robbery and
lamented that Bill should have so far departed from the English code
of Stephenson honor. Most of the money was recovered from the
robber. He served his term in prison, and later came to Bremer
county and lived several years, removing then to Emmet county, and
so far as I know, he was ever after a law-abiding citizen.
Knowing these facts, it was natural I should be suspicious of
Bob's influence over Norris. [ 52 ]

BREMER COUNTY TREASURY ROBBED
The man who turned the trick of robbing the county was named
Knowles, and so far as was ever learned, he was never seen in the
town or country previous to the robbery. If he was, he was incognito,
and known to none except his confederate or confederates. Where he
was concealed the day before the robbery, or how he got away, I
think, was never revealed.
For two days before the culmination of the plot, Norris was in
company with Stephenson most of the time about town and in a
saloon. With them were several men who participated in their
hilarity and drinking, but never did suspicion attach to any of them
in connection with the burglary. The man who kept the saloon had
no knowledge of or connection with the crime.
The night of action was spent until about midnight or later in
carousing in the saloon. When it closed Stephenson accompanied
Norris to his home about one o'clock, left him there and went to his
own home some five miles north of town.
In those days there was no bank in Waverly, and the county
money was kept in a safe, and the safe in a vault, which, I suppose,
remains in the old court house today. Both, the vault and the safe,
were opened by keys, of which there were duplicates. Norris had
one set and I had the other.
The weather was bitterly cold. The time was the 29th day of
December, and the first Monday in January was the date to turn over
the office and the money to Caleb Morse, who had been elected to
succeed Mr. Norris.
About half past five o'clock in the morning Norris and Ezra
Williams, who was a constable, came to my home and called me out
of bed. Norris told me he had lost his keys and he asked me to
hasten to the court house to be assured that all was safe, and added,
"I fear the safe is robbed." He and Williams proceeded to the
court house and I went as soon as I could dress and get there. The
morning was a cold, dark December one. When I reached the office
I found them waiting, for the door key to the office was missing, as
well as the other keys. I unlocked the office door and felt my way
to the vault, which was locked, and I called back to them, "All is
safe; the vault is locked." In response to this Norris ejaculated,
"Thank God!" I unlocked the vault door and reached the safe in
the pitchy dark, and found it also locked, which I announced, and
again Norris cried out, "Thank God, all is safe!" When I opened
the safe I felt for the drawer I knew contained $30,000 in bills that
I had carefully put up with bands around each $1000 .the day before,
in readiness to be turned over. Then the staggering blow fell — the
drawer was empty. In the meantime, Williams had found and lighted
a candle. I was speechless for a moment and Norris stood in the
door to the vault and asked if the money was all right. At my
[ 53 ]

answer, "All is gone!" he sank back and would have fallen, had not
Williams caught him. The wail that Norris uttered was one of
despair and desperation. "My God, all is lost and I am ruined!" For
some minutes he writhed and groaned like a dying man. The agony
of reproaches he heaped upon himself is indescribable.
Williams and I stood speechless and utterly bewildered as to
what to do. The rays of the morning light were breaking, soon the
people would be astir, the truth of the situation must be known. We
realized the excitement and the high tension of public feeling that
would break upon the little town and the indignation that would
sweep over the county at the loss of all the money. Hastily we
decided that Williams and I should go home with Norris and then
notify Joe Ellis, the sheriff, and I should go and tell W. P. Harmon,
who would be certain to advise what should be done.
Norris was utterly helpless. He had sobered up from his night
of revelry and was collapsed and incompetent to advise any line of
action or give the slightest clue as to how it happened. Suffice it to
say the day passed without a bit of suspicion on anyone. A thousand
stories were abroad, and in a day or so suspicion rested on several
people who were known to be chums of Norris' in bacchanalian nights.
In time Stephenson was connected with the robbery so closely that
he was arrested, and thru him Knowles was discovered as the prin
cipal actor in the work.
He was a stranger to everybody, including Norris. He was
traced to Davenport, arrested and brought to Waverly, where he re
mained in jail for many months; was there when I left the county
for the army. He was tried and acquitted, because the state was
not able to connect him with the robbery by any better than cir
cumstantial proof, and all of that came from Stephenson, who was
a co-conspirator in the crime, and his evidence could not be cor
roborated. The defense claimed that Stephenson was dragooned into
a confession and therefore his testimony was not reliable, and that
it was insufficient anyway.
Stephenson did confess that he took Norris home and that on
the way Knowles fell in company with them, and in helping to get
him home he believed Knowles secured the keys from Norris' pocket,
which, of course, Knowles denied in toto, even denied that he ever
was in the town. The fact that he was never seen in the town or
county lent force to his denial. Stephenson admitted Knowles gave
him five bundles of paper money, which he concealed under a black
walnut saw log at the mill I have mentioned. On a dark and rainy
night Stephenson, Sheriff Ellis, Mr. Norris and myself drove to the
mill yard, rolled over the log he pointed out, and found the money
as he said. But even this circumstance was not held to be sufficient
to prove it was county money, notwithstanding the county kept it.
It could not be proven that Stephenson got the money from Knowles
nor could the county identify the bills as a part of the stolen funds.
I give the story of the escape of Knowles as I heard it after I re
turned home from the army. The trial occurred while I was gone,
so I knew nothing about the details of it except what I heard two or
[ 54 ]

more years after Knowles was acquitted. Stephenson was promised
immunity if he would tell what he knew about the affair. In after
years, when I thought of the case, I wondered if, after all, it was
not the same man who stole, carted across the country to Wilson's
Grove, and wrecked the Fayette county safe, who so smoothly pulled
off the Bremer county case. He had finished his term and was often
at his father's home, and then again was absent, rambling about the
country. He was a mechanical genius, quiet in manner and reticent
in conversation. He was a younger brother to Bob.
S. H. Curtis and I were once discussing the case and its mysteries,
when he expressed his belief that Knowles was a victim rather than
a criminal in the case. Knowles had a bad record, which was against
him in any case where he was accused. Subsequent developments
proved that he and William Stephenson were not strangers to each
other and more than likely had been linked together in yegg work,
but all this is more suspicion than anything else. The county lost
about $30,000 by the robbery, for because of the circumstances the
bonds were let out, and the county suffered the loss.
W. W. Norris remained in Waverly for several years, broken
hearted, a physical wreck. He became a sort of recluse, remained
at home most of the time, and shunned his best friends as much as
he could. Finally he left the state and went back to his old home in
McHenry county, Illinois, where he lived a few years quietly, and
then passed away, a sober and Christian man. His experience and
career were a warning to all who knew him and realized how strong
drink destroyed his usefulness to the world and wrecked his life. It
will be a benediction to mankind when world-wide prohibition pre
vails, a condition that may come in the lifetime of the young genera
tion of 1917, and will come in time, most certainly.
Robert J. Stephenson resigned from the board of supervisors,
and a year or so later left the county for parts unknown.

HORSE THIEVES A BURDEN TO PIONEERS
In the summer of 1856 the pioneers were annoyed and vexed by
a systematic plan of horse stealing carried on by some means that
puzzled the officers and kept uneasy everybody who owned a good
horse. Many lost their horses, and for a good many months no trace
of a stolen animal could be found. The success of the thieves made
them bold and careless, to the extent that the officers got a line on
the way the business was carried on. It was noticed that the ter
ritory from Wilson's Grove in the northeastern part of the county on
a line diagonally across to the southwestern corner was the most
dangerous zone for a good horse to be left on the picket line or out
side of a locked stable. Not only so, but more strangers were seen
passing over this route than any other one, and yet no direct road
led in that way. Frequently a man would pass on horseback leading
one or more horses.

[ 55 ]

Finally the officers of Clayton, Fayette, Bremer, Blackhawk and
Grundy counties got into co-operation, and soon some important ar
rests were made. I recollect well when Joe Ellis and Ezra Williams
captured a pair of men with a bunch of horses over on Crane Creek,
headed in a southwest direction. The men gave their names as
Gard and Willey. The officers brought them to Waverly and kept
them a day or so under guard, but at that time Bremer county had no
court house, or jail, or any sort of a lock-up. The sheriff of Fayette
county (who in war times was Capt. Jack Welch) was in pursuit of
them and Ellis turned them over to Welch, who took them back to
West Union, where they were convicted and sent to the penitentiary
for stealing Fayette county horses. The sheriff had to do some dip
lomatic work to keep the farmers from hanging them, when he got
back to West Union. This quick action in arresting them and
Judge Murdock's prompt trial and a conviction of them by a farmers'
jury put an end to that sort of industry, which evidently had been
hatched out as a rich mine to be worked. Not for many years was
a horse stolen in the county. It was a long step toward high civiliza
tion. The rugged honesty of the pioneers did not stand much upon
ceremony, the facts were all they wanted to know, and the penalty
was certain to be inflicted without much delay.
Though many horses were stolen and parties frequently went in
search of the thief or the thieves, when the parties came home they
always reported that they had been unable to find the thieves, except
in the case above mentioned.
It was thought by some people that in some cases they might
have found the right parties and had made short shift with them.
Whether this surmise was true or not will never be known.

NEAR-TRAGEDY IN VICINITY OF IRMA
In pursuing the events of pioneer days in Bremer county, I am
not attempting to fix them in chronological order, but give them as
they come to me. Nor have I attempted to moralize or philosophize
upon any of the many things that happened. All new countries have
their strange characters, their ludicrous sides, and sometimes their
tragedies. I have mentioned several unique characters and there are
many others that I think of, which would hardly interest the people
of today. The country was nearly free from desparate or dangerous char
acters, for not many adventurers came as pioneers, but all were seek
ing to make homes upon the rich soil of the county and they expected
and intended to do so by honest toil and faithful labor. To get some
thing for nothing was no part of their purposes. They brought their
families with them, and their ambition was to lay the foundation for
homes, and about them to build up good society, conquer the obstruc
tions, build school houses and churches, and provide means for the
comforts of declining years when they had passed the meridian of
[ 56 ]

life, so they could leave a legacy to help their posterity to greater
comforts than they had enjoyed, if not to affluence. How well they
succeeded is told in the splendid farms and elegant equipment left as
monuments to their industry and faithful toil, that today are the
boast and pride of the county.
A near-tragedy occurred on a Sunday in the summer of 1859
on the farm long owned and occupied by Walter Blasier, near where
Irma station now stands. Northeast of where his home was located,
in the edge of the timber, was held a grove meeting on a Sunday in
July, at which Rev. James Skillen and Rev. Jas. N. Baker were of
ficiating. It was an ideal day and all the country, nearly, were in
attendance. Among those present was a young fellow by the name
of Brown, who was a sort of transient character. He had been in the
community for some time, working for various farmers, and at this
particular time was in the employ of John Wile, who lived about a
half mile from the grove. Brown had been in the neighborhood for
five or six months and, because of his queer actions, he was called
"Fool" Brown, not because he was simple or a fool, but, as I believed
then, he was insane or a monomaniac. He fell violently in love with
Rebecca Kreiger, whose father lived near the Grove. She was a
beautiful girl, of more than the average charms. She was very
greatly annoyed by Brown's attentions, which he forced upon her at
every opportunity. She carefully dodged him when she could and
declined to be in his presence when she could avoid it. She had
expressed fear of him to her father and her brother, Samuel C.
Kreiger, many times. While they did not share her fears of him
as a dangerous man, they disliked his manner toward her, and Samuel,
her brother, had warned Brown to cease his attentions to her.
In the afternoon service, while Rev. Skillen was preaching, an
unearthly scream and the report of a pistol were heard in the outer
circle of the audience, who were seated and listening to the sermon.
Instantly the large audience was in excitement; many men rushed
to the frightened girl, whom Brown had intercepted as she ap
proached the seats, and had demanded that she should leave the
grounds with him. On her refusal, he fired a shot at her, which
fortunately went wild, and before he could do more, Sam Kreiger
had him by the throat, and others disarmed him. It is needless to
say the services were broken up and great excitement prevailed.
Some of the younger men threatened to lynch him then and there,
but cooler judgment prevailed, and he was saved from violence. He
was taciturn and did not seem to think he had committed a serious
crime. A counsel of the older men decided he should leave the
country at once. Mr. Wile paid him a balance due him, and Sam
Kreiger, Jim Case and my brother, John, escorted him to Waverly
and saw him strike the road for Janesville, which was the last ever
heard of "Fool" Brown in Bremer county. Who he was, where he
came from or whither he went nobody ever knew, as far as I can
recollect. Miss Kreiger was hysterical for a time, but otherwise was
uninjured. Nowadays a man who made such an assault would be
sent to the penitentiary, and there Brown should have gone.
[ 57 ]

MARKET AND SALE PROBLEMS OF EARLY
SETTLERS
In those days a market for their products was the problem that
worried the farmers as much as did the producing. The nearest
railroad ended at Dubuque, and when that was reached there was no
real demand for farm products. But it was the best in sight and
therefore long strings of teams were constantly on the road from
all directions, loaded with wheat and dressed pork, each in season.
It took about eight days to make the trip from Waverly. A fair
load was about sixty bushels of wheat, which would sell for forty
cents a bushel. The scarcity of money forbade sales for cash, so
pay must be received in trade. To enable the buyers to handle the
immense volume of wheat that flowed into the market, combinations
of merchants were formed, so as to be able to furnish what the
farmers wanted. John Hancock handled groceries; Mr. Mobley, dry
goods; Westphal & Hinds, hardware, and M. Humbert, boots and
shoes. If the farmer sold to Hancock, the seller would take orders
on the other three in the combination for what he wanted in their
lines; not a cent of money entered into the deal. The ordinary
amount for a load would run from $24 to $30. When the farmer left
home, he carried a lunch box with food enough to last him the trip;
he slept under his wagon. If the weather was cold or wet he suffered
accordingly, and his horses fared the same way. He had no money
to pay hotel or stable bills. For several days before starting to
market, the evenings at home were spent by families in making out
a list of the things needed worst. A load of wheat did not go very
far in purchasing power, but helped along some. After revising and
trimming the list of wants several times, it would be safely stowed
away for use when the load was sold.
The custom was for a bunch of neighbors to go to market to
gether. This practice was protection, as well as company. The roads
were often very muddy and miry, and being together made it less
difficult for all, as double teams could be used to pull a load thru
the worst "slough." I recollect several trips made in company with
John Wile, Ed Fairhurst, W. M. Colton, John Skinner, Thomas Halse,
Samuel Kreiger, Parker Lucas and perhaps others. Such trips were
hard on teams as well as men, but it was the only way the people
had to realize anything from what they produced. Wheat and
dressed pork were all they attempted to market. Corn, oats, butter,
eggs, potatoes and all such stuff were not worth anything in the
Dubuque market. Eggs in Waverly sold at eight dozen for twenty-
five cents, when sold at all, but most of the time those days there
was no market for them at any price. The life of a farmer was one
of hard and constant toil. In addition to cultivating his plowed land
he spent a month in the spring breaking more of the sod, thus adding
to his productive possessions. The days not spent in cultivating his
I 58 ]

crops or harvesting them, or breaking new land, were given to making
fences, adding to his crude buildings, preparing for winter, getting
fuel ahead, etc. Not an idle hour for him. The women folks helped
in every way they could. Many of the girls then, solid grandmothers
now, worked in the harvest and hay fields from early morn until late
evenings. The whole country was a bee hive of industry and rarely
could a drone be found; if one was found, he received cold attention.
The struggle was to subdue the wild prairies and bring them into
the line of production. They met the hardships and disappointments
with Spartan courage and fortitude. The star of hope, backed with
faith, was always before them. Dark and dreary as were the times,
they looked forward to better ones. Such men and women are not
classed as heroes and heroines and yet they deserve to be recorded
as such.

ODD CHARACTERS, AND BEGINNING OF CIVIL
WAR DAYS
In those days the country between the Elder Smalley farm and
Martinsburg was a vast, unbroken prairie, with the exception of the
"Prairie" Cook and Homer H. Case farms in Warren township. Sid
Curtis and I rode across the prairie in 1856 to Martinsburg and dis
cussed the misfortune that such a desert of prairie land should inter
vene between the Cedar and Wapsie rivers. I recollect well he said,
"This waste won't be settled in fifty years." Such was the prophetic
wisdom of a couple of wise young men. It is another proof of the
old saw that "hind sight is much better than foresight."
From 1856 until 1861 the immigration to Bremer county was
very small, and the emigration from it was much larger, because
many became so discouraged that when they could trade their land
for stock, they would leave the country for a home further east.
Years afterward many of them returned and settled down for life.
One man who never flinched but stuck to his old home was E. B.
White, who lived in the extreme eastern edge of Fremont township,
on the east side of the Wapsie, on the bottoms. He bought all the
"40's" he could of the flat, wet bottom lands, and thus acquired the
nickname of "Swampy" White. He was a typical Connecticut Yankee,
well educated, and a man with a vision of the future greatness of
that rich section of land. In winter he dressed in garments made
out of the skins of animals he caught in traps, thus making himself
a conspicuous person. But he was a student of books and carried a
head full of knowledge, perfectly indifferent as to what people said
about him and his droll ways. I recall an incident of his frugality
and yet good intentions. He was a justice of the peace and frequently
made out deeds and other papers for his neighbors. He sold a 40-acre
lot to somebody whose name I do not recall now. He made the
deed and both he and Mrs. White signed it; then Swampy took the
acknowledgment as justice of the peace. The deed was offered for
[ 59 ]

¦record to W. W. Norris, who was then recorder. He noticed the in
formality and declined to accept it for record. Soon afterward
"Swampy" appeared in his office with the deed the man had returned
to him as not good. I was then deputy recorder and was alone in the
office when Squire White arrived, and he was instructing me upon
the law relating to competent instruments for record. In the midst
of his efforts Norris entered the office and took the matter up with
"Swampy." They were very good friends and went over the case
thoroly. I well recollect "Swampy's" logic. He asked if the deed
was properly signed by him and his wife, to which Norris assented;
then the ingenious old squire asked if they did so of their own free
will and accord was it not legal and proper that he should certify
that fact. Norris replied, "You certify as an officer that the grantees
did so voluntarily and are reputable persons," etc., to which "Swampy"
answered, "Well, who could do so better than I?" But the deed
was rejected for record, much to Squire White's disgust. Among
other arguments he used was this, "It will cost me fifty cents to
have some officer take the acknowledgment." In fact, that was the
nub of the whole affair.
Another character in Fremont township was Lafayette Walker,
who was the democratic war horse and a leader of his party in that
section. He was very fond of discussion and was a good talker. He
was a near neighbor of W. R. Bostwick, who was a republican and
about as fond of discussion as Walker was. They were good friends
and got along well enough in all ways except politically, and then
they always clashed. One evening Walker visited the Bostwick
home and after awhile, as usual, they drifted into a political dis
cussion. Mrs. Bostwick was busy ironing, while the men sat nearby
in a hot discussion, to which she was intently listening as she worked.
Walker was much the better talker and very aggressive in a debate,
as well as sarcastic. In his denunciation of the anti-slavery party
he reached an abusive period, when Mrs. Bostwick took a hand. In
reply to something she said, Walker retorted in a way that stung
her, and she wheeled upon him and hit him over the eye with the
hot flat-iron she was using. Walker was not hurt very much, but
he sported a black eye for several days. The report of the case
reached Waverly before Walker came over to town, so when he came
we had a lot of sport having him explain how it happened; then upon
cross-examination the mischievous fellows would put Lafe on the
cross and worry him for specific answers until he would fly into a
passion and jump the crowd. Some years afterward Walker sold out
and located in Waterloo, where he died a few years ago, as I believe.
Mrs. Bostwick was all gold. In 1857 a colony of Germans came into
and settled nearly the whole of Maxfield township. The land is quite
level and had been regarded as wet and sour soil. But the industrious
and energetic Germans very soon taught the pioneers they had over
looked some of the best land in the county. They metamorphosed
the prairies into splendid farms and I suppose no richer township
of land can be found in the state. Not only that, but the colony was
made up of the best quality of men and women, whose sons and
[ 60 ]

daughters grew up to be among the leading families of the county.
When the Civil War broke upon the country, I took into my com
pany about forty of the German boys, who were as good soldiers
as the old army of the Tennessee had, and those who returned settled
down and became as good men and citizens as Iowa ever produced.
To the pioneer Germans, Bremer county owes much of its prosperity
and wealth, both in money, men and women. American laws and
institutions became a melting pot which cemented all nationalities
into stalwart citizens and Americans.
The year 1860 was an exciting one all over the country and was
the forerunner of events that shook the continent and tried out the
strength of a republic to sustain itself against internal rebellion.
Predictions of war were often made by sober-minded and thoughtful
men, but the general thought was that all such talk was for political
effect. Lincoln led the anti-slavery hosts, Douglas the bulk of the
democratic forces, who believed that each territory should decide for
itself whether or not slavery should exist within its borders. Breck
enridge was the candidate of the wing of his party that held that the
constitution was a pro-slavery document and Bell led the native Amer
ican party, whose shibboleth was "Americans should rule America."
The campaign was a wild and exciting one, and even as far west
as Bremer county the spirit of excitement spread and men began to
break away from all party ties and align themselves under new flags
according as the principles of parties accorded with their own con
victions of right. Party lines were pretty well broken, or if not
broken, they were so strained that a year after, they were shattered.
In the county the republicans made a clean sweep, electing all their
candidates, with the exception of G. W. Maxfield for state auditor,
for the first time in its history.

EARLY MEMBERS OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION
When I first knew Bremer county the bar of the county was
small in number and mediocre in ability. W. P. Harmon had been
admitted to the practice of law before coming west. The profession
was not according to his taste or liking, and he did not give much
attention to the practice. In fact, I believe it to be a fact that he
engaged in the law business only as it was incidental to his own large
and varied interests, and that part of his business was small, for he
was a man who detested all sorts of disagreements between men,
except in politics. Upon that line he was very positive and uncom
promising, but always good-natured and liberal in granting to others
what he claimed for himself. In his large and multitudinous business
relations as town proprietor, mill owner and general adviser, my
belief is that he never had a disagreement with anyone that required
a lawsuit to settle it. He was a steam engine in force, a paragon in
wisdom and advice, and tireless in his efforts to help make a town
and county, as well as to promote his own interests and those of his

[ 61 ]

neighbors. He was ostensibly a lawyer then, but the only real
lawyer in Waverly in the spring of 1856 was B. F. Perkins, who with
his young wife, had steered his course west from Massachusetts.
Soon after Perkins had graduated from Harvard, he married,
and with a spirit of adventure and courage they struck for the great
west. How it happened they came to Waverly I never knew, but
they arrived when the town was very new. He opened up a law
office and waited for clients. He and his wife established house
keeping and in a way they managed to get along. I suppose no
more sincere and impractical couple ever tried to succeed in making
a home or starting a business. Both were scholarly and studious,
knew all about authors, literature and theories of business, as well
as the etiquette of society. But about the real hardships and realities
of a new country they lacked everything, even common industry.
John J. Smith, who sort of looked after the poor, helpless pair, often
said, "She don't know enough to know when a dish is dirty, and
'Perk' can't even carry in the wood when it is cut and ready for use."
They stayed in town as long as the money they brought with
them lasted, and then went back east.
At that time all the northeast corner of the state was in one
judicial district, taking in Dubuque, Clayton, Allamakee, Winneshiek,
Floyd, Howard, Mitchell, Chickasaw, Butler, Bremer, Hardin, Grundy,
Blackhawk, Buchanan, and Delaware counties.
Judge Thos. A. Wilson was on the bench and he made the trip
over his circuit about once a year, with a troop of lawyers accompany
ing him as large as a small circus. Some who were afterwards
among the ablest lawyers in the state traveled in this cavalcade of
legal lights. A term of court was the biggest event of the year
when it struck the county. So I think it is safe to say "Perk" never
had a case in a higher court than Squire Ellsworth's justice court,
and Squire very seldom held court, as the people were too busy and
too poor to indulge in the luxury of lawing each other, and he advised
peace. About the same time another lawyer by the name of Phineas V.
Swan located in Janesville, and as a side line he started and published
the Janesville Banner, as I have mentioned in a former letter.
Phineas was a Vermonter, a college man, and it was said by those
who seemed to know that he was a sound and' able lawyer. But the
west was too wild and woolly for him, and he left about the same time
"Perk" did. Both of these men came west before the country was
ready for them, and they had not the courage and sand to stick to
the job and help make the county what it is today. With these
two legal gentlemen absent, no lawyer was left in the county but
Mr. Harmon.
On St. Patrick's day, March 17, 1857, G. C. Wright landed from
the stage, and located and stuck to Waverly until along in the 80's.
I recollect the date from hearing him often declare that St. Patrick's
day was his mascot, etc. He came from Maryland, was a graduate
of the Baltimore law school. He was a continual contradiction, like
the Missourian's bacon — full of fat and lean streaks. In many ways
[ 62 ]

he was a fairly good lawyer, but would rather win a case any time
by a shrewd and sharp turn than by standing on the merits of his
cause and the application of the principles of the law. He was a
vigorous partisan upon all questions, for he never was neutral upon
anything he had to do with. A good hater but a loyal friend. During
the Civil War he made enemies that never forgave him by his course
as the leader of the opponents of the war. He always had a fairly
good clientage, but was liberal to a fault, and therefore was chron
ically hard up all the time. He, too, started a paper, "The News,"
and spent a good deal of money to keep it alive. In later life he went
to Nebraska, and died there several years ago.
A few months after Wright landed in Waverly, Judge Ruddick
came from New York and engaged in the practice of law, which he
pursued until elevated to the district bench, where he spent the last
years of his life, and made a record as an able, impartial and just
judge, which will always live in the records of this court. Among
the many men who have lived in Bremer county, none were superior,
and few equal, to George W. Ruddick in all the qualities that go to
make a well-rounded and symmetrical man and citizen. He was the
soul of honor and the essence of sincerity. Firm in his convictions,
but not to the degree of stubbornness. He was an able lawyer, and
had it not been for his modesty and distaste for political manipulation,
he would have adorned the supreme bench of the state. I was at
tached to Judge Ruddick as to but very few men in my lifetime.
In the years about 1860 Judge Ruddick had his office in a building
on the north side of Bremer Avenue, on the second lot west of East
Water street. The building stood up a couple of feet above the
ground, the back end under it was open. At the time I am speaking
of the Rev. Wm. Smith was pastor of the Methodist church, and he
had a boy whose name was Samuel, a very bright, keen and independ
ent lad. He was noted for his ability in school to master his lessons
in half time, and have plenty of time to "fish below the dam" about
every afternoon in summer. He was well known by everybody in town
because of his keenness in repartee and ability to hold his own with
anyone who sought to tease him. In summer he would go along the
street with a fishing rod over his shoulder, his pantaloons rolled up
to his knees, any old straw hat on his head and one "gallus" over
his shoulder. Such was the boy Sammy Smith. Now he is the Rev.
Samuel W. Smith, with a half dozen degrees attached to his name,
and the last I heard of him he was the pastor of the largest con
gregation in St. Paul, as an independent preacher, somewhat after the
manner of Dr. Swing and Dr. Thomas in Chicago.
The day I have in mind was a hot afternoon. Judge and three
or four of his friends were sitting in the shade in front of his office,
when Sam was seen approaching with his rod on his shoulder, a
string of small fish, as trophies of his luck, in his hand. Behind him
followed a meek-looking dog. When the boy and the dog reached
the group of mischievous men, they began to nag him about -his
small fish and last of all about his "blooded" dog. Judge asked the
price and if he would sell the pup. Sam said 25 cents was the price,
[ 63 ]

and he was for sale. Judge handed him the quarter and told Sam
to tie the dog to a post at the back end of the office, which was done
and Sam passed along whistling and swinging his string of perch.
In a half hour or so he straggled back to see how the dog was
getting along. He and Judge — he was not Judge then— went back to
see the dog and the bunch went along to have all the fun out of
Sammy that was possible.
When they reached the back of the building they found the rope
attached to the post, but the dog was gone. Sammy crouched down
and declared the dog was under the building "clear up to the other
end." Judge asked Sam to call him out, but he replied, "It's no use,
Mr. Ruddick, he never comes on a call." "Well," said Judge, "crawl
under and bring him out." "How much will you pay for him?"
said Sam. "Pay!?" replied Judge, "Didn't I buy the dog from you?
Now deliver him." "Yes, sir," said Sam, "and I delivered him ac
cording to your instructions. He's your dog, not mine; if you want
him, crawl under the building and get him."
The roar of laughter that greeted Judge was so loud it attracted
the attention of the loafers on the street. Say what he would, the
boy doggedly stuck to his rights, until Ruddick told him he was
right according to law. When he yielded that point, Sam soon got
the dog from under the house.
Years afterward, when Ruddick was on the bench and Sammy
had become somewhat noted as a preacher, a delegation of Bremer
county republicans were on a train going to a state convention, and
Sam was in another car. On learning that a number of his old
friends were on the train, he soon found us. All who knew him as
a boy were delighted to meet him. Greetings were barely over before
it was decided Judge and Sam should go over the dog story and the
crowd would settle the amount, if anything, Judge owed Sammy. It
was refreshing to listen to Sam's presentation of his side of the
case. He showed the keen instincts of a lawyer, and held his own
with the Judge.
The next addition to the Bremer county bar was John E. Burke.
He located in Waverly in the last part of 1858, and soon showed he
was an active and able lawyer. He was entirely different in his
disposition and manner from Ruddick and Wright, and it was not long
before he and the former were rivals for the first place in their
profession. A case in court with Ruddick on one side and Burke on
the other was certain to be a fighting case, and no stitches in its
trial were ever dropped. Their rivalry in their profession and
political preferment was such as to .strain their social relations.
Both of them at different dates served in the legislature. Burke was
ambitious to go to congress and made two aggressive efforts to win
a nomination but without success. Ruddick preferred promotion to
the bench as a Judge, which he won and remained a district judge
as long as his health permitted. As I have said in another place, he
could have been elected to the supreme bench had he let his friends
manage a campaign for him. But he had exalted opinions about the
propriety of seeking such a dignified office by the usual methods of
[ 64 ]

political conventions. The result was, he held his friends in leash
while others were active for their candidates and they won out
while we lost.
Contrary to his desires and requests I made a trip into the south
west part of the state and convinced the leaders in six counties that
Judge Ruddick was pre-eminently the best man in the field for the
high office. I lined up the delegations solid for him and felt some
what elated over the success. When I told him at the state conven
tion how it happened he had a solid bunch of counties in the extreme
southwestern corner of the state, he scolded me for being so politically
active. It was characteristic of him to keep the ermine of justice
absolutely free from a possible taint of bias from every point of
view. George W. Ruddick was a just judge, a man of honor, and
perpendicular uprightness. He was devoted to his friends in all the
social amenities of life. I spent a half day with him after he was
confined to his home with sickness, while I was on a visit from
California. We went over many of the incidents of pioneer days in
Bremer county and when I bade him farewell, it was with the mutual
knowledge that it was our last meeting in this life. The visit was
.both pleasant and sorrowful.
Burke never reached the goal of his ambition to hold a seat in
congress, much to his chagrin and belief that his ability was not
appreciated. He never was a good mixer, and could not hold the
esteem and confidence of his associates and friends. He was suspi
cious and touchy, and thus repelled rather than attracted men to
him. He planted a garden one spring soon after locating in Waverly,
and among other things a row or two of beans. When they came
up he was perturbed because the bean was shoved thru the ground
and was on top of the stem. While cogitating over this, to him,
mystery, George R. Dean happened to be passing, and Burke called
to him and asked, "What is the matter with my beans?" G. R.
looked wise and replied, "Why, man, you planted them upside down;
they need turning over," and he passed on. Soon afterward, as he
returned home, he observed the lawyer busy turning his beans upside
down. And then it dawned upon Dean that Burke's inquiry was made
in real earnest, and that he accepted the advice in good faith, but
he said nothing and passed by. The joke was too good to keep,
and accordingly he told it, and soon all the wags about town who
dared to approach Burke were asking about his beans and how
they were progressing. The inquiries were so many and so earnest
that Burke grew suspicious, and when he learned the reason for so
much interest in his bean patch and the source from whence the
joke originated he was furious, and he never forgave George. When
the latter ran for superintendent of schools some years later, Burke
denounced him as totally unfit and incompetent for the office and
did his best to defeat him.
Years after the bean episode, in a hotly contested trial in court,
in which G. C. Wright and Burke were opposing counsel, Wright
declared in the discussion of the law in the case, "The counsel on
the other side don't know beans." So infuriated was Burke that it
(3) [ 65 ]

was all that Judge Fairchild could do to restrain Burke from assault
ing Wright. Then and there he served notice that such an insult
would not be tolerated by him in the future.
Keenly as the joke was relished by such waggish fellows as Dr.
Oscar Burbank and others, none of them ventured to spring it on
the fiery Irishman ever after the court scene. The little story illus
trates the characteristics of Burke. He was an able lawyer and a
most zealous advocate of any case he had in court.
Another member of the bar was James W. Woods, more famil
iarly known as "Old Timber." He was an old man when he came
to Bremer county, and a pioneer of the state, reaching back to ter
ritorial days. He practiced law with such illustrious contemporaries
as Judge McFarlane, McCreary, Crocker, Trimble, Grimes, Love, and
many others of those days, when giants were being grown from the
men who migrated to the territory which later became Iowa. "Tim
ber" had much native ability and much more assurance. His law
knowledge was gained more by absorption from his associates than
from books or study. He was not a student, but was the prince of
"hail fellows well met." He was a bourbon democrat and all his
business and social relations were gauged by politics. He was
genial and social and always strictly impecunious twelve months in
each year. No man in the state, in his latter days, had such a fund
of reminiscences as he had, and no one could relate them better. He
would discontinue a lawsuit any time to tell a string of stories,
mostly relating to the bar of pioneer days. He often told one to
illustrate the pioneer days of the courts. At a term of court in
Boone county Judge McFarlane was presiding, and, as usual for him,
he was steamed up as high as was prudent for a judge. Among the
cases to be tried was one involving the ownership of a horse. It was
a replevin case with several crooks and turns in it, and the burden
of proof rested upon the plaintiff, who was represented by M. M.
Crocker, who in the Civil War was colonel of the 13th Iowa Infantry,
and later became a brigadier general and commanded the brigade
known as "Crocker's Brigade."
"Timber" was the attorney for the defendant and filed an answer,
which was met with a demurrer- by Crocker. When the case was
called Crocker argued his demurrer and McFarlane overruled it.
Crocker next filed a motion for change of venue, which was denied;
then he asked for leave to amend his complaint; that, too, was de
nied, and last of all he asked for a continuance, which was denied.
At the end of all his efforts to gain time and delay the case, he
asked for three hours' time, which the court denied, and ordered that
the trial should proceed.
At this point Crocker, who was a chum of McFarlane in con
vivial bouts, rose and addressed the court in about these words:
"I have asked for rulings of this court which, if granted, would
enable my client to secure justice. I have met refusal by the honor
able court until I have exhausted all the remedies I know of and am
forced to enter upon the trial, which must of necessity result in the
defeat of justice to my client. I confess I do not know what to do."
[ 66 ]

McFarlane straightened up, and with a smile, said: "It is un
fortunate your client has not a lawyer that knows how to get his
case properly into court." Crocker, piqued at the court's remark,
retorted by saying: "Perhaps the honorable court knows; I do not."
The old judge, not to be bluffed, answered, "I appoint you judge pro
tempore of this court, and I'll take your case."
Crocker gladly consented and they changed places instantly.
McFarlane asked for three hours to prepare the case, which was
granted. At the end of the time asked for, Mac appeared at the
bar and Judge Crocker called the case. McFarlane offered a de
murrer, which was quickly overruled; he tried two or three other
methods of getting his case in shape for trial, each of which Crocker
overruled, and finally dismissed the case on a point of law raised by
"Timber," much to McFarlane's disgust and against his protest, end
ing the proceeding by saying, "It is a d  n sight easier to handle
a case as judge than as attorney, eh, Crocker?" "Timber" said
Crocker adjourned court and the whole caboodle went across the
street and assuaged a mighty thirst, at McFarlane's expense.
Woods had a fund of reminiscences of the early bar of the state,
and the lawyers of those days, that he was fond of reciting, and when
in the mood he could entertain a party a whole evening. He was
a genial man, always expecting to be very busy, and chronically hard
up; always willing to pay a bill, but never ready before "next week."

BREMER COUNTY'S FIRST DOCTORS AND
MINISTERS
In recalling the early professional men of Bremer county the
names of Doctors Oscar Burbank and D. M. Cool are first in Waverly,
and J. M. Peebles in Janesville.
The honor of being the first person in Bremer county to make
a business of healing and ministering to the sick, belongs to
Elizabeth Martin. She was familiarly called Aunt Betsey Martin.
She came to the county with her husband, the Rev. C. N. Martin, in
1850, and settled on Section 13, Township 91, which is about three miles
south of Waverly and is where S. I. Pool now lives. Her practice
extended over all of the western part of the county. She treated her
patients with homeopathic medicines and herbs, and she was quite
successful in her work. She answered the call of distress in all kinds
of weather. Alone and on horseback she faced the worst storms or
the howling blizzard in the effort to reach and care for the sick. If
the sick person happened to be the woman of the house and there
was no other help, she would remain and take charge of the house
work. She was indeed a friend of those in distress but disliked
pretense or nervousness. (In those days it was called "hypo.")
A good story is told of her treatment of one of those cases. She
was called to visit a family who lived on what is now the farm of
Henry Thies, and found the woman of the house in bed, lamenting
[ 67 ]

and groaning and apparently quite sick. Aunt Betsey stayed for
several days and in addition to treating the patient, took charge of
the housework. The doctor finally determined that there was nothing
really the matter with her patient except want of energy. The
farmer had no well but depended on getting his supply of water from
the nearby creek. One morning, on returning from the creek with
a pail of water, Aunt Betsey found her patient "taking on" at a
great rate and being entirely out of patience, she threw the pail
of ice cold water over her patient, hustled out and saddled her
horse and went home. The effect on the patient was most miraculous.
She jumped out of bed and most roundly berated the doctor, and from
that time was pretty well cured of her habit.
My belief is Dr. Burkank was the first regular physician to
enter the practice, and he continued in his profession until his death.
He was a physician of much more than average ability and thoroly
devoted to his calling. He kept read up in the progress of medicine
and surgery, until he was really in senility because of old age. He
loved his profession and cared more for the success of his work than
for the pay that was in it. His love of stories and his naturally
cheery disposition were as sunshine among his patients. It was
pretty hard for one to be sick if Doc was about, for he would talk
about everything but the sickness of his ward. He was naturally
waggish, and to that nature he added all he could by effort or put-on
levity. He could always discover something mirthful, even in the
presence of desperate cases of sickness. Some people classed him as
heartless when he was treating a patient, but the fact was he was
tender and gentle in his real self.
Dr. Cool was the next doctor to locate in Waverly, and he soon
won a large practice, because of his ability and skill as a doctor,
and his gentle and sympathetic manner in the sick room. When the
Civil War broke out, he went to the front as assistant surgeon of the
3rd Iowa Infantry. At the close of his service in the army, he re
turned home and soon afterward removed to Faribault, Minn., where
he died a good many years ago.
The third doctor to locate in Waverly was Samuel Jones, who
was well along in years when he arrived. He opened up a drug
store, which he kept until his death, several years later. His practice
was confined largely to people who consulted him at his place of
business. He was a polite and courteous old-fashioned gentleman,
who was respected and admired by all who knew him for his excellent
traits of character.
About 1861 Dr. J. C. Pomeroy came from Vermont after his
graduation. He was an athlete in stature and a giant intellectually.
If there is such a thing as a "natural-born" doctor, he was in that
class. By looking at a sick person, he seemed intuitively to know
what the affliction was. He was so thoroly able that people did not
give him credit for being interested in his cases, when the fact was
that he knew whether or not danger lurked about his patients.
Dr. William Boys and Dr. J. G. Smith, both young men and
thoroly equipped with knowledge and experience in hospital work in
[ 68 ]

the east, located in Waverly soon after the close of the war and for
some years were in active practice, but subsequently removed to
other parts.
The pioneer ministers were Rev. John Buckmaster, who located
in the county in the early fifties and opened up a farm north of
Waverly and lived there some six or seven years. He belonged to
the United Brethren church and gave much of his time to preaching
to the pioneers in their homes, for there were no school houses in
the country or any other places for public assemblies. In order to
have church services the settlers opened their homes for such use.
Buckmaster was an uneducated man, but zealous in his faith and
often delivered sermons of instruction and edification. He was
distinctly an evangelist rather than a pastor. As the tide of immigra
tion drifted west, Buckmaster went with it. Where he located I
never knew.
Another pioneer minister was Elder Terry, who located in Polk
township and spent his life there. He was an educated and godly
man, who gave the best of his life to the gospel ministry. He
preached without the expectatio'n of a salary, and, I guess, he was
never disappointed by getting one. He was a Baptist in faith and
had much to do in establishing the Baptist church in Waverly.
When the church failed to have a pastor, Elder Terry was requisi
tioned and always responded. He preached in pioneer homes, and
when school houses were built he preached in them, and in the
summer time in groves — always to good-sized and attentive audiences.
He was a sound, logical and able preacher, made no pretenses to
oratory, but gave the people the best he could in teaching practical
Christianity. His work ended a good many years ago, but his impress
lives today.
Rev. James Skillen, of whom I have spoken in other letters, was
another pioneer preacher, unlearned but very earnest and zealous in
his Master's work.
I don't know who preached the first sermon in Waverly, but
believe he was a Methodist. Rev. John Gould was the first preacher
I heard in the town. He was a presiding elder, a man of 'much
ability, dignified and reticent in manner, but a genial and companion
able man when one got to know him. He was a strong and popular
preacher. In April, 1859, Elder H. H. Burrington located in the town and
was pastor of the Baptist church for a long time. He was a finely
educated man and a graduate of a theological college in the east.
He was a systematic and sound preacher of much more than average
ability, and no man was more respected than he.
After years of service for his church he was elected county
superintendent of schools and had much to do in raising the grade
of the public schools of the county. Still later he turned his attention
to a farm he owned northeast of town, in which work he took great
pleasure. Another pioneer preacher was C. M. Sessions, who was the
pastor of the Methodist church when the congregation worshipped
[ 69 ]

in the court house. He was followed by Rev. F. X. Miller. It was
during his pastorate that the erection of the present church began.
The Baptists built the first meeting house in the town, upon the
lot on which the Fourth ward school house now stands, and it was
used a good many years for services.

SUICIDE MYSTERIES
The first suicide committed in the county was by Miss Fannie
Willis. She was a very intelligent and handsome young lady, and
so far as was ever known no cause was found for her act. She
was a sister of Mrs. Alma Wood and Mrs. Matthew .Farrington.
Her death was a sensation to the little town, and a crushing blow
to her sisters and her mother, Grandma Willis, who was a superior
woman, as were also her sisters, in many ways.
Some years later, I think in 1866, Dave Evans cut his throat
in the harness shop where he worked, which was located on the lot
where the Broadie drug store now stands, or on the one next to it.
He was an industrious and faithful worker, bvft a slave to intoxicating
drink, and after a bout of dissipation he was melancholy and mortified
to such a degree that he was desperate. His brother, George G.
Evans, did all a brother could do to relieve him from the grip of the
demon of rum, but without success. Dave lived with his brother,
whose wife (formerly Lydia Gould, daughter of Rev. John Gould),
did all a sister could have done to save poor Dave. They lived in
the house now known as the late Hugh Hill home, in the Fourth
ward. My home was next door to them, and I know the efforts
that George and Lydia made to keep Dave from drink, for our
families were very close friends. Across the street lived Henry
Curtis, who, a few years later, took his life in the same way in his
barn, on a hot busy Saturday afternoon. There Sidney Curtis and
I found him lying dead in a stall. In all my life, never was I so
shocked as at his tragic death. I had no closer friend, nor one I
esteemed more than "Hank" Curtis, except his brother, S. H. Curtis.
The news of his death was a sensation that paralyzed the town, and
the mystery of the act was never explained. I had been with him
a half hour before the act was committed. He got out of the chair
in Jake Long's barber shop, and as I took his place, he said, "You'll
find a hot seat," and passed out. When I left the chair, I went
into the store to speak to him about a personal matter, and Sid
said to me, "A report has just come to me that a tramp is lying
in Hank's barn. Do you know where he is?" On telling Sid of our
parting in the barber shop, he said, "Come with me and we will rout
the fellow out of the barn, for I suppose he is drunk, and I am
afraid he may set a fire going." We went to the barn and found
Henry, as I said above.
Not many years passed before Jake Long took his life in the
same shop where Henry and I parted. He took poison, and like the
[ 70 ]

two previously mentioned, no reason was ever discovered why Jake
committed the act.
The last and most startling act of this sort was that of Henry
H. Gray, a few years later still. He was a prominent and highly
respected lawyer with a lucrative practice and a promising future
before him. He was a veteran of the Civil War and had hosts of
friends about him. So far as I recollect, he never was melancholy
or morose. His death was a shock to the town, and large circles
of friends in other parts of the state. All the above mentioned
cases, excepting that of Evans, were shocks and mysteries to the
town and to all the friends of the parties.
I sometimes philosophize over such cases, and have reached the
conclusion that the scientist who said, "There is a strain of insanity
in every person," was right when he wrote the verdict. I cannot
believe that a perfectly sane individual ever did, or ever will, take"
his own life. At the instant of the act reason is dethroned and
the act is one of an irresponsible being.

SURVIVORS OF THE WAR OF 1812
Waverly in her early days had two survivors of the war of 1812,
in the persons of Ira Sturdevant and Manassah Reeves, who were
always accorded the place of honor on all public occasions. They
were sturdy and solid men, who were looked upon as worthy of any
honor that the younger generation could pay them. The first time
I saw them they were on the platform with the officers on the
Fourth of July, 1856, of which I have written in a former letter.
As I gazed upon their determined faces and quiet manners, I felt
myself to be in the presence of men who deserved the honor of a
nation and of all the people.- It welled up in me that I would like
to have a chance to do what they had done — defend the flag of our
country — never dreaming that the day was not five years away when
such as I was would be called upon to do so, and even in a far more
desparate war than the one in which they had participated. I had
the chance, and I got enough out of it to satisfy me for life. I
believe that both these men are buried in Harlington cemetery, and
also a third one, whose name is Smith. I never knew him or any
thing about his family or service, other than a general report.
Reeves and Sturdevant left a posterity of the best people of Bremer
county.
MORE ABOUT THE CHURCHES
Returning to the subject of churches in Waverly, the Presbyterian
church was organized September 15, 1856, with such sturdy members
as the families of John Findley, B. W. Johnson, Robert Cunningham,
Naaman Moore and some others whose names do not occur to me at
this time. Rev. John Smalley was installed as pastor, in which
[ 71 1

capacity he labored for many years. He was a man of ability,
educated, imposing in physique, and a typical old-fashioned Presby
terian preacher, he was sound in doctrine as well as a fine pastor and
an able expositor of the Scriptures. They purchased and built the
cozy little brick church in the grove on South State street (where
the A. T. Leslie home now stands) where they worshipped for many
years. Rev. Smalley owned and operated a fine farm northeast of
town in Warren township, and maintained his pastorate as long as
the organization remained. In later years, the membership dwindled
away by removals and deaths, until finally the church was discon
tinued, and I believe has never been revived.
The Catholic church was organized in October, 1856, with the
Rev. John Shields as pastor. He gathered together all the members
of that faith and held them in fellowship, and out of his efforts and
those of his early parishioners has grown the large and prosperous
church of today. Father Shields was a forceful man, a keen and
safe business man, as well as a leader in his church work. He had
his share to bear in the hard times of those days, but he was pre
eminently the man for such an ordeal. He had all the courage and
grit of his race, and the harder the pinch the more active he was.
No Irishman ever possessed more courage than he did. If things
didn't come his way willingly, he would find a way to make them
come. One morning I met Tom Murphy on the street in a boiling
rage and on inquiry as to the cause he told me Father Shields had
called on him for a dollar for some purpose relating to the church,
and Tom said that when he told the Father he had hot a dollar
in the world, the Father replied, "See that you get one by tomorrow."
Then Tom added, "I know what that means, I must get a dollar,
 him." Father Shields remained as rector for several years,
when he was transferred to another field.
After the close of the war a new rector was sent to the church,
whose name was Father Murphy. Soon after he arrived I met him
on the street one day and instantly recognized him as the chaplain
of the 58th Illinois Infantry during the war. He did not recognize
me, but I soon convinced him I knew him by relating to him the
incident of his capture in Louisiana, on a foraging expedition of
which I had charge. The detail consisted of a bunch of men from
his regiment, whom he volunteered to accompany, as a sort of lark.
We got into a hot skirmish with the enemy, and could only escape
them by a hasty retreat. Chaplain Murphy was not used to such
quick work, and therefore was a bit slow, and he was bagged and
carried into captivity. Later he was sent to a prison, where he
remained for a time, but being a non-combatant, he was returned to
his regiment after a few months. There was great rejoicing on his
return, and I well knew all these circumstances. As long as he
stayed in Waverly he was a frequent and welcome visitor at my
office. He was a typical Irishman, well educated, witty and com
bative, and, he used to tell me, a "sound preacher." He was very
popular in his regiment, whose colonel was Col. Lynch, who led the
Fenian forces in the Canada raid, was captured, and only escaped
[ 72 ]

death by the influence which General Grant brought to bear in his
behalf. Col. Lynch loved a fight, and Father Murphy loved Lynch.
I spoke of Tom Murphy, who was a pioneer in Waverly. He and
I were particularly good friends. He did not have very many friends
he cared for, but those he did have he was very fond of. He was a
waspish and quick-tempered man and full of superstitious ideas.
He owned a place east of town on the south side of the main road
leading east. On it near the road grew a large basswood tree with
drooping, limbs, on one of which the Barber boys had been hanged
some years ago. While on a visit to Waverly some time after the
mob tragedy I was told that Tom had cut down the tree and even
dug out all the roots and burned the whole lot. I went out to visit
Tom one afternoon and in the course of an hour or so, I ventured
to mention the fact of the hanging and inquired what had become
of the tree. In answer to my question he told me that he had
removed the tree, and in reply to my request to see the stump
(which I knew he had dug up), he told me the story, and closed by
saying, "The curse of God rested on the tree, and I belaved that
meant the roots, and I dug them all out to the last branch, and
burned them, so I did. Was I right?" I said, "Sure you were, Tom."
He seized my hand and said, "I knew you would say so."
Tom was fond of fishing, and there were few that could equal
him in the number of fine fish he could catch, was the fishing good or
poor. He liked the taste of that which cheers and usually took some
thing along to pass away the time while waiting for a bite. On
account of his prowess he was in great demand when the boys ar
ranged a fishing trip. On one occasion when he was asked to go
along he shook his head and refused to go. Upon being asked to
give a reason for his refusal, he said, "The wind is in the wrong
quarter." When told that they expected to take a keg along, he
replied, "Then I'll go, the wind may change."

POLITICAL SITUATION PRECEDING THE
CIVIL WAR
About the time the pioneers of Bremer county began to feel
solid rock under their feet and, with smiles on their faces, could see
the rainbow of promise ahead of them, as they glanced ahead and
foresaw better times approaching, the campaign for the election of
a president opened up in 1860. Political tension was taut to the
limit and a subdued feeling of excitement pervaded the country.
The slavery question stirred in the minds and hearts of the people
and would not down at the bidding of party or of men. It was an
eating ulcer, and the emollient of soft words, or the indulgence of
hopes of its passing away did not soothe the public mind. It was
a national crime against mankind, and the wiser men, such as Lin
coln, Douglas, Seward and many other great statesmen trembled with
fear that the peace and prosperity of the country was actually in
[ 73 ]

danger. The average man had not reached such a period then, but he
hoped his party would find a solution in statesmanship, and all
would be well.
Far removed as was Iowa from the center of political wisdom
and manipulation, the people were deeply interested in the coming
contest. Then, as now, they were a reading people and a studious
people, and hated slavery and all sorts of oppression.
When the news came that Abraham Lincoln was nominated by
the republicans a thrill of satisfaction swept over the party, leaders,
and men who detested slavery turned their thoughts toward him as
the man who could, and would, solve the question, for they recalled
the series of debates he had in 1858 all over Illinois with Judge
Douglas, the champion of "Squatter Sovereignty." The northern
democrats nominated Douglas, the southern democrats named J. C.
Breckenridge, and the American party chose Bell, of Tennessee.
From the start it was well understood that the contest would be
between Lincoln and Douglas, with the chances in favor of the latter.
Both were intellectual giants, and knew each other perfectly, for
many a time had they met as gladiators upon public platforms in
joint debate. They were as unlike as two men could be in all save
intellectual power, in that respect they were an even match.
The excitement reached to the remote parts of the country and
Bremer county had its full share of it. W. P. Harmon led the re
publicans and Geo. S. Mathews the democrats. The result was a
clean sweep of the county for every office by the republicans, from
top to bottom. As I have said before, scores of life-long democrats
forsook their party and joined the "black republicans" (for that was
what the democrats called them) and very few ever went back to
their first love.
Such leading men as Geo. W. Mathews, G. C. Wright, John Acken
and many others fought desperately to hold their lines against the
break, but without success. A hickory pole, 97 feet long, was erected
on the corner of Bremer avenue and East Water street on the south
side by the democrats, and a fine flag was raised in honor of Judge
Douglas, on which were the words in large letters, "My country, right
or wrong." As the flag unfolded in the breeze and the letters were
plainly revealed, a shout went up from all the crowd assembled. W.
P. Harmon, who was a witness of the proceedings and not a little
perturbed over the manifested enthusiasm, as the words were read,
challenged Mr. Wright by saying, "You will be compelled to choose
your place in less than four years, will you stand by that motto?"
His prophecy proved true, and regretfully it may be recorded
that Mr. Wright did not stand fast by the pledge, for he and his
strictly partisan friends assumed an attitude of masterful inactivity
from the election of Lincoln to the close of the war, and in a way
discouraged enlistments for the army when the conflict came.
The republicans, not to be out-done, raised a goodly sized oak
pole on the opposite corner, north from that of the democrats, from
which they unfurled a large and beautiful flag bearing the names of
their standard bearers, Lincoln and Hamlin. It also contained a
[ 74 j

motto, the wdrding of which was, as I recollect, "The union cannot
exist half slave and half free."
The democratic boys, led by Bell Morrell, Harry Hazlett, Will and
Clarence Tyrrell and others whom I do not now remember, raised
a pole on the corner where the Democrat office now is located and
flung to the breeze a fair sized flag on which was enscribed, "Our
liberties we prize, our rights we will maintain."
From these facts may be known the excitement that prevailed.
Such was the feeling that in business and social relations life
long friends were estranged or "personna non grata" toward each
other ever afterward.
Often as war was predicted by students and thinkers, the average
man did not share such thoughts and accredited such talk as the
logic of politicians to stir their party into vigorous action.
When the eventful April morning in 1861 bore upon the breezes
the sound of a hostile gun sending a shot at the flag, people of all
classes and politics awoke to the stunning fact that war was upon
them.

SOLDIERS WHO WENT TO THE FRONT
When, a few days later, came the call for volunteers to the army,
the people were stirred as never before. In a day several of the
young men of Waverly were seeking a way to enter the service. My
recollection is that Mayor Wood was the first man to enlist, and he
was followed by Gorham Ellsworth, George W. Briggs, Al Lawrence,
Al Wemple, Charley Wemple and Samuel Grove, and they were
joined by M. F. Gillett, who came on foot from Frederika. They went
to Cedar Falls and joined a company that was being raised there, and
became members of Co. K, 3rd Iowa Infantry, and were soon sent to
Missouri. The first battle any Bremer county soldier was in was at a
place in western Missouri called Gulf Mills, or a name like that, but
nobody was hurt. Their next engagement was at Wilson's Creek, and
all escaped injury.
About the same time H. F. Beebe set about raising a company,
but he failed in getting enough men to secure a captain's commission,
but did have a contingent sufficient to secure a first lieutenantcy for
himself and a second lieutenantcy for Ashbury Leverich in the same
company, by consolidating with Capt. Washburn, of Waterloo, and the
company was "G" in the 9th Infantry. Among the men who were in
the Bremer county part of the company was a boy by the name of
John Karker, who was killed in the battle of Pea Ridge. Johnny
was the first man killed who went from the county. I knew him
well, as I did his parents. He was Bremer county's first martyr for
the cause of freedom. In the same company was Edward Tyrrell,
father of Will and Charley, two of Waverly's well-known and good
boys. At the charge on the works at Vicksburg, in 1863, Lieutenant
Tyrrell fell mortally wounded, and d^ed a few days later. He was
[ 75 ]

the first and only commissioned officer killed in battle from the
county, and, as I have often said, Bremer county has not done her
duty to him by neglecting to rear a monument on the court house
square to his memory. Edward Tyrrell was not an ordinary man in
ability, morals, or good citizenship. His name and services deserve
,to be commemorated in granite in a public place in the county he
honored in official, civil and military life. He bequeathed to the
county a widow of sterling worth and children who honor his name.
Lieutenants Beebe and Leverich both resigned from the 9th, re
turned home, and recruited Co. B of the 38th Iowa, and went back
into the service, where in time Beebe was promoted to a majorship,
and when his regiment was consolidated with the 34th Iowa, in 1864,
he retired from the service and came back to Waverly, and after
a few years removed to Jasper county, Mo., where he died some
years ago. Lieutenant Leverich came home on sick furlough and died
at Janesville, I think, before the war closed.
J. O. Hudnot, of Sumner township, became lieutenant colonel of
the 38th Iowa, and was the biggest in rank of any officer from the
county. He was not well known in the county, especially in the
western part of it. He was a civil engineer of ability, and because
of that qualification reached the rank he held, but so far as is known,
he never made any particular record as a soldier.
At the same time Beebe was recruiting his company for the
38th, H. A. Tinkham was doing the same work, in which he succeeded
and became captain of Co. C, 38th Iowa, and thus Bremer county
had two companies in that unfortunate regiment, which bears the
destinction of losing more men because of sickness than any other
regiment from the state; but it had only one man killed in battle,
and he was not from Bremer county.
About the same time Richard Currier and H. A. Miles were each
engaged in recruiting companies for the service. I enlisted in
Currier's company, and when it was organized I was elected first
lieutenant and A. J. Allen second lieutenant. When assigned to a
regiment, the company became "B" of the 14th, and Capt. Miles'
company was "C" of the same regiment. Many of his men were
recruited in Butler county, and W. B. Stoughton was his first lieuten
ant and John Braden the second. Both were from Butler county.
Braden was killed in battle.
Currier was a capital drill master and a strict disciplinarian,
having belonged to a military company for a number of years in
Buffalo, N. Y., before he came to Waverly. It was there he learned
the tactics and drill which so well fitted him for making his com
pany proficient. In the state camp he gave us a thoro drilling, and
it was of inestimable value to us in our subsequent service, and made
the company the best-drilled, all-around one of the regiment.
With all his ability and equipment for a model and rising officer,
he lacked the heart and fortitude so necessary to make a good and
sturdy soldier. As we approached the danger zone, he became rest
less and uneasy, and lost all interest in the men and their comfort.
After we reached St. Louis, he was absent from the camp a great
[ 76 ]

deal of the time, and when present was crabbed and entirely
different from what he had been in the drill camp in the state.
When the order came to embark on a steamboat for Vicksburg,
he gave no attention to the preparation, directed me to take charge
of the company and be ready to leave camp for the boat when the
order came to go. He was absent for two days and nights in the city.
When the regiment reached the wharf, and at the last minute before
the boat swung out for the down-river trip, he appeared, in an
excited condition, called me to him and informed me he had resigned
and I should assume command of the company. He did not offer
to bid goodby to the boys who were nearby, but turned about in the
crowd and disappeared, and that was the last any of us ever saw of
our popular commander.
In the brief time some of the boys caught enough to know what
had happened, and in a few minutes the news spread to all of them.
The gibes, roasts and taunts they sent after him were fierce and
bitter, but he soon got beyond hearing them. The men demanded he
should return the handsome sword and sash that had been presented
to him by the people of Waverly, in the court house, when the com
pany left the county. But he took both with him to Buffalo, N. Y.,
for he did not go back to Waverly, nor did he ever show his face
in the state afterward. He had ordered a couple of dozen photos of
himself in full uniform. They were delayed in delivery, so he did
not get them, but they came to the company after he was gone. When
it was known what the package contained the men tore it open, and
with curses and anathema they wrote all sorts of stuff on the backs
of the photos and sent them by mail to Waverly, addressed to him.
Whether he ever received any of them, we never knew. If he did,
it is safe to say he learned the literary ability of the company as
masters of plain speaking.
This desertion of us at the threshold of active service was a
crushing' disappointment, for we had believed he would be a leader
of far more than ordinary ability and would stay with us to the end.
The sudden change threw on me the responsibility of caring for
the company. I felt incompetent and unable to meet it successfully,
for all I knew about military drill I had learned from Captain Currier
in the few months of our stay in the drill camp, and by a close ap
plication, in study, to rules, regulations and tactics, I assumed the
duties of looking after the comfort and welfare of more than a
hundred patriotic boys who left their homes in Bremer county to do
their duty as faithful soldiers. They felt keenly their betrayal and
desertion, and none of them more than I did. To restore confidence
and harmony was no little task. I hoped we would have an officer
assigned to command the company, who would have the ability and
the personality to lead us wherever we were ordered to go. The
Colonel ordered that the men should choose a captain by vote, which
was done a little later, when I was absent. They elected me, by
unanimous vote, as captain, which settled the matter,1 and I stayed
with them until all were discharged. [ 77 ]

At this point I want to say that no better bunch of men were
in the service during the Civil War than was Company B, 14th Iowa.
They were like a big family of brothers all the way thru, and to this
day the survivors are like brothers. To me, the best of all is there
never was in the company a single man who was not my friend to
the limit. I never asked a man to do a duty or ordered one into
the jaws of death, that he did not go cheerfully and heroically. To
me they were my brothers and "boys," and to this day I am bound
to them by hooks of steel, that can be broken only by remorseless
death. At this date fifteen are still living, five of them are in the
old county, the balance scattered into four states, but I know where
they are, and I keep in touch with them. It is not a boast to say
that Company B saw more hard service and lost more men than all
the other organizations that went from the county. In the archives
of Robbins' Post, G. A. R., may be seen a rebel flag, captured in
battle, brought home as a trophy and placed there as a relic of their
services. Go and see it and then attempt to reckon the cost of its
capture. I am the sole and last commissioned officer living who served in
the war of the rebellion, from Bremer county. Many other boys from
the county did good and heroic service, but in other organizations
outside the county. The men in the Third and Ninth regiments
from the county went to Blackhawk county and joined companies
accredited to that county, so Bremer lost the honors that really
belong to her, in that way. Bremer did nobly her part in the war,
and sent her full quota on demand. Only a very few men were
drafted, and those near the end of the struggle.
As I look back, I am amazed, as well as proud, of the heroism
of the pioneers, who met the crisis in our country's history so hero
ically. But the school of hard times in their settlement of the county
had taught them the lesson of self-sacrifice and will-power, and they
did not hesitate to make the effort to conquer. It was so in peace and
in war.

FEW SLACKERS DURING CIVIL WAR
As I have said, at the beginning of the Civil War Waverly
shared, with all others of the frontier towns, much excitement. In
some cases the discussion was very earnest, even bitter, between men
of different politics, for a respectable number of the best men could
not forget their politics and the democrats of the old school were
inclined to hold the republicans as responsible for the break between
the south and the north. In time the more conservative element
became ardent supporters of the president and his policies, and thus
segregated themselves from their old party. But a goodly number
remained loyal to the old party which assumed what was dubbed in
those days "a masterful inactivity," and finally became known as
"Copperheads." Today people holding like opinions upon the war
[ 78 ]

question are called "slackers" or "pros." The division on the war
question reached into social, fraternal and church relations; so bitter
was the sentiment that it took many years to eradicate the feeling,
if it ever will entirely disappear.
Among the early settlers in Waverly was Henry L. Dole, who
came to town in 1859 from Vermont and established a small jewelry
store. He was an expert workman, devoted to his business and soon
built up a good trade. He was a radical abolitionist and often en
gaged in hot discussions over the slavery discussion. He and Dr.
Pomeroy were good friends, came from the same place in Vermont,
but they never agreed in politics. Doc was very fond of nagging
Dole and kept him stirred up most of the time.
When actual war came Dole was much excited. To add to his
discomfort and perturbation of mind Pomeroy, Elias Grove, Will
Brown, Mayor Wood, 0. F. Avery and others of his chums insisted
Dole should enlist, if he was in real earnest in his faith. They
systematically tormented him about enlisting until he was nearly
frantic. They put up the story that an army would be made up by
drafting at once, and all young men would be sure to have to go.
Dole was by nature a timid man, and war was a horror to him
which his tormentors very well knew. In a day he disposed of his
business as best he could, packed his most valuable goods and with
them left town. Where he went was a secret to all, and so far as
known no one knew his whereabouts, and he was forgotten.
While I was in Washington in 1894 one morning a page informed
me that a gentleman was in the lobby of the house and earnestly
asked an interview. I repaired to the place and found the man, who
seemed more than ordinarily delighted to meet me. He grabbed my
hand and greeted me so cordially I realized he was an old-time
acquaintance, but I had not the most remote idea who he was. To
his inquiry whether I recognized him, I was compelled to tell him
that I did not. He expressed surprise that I failed to recall him,
and then told me he was "Hank Dole." Then I could plainly see he
was the long-lost "Dole" from Waverly in 1861. I was glad to see
him and he invited me to take a day off and visit with him, which
I did. We went down to Mt. Vernon to see Washington's old home,
and back to the city to see many very interesting things, and last of
all to a famous restaurant, where he ordered an elaborate dinner.
In the meantime he kept up a continuous stream of inquiries about
all of the people of Waverly in her pioneer days. He had never heard
from a soul in the little town from the day he left it until then.
He recollected everybody who lived there and all about them, and was
particularly interested to know who of his old chums had gone into
the army, and their facts, all of which I was able to tell him. All
day long, and until a late hour in the evening, we visited fast and
furiously. He remained in the city two or three days and took all
the time I could spare in asking questions about the people and the
town he had left so unceremoniously.
He told me he went straight to Boston from Waverly, and had
been there continuously and was the owner of as fine a jewelry store
[ 79 j

as the city afforded, had never married and he never should, that
life was a pleasure garden for him, etc., etc.
I asked him how he knew where I was and he replied that he
saw an item in the paper that I was in congress, and that he started
the next day to find me. I never had a more pleasant visit with
anyone than with him. To my inquiry why he so suddenly left
Waverly, he replied, "I was so scared at the thought of being drafted
that I was half crazy, and when I started I had no idea where I
would go, but kept going until I reached Boston."
Since that time I often hear from him by letter. He is now
retired and spends his time on easy street. Louis Case will recollect
him well, as may some other old settlers. It was a queer experience
to me, and proves we never know what may happen in our lives.

Among the early settlers in the eastern part of the county was
David Chadwick, for whom a grove was named in Dayton township.
He was a robust and powerful man in physique, industrious and fully
alive to the development of the new country in which he had cast his
lot, just such a man as was needed to help make Bremer county
great. He had as good a farm as was in the county. When the war
came upon the country he was afire with patriotism and had he not
been too old would have been a soldier. As it was, the best he
could do was to furnish a son in the person of John J. Chadwick, of
Tripoli, one of Bremer county's best men, and a hero and lion under
all circumstances. No better man ever wore the blue than John J.
Chadwick. John went in my company and is today an honored
citizen of the county.
In the summer of 1864 our part of the army was assigned to
the duty of watching and warding off the attacks of Forrest upon
the lines of supplies and the country in and about Memphis. We
were constantly on the move to thwart the sleepless and wizard
Forrest, and often cut off from mail communication with our homes.
This caused uneasiness at home as well as provoked the soldiers.
Uncle Dave Chadwick decided he would make a trip down to Memphis
and, if possible, visit his boy and all the rest of us. When he reached
Memphis the army was many miles out in the interior of the country
confronting Forrest, and to all civilians communications were closed.
On the 4th of July we lay in camp fifty or sixty miles from Memphis
along the line of the railroad, on which guarded trains were operated
back to Memphis. In the evening a train reached us and to the sur
prise of all Uncle Dave landed in camp. He was received like a
king, for he was the only person we had seen from "God's country"
for as much as a year, if not more. It was refreshing and a royal
treat to have him with us. The camp of Company B resounded with
boyish glee as we gathered about him to hear from home, for, as
Josh Meeker put it, "his clothes smelt good to us." After the welcome
was over, he told us all about affairs at home and how the people
were interested in the progress of the war. I wondered how it was
[ 80 ]

possible for him to get thru the lines and find us, for I knew the
extreme caution exercised and the iron-clad rules .enforced concerning
keeping civilians from passing the lines. To my inquiry he promptly
replied, "I told them I had come to see John and the rest of you,
and when they told me I could not go thru the lines, I said, 'I am
going, pass or no pass'." The fact developed he won the friendship
of a guard on the train, who tucked him in a secure place, and he
was overlooked by the detectives, or purposely passed, and landed
safely. We remained in camp, I think, two days, while General Smith
was arranging his plan to fight Forrest. When the order came to
move, Uncle Dave was fierce to have a hand in the impending battle
and began to look for a gun. When told from headquarters that he
could go no further, but must go back to Memphis on what was to
be the last train before the try-out between Smith and Forrest, he
at first declared he would not go, but would have a hand in the
battle. But the order was peremptory and he had to go, which he
did protestingly. He was as eager to march out with us and take
part in the bloody battle which was fought at Tupelleo on the 12th,
as a boy ever is to go to a circus, and not a doubt exists that he
would have done the full duty of a good soldier. It goes to show
the pluck, as well as the patriotism, of an old pioneer of the county
and that courage and fortitude were transmitted to his son, who was
a model soldier.

Another patriotic pioneer was Cyrus Odiorne, of Leroy township.
He was past age when we were raising Company B, but insisted on
being enrolled. He was afire with patriotic enthusiasm and would
not consider for a moment his age, which was greater than his ap
pearance indicated. His persistency won him permission to go to the
state camp with the company. But when the examination by the
surgeon was made Cyrus was rejected, much to his disappointment.
He was a wiry and active man, and had the spirit to make a good
soldier, but the years forbade his acceptance. About that time a
regiment of men past forty-five years was being raised and he en
listed in it and went and Bid good service, which was entirely gar
rison and guard duty about Memphis, where the government had
tremendous stores of supplies for the armies in the field. It was
known as the "Gray Beard regiment" and was numbered 37. Iowa
was the only state that was authorized to furnish such a body of
men. Cyrus served full three years and returned home as well as
when he left it. His lament always was he could not go with us,
so he could see some fighting. He lived several years after the
close of the war, and was always the same energetic and enthu
siastic patriot and persisted in sayihg he was denied seeing more
active service, a service in which he would have heard big guns and
smelled powder. Men of such fiber as Odiorne made up the pioneer
colonies of Bremer county and put the county on the road to its
present greatness.
[ 81 1 ...._

Among the very early settlers of the eastern part of the county
was Ephraim Wattenpaugh, who settled what is now Sumner town
ship. He was a young man of high morals, studious habits and
industrial proclivities. He soon had a farm blocked out and was
on the road to success. But the call for young men to save the
country from division was heard by him, and no sooner heard than
he was found shaping his affairs to respond, which he did, and for
three long years, or more, he did .his duty as a soldier, as he has
always done in civil life. When a peace was conquered he came back
to the same farm and took up the lines he dropped on the plow
handles and proceeded to finish the furrow he had left half done.
All the years since he has plowed, sowed and reaped rich crops
from the same land, until today, in his age, he is on easy street,
comfortable and honored by all who know him, and those who know
him best honor him most.
No better type of good citizen ever lived in Bremer county than
Eph Wattenpaugh. He has lived to see the pioneers grow old, and
most of them gone, and he can go back in memory when a trip to
Waverly to pay his taxes was nearly as big a job as it is now to
go to Chicago. He forded streams, wallowed thru sloughs and mud
holes, with the same courage that he faced death on the sanguinary
field, and now is reaping the victories he won on both fields, and is
a splendid example of what true and honest manhood brings to the
man who has a vision and faithfully follows it to the end. Eph is
one of the old timers in the county and knows from grim experience
what it costs to be faithful in the discharge of the duties of life.

CAMPAIGNING FOR A RAILROAD
S. F. Cass was another comparatively old settler, arriving and
locating in Sumner township about 1865. The first time I met him
was in the fall of 1866, when he came into the treasurer's office to
pay taxes. James Fletcher and I were alone in the office when he
entered. He had barely passed the threshold when he staggered and
fell full length to the floor, without speaking. We rushed to him
and on inspection he seemed to be dead. Neither of us knew him.
Jim procured a cup of water and dashed some on his face, while I
was feeling his pulse and manipulating his arms. After a long time,
to us, he showed signs of life. We placed him on a couch in the
office and kept up a vigorous rubbing of his person until he showed
signs of life, but he was in a state of coma and remained so for
several hours. In the meantime we wondered who he was, and what
his mission was. Last of all we examined letters and papers we found
in his pockets, which revealed his identity. In the meantime H. C.
Moore, clerk of the courts, came into the office, and recognized him
and told us who he was, which confirmed what we had discovered
in the documents we had found on his person. After three or four
hours he regained his senses and was soon himself again. He told
[ 82 ]

us he had no recollection of anything after he left the hotel down
town until he found himself on the couch in the office. When fully
recovered, he said he never had such an attack before, and often,
years afterward, said he never had such attack again. It was the
beginning of a friendship between him and me that grew and lasted
until his death some years ago. We often talked about the cir
cumstance. He located in the north part of the township and opened a store
on his farm that became a center for the country all about, and
where he did a large business and laid the foundation for a modest
fortune. Steve Cass was no ordinary man in ability and was a born
leader in all matters pertaining to the development and growth of
all that part of the country.
When the Iowa and Pacific railroad enterprise was started he
saw the importance of it and threw himself into helping to secure
it with all his steam engine power. As will be recalled, the success
of the enterprise hung on the voting of a five per cent tax by town
ships thru which it would pass. The people wanted a railroad most
of all the things within their reach, but the farmers were opposed
on principle to taxing themselves to build one. The work of carrying
a tax by vote in some townships seemed to, be a hopeless one. Piatt
Smith, of Dubuque, was the general who was intrusted with laying
out the plans and managing the campaigns in several townships, of
which no two were alike. He selected the men for each township and
instructed them as to the methods of attack and work. To Sumner
Cass and I were assigned. It was the first one in the county to be
tried, and success there was regarded as of the utmost importance.
I went to the township and stayed with Cass for two weeks. We
had some very determined opposition to overcome, if we succeeded,
and to this work we applied all our best ability. Every man was seen,
and the opposition was labored with many and many a time. We
polled the vote often and finally we had a majority lined up. The
day of election was a subdued and exciting one for us, but the result
at night was a victory which insured the tax all along the line and
best of all, insured the building of the road so as to bring the eastern
and western parts of the county in touch with each other.
Then the spot where the prosperous town of Sumner now stands
was a bare spot of prairie land, with a very sparsely settled country
about it. Cass removed his store, in time, from its old location to
the new town, and became the leader in its growth. He was well
fitted for such leadership, and made his mark high up as a business
man. Cass was a reliable and honorable man in all his business
relations. As long as he lived, the friendship between him and me,
which began as I labored to bring him back to life in the treasurer's
office, continued without a flaw in any way. He left to the county
and the state a family of boys who followed in his footsteps and
have made reputations for themselves worthy of their ancestor, of
which I may speak in another letter.
[ 83 ]

BREMER COUNTY'S FIRST FAIR
I am not quite certain who taught the first term of school in
the stone school house which served the town so long as an educa
tional. Mecca, for in addition to the public school there were held
church services, political caucuses, literary club meetings, railroad
meetings, debating society meetings, and all others of a public char
acter. My belief is that Mrs. B. F. Perkins was the first teacher in
the new school house, in the winter of 1855 — 56. E. C. Moulton
taught the school in 1857 — 58 — 59. Later on, after the war, B. F.
McCormick was principal of the schools in the old house. It was
the center of all educational efforts until the court house was com
pleted in 1859, when all religious services were transferred to it by
those having no meeting house of their own. In it church services
were held, traveling theatrical shows, political meetings of all parties,
fairs, big socials, etc.
Both these buildings served the wants of the people when public
meetings were held.
The first county fair was held in the court house in October,
1859, at which a wonderful display of vegetables, grains, cookery,
needle work, old family relics of a curiuos sort, as well as several
coops of poultry and a few choice pigs were on exhibition. My con
tribution to the show was a head of cabbage weighing 38 pounds,
that I sold to G. W. Le Valley for five cents. The court house was
crowded with people who rejoiced over what could be produced in
' Bremer county. It was a meeting of people who got acquainted with
each other and it tended to cement them together in developing the
resources of the soil and the industries of the people. The weather
was very bad, rain with snow fell and the temperature was low, but
all cheerfully faced the weather, as they did the hardships of pioneer
life. I recollect a discussion between Mace Eveland, Horace Wallace,
Samuel Lease, Parker Lucas, Samuel Case, Solomon Renn, John
Wile, W. P. Harris and others, as to whether or not timothy and
clover would ever grow in the climate and soil of this section. Each
one of them was a paragon of wisdom on the subject and the general
belief was that they had passed out of the timothy and clover belt
and they must depend upon the prairie grass for hay, of which they
all agreed there would always be enough, for the prairies would never
all be settled and farmed. If these wise old farmers' foresight had
been as good as their hindsight was, when mowing heavy swaths of
. timothy and clover a few months afterward, they would have been
better prophets, and when some of them had lived to see every acre
of prairie land under cultivation and teeming with ripe crops, they
would have tried to forget their predictions.
The fair was a success as a beginning, and it was agreed that
it was the starter of an organization that would be permanent and
[ 84 ]

be the means of advertising Bremer county. But the rapid changes
that came because of the election of Lincoln relegated the fair
project to the scrap pile for a good many years, and for more than
four years the one thought in the minds of the people was the sal
vation of the country. To this work the young men rushed without
a thought of pay, emoluments, or pensions, until very few were left,
and the work on the farms was left for the older men and women
to do. Scores and scores of the young women went into the fields
to do men's work. Some of the grandmothers of today who still
reside in the county were the girls then whose faces were browned
and sun-burned while working in the harvest fields, hay fields and
corn fields, and they are none the less healthy and grand now because
of their industry and courage then. A sunbonnet then was an
ornament admired because it sheltered a rosy face that teemed with
loyalty to country and to the men who stood between them and a
divided government.
The first hotel in Waverly was a log house that was Vacated on
the river bank on the east side between East Water street and the
river. It was kept by Samuel Ritter and wife, who came from
Williamsport, Pa., in 1854 or the year following. The necessity for
a hotel was so great that they involuntarily became "Bonifaces" be-,
cause they had the biggest house then in town and could not very
well help becoming hotel keepers. They did a satisfactory and good
business until better quarters could be provided.
The Bremer House (now Fortner) was opened to the public
July 4, 1856, with a good deal of ceremony and a ball at night. Ezra
Williams was the leading violinist and Bill Reeser had a cornet horn,
with one or two violinists whose names I have forgotten. I danced
my first set in Iowa that night with Mary Hullman, the mother of
the present editor of the Democrat. She was quite an artist and
kept me from getting lost in the mazes of the cotillions. For a
change George Corey reeled off several jig dances during the night
to the entertainment of the crowd. He and Mrs. Wm. Reeser gave
a "Jupiter" dance, to the merriment of the crowded dining room.
She was equally as expert in the terpsichorean art as was Corey;
they were the artists of the occasion.

WAVERLY'S FIRST RAILROAD BRINGS
PROSPERITY
The war of 1861 brought to the county a complete change in
every way. The Illinois Central railroad had reached Cedar Falls in
the latter part of 1860, and thus opened up a market for the products
of the country, which had been long looked for. Waverly and Janes
ville were united in trying to have a line established in the Cedar
Valley, which finally was done; the road reached the former place
the last of December, 1864, and stopped there for more than a year.
[ 85 ]

This made Waverly a market for all the northern and western part
of the state, as far as Osage on the north and Algona on. the west.
The arrival of the railroad within reaching distance inspired new
courage in the people and they redoubled their efforts to open up
farms and produce more stuff. From that date the prosperity of the
people grew by leaps and bounds, until the whole land became a
garden spot in beauty and a gold mine in wealth. The war demands
inflated prices to a dizzy height for the pioneers, who had been used
to begging for a market. With the coming of a railroad came troops
of new settlers to find homes upon the rich prairies of the county.
From that time until now, the county has grown and prospered beyond
the expectations of the most sanguine of the pioneers of the 50's.
The first cemetery located at Waverly was on the hill on the east
side of the river and north of town, near the residence of Jim
Garner. It was in a brushy and forbidding looking place then, and
I suppose it is worse now. Not many burials were ever made there,
and most of the bodies were disinterred and removed when Harlington
was laid out. But my information is that some remain there, but
are lost in identity and totally neglected. Not for years has a burial
been made there. It is a lamentable thing that the American people
are negligent about caring for the cities of their dead. A wise law
would be to levy a small tax in the budget of revenue to be expended
in clearing up and caring for the neglected cemeteries. In many
states such laws are upon the statute books, and in all such states
desolate and neglected cemeteries are not found. Iowa is usually
up-to-date in all matters of progress, but in this case she has stood
still. The first bridge across the river was the one built on Bremer
avenue in 1857, connecting the east and west sides of the town. The
floods of 1858 swept it out and another was built in 1859, which was
replaced some years afterwards by a better one, and still later by the
present steel structure, which is a highway for teams, autos and
trolley cars.
The first flouring mill in the county was built in 1855 in Waverly,
by W. P. Harmon and B. M. Reeves, and a saw mill nearby it was
built earlier, so as to cut the lumber for the flouring mill. Shortly
afterward a flour mill was built at Janesville, by the Morehouse's.
All these mills did a fine business in their day. In 1863 Carr & Hop
kins erected a steam saw mill near the river on the east side, and
north of the mills built by Mr. Harmon. They operated their plant
for a few years, when Hopkins sold his interest to Carr, who moved
it into the timber on the Cedar river between Nashua and Charles
City, where the station of Carrville now is located on the Illinois
Central railroad. In Waverly the mill was located near the home of
Jimmy Hayes, who hated the plant, as only a hot-tempered Irishman
can hate, because it made so much noise. Jimmy tried many times
to have it declared a nuisance and abated. When he heard that the
mill would be removed, he took great credit to himself for its going,
and said: "Begorra, 'Hop' knew I was after the varmint, and quit,
[ 86 ]

and Carr moved it away, so he did, and now I can slape in peace."
Two of the old-styled hunters and crack rifle shots in Waverly
in early days Were Uncle Conrad Fritz and Uncle Benjamin Fobes.
In their prime, to shoot a squirrel out of the tallest tree by hitting
any part of the little animal except the head was a "pothunter's" way,
and they had a hearty scorn for all such marksmen. Whenever they
got together they talked about target shooting and never hitting any
part of a squirrel except the head. Each doubted the other's skill
and in a diplomatic way was not backward in saying so. After I
returned from the army one day they, with Squire Ellsworth, Uncle
Charley McCormick and Elder Skillen, met by chance in my store,
and the shooting question came up in their general talk. At once
Uncle Conrad and Uncle Ben told of their unerring skill with the
rifle. The crowd edged them on until a challenge was given by Uncle
Conrad to settle the championship by target test the next day, and
that Ellsworth, McCormick and Skillen should act as judges. The
cartel was arranged that they should each fire three shots "offhand"
at a distance of fifty yards, and three shots with a rest at one hundred
yards, and the target should be one and a half inches in diameter,
the shots to be measured by string measure, the shortest string to
be declared the champion. All the preliminaries being settled, the
event was waited for with a good deal of anxiety. In the meantime,
the story of the meeting of the two old champion marksmen was
circulated and the sporty fellows about town lined up as backers of
one or the other of the principals. Dave Clark, as usual, was selected
as master of ceremonies and umpire of the match. The place of
meeting was selected on the west side of the Cedar, above the dam.
A heavy and wide slab from the saw mill was set firmly in the
ground and the inch and a half mark tacked on it. It was a good
target and a plain mark. At the hour set for the meeting a crowd
of quite a hundred were present with the judges and the rivals in
the match. On a toss for first shots, Uncle Ben won, and promptly
he toed the line and fired his three shots "offhand." The committee
measured the target, after which Uncle Conrad stepped to the line
and drove three shots at the target, which were very ceremoniously
measured by the judges. Then they moved back fifty yards and made
their shots from a rest. When the shooting was over the judges
announced a tie, which neither of the contestants was willing to accept,
for each claimed he had won and both insisted on another trial; but
the judges and the crowd declared if another trial was had it must
be on another day and with a new committee. The match was the
event of the time and the old sports were eager to try it over, but
they never did. The fact was that they did some very close shooting,
so close that their hits were near the bull's eye and broke into each
other so it was really impossible to tell which did have the shorter
string. When they learned that fact, both were satisfied.

[ 87 ]

ORGANIZATION OF LODGES
The first lodge of the Masonic fraternity established in the county
was Tyrrell Lodge, No. 116, under a dispensation from the Grand
Lodge. On June 2, 1858, a charter was granted and the lodge was
organized, with the following officers:
Thomas Downing, W. M.; G. C. Wright, senior warden; W. W.
Brown, junior warden; Theodore Hazlett, treasurer; Geo. W. Maxfield,
secretary; L. B. Ostrander, S. D.; Edward Tyrrell, J. D.; Nicholas
Tyrrell, tiler.
The Master Masons were J. S. Harris, William Battams, John
Tyrrell, H. F. Beebe, W. B. Hamilton, Geo. W. Briggs, Walter Wood,
W. P. Harmon, Jas P. Olds, S. H. Curtis, A. P. Goddard, John Runyan,
Geo. W. Le Valley, Peter B. Foster, and D. M. .Cool. The Worshipful
Masters who served to 1882 were Thomas Downing, 7 years; G. W.
Ruddick, 1 year; W. V- Lucas, 7 years; J. K. L. Maynard, 1 year;
D. C. Chamberlain, 1 year; C. H. Cooper, 5 years. J. M. Andrews
was appointed tiler by myself in 1869 and the last I knew of the
lodge he was holding the office, a permanent fixture, as he is in the
Grand Army, as commander of the Post. Nicholas Tyrrell, being the
oldest member in age and in service, at the time of the organization,
was honored by giving the lodge his name. He was a very devoted
member, and was always present at the meetings when able.
The first Odd Fellows' lodge in the county was established in
about 1859, with Roswell Keith as noble grand, and other offices
filled by Herman A. Miles, Wm. Shores, A. J. Stroh, Wm. Reeser
and Uncle Geo. W. Baskins. The list of charter members I cannot
give, for I was not a member of the order until after the war.
I was made a Master Mason in Tyrrell lodge March 14, 1857.
A lodge of the Knights of Pythias was established in Waverly
some time in the late 60's or early 70's, as Western Star No. 3. The
second Masonic lodge was established in Janesville in the 60's, with
David High, Hamilton Rowen, Fish, Boomer and others as officers
or members. A large Good Templars lodge was established in 1860,
to which most all the young folks belonged, but after a prosperous
career for three or four years, it surrendered its charter and I think
never was re-established. The Odd Fellows' lodge surrendered its
charter during the war, or soon after it closed, but subsequently was
re-established and has been a prosperous lodge ever since.

WHY BREMER COUNTY IS SMALL
Bremer county is one of the smallest counties in the state, being
18 miles wide from north to south, and 24 miles long from east to
west. In the organization of counties in the north part of the state
[ 88 ]

in a struggle for territory, Blackhawk grabbed a row of congressional
townships on her north border that logically and fairly belonged to
Bremer. This was done by a system of ledgerdemain that was too
deep or abstruse for Uncle John T. Barrick and his helpers to under
stand until it was too late to change the slate, and John T. lost the
townships, and with them went glimmering the prospective county
seat. Zimri Streeter, of Cedar Falls, was the smooth manipulator
who euchered Uncle John. T. Zimri was playing Cedar Falls for
a county seat, and got left in the final wind-up, as well as did Barrick.
The road never was wide enough for Barrick to have Streeter and
himself travel on it at the same time, after the division of territory
was made.
One consolation Uncle John had was that he did not have Zimri
to help him name his town. Mrs. Barrick's name was Jane, and to
compliment her and commemorate her popularity with the people of
the town, he added "ville" to it, and Janesville went on the map;
but Waverly was made the temporary county seat, as was Waterloo
for Blackhawk county.

MEN WHO MADE GOOD AND HELPED TO MAKE
HISTORY
Small as the county is, she has furnished her full proportion of
prominent men in the different walks of life. In 1854 John Pattee,
a resident of Jackson township, whose farm was east of Janesville,
was elected state auditor, and William Pattee was his deputy and
succeeded his brother as auditor. The state was young at that time,
and these two men formulated and put into practice the business of
that important office. John never came back to the county to reside
any length of time, and subsequently sold his farm and located in
Iowa City, where he was at the beginning of the war. He married
a sister of Ezekiel Clark, one of Iowa's largest capitalists in later
years. Governor Kirkwood married another sister of Clark. In the
organization of regiments for the service, the governor appointed
John Pattee as colonel of the 7th Iowa cavalry, which was sent west
to a frontier military post in the midst of the Sioux Indian country,
the place which is now the location of Fort Randall, S. D. The Sioux
were on the war path and troops were kept in that country until the
war closed. Col. Pattee spent more than 20 years in the military and
civil service in that country and among the Indians. He remained in
South Dakota until age and poor health retired him from the service;
his wife passed away and he met with misfortunes in business, until
last of all he came to the Soldiers' Home at Hot Springs, while I
was commandant, totally broken down, and after about a year passed
away. I buried him in the state cemetery and set a stone at his grave.
William Pattee returned to Bremer county and, as I have told
in a former letter, was prominent in public affairs, among which was
[ 89 ]

newspaper work, until age and infirmities caused him to retire. I
don't recollect whether he is buried in the county or not. A younger
brother of the family, Wallace Pattee, was a captain in John's
regiment, and after the war was over he came back to his farm
east of Janesville and, I believe, died there. The Pattee family was
a prominent and forceful one in the early days of the county and
prominent in all public affairs as well as leaders in social and business
life. Among the younger class of men who have hewed their way to
prominence in the various walks of life and are distinguished more
or less, many names come to me, all of whom stand as marks of
honor to the county. Leslie Fisk was a barefooted school boy and
in later days, succeeding the pioneer ones, he was noted for his
studious habits and his ambition to reach success. In a competitive
trial of candidates for a scholarship to West Point from the, then,
Fourth congressional district in 1868, Leslie won out over a large
field of boys from the various counties in the district, and was ap
pointed a cadet to that famous school, where he graduated with high
honors and entered the U. S. army in the artillery branch and later
went into the engineering corps, where he stood high. Several years
ago he went onto the retired list.
Will B. Wilcox, another Waverly boy, won a scholarship in the
naval school at Annapolis, and became a paymaster in the navy of
the U. S. He will be recalled by many of your readers as a boy of
irrepressible force and push, a leader in all games and athletic
exercises among his colleagues in town. Never idle a moment, strong,
brainy and vivacious. He told me he wanted to learn the printer's
trade and asked if I would take him in the Republican office, so he
might learn to set type. One morning, on press day, Will Tyrrell
reported we were short a "devil," or roller. I thought of Will Wilcox
and soon found him on the street, and he was more than willing to
fill the place. When I introduced him to Will Tyrrell, the latter said,
"What's the use to bother with him? He won't stay here fifteen
minutes." To the surprise of the ferocious foreman and all the rest
of the crew, my boy showed a disposition to stay longer than fifteen
minutes. In short, then and there he turned over a new leaf and had
a vision he had not had before. He made good, and a year or so
later, when the field was open for competition for the Annapolis
scholarship, he asked me to procure the necessary papers for the
study of the questions to be answered, which I did. Early and late he
devoted his time to mastering the requirements, and at the try-out
he led the field and Senator Allison appointed him to the school. He
had a clear head, keen perception, and was tireless in his studies.
He was the second Bremer county boy to win out in a mental contest
and gain a prize. He died in the service some years ago. His elder
brother, Charlie, took training in the banking business and, I believe,
is now connected with a big concern in the steel industry in Chicago.
He is a first-class man and a success. [ 90 ]

Another Waverly man, Georgie Hoffman, son of H. J. Hoffman,
has won his way to high banking circles in St. Louis thru the training
of his uncle, Samuel Hoffman, a long-time leading banker of that city.
Among the leading financiers and bankers of the northwest, none
have gained a wider influence or higher standing than Isaac Hazlett,
son of John C. and Margaret Hazlett, very early pioneers in the
county. When a boy, he was a student in school and a close friend
and disciple of "Dutch" John Schmidt, the fisherman. It was Ike's
very highest ambition to excel "Dutch John" in catching fish out of
the Cedar. He did not care so much for the fish as for the reputation
of being a more successful fisherman than his instructor and partner.
I believe he is now connected with over twenty banks, as an officer
of some grade, and is rated as one of the foremost financiers in
Minnesota. His brother, Harry, is now a retired newspaper man. While Isaac
took to dollars, Harry loved the smell of printers' ink and could never
stay away from a print shop. He was an expert type setter, master
of all the details of a country printing office, and one of the brightest
and keenest localizers ever on a Waverly paper. He had a keen sense
of the ludicrous, a raging taste for poetry of the sentimental sort,
and was no slouch as a writer of rhyme to fit occasions when prose
was not adequate. As an all-around newspaper man, he was far
above the average. I knew him well from boyhood to manhood, em
ployed him for years, and in company with him, purchased and run
,the Shell Rock News for a time. When I migrated to South Dakota,
he accompanied me, but the wild west was too woolly for him, and he
trecked back to Iowa and located at Baxter, as the editor, publisher
and proprietor of a paper that ranked up well with the better class
in the state. After a successful career there, he sold his paper, after
the loss of his wife, and went on the retired list. He is now whiling
away his later days among the lakes and streams of Minnesota, where
it is reported that the "silver sides" and "chubs" flee to secret places
whenever he winds up his line, shoulders his rod, and starts after
fish. No fish can out-wind him in patience and waiting for a "bite,"
and if they get within 40 rods of his hook his hypnotic power is
certain to draw them to their fate, which is dry land and the frying
pan. Talks about "Isaac Walton" are idle words, when the tall form
of Harry Hazlett casts its shadow over the blue and pearly waters
of the lakes of Minnesota. No bigger hearted or more generous boy
ever tramped the soil of Bremer county, and mighty few more brainy
ones, if any, graduated from the old stone school on the hill than
"Isaac Walton" of the gopher state.
Another boy that is as close to me as a son is Will H. Tyrrell,
who is known to all the people of Bremer county'. Left an orphan
by the death of his gallant father, Edward Tyrrell, who fell at
Vicksburg, Will fought his way up the ladder of life, until he reached
a commanding position among the best young men of the state, and
today he is taking life easy under the sunny skies of California.
[ 91 ]

Will and Charlie Cowles, who are very prominent architects in
Chicago, are products of Waverly and her public schools. They are
successful and prominent in the higher grades of business and
progress of the great city of the lake:
Will Matthews is another Waverly boy whom the public schools
of the town turned out, a manly man and one who is a leading
financier in Minneapolis; honored, trusted and looked up to in all the
big business affairs about the Twin Cities of Minnesota.
Ed Nichols, a leading banker and financier of Staples, Minn., is
yet another boy who was born and bred in Bremer county. Coming
from good stock and running the gamut of the public schools of
Warren township, he went forth to conquer the battles of life, and
my information is he is succeeding splendidly.
Another Bremer county boy is Ed Martin, of Tripoli, a son of
Pioneer John H. Martin and wife, who is a product of Wapsie soil
and the public schools of Bremer county. Ed is a stalwart man of
superior ability and model manhood. As a citizen and business man,
he is the equal of the best. He is particularly looked up to as a
financier and safe counsellor in all business matters, as well as a
leader in every movement for the uplift of Bremer county in
particular, and the country in general.
Among the pushing and irrepressible young men Bremer county
has produced, none excel the trinity of Cass boys — L. S., J. F., and
C. D. They are the sons of S. F. Cass, of whom I have spoken.
They are "chips from the old block" in all ways, and well rounded
out by the steady hand of an extraordinarily good mother. Products
of the Wapsie, as they are, and trained in the home and business
life as they were, the result is what might be expected. As I hear
and believe, they are extra good and successful business men, and
reflect honor on the pioneer element of the county.
Another boy who has made good and can be claimed a con
tribution of Bremer county and of Waverly's schools is Bruno
Hostetler, of Nebraska. He was born on a farm west of Waverly
and was reared by sturdy and exemplary parents. The strain of
German, or Dutch, blood in Bruno told under every test. Industrious,
rugged and ambitious, he figuratively ate up all the books he could
get hold of. He migrated to Nebraska and entered the practice of
law at Kearney, where he soon forced himself to the head of the
bar. His sincerity and integrity marked him a leader; and his col
leagues and the people called him to the wool sack,1 from which seat
his fame went out to such a degree that he could have been
made governor of the state with hands down, but he had the good
sense not to be seduced from his chosen profession, and declined to
consider the tempting office, honorable as it is, and stuck to the seat
of justice. He is rated as one of the just and great judges of the
state. Well may Bremer county and the Waverly schools be proud
of Bruno Hostetler, the chunky "Dutch" boy, now a giant and trusted
man.
[ 92 ]

And yet another Wapsie boy who was grafted into the Waverly
schools is Ernest H. Cooper. He will be recalled as a live and
irrepressible boy in days of yore. He was a son of Charley Cooper
and wife, and a grandson of Francis Harwood and wife, of Grove
Hill, who furnished more good school teachers for Bremer county than
any other one family in the county, as they also furnished soldiers
for the Union army, including sons and sons-in-law. Ernest is a
leading man in public affairs in North Dakota where he narrowly
escaped being elected to a seat in the United States senate. He re
flects all honor upon the old county and her schools.
Then there is Jerry Bacon, a son of "Lige" Bacon and wife,
who will be recollected by all the people of thirty years ago in
Waverly. Jerry was a typical American, boy, noted for his lung
power when a kid. He could cry louder and more gracefully on the
slightest provocation than any other boy ever in the town. He was
dubbed "cry baby" by his chums, and they often yielded to him in
his whims of wanting his own way to keep him from alarming the
lower end of State street. Today he is a rich man and the leader
among hotel owners and operators in North Dakota. He owns and
operates the finest hotel in Grand Forks, as well as other large
holdings. Jerry is a product of the Waverly schools, starting in the
primary department in the Fourth ward. One can never tell what
sort or quality of leather there is in a boy by looking at him or
hearing his "bawl." The right way is to give the boy a chance and
boost him when you can.
Continuing the enumeration of men who made good that were
furnished the public by Bremer county, Oliver J. Smith comes in the
list. He was the son of Philander Smith, who carried on a cooper
business before the war began. When soldiers were called, Mr. Smith
and his son, Charles E., both enlisted, leaving Oliver as the "man
of the family" at about the age of fifteen. He had been a sort of
happy-go-lucky boy, more fond of fishing and rabbit hunting or
playing marbles than any sort of work. But the responsibility thrown
upon him to "help mother" ironed out the wrinkles in the boy and
he arose to the equal of the responsibility. At once he set about
learning the printer's trade and became a success as an all around
newspaper man. In 1864, when a call was made for 100-day men,
he dropped everything at home and enlisted. When he was dis
charged, the officer signing his discharge used the same blank as was
used for 3-year men. He wrote in the place for length of service,
"One-Hundred" and failed to erase the word "years" and insert
"days," thus making his discharge read, "One Hundred Years." At
a reunion, held in Waverly some years after the close of the war,
the question of length of service was being talked about, when Oliver
asserted he had the papers to prove the longest service of any man
present. Al Wemple, a veteran of the Third Iowa, replied, "It takes
a lot of cheek for a whiffet of 100 days' service to make such a claim.
The result was a bet of the cigars for the crowd that Smith could not
prove his assertion of producing the documents. When 01 had Al
[ 93 ] ¦

well cinched on the wager, he reached into his coat pocket and
presented his discharge. Al in great disgust said, "I might have
known the little scamp had me cinched or he would not have made
the bet!" The laugh and the cigars were on Al, who being a good
sport, produced three boxes of "Key City," the best cigars then on
the market, which was one condition of the bet. Ever afterward he
was dubbed "Hundred Years Veteran Smithers" by all, and the name
stuck to Oliver among his best friends as long as he lived.
He was a good printer and worked in the offices in Waverly for
several years at the case. All the time he had 'the dream in his
head that some time he would own and operate a paper of his own.
While working for me, he conceived the idea of starting a paper in
Janesville, which had no paper at that time, but was anxious to have
an organ of that sort. Oliver had no money or credit then, but was
not to be balked in his purpose. At his solicitation I loaned him
material enough to set up his paper and the boys in my office did
his press work. He established the Janesville Clipper and he worked
hard to win a place for it and establish it upon a paying basis. But
the disadvantages were so many and his support so weak he was
compelled to give up his cherished ambition, and last of all to write
"Failure." His last visit to his office in Janesville was humiliating
to him, and when he returned to his case in my office he was heart
broken over the failure. To add to his perturbed and miserable state
of mind, the boys in the office, under the cloak of sympathy for him,
made many suggestions, improvised snatches of doggerel and sang
them to him as solaces for his troubled mind. Harry Hazlett com
posed a funeral oration, which, he said, was delivered by Smithers
on his last visit to the Clipper office. It was a gem, one of Harry's
very best, in matter and expression. To appreciate it fully, one must
have heard and seen Harry pronouncing it. It was vinegar and gall
to poor Smithers, but he knew the crowd and knew they were all
nagging him, while their hearts' sympathy was with him to the very
limit. Therefore he stood it heroically. His dogged determination to
have a paper of his own never failed, but he kept steadily at his
work, with a watchful eye for the opportunity to offer when he might
seize it and reach the stake he was working for. Like all such cases,
he at last found the location and the field, and seized it. The oppor
tunity came in Hardin county. From that time until he grew old and
poor health came upon him he made good, accumulated a moderate
competence, sold out and removed to Olympia, Wash., and there
passed away.
Strange how things happen. I had lost all track of Oliver after
he sold out in Iowa, and I did not know he was on this coast. I have
a niece residing in Olympia and she became very well acquainted
with Oliver and his family and when he passed away she sent me
a paper with his obituary in it, and also a letter telling me what a
grand and good man he was.
While I was in the newspaper business in Waverly I had a bunch
of the brightest and best boys in the town with me. They were a
[ 94 ]

wild lot at times, but true and loyal to me and my business. Some
times they put me at my wits' end to know how to get along with
them. I knew deep down in them were worth and mettle that were
extraordinary, and I believed when their wild oats were all sown
their real selves would place them as leaders and successful men.
So it has proven. This is the list: W. H. Tyrrell, Harry Hazlett,
Will Wilcox, Oliver J. Smith, Geo. E. Foster and Adelbert Cole.
Six better citizens and men cannot be picked from Waverly's crop
of boys. As I recall them as mischievous and irrepressible boys,
and now consider them as men I am prouder of them than I will
attempt to write in these lines.
The Bremer county boy who tops the lot and stands highest of
all in civil life is Burton E. Sweet. He is not only an old settler,
but a native born citizen of the county. His father and mother
located^ in the 60's in ( the extreme northeastern corner of Fremont
township, where Burton first saw the light. His advancement and
success in life is an open and well-known book to every reader of
your paper. His call by the people of the Third district to serve
them in congress is a high compliment to him and an honor to the
county, such a one as few counties in the western states produce.
The fact of his call in the district with so many able, ambitious
and well-qualified men as the old Third has, is a certificate of extra
ability and characteristics. To follow in the footsteps of Senator
Allison and Colonel Henderson is of itself proof of his fitness and
popularity. The Third district has always had extra strong men as
her representatives in the lower house of congress, and my informa
tion is that Burton Sweet promises to be a worthy successor of the
best of them. As fast as he gains the experience, his ability will
keep pace with it, so that with the years of service, Allison and
Henderson were awarded, he will be up to their standard of usefulness
to his constituents and to the nation.
At this distance and with my information, it seems to me the
district would make a mistake to dismiss him for the sake of a
change or to gratify the ambition of a new and untried man. The
charge of lack of patriotism that I read about against him is not
only unfounded and silly, b*t is political rot, worthy only of cheap
patriots. In times even of war, national law-makers should be con
servative, and such conservatism does not imply indifference or lack
of red-blooded patriotism, but does mean, "Be sure you're right, then
go ahead." It is unbelievable to me that Jack Sweet ever reared a
boy who is not loyal to this country under all circumstances; yes,
loyal to the flag, whether "right or wrong." I know the stock from
which Burton sprang, and I know, as Ed Knott used to say, "They
are recorded in the hero book."
Iowa has four congressmen born in the state, Kennedy in Lee
county, Sweet in Bremer, Good in Linn, and Dowell in Warren.
Wood was born somewhere, but is such a cautious politician that he
does not admit his birth place. All the others are products of other
states. Sweet ranks up with the foremost of the lot, and yet lacks
[ 95 ]

the experience of nearly all of them. It would be a mistake to dismiss
him at the beginning of his usefulness as a representative in congress
at this time for no other apparent reason than that another wants
his seat. At this crisis in our country and in world affairs, politics
should be relegated to the rear, and more certainly should untried
men; the reliable and experienced men should be kept in place until
we have solved the problem we now face.
Far away as I am from "Little Bremer," I have a great big
pride, personified by Burton E. Sweet, the native-born Wapsie boy.
In the whirligig of time and the roving spirit of people it so
happened that two of Bremer county's old pioneers found their way
to this section, as I did. Here we met often and visited furiously.
All of us did our duty in the dark days of the early settlement of
the county, and all of us forsook our homes when war threatened to
destroy the nation. Charley Mallory and Billy Pelton served in
Company G, 9th Iowa, with Edward Tyrrell and I in the 14th. To
gether we often went over our experiences and hardships, as well
as dangers and narrow escapes. First of all that the load of life
and years became too heavy for was Charley, and he peacefully laid
it down, with the request that I should officiate at his grave, which
I did. Billy and I were pall-bearers and in sorrow we carried him
gently to his rest. Then Billy and I drew closer together to close
up the gap that Charlie left. Two years later came a telegram from
San Jose, forty miles away, saying, "Billy Pelton died last night.
Come to his funeral." Sick in bed at that time, I could only say,
"Alone, yes, alone. Charley and Billy are both gone. Who will close
up the gaps?" The gaps are still unclosed, but the comrades are
not forgotten. Both Charley and Billy located in Bremer county in 1855. They
were there when I came.

NAMING OF BREMER COUNTY TOWNSHIPS
Another peculiarity about Bremer ctmnty is that the townships
are all named for persons; four for presidents — Washington, Jeffer
son, Jackson and Polk; two for candidates for president — Fremont
and Douglas, and Dayton for Fremont's running mate in 1856;
Lafayette and Warren for two soldiers of the revolution of 1776, and
Frederika for the celebrated novelist and writer, Frederika Bremer.
Hardly another county in the state has such an illustrious array of
township names as has Bremer. Maxfield, the last township to be
organized in the county, was given Judge Maxfield's name, as it
was organized in his first term as county judge, thus making the
whole list named for persons. Sumner was so named for Senator
Charles Sumner, the champion of the abolition cause in 1856 — 57.
The naming of the township was always a gaff in Jim Wilson's mind,
for he was a Bourbon democrat and, I think, at the first election

[ 96 ]

held in the township he cast the only democratic vote in the box.
He and Hosea Griffith were very near neighbors and quarreled every
time they met, over politics, for Hosea was as radical in politics as
Jim was. The consolation Jim had was that the grove in the extreme
northeast corner of the county was given his name because he was
the first settler in the grove, antedating Griffith a few weeks. They
two owned all the grove and they both sought to have the privilege
of selecting a name for the township. Griffith was an idolatrous
admirer of Senator Sumner and chose his name for the new town
ship and won. Jim always maintained that if Hosea had chosen
Griffith instead of Sumner, he would have beaten the "Yankee." His
chief consolation was that the grove was recognized as Wilson's
instead of Griffith's. As it turned out the honor was even between
the cavalier from Virginia and the Puritan from Massachusetts.
Griffith sold out in about 1861 and left Jim chief of the grove and
supremely happy. I don't know where Wilson went after he sold out
about the beginning of the war, but I always suspicioned that he
went back to old Virginia and into the Confederate army, but as to
that fact I am ignorant. Both of the men were characters such as
are not often found together, and as widely different as men could be.
Exact antipodes in every way, except in temperament and disposition,
both loved a quarrel, and they had that all the time while they lived
in Wilson's Grove. Each settled there in 1855 or 56.

BUT FEW OLD SETTLERS REMAIN
The death of Mrs. Jacob Eveland removed one of the very oldest
pioneers of the county, if not the oldest in length of time in the
county. I doubt if there is a survivor left who came to the county
as early as 1852. I recollect her as Angeline Stufflebeam when she
was a small girl with her hair falling over her shoulders and back.
She was then nine or ten years old. Her husband is probably the
oldest continuous resident in Lafayette township. He was there when
I first landed in the township, in 1856. All these years he and his
good wife saw the people come and the people go, while they remained
on, or near, the spot where she passed away.
Not long hence the last of the pioneers of the 50's will have
passed away. Such is the march of time. History records their work
and good deeds for others to read.
I recall that I failed to mention Charley Moulton as one of the
first boys to enlist in 1861. He went out with the men who were in
Co. K, of the Third Iowa, and, as I recollect, was the first man wounded
from the county. At the little skirmish, or battle, at Blue Mills, in
Northern Missouri, he was badly wounded and never recovered from
the injury. He was hit in the body by a bullet that affected his
lungs. In later days, he removed to South Dakota and located at
Pierre, and he lives there yet. I often met him in that city, of which
he was for many years police judge. He was always a sufferer from

(4) [ 97 ]

the wound he received early in the war. He will be remembered as
a brother to G. W. Moulton, who kept a grocery store in Waverly
for a good many years. Charley married Miss Perry, a sister of Ed
Perry, who was an old settler of the county and well known to all the
earlier settlers and who, I believe, died some years ago. Charley is
an example of what a man can endure and suffer from a wound, and
still live to a green old age.
As I go over the names of the very earliest settlers of the county,
I am amazed to find that so few remain. Removals and death have
taken most all of the earliest settlers. A few are represented by their
posterity, as honorable and worthy representatives of the hardy and
heroic parents who set the pace of greatness of Bremer county. As
all know, Charley McCaffree was the original pioneer and located in
what is now Jefferson township. Long ago he passed away, with the
distinction of being the first white man to locate a home in the county.
He left a family of children worthy of the name he left them, and
I believe one or two of his sons still live in the county or upon its
borders, as leading men in the community of their homes.
Soon after McCaffree located, the Tibbetts brothers, Henry and
Wesley, came, and for years were prominent and leading citizens in
the county. They remained to see Bremer county grow great and
prosperous, and had much to do in shaping public affairs in the be
ginning, and the impress of their efforts still remains to this day.
But the roving disposition that they brought with them took them
out of the county in the 70's and they migrated to Kansas, made new
homes and passed away there.
About the time the Tibbetts came to the county also came the
Messinger family and located in the locality of McCaffree and the
Tibbetts brothers. E. J. Messinger was a man of push and sterling
character, and became better known to the pioneers than any of the
earlier settlers, because he rendered much public service in the organ
ization of the county and township where he lived. He finally removed
to Waterloo and became interested in the milling business in that
place, and, I think, passed away there.
When my company was recruited for the service, "Johnny," a
son of Elias J. Messinger, enlisted, as did John F., a brother of Elias,
and went to the state camp at Davenport. In October "Johnny" was
attacked by pneumonia and died suddenly, the first man to die out
of the company. I took the remains home for burial. The funeral
services were held in the "Dicken" school house, and a sad day it was,
for all the people from the country about were present. The next
man to die was Henry Gors, a splendid German boy, and the next one
was Herbert R. Higgins, a son of Eugene Higgins, and a nephew of
N. M. Smith, well known as sheriff of the county in the days after
the war closed. All three of these noble young men died from pneu
monia, and, no doubt, because of lack of skill and care which physicians
now render to sick men. Then we lived in a camp poorly provided
with any means of caring for a sick man — beds on the ground, little
covering, no sanitation, and no preparations for cooking food or nurs-
[ 98 ]

ing a sick man. It is different now, thanks to science and good sense.
The deaths of these boys cast a chill of gloom on the men, but
it was unavoidable then, because of the rush to get soldiers to the
front line. I have always regarded those boys as martyrs, when I
think of them. John F. Messinger remained in the company until
we were discharged and came home with us, and some years later
removed to Waterloo, where he died a few years ago.
Among those I recollect Aunt Sarah Harris, William Baskins,
Calvin Kingsley, Louis Case, Calvin S. Colton, Mrs. Benjamin Fobes,
Joe Babbage may be named. No doubt there are a few others whom
I do not recall. Many of them left children who still reside in the
county, and among these are Fred Downing, Herb Broadie and Frank
Lee, Mrs. William Mooney, Mrs. J. M. Gross, Mrs. William Temple,
the Hullman brothers, one of whom is ye editor of the Democrat
now, Charley Tyrrell, and, no doubt, several others of this class, most
of whom I knew as children, and who still live in the county. But
time has shortened the list so that comparatively few are yet residents
of the county.
Among the boys and girls of the early day and scions of the
pioneers, none are so near and dear to me as my own "boys" who
were with me thru the rebellion. John J. Chadwick, son of David
Chadwick, "John B. Kerr, son of brave and patriotic Mather Kerr, of
Grove Hill, Chris. Mohling, son of the pioneer Mohling family, Guy
Farnsworth anad Alex F. Nicol, all are pioneers, as young men, or
boys, then, but stalwart citizens now, as they were heroes in the
storms of war. What is more natural than that I cling to them
now as they clung to me in those days ? Away out here on the shores
of the Pacific ocean, a near neighbor of mine is Emma Martin, one
of Asa T. Martin's daughters, and her husband, Terence O'Brien, a
comrade, son of Mrs. Kinney, who lived many years at old Martins
burg, and a brother to Eddie O'Brien, who was a member of my
company and was killed in battle. It is a pleasure to be so located,
and when we go over the old pioneer days, we do so with both pleasure
and sorrow. Time is marching on, history is being made rapidly and
written with bloody ink. As I scribble these letters I do it with the
hope of leaving to the future generations my recollections of the early
days of Bremer county. My next letter will be the last one, and then
I shall ring down the curtain as a poor writer of history.

COL. LUCAS WINDS UP HIS STORY
When I began writing, not once did it occur to me that I would
send more than two or three letters to you, but at your request I
decided to continue them as long as the "spirit moved me" or as long
as I could recall events that I thought would be fairly good history
of early days, and relished by your readers.
As I said in the beginning, all I have recorded is from memory's
storehouse, for I have no notes or data of any kind to refer to,

[ 99 ]

either to refresh my memory or to state facts. No doubt, many errors
have crept into the story, but they will be more as to details than
otherwise, for in all statements I have made the facts are substan
tially true. My thought all the way thru has been to preserve in
cidents, events and people who are actors in the battle of subduing
a wild, vast and climatically unfriendly country into a garden of
inestimable productions of food and wealth as well as demonstrating
that it is a climate of health and comfort. If I have succeeded in
doing so, my main object has been attained.
Excuses are of no interest to the reader, but it is fair to the
reader to say that very soon after I began the series I was solicited
by the governor to serve on the exemption board in selecting and
preparing soldiers for the war in Europe. Much as I dreaded the
task, I deemed it my duty to "do my bit," even if personal business
suffered. The work has proven ten times greater than I supposed it
would be. For this reason, and on account of work in my office, I
have written most of the pioneer letters by snatches and at odd times,
rarely having time to review and correct errors or mistakes. These
defects, if any, have been largely cured by the printer or the proof
reader. In some instanced names have been changed, which arose
from blind copy, no doubt. I recollect that Samuel Cave was published
"Cass," J. .M. Moss was "Mass"; I was made to say I was made a
Mason on March 14, 1897, and it should have been 1859.
As I take leave of the letter writing of old times in pioneer days
in the county, I hope others may put into print the later history of
the progress of the county; do it while facts and events are all clear .
and well-known.
In all my letters I have studiously tried not to inject myself into
any part of the early history further than was absolutely necessary
to explain or to elucidate the topic I was discussing; for while I was
an observer and contemporary of what I have described, it was only
in the capacity of an obscure and inconsequential unit, who later may
have had something to do with the growth and development of the
county and still later became a sort of quasi-historian of early days.
No less than five letters have come to me from readers of your
paper, four men who are residents of the county now, asking that I
append my autobiography to the series of letters. With all due respect
and thanks to the writers, I beg to say that my sense of the fitness
of the case tells me that the public little cares who or what the
writer is or may be, but the facts and the history are of value in
many a way, and interesting, as is all early history.
This I may say, that the people of Bremer county honored me in
many ways, as did also the state of Iowa. I did my best to show
a due appreciation for all honors bestowed and faithfully account for
every trust confided in me. And with pride I point to a clear record
in every case. I gave to the county two stalwart and honored sons,
both born in Bremer county. One is a resident of Idaho now. When
in South Dakota, he served in the convention that framed the consti
tution for the state, and later on he served in the legislature, and is
L 100 ]

now a member of the legislature of Idaho, and has two sons now in
the service for our country.
My other and younger son is a prominent and active business
man in South Dakota. He, too, has a son who tried to enter the
service, but he was rejected because of his age. The boy is counting
the days until the record will show him competent to be a soldier, for
he says, "Grand-dad was a soldier and so will I be, as soon as I can."
These boys are my pride and my free offering to my country.

I have mentioned a long list of Bremer county pioneer boys who
have won distinguished places in business, in professions, and in all
walks in life. Doubtless I overlooked others of merit, who should
be classed as worthy of notice and cited as examples of what a boy
can do in hewing his way thru life. It seems to me at this distance,
in time, Waverly has been a leader in giving the country good
citizens and leaders in finance, law, journalism, and all-around suc
cessful business. She may well be proud of the men sent out to take
part in world affairs.
Among those I knew best and had most to do with are Harry
Hazlett and Will Tyrrell, and of the latter I believe I have spoken
particularly. Both were far above the average of their contempor
aries and associates in ability and industrious habits. Waverly
never produced two more sincere, honest and faithful boys. With
both of them I was associated, first as employe and later as business
partner, and have always congratulated myself that I may have
helped them to get started on the right track, where they had the
opportunity to slow down and develop the latent talents and force of
character that were in them. They were alike, and yet unlike, in
many ways. Harry and I purchased the Shell Rock News when it had
stranded, along in the 70's, and put it on its feet and sold it. When
I sold my interest in the Republican to James Fletcher, Will retained
his interest and remained in Waverly, where he wrote his name high
up among business men and in the social walks of the town.
I purchased the Mason City Republican and when I removed from
Waverly to my new home, Harry went with me as foreman and
remained with me until I sold it seven years later and struck west
for South Dakota to pioneer once more in a new country. Harry
went along. We had many plans mapped out, how we would estab
lish a paper, get all the land we could under the law, which was 480
acres, which with my son Briney we could have a body of more than
1300 acres, and we would stock it, etc., etc. But we found our dreams
dissipated, because such a body of land could not be gotten then, for
every quarter section was being grabbed by a land-hungry pioneer.
I started the Charles Mix County Republican, located in a town
of twenty-five inhabitants; we lived in a shack, cooked our own food,
washed our own shirts, etc. The newness soon wore off and Harry
suggested he would beat it back toward civilization and stay until
[ 101 ]

conditions changed. Then he would return with capital enough to
buy all the land he wanted. His departure was regretted by myself
and two boys, but we conceded he was both lucky and wise, first
that he could go, and second that he would go.
This was our separation; he went and we stayed to fight it out
on that line. He finally staked down in Baxter, Jasper county, Iowa,
and remained until he retired in comfortable circumstances. He now
spends his summers angling for and coaxing the pickerel and bass of
the northern lakes to bite at the bait he anoints with spittle he
learned to manufacture at the end of a clay pipe stem, labled "T. D."
In winter he houses up, and reads Poe's "Raven" once a week, "Davy
Crockett" and "Daniei Boone" between times, and at odd times other
books. As a typo, Harry was a double team, and indispensible about
a printing office. As a paragrapher and writer of pert and snappy
locals, he had no superior in Waverly. He had a keen perception of
the ludicrous and could detect a sham as quickly as a trained
detective. He always had a ravenous appetite for doggerel poetry,
such as a lot of contributors flood newspaper offices with, and while
putting one of them in type he would commit every line and fit some
sort of tune to it, and sing it with such spirit that the other boys in
the office would call attention to Hazlett's concert program.
In all respects he was a generous and whole-hearted boy, whose
sympathies were with the under dog in the fight, as he often put it.
In his younger days, his liberality always kept him dead broke. If
he met a fellow in hard luck, he would give him the last nickel he
had. He had the knack and ability to make money, as well as to
get rid of it. In his more mature years he learned to save and
economize, and soon was on Easy Street. Now he is a student and
a thoughtful man, a writer of interesting matter, and between his
books and his fishing rod he is spending his time as pleasantly as if
in dream land. Nobody enjoys a good story better than he does,
and few can tell one better.
If I were looking for a team possessing all the best traits of
character, of head and of heart, I would pick Harry Hazlett and Will
Tyrrell. If I wanted to find two men who are always loyal to friends,
to right, and to country, I would again pick them. As the sun veers
to the west and settles down upon faithful and good men I have
known from boyhood to manhood, and from manhood to approach
ing old age, I know of none to whom I am bound by a bond of
friendship, yes, even of love, stronger than to these two Waverly
boys, now past the three score mile post in life. I rejoice to know
that they are taking life easy, and that pleasant shadows are falling
across their paths, while we are separated by rivers, mountains and
miles.

t 102 ]

HARRY HAZLETT
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Early day printer and one of the contributors
"Pioneer Days of Bremer County"

to

PIONEER DAYS of BREMER
COUNTY

Chapter II.

HARRY HAZLETT SUPPLIES INTERESTING
DATA CONCERNING COL. LUCAS; PAYS
BEAUTIFUL TRIBUTE TO A FRIEND
Col. W. V. Lucas, author of "Pioneer Days in Bremer County,"
gave to the readers of the Democrat, in a series of letters, an inter
esting account of early days, in which he took a very prominent part;
but when asked to give a sketch of his own life, he very steadfastly
refused, much to the regret of his host of friends. This gap in the
narrative has been bridged by Harry Hazlett, of Sioux Falls, S. D.,
who was a personal and very close friend of Col. Lucas, and noticing
the absence of mention of the author, he has kindly supplied the
following narrative, which now makes the story complete.

I have read with much interest and gratification the series of
articles under the heading of "Pioneer Days in Bremer County,"
written by Col. W. V. Lucas. They are written in a free, easy style,
so that one who reads may easily understand. My boyhood days were
spent in Bremer county; therefore, I am in a position to say that
his references to the yesterdays are absolutely correct. He touched
on nearly every phase of pioneer life, and the pioneers of that day —
I mean those who are now living — who "bore the heat and the burden
of those days," will bear me out in the statement that his pen pictures
are true to life. His incidents of "by flood and field," the hard times
of '67, personal mentionings, anecdotes and musings, make a lot of
us feel as tho we were growing old, and about to "cross the harbor
bar." But as the old adage has it, "one is never older than he feels."
Col. Lucas is now well on his 83rd year, yet he is able to do straight
ten hours' work a day, practicing law and writing from one to two
columns of matter for a newspaper at Santa Cruz, Calif. In addition
to this work, he is a member of the exemption board, which has to
do with the slackers and liars. So, you see, he is a young old man,
and a mighty worker. I. am in my 67th year, and at present writing
am in the best of health (please knock on wood), but I could not do
the work Col. Lucas is now doing, and few younger men can.
[ 103 ]

In writing up his personal experiences, he neglected to say any
thing of a vainglorious nature about himself, but that is very
characteristic of the man; so, with your permission, I will ransack
my memory and see what I can dig up regarding this remarkable,
self-made man.
William Vincent Lucas, the subject of this sketch, was bom in
Carroll county, Indiana, July 3, 1835. His first landing place in Iowa
was in Marion county. In April, 1856, he moved to Bremer county.
His first work upon reaching the county was at a lime kiln in what
was known as the "Big Woods," where he labored for about two
months, after which he became a mortar "jackey" until fall for good
old John Tyrrell. In the winter he cut and split rails enough to
fence forty acres of land, and, in addition, cut 20,000 feet of basswood
logs for S. H. Curtis. In the spring he took possession of his small
farm in La Fayette township, after having helped to drive the Indians
from Spirit Lake. He wrote a complete and comprehensive history
of that uprising and published it in the Mason City Republican. I
well remember when the only female survivor of that red-skin up
rising came into the office, which resulted in the Colonel "taking his
pen in hand" to write up the revolt. He was very bitter against
"Inkpadudah," the leader of the Indian outbreak. After that the
boys in the office always addressed him as "Inkpadudah." It was
great fun to see him squirm, but he had to take the gaff.
While on the farm, he was elected town clerk, the first office he
had ever held, and in the fall of 1859, W. W. Norris, having been
elected treasurer of the county, offered him the deputyship in the
treasurer's and recorder's office. He had not expected such promotion
coming to him without a note of warning. He accepted the place,
and at the close of Mr. Norris' term of office, he returned to his farm,
where he remained until after the breaking out of the war between
the states. In the meantime he was married to Sophronia Lowe, of Illinois,
and at the outbreak of the war they had three children. At the first
call for men he did not go, but on the second one, he did, leaving his
wife and children on the farm. Old pioneers will tell you what kind
of a woman Mrs. Lucas was. No better or heroic woman ever lived.
I remember her with veneration and kindness, as I was a member of
the household for a long time. She was a kind and considerate
woman, and a mother to us all. When her husband talked over with
her the matter of going to war, she said, "I believe it is your duty
to go; I can manage the farm." And she did, with a profit, for when
he returned, a captain, from the southern battlefields, he found a nice
little bank account awaiting him. He enlisted with Capt. Richard
Currier, and when the company was organized he was elected first
lieutenant. The company was assigned to Col. W. T. Shaw's 14th
Iowa infantry. Col. Shaw was known and recognized as "fighting
Bill Shaw" and the boys learned that his name and fame were no
misnomer, for he gave them plenty of "hot stuff." He was immensely
popular with his men, notwithstanding that he was a very strict
[ 104 ]

disciplinarian and, at times, a martinet. Currier resigned before he
reached the front, and I might say here that he was a slacker and
a coward, resigning on the eve of battle, that is to say, when march
ing forth to meet the enemy. The boys then elected Mr. Lucas
captain of the company, which position he retained until the close of
the war. There is one thing that I might say right here, and that is
that he is proud of the fact that he did not have an enemy in his
company, nor did he have any pets or special favorites in all their
service; and to this day all are his close friends. Pretty good record,
that! On his return home he opened a little grocery store, and later
on T. C. Aldrich became his partner. In the fall of 1865 he was
elected county treasurer and served six years, and at the expiration
of his term he purchased the Waverly Independent and became a
newspaper man, which calling he followed until 1888. In the mean
time he sold the Independent and in company with Will Tyrrell
bought the Waverly Republican. In 1876 he sold his interest in the
Republican to James Fletcher and bought the Mason City Republican,
and kept that until 1883, when he sold it to Leo Chapman, who, later
on, married Carrie Lane, who, after his death, married Mr. Catt.
She is now the leader of the national female suffrage propaganda,
taking the place of Susan B. Anthony. She was a Mason City girl,
and is one of the brainiest women in the nation. I had the pleasure
of meeting her on various occasions. To sum up, I think she is a
splendid politician, and one that "gets there."
While editor of the Mason City paper, Mr. Lucas was elected
chief clerk of the Iowa house in the legislature, serving two terms,
the 17th and 18th assemblies. In 1880 he was elected auditor of state,
to succeed Buren R. Sherman. At the close of one term, he declined
to be a candidate for re-election, having decided to remove to South
Dakota, at the time when the tide of immigration was flowing there
in a tremendous stream. I had nearly forgotten to say that in 1875
he, with this writer, purchased the Shell Rock News. I was the
resident member of the firm. After putting it on its feet, we sold it.
After having established himself in Charles Mix county, Col. Lucas
started the Castalia Republican, and subsequently gave it to his son
Fred. He located at Chamberlain in the latter part of 1883, and in
1888 was elected county treasurer of Brule county. During his term
the governor appointed him secretary and manager of the board to
build the state soldiers' home at Hot Springs, which position he
accepted, and for want of an acceptable commandant, when it was
ready to be opened for service, he accepted the responsibility to start
the enterprise, the result of which was he gave up the treasurer's
office and remained with the home three years. In 1863 the republican
state convention met at Madison on the east central side of the state,
and because of a deadlock, he was nominated for congress. He was
at the soldiers' home five hundred miles away by railroad, and was
not thinking of going to congress, but it seems they pushed the
right man to the right place. He was notified by wire and asked to
[ 105 J

accept, which he did, of course. He took the field and canvassed the
state all over, and was elected over his opponent, who was a fusion
candidate of the populists, the free silver party and the democrats.
For a second term the fusionists defeated him, and returned to
political power. After his defeat he was called back to the soldiers'
home for the third time, where he remained until his health gave
away, in 1903. He then resigned and left for California, where he
regained his health, and is now in better fettle than at any time for
the past twenty-five years.
But the proudest thing the Colonel thinks of is being mayor of
Mason City. When he went there in 1876, the town was a railroad
center. Three division headquarters were located there and the town
was over-run with saloons and disreputable places, so much so that
the place had a very bad reputation abroad. He attacked these con
ditions in the Republican, and waged a vigorous war upon the liquor
traffic without any sort of compromise. At the spring election he
was forced to make the race for mayor. It was a red-hot campaign,
full of thrills, and all sorts of means were used to break down the
influence of the Republican. The strongest and most daring of the
saloon element was Denny McMorrow, who operated the biggest and
most popular billiard parlor in the town. Denny was sleepless in
his efforts to counteract the Republican, and had one of the three
papers openly in line for him, and the other slyly and covertly gouging
the Colonel and his Republican. On a press day Denny sent a boy
to the Republican office with an ad, couched in the most plausible
language, and a check for fifty dollars, with the request that the ad
be published two weeks in one-fourth column space. The boy was
told to go back and say to Mr. McMorrow that there was no space
for any new advertising in that issue. In a half hour Denny in
person appeared in the office with his ad and his check, and demanded
to know why he could not have space. He was then told that he did
not have money enough to get his ad in the Republican, but for the
Colonel's price he could buy the paper and publish what he liked in
its pages. He stormed and roared until he was told to clear out of
the office, which he did, and lively, too. At the election Col. Lucas
was elected, with two dry aldermen and two wet. All the time it
was a tie vote on the liquor question, and as the Colonel cast the
deciding vote, they made the town bone-dry and suppressed boot
legging to a minimum, and to this day Mason City has remained dry,
so far as open saloons are concerned, by putting bums and drunks
on the stone pile. By their work, two blocks in the city were paved
or macadamized, and my information is that the plan then adopted
has been followed up so that the city is noted for its good streets to the
present day. It was the trial of his life to go thru the fight, but by
a lot of courage and the loyalty of two men they won out. Colonel
Lucas, in talking over this matter at one time, said that he is prouder
of his official life in Mason City than of any other one thing.
It may not be out of place to say something about the school
affairs of Waverly. He was on the school board for six years and
t 106 ]

thru a hot fight to establish the ward system of schools. Squire
Matthews and Jesse Leverich stood on one plan, while George R.
Dean and Rev. A. T. Cole stood on the other, the latter advocating a
centralized system of schools.
And now, as I remember it, President McKinley appointed the
Colonel as registrar of the U. S. land office at Chamberlain, which
he held two years, when he resigned to return to the soldiers' home
at Hot Springs, as commandant.
Mr. Lucas has his permanent home in Santa Cruz, Calif., where
he lives with his second wife, happy, in the midst of fruit of all
kinds and a congenial climate, and surrounded by a mighty host of
friends. He is in the practice of law, which practice extends to
Washington, D. C. His son Briney is at New Meadows, Idaho, and
among the many things he does there is to publish "The Eagle" and
he does it well. Briney has two sons in the service: Parker, the
elder, is in the aviation branch, a lieutenant, and Briney, Jr., is a
petty officer on a warship. (Which reminds me that I have three
nephews in the aviation branch of the service, and I shall look to
them to do all my fighting.) Fred, the Colonel's youngest boy, lives
at Bonesteel, in this state (South Dakota). He is one of the food,
oil and gasoline inspectors, with headquarters at Yankton.
That William Vincent Lucas is a remarkable man cannot be
questioned. I think that I know him thru and thru. I know that he
is one of the most kindly and considerate men I have ever known.
His deeds of charity have been many, but never advertised to the
world. He has helped many a man who was "down and out" to
become a permanent bread winner, a useful man and a good neighbor.
It will be noticed that he has held many offices. In all of them he
made good. As a statesman he ranks near the apex. As a news
paper man, none push a more trenchant quill than he. In all his
editorial work, none ever found virulent criticism. As a soldier, no
braver man than he ever drew a sword in defense of his country.
As a citizen, he was and is of the best. No one in trouble ever ap
pealed to him and went away empty-handed. He always favored
improvements, a clean town and clean citizenship. He is a church
man, but not a bigot, and, all in all, as an all-around man in every
walk of life he has few equals. By his sturdy manhood he has built
for himself a monument that time will not efface. And all of his
old friends who read this will wish this venerable old Bremer county
pioneer, as he goes gently down the hill of life, all the good things
that this world generally allots to a good and lovable man.
INTERESTING STORIES OF UNIQUE CHAR
ACTERS AMONG THE EARLY SETTLERS
OF WAVERLY
Among Waverly's unique characters was William Mores, or
"Bill' for short. He was an excellent citizen and a money-maker.
He, with his brother Alfred, was engaged in the furniture business,
[ 107 ]

and I doubt not that many Bremer county people have furniture in
their homes to this day made by the Mores Brothers. It was honestly
made and put together in a splendid workmanlike manner. In an
early day they and Sam Geddes manufactured nearly all the caskets
for Waverly, and, I might say, for the whole county. Both the Mores
are dead, having passed away several years ago "to that bourne
from which no traveler returns." Once upon a time William, I think
it was "in the spring, when young man's fancy lightly turns to
thoughts of love," concluded that he would take unto himself a wife.
Like many other good men, he fell for the proposition and submitted
to the yoke. Of course, William and his bride had to take the pro
verbial "marriage tour." In those days Dubuque was considered
a long way from Waverly. And, indeed, it was, for one could not
go and come from that city the same day. When he and his bride
returned home, he told the boys that he had had a "bully tower,"
had taken the hearse (bus) on his arrival at Dubuque, and was taken
to the Julia (Julian) House, and at every meal they served white
sugar. When Gen. Grant was pounding away at Vicksburg, William
was greatly interested, as were nearly all our people, you may be
sure. When the news arrived that the grey-coats were evacuating
Vicksburg, he met Dr. Oscar Burbank, to whom he imparted the in
formation that "Grant was knockin' it to 'em," and that the rebels
were "vaccinating" the town like the devil. But William, notwith
standing his murder of the king's English, was one of the best
citizens Waverly ever afforded. He was liberal, go-ahead-itive, al
ways favored public improvements, and in -cases of charity, was
generally to be found Johnny-on-the-spot. All in all, the world was
made better because Uncle Bill had lived in it.

Another early-day citizen was Peter J. Heckard. Peter was a
cooper by trade. He made a good barrel and had a flourishing bus
iness. He had also served in the war between the states, but he
always gave the truth a slight-of-hand deal. He had had wonderful
experiences and was always ready to relate them to us admiring boys.
One of his famous stories was that which had to do with a bank.
He said that he was a "corporal" and was in command of three men.
While scouting about in a certain town, they found a bank — "a
B-A-N-K, by gad, sir. We placed our shoulders to the door, but it
wouldn't give way worth a d  n. So I said, me being corporal,
'Men, grab that telegraph pole and ram the door!' Well, sir, we got
in. I picked the lock of the safe with a shingle-nail, which I hap
pened to have in my pocket, and, believe me or not, $375,000 in silver
rolled out on the floor." "What did you do with all that money, Mr.
Heckard?" one of the boys inquired. "Do with it— do with it? Why,
I just shoved it into my pocket and walked off." Thirty mule teams
could not have hauled that amount of silver, but we were all inclined
to believe the genial Peter, because he said that it was "the truth,
[ 108 ]

by gad, sir." At another time Corporal Peter, with his three men,
was patroling the banks of a river, in the middle of which was an
island and a melon patch. He said that he and his men soon divested
themselves of their clothing and swam to the island. While they
were feasting upon luscious, ripe melons, the owner appeared upon
the scene, armed with a shot gun. "You were in a mighty hard fix,"
said one of the boys. "Not at all," was the reply, "we just put on
our skates and scooted down the river." At another time he, with
his men, captured 10,000 pounds of loose powder. He "touched her
off with a lighted match and came near burning my fingers, by gad,
sir." Peter moved to Illinois, where, I presume, he told the same
stories until called to his reward.

The very old pioneers will remember that Colonel Lucas, in the
absence of the regular pastor, would sometimes "fill the pulpit."
Now, the colonel is a fine platform talker, if you please, and an
adherent of the Christian church, and, like President Garfield, who
was a member of the same cult, believed his creed was the only true
way to the better world. Upon a Sunday the regular preacher, Rev.
Skillen, I believe, failed to appear. Colonel Lucas was called upon
to expound the Scriptures, which call he accepted. Among the topics
he took up was the crossing of the Red Sea by the children of
Israel. In grandiloquent and fetching style, the speaker told of the
hardships and heart-burnings of the "children," how dismayed they
were on finding themselves upon the shores of the sea and no way
in sight to make a crossing. "But the hand of Providence did not
desert them in this hour of distress," said the speaker, "for, when
the morning appeared, lo, and behold, they found that during the
night the sea had frozen over tighter than a wedge." "Hold on,
there, Brother Lucas," said Mace Eveland, "how could that be, when
it is known that the Red Sea is right under the equator?" For the
moment the Colonel was up a tree, away up in the top branches,
but recovering himself, he pointed the finger of scorn at Mace and
said, "I'd have you know, Brother Eveland, that this event took
place long before there was an equator." This answer knocked
Brother Eveland out, but he shook his head, as if in doubt. I really
don't know whether this story is true or not, but I'm inclined to
believe that it is, for I was told so by Dr. Oscar Burbank, one of
Waverly's pioneer sawbones.
Another story I have to relate about the Colonel will please the
printing craft, if no others. One day, not being in the best of spirits,
after having "read the proof," he gave it out cold and with a deadly
thud that he looked for a cleaner proof hereafter; he was not going
to have his editorial matter balled up like that, so it looked like
thirty cents — no, sir, not by the measurement of four town blocks.
This incident happened at about the time "plate matter" came into
use, and there were about forty-eight columns of this in the office.
[ 109 ]

The boys took proof of this whole forty-eight columns and laid it
upon the Colonel's desk. All that afternoon he labored over those
proof sheets, and when he handed them in he said that it was ex
cellent work and that he was extremely proud of his office force.
In the forty-eight columns he had found only a misplaced comma.
A great laugh and roar went up from the "prints," and the Colonel,
very much in anger, wanted to know why the "hilarity." When in
formed, he made no reply, other than that he thought it was a mighty
poor joke to play on a novice in the printing business. But you
could not fool him now on a stunt of that kind.

Among the boys of Waverly who have made good and stand
high in financial and legal circles are E. J., James C, and C. B.
Murtagh, who are sons of James and Mercy Murtagh, who were
pioneers in the county. Jim Murtagh was a harness maker by trade,
and came west to avail himself of the opportunities of the new
country. He landed in Waverly sometime in the early Sixties and
found C. H. Blossom running the only harness shop or store in the
town for he succeeded Gib Hamilton who started the first shop of
the kind in the county. He sold out to Mr. Blossom and moved to
Kansas. Jim was a skillful workman and Mr. Blossom was glad to
secure such a man, so Jim staked down and became a fixture in
the shop. Blossom had two daughters whose names were Mercy and May.
Mercy was a bright and pretty girl and a favorite with all the people
of the town. After Jim had been in town a year or two, he married
the proprietor's daughter to the surprise of the village.
After he had taken over the responsibilities of a family, he began
to cast about for a place to go into business for himself, and, as I
recollect, for a time was located at West Union. From there he
went to Shell Rock where he conducted a harness shop for years,
at which place he died some ten or twelve years ago. They were
blessed with three boys, whom they trained and educated.
James C, the second of the three boys, chose law as his pro
fession and is one of the leaders of the bar of northern Iowa with
his residence at Waterloo. True to the teachings of his father, he
is a Democrat in politics and a leader in his party. He has been
the Democratic candidate for Congress in the Third District two or
three times and his party feels that he has all of the qualifications
to fill that high office.
Charlie, the youngest of the three brothers, is the only Democrat
that was ever elected to the Legislature from Emmet county. My
understanding is that he does not care particularly for office and
declined a second nomination, even though that nomination meant
certain election. His name has been mentioned very generously over
the state as the candidate of his party for Governor this year and if
nominated and elected the State would be sure of a good business
administration.
[ no ]

Ed and Charlie live at Algona, and are very successful bankers
and, as I am informed, own the controlling interest in a dozen or
more banks in northern Iowa.
These boys are sons of the Mercy, who was often affectionately
called "Posie" Blossom.
Among other Bremer county boys who have made good in the
world I give a few names, but have not time to look up all of them
or just what line of business they were engaged in, they being Charlie
Wilcox, of Chicago, financier; George Clark, of Chicago, capitalist,
retired; Allen Clark, of Chicago, with John T. Hancock Co.; Will and
Fred Cowels, of Chicago and Montana; George Hoffman, of St. Louis,
banker; Will Mathews, last I knew of him he was in the banking
business; Leslie Fist, army officer; Ben Salinger, supreme judge;
Ed Martin, of Tripoli, banker; L. S., J. F. and Claude Cass, of Water
loo, railroad magnets. Briney Lucas, of Idaho; Theo. and W. H.
Pockels, bankers at Tripoli and Bremer; Burton E. Sweet, of Waverly,
farmer and congressman; Ed Prentice, address and occupation un
known, but understand that he is in the west and has retired. There
are many others, but at this time I cannot recall where they are and
their business and I must omit them for lack of knowledge and with
only best wishes for them and all other boys of the early days in
Bremer county.
Pretty good list for one little town.

THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN OF '56, AND
POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS AFTER THE WAR.
THE COMETS OF '58 AND '61
The presidential campaign of '56 was a hotly contested affair.
It was the entrance of the republican party in national affairs, with
a complete ticket. Party feeling ran high and there were many
spirited discussions as to the merits of the opposing candidates for
the presidency and what they stood for. Buchanan was the dem
ocratic candidate and Fremont, "the Pathfinder," was the republican.
Once good friends they passed one another "upon the other side."
Each tried to convince the non-committal that the election of their
candidate was the only salvation of the country. The republicans,
of course, were anti-slavery, while the democrats, tho not really in
favor of the enslavement of the black man, were of the opinion that
the negro was better off in his then present situation in the south;
in other words, the democrats were the "stand-patters" — the "let-
well-enough-alone" people of that day. Amusing were some of the
arguments advanced. Republicans insisted that "all men were created
free and equal," and that among these men was the negro. The
democrats would retort: "You may think so; I don't. Do you want
your daughter or sister to marry a nigger, eh?" Republicans named
the Democrats "Whiskeyites" and bad citizens in general, while dem-
[ m ]

ocrats called their opponents "nigger lovers" and "low-down trash"
not fit to encumber the earth, by gad, sir. But the truth is, they
were all good citizens, doing what they thought was for the best
interests of their country. Defiant republicans imported a negro to
town. It was the first negro that I had ever remembered of having
seen, altho my grandfather, with whom I lived for a time at Zanes-
ville, Ohio, had two negro servants in his family, having bought them
from a slave block at Baltimore and given them their liberty; but
I was too young at that time to remember anything about this event.
The importation to the town of this "colored gentleman" created
considerable excitement. In the evening there was to be a big re
publican demonstration, "a d — d black republican blow-out," the dem
ocrats sneeringly named it. In -the afternoon there was a great
parade, consisting of a lumber wagon, with horses, of course. In
the wagon sat the negro, a driver, and H. A. Miles, pounding a big
bass drum, and, of course, the flag of our common country was flown.
While the "procession" was moving along in dignified manner, a
number of democrats were lying in wait for it at the corner, where
afterward a brick building was erected in which Israel Bros, con
ducted a clothing store. As the procession reached that corner,
ancient eggs were hurled at it, besmirching the occupants of the
wagon. There being no let-up to the egg-throwing, Miles leaped
from the wagon and fled to a place of safety — nor did the band
"play on."
But the campaign of '60 was more than a hummer. There were
fist fights galore, and much good-natured bantering as well. Among
the prominent republicans of that time, I remember, were Louis
Case, later a county official many times and a member of the legis
lature, Tarbox Smeed, editor of the Waverly Republican, W. P. and
Henry Harmon, 'Squire Ellsworth, Judge Avery and his brother
George, G. W. Ruddick, who was judge for many years, Theodore
Hullman, the merchant, Theodore Hazlett, S. H. Curtis, H. K. Swett,
Caleb Morse; and upon the democratic side were Wm. O. and J. J.
Smith, brothers, 'Squire Mathews, G. C. Wright, lawyer, W. P. Harris,
Joseph Ellis, the then sheriff, J. C. Hazlett, Lorenz Selbig, Peter and
Charles Fosselman, William Mooney, John Dunn, and whenever there
was to be a democratic doings, Parker Lucas, father of Colonel
Lucas, Joshua Stufflebeam, Mason Eveland, and the Bements had seats
way up in front. Lincoln was elected, and then came the war, and
also harder times than ever. I remember the going of the boys and
their return — some of them.
After the war there were greater and hotter political gatherings
than ever. Kirkwood, the great war governor, Harry O'Connor and"
other republican orators were brought to town to save the "country."
But' the finest political oration I had ever heard was by the Hon.
John A. Kasson, and I have never since heard anything to equal it,
altho I have listened to the platform talks of Bryan. Dolliver^
Cousins, Fred Douglas, the colored orator, Doolittle and some others.
Democrats had for their speakers such men as Mills and Wilson, of
t 112 ]

LIEUTENANT EDWARD TYRRELL
Only officer from Bremer county killed during the
Civil war

Dubuque, Leffingwell, of Lyons, Doolittle, of Wisconsin. Doolittle
had been elected senator from Wisconsin, as a republican, but he
finally "swung around the circle" with President Johnson and became
a democrat. While on his way to visit a son residing at Charles
City he was prevailed upon to stop over and "address the people of
Waverly and vicinity on the political issues of the day." There was
an immense crowd and a procession more than a mile in length — a
big one for that day and time. It was an out-door meeting and he
spoke from a platform fronting the Bremer House. While he was
speaking two negroes were near the platform, making sneering re
marks and indulging in negro eccentricities in order to divert, if they
could, attention from the orator. As I was "devil" in the Democratic
News office at that time (also up to all kinds of deviltry besides, I
am told), I had a seat on the platform, provided for me by George
Lindley, who said that he wanted me "to hear a great speech by one
of the greatest statesmen of the country." The negroes kept up their
horse-play until Senator Doolittle, pointing a finger at them, said,
not in an angry but a pleasant manner, "I am the man who drafted
the amendment to the constitution that set you free." Those negroes
slunk away like whipped pups, and the senator went on with his
speech without further interruption, other than "loud applause" at
intervals. Party feeling was high and bitter at that time. It per
vaded social and business life. I was for a number of years with
a democratic newspaper in the town, but no county officer ever gave
that office a cent's worth of job printing, altho democrats were sup
posed to help foot the county printing bills. When Iowa had a
democratic legislature, it enacted a law whereby the two newspapers
in the county having the largest circulation should be given the
"Proceedings of the Board of Supervisors" and be paid for the pub
lication thereof at the rate of 33 1-3 cents a square. It has always
been a mystery to me why a republican legislature failed to repeal
that law, and if this had been reversed would the democrats have
repealed it? But people of today have become more tolerant, more
considerate of things political. They all recognize and believe in
good government and are intensely patriotic, the only difference
being in the methods pursued to bring about needed reforms in the
economic life of the nation. Happy is the man who can sink his
political dogmas and work shoulder to shoulder with his friend and
neighbor for the freedom of the peoples of the world.
As a small boy, I remember well the comets of 1858 and 1861.
But I have a more vivid recollection of the latter than of the former.
Many of the superstitious shook their heads and said it presaged
war. Others declared that there was no doubt of it, because locusts
had been caught with the letter "W" plainly stamped upon their
backs, and some declared it meant the ending of the world. The
comet of '61 was a glorious and magnificent affair. As I remember,
it was a gorgeous, narrow, straight ray, and, as it swept the heavens
it was a wondrous, magnificent sight. At night it dimmed the light
of the moon. The length of the tail was said to have been about
[ H3 ]

15,000,000 miles. I did not measure it, but that is what astronomers
said. This event is recited simply to recall it to some who may
have forgotten it. And how strange it is when we hark back to
those times, to find that there was so much superstition running
amuck. Every little phenomenon occurring in the firmament pre
saged an evil omen. It was either a war, a pestilence, a poor crop
year, or, upon such a day the world would disappear and mankind
would be annihilated. But now we know that this fine old world
of ours is a pretty substantial structure, and if it does not bump
into some other planet its life is estimated by learned men at
70,000,000 years — that is to say, when the sun dies it will be all up
with the world. Cold logic and scientific investigation generally
explain away all superstitious notions. But whether the world, today
or tomorrow wanders around in space — a black ball, as all other
planets will that had received their light from the once live sun — when
the orb of day arises and there is dew on the grass, we take off our
hats to the glories of the morning.
A colored brother was asked what he thought of the doctrine of
evolution. He said that he was not concerned about it at all. He
didn't care a whoop whence he came, but was considerably worried
as to where he was "gwine." And I'm thinking that is about where
we all head in.
In the pioneer days the people were generally poor, insofar as
this world's goods are concerned. If one owned a piano, a buggy or
a carriage, he was considered to be very well-to-do. If he had a
ten-thousand-dollar rating, he was wealthy. Such a one was "Specu
lator Smith," who was looked upon with great awe by us boys.
Whenever he would be passing, someone would remark, "There goes
a man worth $10,000— my, I wish I had it."
Notwithstanding the hardships and privations of these early-day
people, they were a happy and contented lot, apparently. They had
their corn-husking bees, dances, debating societies, and other societies
and good-natured political discussions (which, I am sorry to say, at
times led to knock-outs), and, like all country towns, had a brass
band, "The Waverly Brass Band" being inscribed on the head of the
big drum. During the war this band, under the leadership of Peter
Fosselman, would get together upon the rotunda of the court house,
and render all the patriotic airs of the day. Upon a clear evening
the music could be heard for miles and miles. Its sweet strains
linger with me to this day, and I am wondering if Peter Fosselman
is the only survivor of that band.
Times were hard. Hard money was scarce, and wild-cat currency
was rotten. It was a hardship to meet taxes, as they had to be
paid in gold and silver, and treasurers' sales were very large. But
it is different today. The poor boys of then — a large number of
them — are great, stalwart men, and many of them are wealthy, have
filled places of public trust with honor and ability. Bankers, lawyers,
ministers, newspaper men, merchants, doctors, mechanics, prosperous
farmers are on the list. If any of them shall read this by chance,
here's good luck to them!
[ 114 ]

The Waverly Democratic News was owned and edited by George
Lindley, a man of tremendous mental power. He was an old-fashioned
Connecticut democrat, had been a judge in that state, and during
the Mexican war he held a lieutenant colonel's commission, coming
from the then president. At the world's fair in St. Louis in 1860, he
was the escort of the Prince of Wales about ^the grounds. This
prince afterward became king of England, one of the strongest and
best-loved men who ever sat upon the British throne. Colonel Lind
ley was awarded a medal for having written the best essay on the
subject, "A General System of Manufacturers in and around St.
Louis," if I remember the title correctly. At about that time he
wrote "Bread Corn of the World," which had a wide circulation and
was favorably received by some of the greatest economists of the
country. When he attacked a subject he exhausted it. In editorial
debate he held his own with the best writers of the state. His body
lies in Harlington cemetery at Waverly. His wit has been keen and
cut like a razor. There was some trouble existing between the colonel
and a druggist, whose name I do not now recall. The druggist posed
as a deep-dyed-in-the-wool temperance man. This the colonel denied,
and once in a while harpooned the pill man, who wrote and published
in the Waverly Republican an article, the sum and substance of which
was, "The All-Seeing Eye is Upon You, George Lindley." Living in
the town at that time was a man of the name of Jim Eye. Lindley's
reply to the druggist was that the all-seeing eye the druggist had
reference to was Jim Eye, whom he saw leaving at the back door
of the said druggist, accompanied by a bottle of whiskey. That
closed the controversy.
I wonder if good old Joe Babbage still lives, moves and has his
being? If he does, here's "top of the mornin' " to him! In his day
Joe was a mighty hunter. As a marksman I think he was a better
shot than Uncle Sam Geddes, altho if Sam were living he would put
in a vigorous demurrer to this statement. Well, if Joe is in the
flesh, he will forgive a "busy fisherman" (such as I am in season)
if I tell a story about him as it was told me, by that prince of story
tellers, Dr. Oscar Burbank. One day Dr. Pomeroy was out in the
wild and woolly Wapsie country hunting prairie chickens. The grass
in that part of the country grows something less than a mile high,
or thereabouts. Pomeroy lost his bearings and was wandering around
in a circle, as all lost men do, when he ran across our friend Joe,
who also was bent on the destruction of chickens. Joe had a revolu
tionary musket,* ten or fifteen feet in length and it was a question
as to which was the safer end of it. When it was discharged, the
battle of Waterloo wasn't in it a little bit. When the doctor dis
covered Joe and inquired the time of day and as to his hunting luck,
he also asked Joe about how far it was to town. Now, Joe at that
time had an impediment of speech. "Th-th-at w-w-ay, a-a-and it's
ab-b-bout, ab-b-bout — oh, d  n it, y-y-you k-k-kin g-g-git thar
'f-f-fore I k-k-kin t-t-tell y-y-you." And none will laugh more
heartily over this story than will Joe, if he is still in the flesh.
[ H5 ]

THE DAYS WHEN WHEAT WAS THE PRINCIPAL
CROP, AND MEN WHO BOUGHT IT.
EARLY NEWSPAPER MEN
Who of the "old stock" does not remember the great fields of
grain that waved to and fro in the glad sunlight of pioneer days?
About the time the grain was turning to its rich, golden color, it
was a favorite pastime to crawl up into the cupola of the court
house, now ancient and hoary, and, gazing east, west, north and
south, behold what the rich and fertile earth could do for the man
who tickled the soil well and faithfully. It always appeared to me
that Bremer county was the granary of the world. For miles and
miles, in every direction, the whole country appeared to be covered
by one vast sheet of wheat and oats. It was a sight, insofar as
Bremer county is concerned, that none of us will ever see again.
And there were wheat buyers in those days, too. There were
0. A. Strong, Bert Turner, Port Bement, George Bellamy, E. S. Case,
Sam Beswick, and some others whose names have escaped my
memory. I think that all whom I have named are gone "over
yonder." Mr. Turner died at Vemdale, Minn., Mr. Case in California,
Mr. Bellamy at Nashua, Iowa, and Beswick in a charity hospital in
Chicago. Beswick had been on the board of trade in Chicago for
many years, was practically alone in the world, and something of
a miser. After his death in the hospital, a large amount of money
was found concealed in his cravat, one of the bills being of the
denomination of $1000.
In those days, too, they had butter and egg buyers who haunted
the streets and even went to the town limits to make first bids.
"Penny" Wilcox, so named because he was always exact to the penny,
wanting it if it came his way, and giving it if it went yours. He
was a tall, slim man, somewhat noted as a great scrapper. He was
the father of Charley and Will Wilcox, and no two brighter boys
ever left Waverly.
And there were hog buyers galore, who strove to pry the festive
porker from the farmer "with neatness and dispatch" and at prices
that, should they obtain now, would be the wonder of the world. I
think that the average price then was about three cents a pound,
dressed, but now, in these piping days of civilization (I say "civiliza
tion" guardedly), we are compelled to pay a king»'s ransom for a
measly little pound of pork.
Among the old-time newspaper men, I remember Tarbox Smeed,
who ended his earthly career by drowning himself in the Potomac
river at Washington, D. C, heart-broken because his party services
were not recognized by the Lincoln administration, Heman A. Miles,
Louis Case, G. C. Wright, W. A. Stowe, George Lindley, Chas.
Mallahan, J. O. Stewart, Dan Fichthom, B. F. McCormack, post
master for a time under Johnson's administration, E. C. Moulton,
and J. K. L. Maynard, whom the boys named "Alphabetical" Maynard.
[ H6 ]

He was also postmaster for many years and edited the Phoenix. My
recollection of the Phoenix is that it was a poorly edited sheet, but
typographically it was one of the neatest in the state, J. A. Stewart,
a prince of good fellows and a fine printer, being responsible for
that. In the Phoenix, about every other item was a notice of
"Poland's White Compound." Lindley, of the News, dubbed him "Old
Poland's "White Compound." Of the entire list, I think, Lindley was
the ablest of them all. He was a strong, graceful writer and had
excellent command of the English language. His satire and invective
were something to avoid. I think he was a graduate in the same
department with Horace Mann.
While I have this subject in mind, is it not fair that Will Tyrrell
should be placed in the class of old-timers ? The memory of man
scarcely runneth back to the time when he was not manipulating the
"leaden tongues." He commenced the art with J. K. L. Maynard,
during the Civil war. People set their watches and clocks by his
coming and going. He was never ahead or behind time — not even a
minute. "What time is it?" someone would ask. "I don't know,
but Will Tyrrell just passed." "Well, then, it's two minutes after
one," and that was the correct time, you may believe. His conduct
of the Waverly Republican for so many years is of the highest credit
to him. He is gifted with an abundance of dry wit, and is a ready,
entertaining writer. He never dips his quill in gall. I don't think
he ever wrote a line intended to cause anyone sorrow or anguish.
As a master workman, he has few peers; as an all-around, conscien
tious citizen and friend, he nears the top. He, with his family, is
now living at Los Angeles, Cal. And here is bully luck to him
and his.Who of the old pioneers does not remember early Bremer county
agricultural fairs? In fancy I can even now see Jim Kinney, Dan
Dean and his brother George, John Knott and H. R. Wells speeding
their horses for the top prize. My, but it was a great sight! And
there was a prize for the best lady or girl rider. My recollection is
that Miss Maria Avery always raked in the prizes. Speaking of
John Knott reminds me that his brother George moved to Sioux
Falls many years ago and established the first brewery here. His
•brother Harry is now living in this city. I meet him once in a while,
and we talk over the old times. Another old Waverly boy living
here is J. M. Hooker. George Knott died several years ago, but
his widow is still living, and is hale and hearty. Bob Knott also
lives in this state, but I've not been able as yet to grasp his right
hand. This state is full of Bremer county people and if I am to
judge from what I can learn, they have all made good. But I am
frank enough to say, and to believe, that had they remained in good
old Bremer county and used the same energy, push and nerve that
they have shown here, they would have been better off even than
they are. However, I don't know; it is simply a guess on my part.

[ H7 ]

THE DAYS WHEN FISHING WAS GOOD, AND
SOME OF THE MEN WHO INDULGED
IN THE SPORT
Captain Jordan, who was a good and efficient worker in church
and Sunday school, wrote the history of early Sunday schools in
Bremer county. He found that the M. E. church people established
the first Sunday school and that the writer of this item was the
first one enrolled in that school, that being of date of 1856. I
have no distinct recollection of that enrollment. The first superin
tendent of the school that I remember was the Reverend Smith,
a fine man and an excellent platform talker. He is the same man
who was drafted during the war, and claimed British protection,
being a subject of the queen. But it did not work. He was forced
into the service, but did not remain long. He was a very large
man, hence little use could be made of him, so he was discharged.
He was father of Samuel Smith, who later on, became famous as
the pastor of the People's church, St. Paul, Minnesota. The next
superintendent of the school, as I remember it, was the Rev. John
Stone, father of Mrs. S. H. Morse. He was a strong man in Sunday
school work, and he kept the interest of the pupils up to the highest
point. During his superintendency, if he ever failed to give out
that glorious hymn, "Greenland's Icy Mountains," I have no recollec
tion of it. He was dead after the heathen every time, lay for him
in every nook and cranny, and brought him into the fold, if a possible
thing. This good old man has been dead for many a year, but the
work he accomplished will last for all time. He was an expert
fisherman, and he and I many a time "rowed" over certain fishing
holes and — "well, that is another story," as Kipling would say.

In the days "when you and I were young, Maggie," fishing was
good in the fine old Cedar river, a river winding its way thru some
of the best land in all the world — land as fertile as the far-famed
valley of the Nile, a veritable Garden of Eden. The Cedar, if I
remember correctly, is something like 400 miles in length. As it
winds its way southward it passes thru some grand, magnificent
scenery, or did in the old days, for since that time, vandals have
felled the grand timber from its banks, the timber that conserved
the rain-fall, and thereby they have destroyed much of the beauty-
sites, but, oh, boy, in my time there was fine fishing, fishing at which
you could catch something, never going home with a grouch or
"fisherman's luck." "Dutch" John Smith, because he kept everlast
ingly at it, had the reputation of being the best fisherman on the
river, but there were also others who took pride in their piscatorial
prowess. There was Rev. John Stone, who was an old Ohio angler,
and who knew to a nicety just where to cast for bass and pickerel
[ H8 ]

and who handled a dip net so that any that entered seldom escaped;
there were Al Lawrence, E. C. Moulton, and Hinkley Beebe; and
sometimes George LeValley took a whirl after the finny tribe.
Charley Parson was also quite an expert. The Hazlett Bros., Isaac.
and the writer of this — both young kids — knew every nook, cranny
and pool wherein fish might be found, or where they were liable to
be, and on many occasions when accompanied by "Dutch" John Smith,
they showed him a thing or two about his noble and exhilarating
pastime, which would cause John to give forth some choice Pennsyl
vania Dutch. I hear that nowadays Waverly has some who claim to
be cap sheaves of fishermen, but my impression is that they are of
the punk order, and not in the class of the fish catchers of yesterday.
The old fellows, who "bore the heat and burden of the day," will
remember Col. J. W. Woods, better known as "Old Timber." He was
a lawyer, and had a voice like a fog-horn. When he summed up a
case, his voice would carry for nearly a mile. Children would be
frightened homeward for fear of rain, because it thundered. He
was one of the old-time circuit riders, going overland from county-
seat to county-seat. In one of the counties he was retained in a
murder case, being for the defendant. The case was hotly contested,
and the defendant was acquitted. A large crowd had assembled
about the court house and when the verdict was announced they took
charge of the acquitted man and hung him to a tree near the court
house, requiring but a few minutes to commit the deed. "Timber"
was told of the happening, as he was preparing to leave the court
room. "Well," he said, "I guess they got the right man, but it beats
me out of a thousand dollars." "Timber" was a tall man, straight as
an arrow, wore a tall hat always, upon the inside of which he carried
his office. He was of about the same build and height as was Philo
Knapp, of Nashua, an attorney also, and when these two got to
gether, glory be, there was hilarious fun, galore. Philo had much
humor concealed about his person, and had considerable ability.
Falling into slumber in his office one evening, his lamp tipped over
and dropped into the waste basket. Philo awakened and opened the
door. A man rushed up the street, calling out, "Fire! Fire!"
"H — 1!" yelled the old gentleman, "it isn't fire we want — it's water!"

There grew up in Waverly a young man, John Lawrence, by
name, son of "Deacon" Lawrence, living on the west side. "Johnnie,"
as he was familiarly called, always had the courage of his convictions,
and expressed them anywhere and everywhere. He was always ready
to back up his arguments in a pugilistic way when necessary, and
being of sturdy build, light of foot and handy with his fists, he
generally emerged from a fracas not second best. He was a keen,
bright young fellow, with more than average ability, and had quite
a following among the younger set. In 1868, I think it was, he left
Waverly for Texas. He had been there but a short time when the
[ H9 ]

news arrived that he had been shot to death by southern sympathizers.
It was learned that he had had many fierce discussions with ex-
rebels, denouncing their cause with bitter invective. One morning,
or evening, as he was making his toilet out doors at the rear of the
house, some men rode up and shot him. If I remember correctly
it was his father who gave me this version of the affair. John was
a brother of Al Lawrence, the keen and successful lawyer, and of
Del Lawrence, who, with S. H. Curtis, established lumber mills at
Motley, Minnesota.

It has been years since I last met my good-natured friend,
Frank Cretzmeyer, but I am told that he has grown old gracefully
and is taking life in a happy way. As I remember him, he was
short, chunky, and had a leg on him like a derrick. He and I attended
the same school, the lower room, taught by Mrs. Moulton, wife of
the late Rev. E. C. Moulton, who had charge of the upper room.
Whenever any of the big boys misbehaved she would pen a note and
send the culprit with it upstairs. When the boy and the note reached
their destination, a good drubbing would be pulled off. One day this
writer disobeyed a rule and he was started upward with a note. As
he reached the hall he met Frank and told him that Mrs. Moulton
wanted the note delivered immediately. Frank fell for it, and in
consequence he received "what Paddy gave the drum." After school
that little Dutchman lay in wait for the writer, but being a good
sprinter, we escaped the bottled-up wrath of the irate Frank, and
we likewise saw fit to avoid him for several days thereafter.

During the Civil war, James Moss operated a sorghum factory,
or mill. He made many barrels of sorghum molasses. It was largely
used by people, simply because they were unable to purchase any
thing better, that is to say, the reason for the popularity of the
sorghum was that "spondulix" was scarce. It was a bitter concoction,
and to this day I hate the name of sorghum. Besides this mill there
were many maple sugar camps, and hundreds of pounds of it were
made and sold. The Evelands and Stufflebeams were adepts at
making it. Take it on a cold, frosty morning, pull up to the table,
upon which you find the festive buckwheat cake and a pitcher of
maple syrup, and, "Oh, boy, what a grand and glorious feelin'!"

On the west side near the river, opposite the old Ida House, of
which Frank Taber's father was landlord, stood a two-story frame
house, in which was a saloon and gambling house, John Hinchey and
his mother being its proprietors. John was badly crippled up, but
[ 120 ]

Was aft expert at cards, and every day in the year he had a new
cuss word to exploit. A large number of young men, and old ones,
too, were frequenters of the place. At last it became a public
scandal, and its abatement was gone at drastically. One morning
it was found that during the night citizens of the town had torn the
building from its foundations and had completely wrecked it. The
Hincheys passed on to other pastures and were never heard of again.
It was in the Ida House that Charley Taber met with his death, being
struck by lightning. He was standing by a window, when the bolt
struck the house, and he was killed instantly.

One of the early-day school teachers was Miss Laura Riggs (Mrs.
M. H. Franklin). She was an excellent educator, far above the
average. As a disciplinarian, she had few equals, and she sought
to put "pep" into all her pupils so that they might become good men
and women and bread-winners. I believe she remained with the public
schools until she voluntarily resigned. If she is living, and it is
hoped that she is, and if she reads this item, I want her to know
that there is one at least who remembers her with loving kindness
and gratitude.
On one occasion, while attending school of which she was the
teacher, the writer of these lines had broken some rule of the school
and was "called upon the carpet," so to speak. His guilt being clearly
proven, in fact it was not denied, he was told to prepare for a lesson
in "Physical Culture." To this the writer put up the plea that he
had graduated from that branch of the "course of study" and pro
ceeded to show his ability in that part of the "course."
Having but recently read of the heroic deeds of Paul Jones,
Commodore Perry, Captain Lawrence and Commodore Decatur, my
mind was all aflame and I resolved to stand by my guns. Straighten
ing up to my full height and putting up both fists, I dramatically
exclaimed, "I am a man-of-war." But, oh boy, after a few exercises
quite well performed I was forced to "strike my colors" and surrender,
much to the edification as well as the great amusement of the rest
of the pupils. I think Frank enjoyed the engagement the most of
all as it, in a measure, ended up his old score against me.

I suppose the pioneer merchants of Waverly have all disappeared.
These merchants were a goodly lot. As I remember them, they were
A. C. Fairfield, H. J. Hoffman, Theo. Hullman, Peter B. Foster, Alonzo
Woodruff, S. H. Curtis, Theodore Hazlett, John Dunn, the Hechts,
Raymond Bros., Thos. Aldrich, Jim Brown, Dave Clark, and W. V.
Lucas, J. C. Hazlett, N. P. Ellis, Sidney Covert, G. W. LeValley, John
Boys, Andrew Dailey, Simon Howard, Chas. Fosselman, Michael
[ 121 ]

Casper, J. B. Barber, the cigar and tobacco man, E. F. Bacon, and
many others, whose names I do not now recall. Well, in their day,
they were a mighty host, but a majority of them are now "under
the sod and the dew."

And among the far-away-from-today blacksmiths were one Hol
brook and William Mooney. Holbrook's shop was located at the east
end of the bridge, on Bremer avenue.. He was an eccentric old fellow
and easily aroused to anger, consequently the kids made life extremely
unpleasant for him. William Mooney's shop was also located on the
east side. As a blacksmith, Tubal Cain had nothing on him. His
workmanship was fine, and he bore the reputation of being the best
horse-shoer in all the country about. He was a splendid good citizen
and a fine neighbor. He passed away many years ago, to the sorrow
of a mighty host of friends.

My impression is that the first brewery established in Waverly
was by Joseph Ellis. It was a good, honest brew, favorably known,
and patronized by lovers of the "amber." Later on it passed into
the hands of E. F. Taber, who operated it until the time of his death.
For many years Mr. Ellis was sheriff of Bremer county, and was an
able, discreet officer, and a democratic war horse, always in the front
line and ready for action. Mr. Taber was a highly educated man and
a keen observer of men and events, therefore, a companionable
gentleman.

All the boys will remember the terrible commercial and business
revulsion of the year 1857. It was universal, and is known to this
day as "The Great Panic." That year every bank in the union failed
and suspended specie payment. In all classes of society there was
much extravagance. Men invested in land speculation, were land-
mad and hurried to get some of it, because they thought that it
would soon be exhausted. Men who had no money, if they succeeded
in obtaining it, agreeing to pay for it cent for cent, rushed to the
West to invest in wild lands. From the East came the tradesman
who had forsaken his store, the farmer, the lawyer, and the clergy
man, all bent upon getting some of this earthly domain for speculative
purposes. The debts of that time were excessive and extravagance
ran rampant, and this brought on the panic, which, when it came,
created great excitement thruout the country. The country did not
fully recover from its effects for a period of nearly twenty-five years.
This was the period of "wild-cat" money, when private individuals,
merchants and bankers issuing their own paper, which, in nine cases
out of ten, wasn't worth a cent on the dollar. I have seen my father
look over his "bank detector" to determine whether the paper money
he had on hand, purporting to be good, was of any value. I've seen
[ 122 ]

him close the book on many occasions, and say, "Well, they have
caught me again." But the people of Bremer county pulled thru in
a way. Nearly all the business of that day was of the "trade and
barter" order. Breadstuffs were cheap, as the land produced pro-
lifically, but the man who was not a producer had a hard time to
make both ends meet, if they met at all. Following this panic came
the war, and it was years before people could say with truth that
they were "on Easy street." No such panic will ever occur in this
country again. The government has provided safeguards, the bankers
are more conservative, and the people themselves are shy of all
wild-cat schemes. Of course, there are confidence men today, and
now and then they catch a victim, but as a general thing, people
are more careful in investing in anything that has not a solid founda
tion. Banks of today are the arteries of commerce and trade. They
are generally officered by the best financial ability in the community
where they are located. If one be in doubt over an intended invest
ment, if he consults his banker he will be set aright. It is the "know-
it-alls" that lose their money, not the men willing to take expert
advice.

In the good ( ? ) old days the wage-earner, no matter how hard
he may have tried, never succeeded in establishing much of a bank
account. If I remember correctly the average wage of a farm hand
was about $8.00 the month, and there was not much of a demand
for him at that price. It's different these days, and he is now fast
becoming a plutocrat. He is now able to fix his own hours of labor,
generally the price of the same, has his automobile or his horse and
buggy, Sunday is his day off, and it is upon this day that he gives
Nellie or Annie a joy ride and makes known his thoughts and aspira
tions. He can get more now for a day's corn husking than fifty
years ago he could get for a month of the same work. He wears
good clothes, shaves and has his hair cut twice a month. In fact,
nevermore is he to be sneered at as a "country clodhopper." He is
practically his own boss and has the "long green" to meet his every
want. Products of the farm fifty or sixty years ago brought but
small returns. Butter and eggs were so cheap then that the very
remembrance of their then selling price makes one smack his lips and
almost wonder if such things could have been. Will Tyrrell has
often related the fact that he sold my father, who was a merchant,
eggs at three cents a dozen and "took it out in trade." But it must
be remembered that one could purchase more for a dollar then than
for five dollars today. Speaking of wages reminds me that when a
kid I employed Charley Tyrrell and Valey Brooks to husk com at
five cents a day. The boys went at it manfully and labored for
nearly twenty minutes, when they knocked off and went fishing — I
with them. "The call of the wild" was too much for them. Where
Valey is now living, if at all, I don't know. He was the son of
"Bully" Brooks, named for the "Bully" Brooks who assaulted Hon,
[ 123 ]

Charles Sumner by beating him over the head with a heavy cane in
the city of Washington. Nothing so stirred up the nation as did that
brutal assault upon one of the most brilliant men of his time. Brooks
went into disgrace and is remembered only as a brute, while Sumner
is affectionately remembered by his grateful countrymen.
As for Charley Tyrrell, I hear that his lines are cast in pleasant
places. He is upon the government pay-roll as deputy postmaster.
at Waverly. He is the son of Lieutenant Tyrrell, who was killed at
Vicksburg. I well remember Lieutenant Tyrrell. He was a com
panionable gentleman, a close observer of men and measures, had
ability far above the average of men, and died with his face toward
the enemy. No better man than he ever lived in Waverly.

One of the old-time residents of Waverly was Dr. Oscar Burbank.
He was not only an efficient physician and surgeon, but he was an
equally great wag and joker.
He had been one of the California gold diggers and had in his
possession several small gold nuggets which he had brought to
Waverly with him. When the Pike's Peak gold excitement was on,
and after several of the citizens of Bremer county had gone there
to seek their fortune with "Pike's Peak or Bust" printed on the cover
of their wagons and to afterward return with "Busted by Thunder"
printed beneath the former words, the doctor thought of a plan to
"put one over on the boys."
The spring freshet had, as usual, washed away the logway from
the sawmill of Oberdorf and Brownell on the west side of the river
and left nothing but a bed of rocks, with some sand filled between,
from there to where the bridge now is.
One morning the doctor wended his way there and quietly placed
four or five of the aforesaid gold nuggets in as many different
places among the rocks and then commenced to turn over the rocks
at other places as tho searching for something. It was not long until
he had attracted the attention of several persons who came to where
he was and inquired as to for what he was looking. The doctor at
first seemed to be shy about telling, but when pressed for an answer,
showed them a small gold nugget and at the same time gave them
a wink and told them to keep quiet about it.
About this time he turned over a stone and found one of the
nuggets he had placed. He soon found another. This set the others
searching among- the rocks in great haste.
The doctor was able to lead the search away from the places
where he had placed the nuggets until he was ready to pick them up.
It was not long before the news of the finding spread about town
and for a couple of days nearly the whole population was engaged
in the search for gold. While some turned over the rocks looking
for gold nuggets, others used tin pans with holes punched in them
and washed the sand to find the smaller particles.
[ 124 ]

The excitement was very great, and it was quite a week before
some of the people were convinced that the doctor had been up to one
of his pranks.

On another occasion while walking in his garden one morning,
about the last of June or the first of July, after he had been reading
an article which told of how little notice people took of the things
around them, especially the most common things, he chanced to see
a little flower growing on a plant. It was a blossom on a most
common plant, and the doctor thought he would see if what the
article said was true. Accordingly he plucked the flower and strolled
along the walk on the business part of East Bremer avenue, showing
the blossom to each person whom he met and stating that he had
found it that morning in his garden and was desirous to know what
it was. Farmers, businessmen, gardeners, none of them knew. Each
of them admired its fine pink center and the delicate coloring of its
leaves, but none of them knew the name of the plant from which it
was obtained. Some Temarked that it was too bad that he had
plucked it, that he should have let it produce seed that so fine a
flower should have been preserved. The doctor quieted them with
the assurance that there were other blossoms on the plant. Finally
when about a dozen or more persons had collected around him and
all had praised the beautiful flower but none knew its name, the
doctor told all of them that they had seen the same thing each
year. He had picked it from a potato vine. It is not necessary to
say that all of those around him had urgent business which required
immediate attention and that the writer of the article the doctor
had been reading had proved his point.

The jokers of that day set forth some marvelous fakes, one of
which I vividly remember, because of its frightfulness. It was told
that a huge snake had been seen in the river at or near the Cedar
Bluffs. Its body was estimated to be as large as a fair-sized saw-
log, and fully fifty feet in length. It was said to be a land as well
as a water snake, and had invaded gardens, and one man declared
that the snake had taken one of his pigs from the pen. A large
number of men and boys, armed with clubs and guns, went in quest
of the reptile, but if ever there had been one, as stated and described,
it had disappeared. In the next week's Waverly Democratic News
Charlie Parsons wrote a humorous article, saying that the snake story
had a substantial foundation, for he himself had seen it. He said he
was standing "on the bridge at midnight," a clear night with a full
moon. While he was running over in his mind some legal matters,
he noticed that the waters above the dam were fearfully agitated.
Suddenly, the dam parted in its center and he saw the snake heading
for the bridge, which it struck, carrying away with it in its mad
[ 125 ]

flight, the middle pier. He said that after it had passed the bridge,
it did not keep to the natural water course, but with a swish of its
tail when it reached Taber's brewery, where there was a great bend,
it straightened the river, which was a good thing, because it gave
more land to the west side, and he was a west sider and wanted
everybody to know it. He said he followed the snake down the river
until it crawled out and got in a potato patch, where it gorged itself
to death. Charley was a good lawyer, witty and bright as a new
silver dollar; but to this day I believe his snake story was the
creature of a vivid imagination.

If these little stories that I have written have been relished
by the readers of the Democrat, it will be a glad thing for me to
know. There are many other things, "by field and blood" that
happened in Waverly and in Bremer county fifty or sixty years ago
that might be made note of by others who are much handier with
the pen than I am. In my retirement I hark back to the old pioneer
days and the friends of my youth, and it gives me great pleasure.
There were ups and downs, many a stone in the way, pathways rough
and rugged, but somehow and in some way it has worked out all
right in a measure. Many a time, while going thru the grind of the
day, with a multitude of cares and responsibilities, I've thought "what
a grand and glorious feeling" it would be when I could close my desk
and retire to private life, and amidst my friends and my books await
complacently the call to "cross the harbor bar." Having reached that
point, I find it considerably different from what I expected. A poet
in a homely way thus describes the situation:
"Always lookin' forward to an easy-goin' time,
When the world seems movin' careless like a bit of idle rhyme;
A day when there is nothin' that kin make you sigh or fret —
Always lookin' forward — but I haven't seen it yet."
Doing nothing is the hardest kind of work. It dry-rots one —
makes him a grouch and a poor companion. The retired man who
has enough to live on is not necessarily the happiest of mortals.
There are times when he would sacrifice all that he has, to be once
more "in the harness." Therefore, I say to the old boys, don't retire;
hustle, and refuse to be shelved. All of us have pictured in our minds
what is in store, or the sights we shall see upon the other side of the
hill. Then when we have reached its apex it is not what we thought
it was going to be, and so we keep on plodding and worrying for
the thing that never appears, and finally we drop off into eternal
sleep.

[ 126 ]

INTERESTING NOTES OF EARLY-DAY LAW
YERS. CHARLES PLUNKETT AT HEAD
OF THEATRICAL PROFESSION
Among the old-time lawyers I remember the names of W. P.
Harmon, H. H. Gray, M. B. Dougherty, H. A. Miles, G. C- Wright,
G. W. Ruddick, J. E. Burke, J. W. Woods, Charles Parsons, D. T.
Gibson, the Smalley Brothers, W. A. Stowe, Frank Sterling, M. E.
Billings, A. F. Brown and Ed Dawson. Harmon and Miles, altho
admitted to the practice of the law, never "hung out their shingles"
in the town. Harmon was really the founder of Waverly. He built
the first flour mill, and I am of the impression that his brother
Henry operated the first saw mill. W. P. Harmon, the lawyer, was
an unceasing friend of the town. He gave liberally of his time and
money for his advancement, morally, socially, and otherwise. He
died in 1865. One of the great ambition's of his life was to have a
railroad come to and pass thru the town. He died just as a work
train of the old Dubuque & Sioux City appeared a-top the high grade,
somewhere near the old Father Couse fruit farm.
Those who have served the "wear and tear" of pioneer life, are,
as near as I can determine, the Smalley Brothers, W. A. Stowe, Frank
Sterling, M. E. Billings, and Ed Dawson. The only one of the whole
number now in active practice of the law in Waverly is my old-time
and esteemed friend Ed Dawson, an ex-railway commissioner and one
of the ablest and most conscientious men who ever filled the place.
To digress a little, it might be well enough to say that J. E.
Burke, after accumulating considerable wealth, left Waverly for
Chicago, where he became interested in the Cook County Bank, along
with B. T. Allan, at that time said to be the wealthiest man in Iow^a.
Allan had been successful in the banking business in Des Moines.
As I remember it, the Chicago bank was a run-down affair, and
Allan took hold of it with the expectation of making it a sound
financial institution. It lacked capital, so the management went
about over the country "seeking whom it might devour." It found
one victim in the person of Burke.
The lawyer of pioneer days was a pretty good all-around scout.
He was liberal, his charges were reasonable, and never did I hear
of any of them taking advantage when they had a chance to exact
more than a reasonable fee. They generally furnished very much
more advice than they were ever paid for. It appeared to be a
natural thing then, as now, to place upon the lawyers all the blame
for everything that went wrong, alleging that they were mischief
breeders, trouble-makers, and all for their private gain, which, as
a matter of fact, was not true in any sense of the word. It is well
to remember that were it not for lawyers there would be no liberty
in the country today, and property rights would not be safeguarded
at all. I "hold ' no brief" for these professional men, but will be
frank enough to say that they are genial, companionable, helpful and
fine old scouts — the cap sheaves of all professions.
[ 127 ]

Lovers of the art dramatic were many in ye old times. Regularly,
in season every year — the number of years the writer does not re
member — Charles Plunkett brought his troupe to Waverly from
Dubuque. He himself was a finished actor — an educated, genial
gentleman. Some of the time he starred his wife, a young and beau
tiful woman, talented, and a very winsome lady. I thought at that
time she was the handsomest woman I had ever seen, and, really,
comparing her with, alleged beautiful female movie stars of today,
I am still of the opinion that she had them all skinned to the extent
of several quarter sections of Iowa land. "Billy" Marble was also
one of Mr. Plunkett's stars. In low comedy I have never seen his
equal. He was a large man, and if he were now living the food
conservation commission would certainly have him arrested for hoard
ing too much fat. He was like Old King Cole, "a merry old soul,"
and he led the merriest kind of a life. As an entertainer and a
hilarious fun-making comedian, he was, in my opinion, better than
the best. But he had one grievous fault that he strove very hard to
overcome. Many another good fellow also has fallen for the same
thing many times. It always appeared to me that he celebrated the
New Year by taking a new wife. During the years I had known
him he had been "blessed" with the companionship of five wives, and
my early impression was that they were fine lookers, when they were
fixed up with their best furniture, but whether they got on Billy's
nerves or he on theirs, causing the dismemberment of their union,
I won't pretend to say. However, he was never without a wife for
any long-drawn-out time. During the war between the states he
starred with his own troupe in the south, sometimes going very near
the firing lines, for he was no coward, as his many matrimonial
ventures prove. By his superb merry-making he brought smiles and
forgetfulness to the war-worn boys in blue. He lived upon the theory
that it's better to make people laugh than to make them cry. He
has been dead for many a year, something like seventeen years,
having seen nearly ninety winters. He made thousands upon thou
sands of dollars, but failed to save a single one of them, and when
he "went out to sea" old-timers who had "drunk out of the same
canteen" with him, listening to his inimitable portrayal of eccentric
characters, felt that they had lost a fine old friend.
But I must return to the Plunketts. Charley Plunkett, Jr., was
a bright, capable young fellow, and at the time of which I write he
was just merging into the role of an amateur comedian. As I have
said, Plunkett, Sr., was a finished artist, an Englishman by birth,
and had followed the business in London many years before coming
to America. His troupe was especially Strong in the delineation of
Shakespeare's plays. No half-way work was ever permitted. Every
person in the cast was expected to reach a certain standard of
excellence, or he was "canned."
And, of course, there were amateur theatricals in those days, by
"home talent." The only Waverly boy that I now recall to mind
who appeared to meet with success was T. M. McCormack, better
[ 128 ]

W. H. TYRRELL
Los Angeles, California
Pioneer newspaper man in Waverly.

known to us all as "Pomp." Before going "upon the boards," Pomp
learned (or learned at) the printing business. He finally quit barn
storming, purchased a printing plant, and published a fairly good
newspaper. He, too, has gone the way of all flesh, and I hope the
bleak winter winds and snows are treating his grave kindly.

The first tannery in Waverly was operated by Abe Starr, father
of Will and John Starr. It was located at the south end of East
Water street. It was not a very large affair, yet for a time the
business was a paying one. The business was finally given up, and
the property fell into the hands of E. A. Woodruff, who fitted it up
for a residence and who, with his family, lived there for many years.
Uncle Abe Starr was a shoemaker by trade, and, I believe, worked
with or for Charley Fosselman for a long time. He was a square
man and as a citizen was always willing to do his part. It has just
occurred to me that he was also the father of George Parson Starr,
who was drowned in the old mill-race that fed the flour mill.
The unfortunate boy was known as "Parse." For something like a
year he had been engaged in the printing business in the Phoenix
office, and he was a bright young man. The Starrs, Abe and his
three sons, have gone the way of all flesh. They were all good
workers, and straightforward people.

It has been somewhere near thirty-five years since I have turned
my thoughts back to Waverly and Bremer county to resurrect in
cidents and the names of those whom I knew in the early days. I do
not suppose that very many pioneer farmers are yet alive, for many
of them were well on in years when I was a boy. Of the farmers
I recall the names of the Eveland, Stufflebeam, Lucas, Oberdorf, Rew,
Tyrrell, Roberts, Lehman, Johnson, Potter, Dailey, Carey, Knott, Neff,
Case and Baskins families, Pat Boylson, Henry Harmon, Levi Nichols,
Dick Bates, "English" John Smith (I expect his son "Bill" is tickling
the soil of the old farm yet), Jacob Hess, Baker, Miller, Adair,
Reeves, Findley, Johnson, Sewell families, Shephard, Jennings, Mc-
Roberts, Sturdevant families, Cave, Keeney, Perry, Lashbrook, Harris,
Wile, Winner, Wells, Thies, Case, Cruthers, Chittenden, Ingersoll,
Heine, Harrington, Woodcock, Krieger, Briden, McCaffree, Farring-
ton, Phillips, Bartels, Barrick, Loveland, Bloker, Rowen, Elder John
Stone, Wm. and James Scully, Wm. and Tom McCoy, and "Old"
Flynn, who lived on the Wapsie and who wrote the celebrated couplet:
"What a pity hell's gate wasn't kept by Old Flynn;
Such a surly old cuss wouldn't let anyone in."
This couplet was published in the Waverly Independent, then
owned by Colonel Lucas and Will Tyrrell, and "Old" Flynn was its
(5) [ 129 ]

Wapsie correspondent. His communications always invited most in
tense merriment among the office force. He was a fine old rough-
and-ready tiller of the soil, and I hope he is yet atop the earth.

I suppose all the old pioneers — or "moss backs" as some name
us — will remember M. W. Miles, better known as "Matt." In an early
day he was called "Puss" Miles for short — for short he was. He
was the son of H. A. Miles, a mayor of Waverly for one or two
terms. Matt was deputy postmaster for several years, was accurate
and courteous and a good mixer. He left Waverly many years ago,
spent some time in Minnesota, and finally drifted out of the state
of Oregon. He was something of a politician of the republican cult
and aggressive when expounding his favorite doctrine. He was
elected to the state senate and, if I am correctly informed, served
two terms in that office. He was not particularly noted for brilliancy,
but was one of the all-around fellows who "got there" by being a
good fellow. He died while in his second term of office. Will Tyrell
and Matt were great chums, and it was fine sport when a lot of us
got them together and pitted them against each other in a whistling
match. As neither could "turn a tune," you may imagine the hilarious
fun the crowd would have. During the war for the union, a company
of boys was organized, of which Matt was elected captain. We drilled
and drilled, and "fought nobody" among ourselves, and strange as it
may appear, I do not now remember the names of any of the boys
who were members of the company. I presume that Old Time has
sent the majority "out to sea." However, Matt was a fine citizen,
charitable, genial and always willing to carry his share of a heavy
load. '

It is always a hard matter to write for a newspaper about one's
own relatives, for that reason the writer may be deemed egotistical
and credited with a desire to give the subject more credit than
he deserves; but as it has fallen to my lot to mention the old-time
Waverly boys who have passed from that town into the world of
business and otherwise, I may be pardoned for my courage in alluding
to my brother, Isaac Hazlett. He was born at Janesville, Ohio, in
the year 1852; went to Waverly in '53 or '54, being a little hazy
as to the exact year. He attended Waverly schools, after which he
clerked for T. C. Aldrich and various other persons. He, with his
father, J. C. Hazlett, established a little store at the west end of the
Bremer avenue bridge. From there they moved to Shell Rock, re
maining there for some time, where they engaged in a general
mercantile business. From thence they moved to Nashua, Iowa, where
they engaged in the same business and were successful from the
start. At last they sold their business, and the subject of this sketch
moved to Verndale, Minn., and there went into the banking business,
[ 130 ]

and in all the years since it has been his occupation. He is connected
in one way or another with thirty-five different institutions in the
state, either as president or director, but he makes his home in
Minneapolis and maintains an office in the First National Bank build
ing, in which bank he is a heavy stock-holder. He built and occupies
a $40,000 home, but with all these evidences of prosperity, he is the
same "Ike" to all his acquaintances. I don't know what he is worth,
financially, because I have never had nerve enough to question him
on this point; but I should judge that it is something like near a
million dollars. For a boy starting with nothing, I call him a com
plete success. Before leaving Waverly he married a daughter of
Levi Nichols, Esther G. They have one son, J. C, who is a partner
of his father. He has been engaged in the Federal building for a
long time, helping to push the War Savings project, being manager
of distribution of the supplies, a place that requires hard and in
telligent work. J. C. was also commandeered by the Federal author
ities to assist in the last Liberty Loan, giving two-thirds of his time
to the government without remuneration or any expectation of a
cash consideration, to the neglect of his own business. His mother
is every day at the Church of the Redeemer, where she devotes her
time to Red Cross work. She has just received two crosses for con
tinuous 72 hours' work. I speak of these things to show that the
whole family, whatever may be their defects, cannot be accused of
not being patriotic — giving their time and money generously for the
cause of world democracy. Isaac has a fine summer home situated
on the shores of East Battle lake, Minnesota, going there in May
and returning in October. It is there that the writer of this pens
his "Idle Thoughts of a Busy Fisherman" and enjoys the hospitality
of this genial home. "Ike" is now 64 years of age, has the best of
health, never strikes for an increase of wages or demands eight
hours as a day's work, but is continually on the job, which is one of
the many reasons why he has been so successful in a business way.
I might say other things, but I won't. That would be egotism. He
would not stand for that — neither would I.

I cannot cease my remembrances of old times and old workers
in the newspaper vineyard, without alluding to my departed friend of
nearly fifty years standing, the Hon. C. W. Miller. The last time
I met him was something like a year before his death. He then
appeared to be in the best of health and cheerful, and confided to me
some of the future plans he had in view. The readers of the
Democrat will remember that he was one of its founders — he and
Frank Taber, an excellent, brainy citizen and a rattling good printer.
As a writer Mr. Miller stood in the first rank of Iowa journalism.
Many of his articles might have been termed "little classics." He
had no superior as a paragraph writer. His Democrat was largely
quoted by state and national press. His attacks upon the medical
[ 131 ]

fraternity — whether just or unjust I will not say- — attracted the at
tention of the whole country, which gave him something of a national
reputation. He served two terms as postmaster at Waverly. His
work in this place was clean and courteous. When he died he was in
the fourth term of office as a member of the legislature from Bremer
county. I met him on various occasions at Des Moines when the
law makers were in session, and always found him the same "Old
Charley." On the legislative manual you will find that he gives his
occupation as that of "printer," which reminds me that when Simon
Cameron, who had been U. S. senator and a member of Lincoln's
cabinet, was on his way to Russia as an ambassador, when registering
in the office wrote, "S. Cameron, printer." His calling amazed the
titled aristocrats of England, for it was far beyond their comprehen
sion that a worker in the "art preservative" could ever attain such
prominence. The legislative work of Mr. Miller is very familiar to
the people of Bremer county. In the committee room he was an
excellent worker, and upon the floor of the house he was the peer
of any member in debate. His bills presented were always of merit,
several of them becoming laws. Being a pleasant, companionable
gentleman, and a thoroly good mixer, altho a democrat in a republican
house, he succeeded in having some of the bills enacted into laws,
when another democrat might have failed. He was keen and alert
and roll call generally found him in his chair. He was a faithful,
energetic, able and conscientious legislator, and Bremer county and
the state lost a splendid type of American manhood and citizenship.
And, as I write this, it occurs to me that few of the "old guard"
printers still live — those whom I knew arid associated with, which
recalls to me a paragraph in Tom Moore's "Oft in the Stilly Night":
"When I remember all
The friends, so linked together,
I've seen around me fall,
Like leaves in wintry weather,
I feel like one
Who treads alone
Some banquet hall deserted —
Whose lights are fled,
Whose garlands dead,
And all but he departed!
Thus in the stilly night,
E'er slumber's chain has bound me,
Sad memory brings the light
Of other days around me."
We shall no more see his face, but we shall always remember his
generous disposition, his jovial, hearty greetings and his great love
for his fellow men. [ 132 ]

I do not know whether what I am about to say will be the proper
thing to include in these early times notations. I remember the
opening and the closing of the Civil war. I saw many of the boys
going to the front, and I saw some of them after they had returned.
Some of them had been wounded; some of them were the picture of
health; while others were sick, sore and weary. They had marched
thru mud, sleet, rain and blinding hot weather. At times they were
athirst and hungry. Some of them had been in rebel prisons, and
some of them were left sleeping in southern soil. Again, I saw many
of the boys as they were entraining for the Spanish-American war,
two of my employes among the number. And now, I have lived to
witness the opening of the greatest of all wars. On every hand I
see mammoth preparation going forward for its successful prosecu
tion. On these streets I see the flower of young manhood, the young
men who are being "whipped in" preparatory to taking their places.
at the front. Nearly every day I see a machine "flying thru the
air with the greatest of ease." At the Dunwoody institute grounds
I see every day over 700 young lads from the South, training for the
navy. As I gaze into their young faces and imagine the hardships,
the toil and strain which they will be compelled to endure, my
thoughts turn to the large number of traitorous scoundrels who ought
to be hanged, drawn and quartered, who are doing their level best to
belittle the cause for which these boys have enlisted; and I say that
those of our people who "give aid and comfort to the enemy" should
be dealt with by an iron hand. If you are patriotic, say so, and say
it in a tone of voice that may be heard over four countries. Do not
wink at any kind of treasonable utterances. Let us drive treason out
of every glen, dell and cranny, even if it be necessary to keep firing
squads busy the whole twenty-four hours. Let us be ready at any
time to sacrifice our all — lives and fortunes. Let us have cheers for
the boys who march to the front, and "tears for the dead," but above
all, let us smash the traitors in our midst. Do it now! "These are
the times that try men's souls." Are we equal to the emergency?
Without a doubt we are. Concert of action and a firm determination
to win will give us world democracy and genuine liberty.

THE FIRST THANKSGIVING IN WAVERLY
By MRS. JENNIE HARMON CASE
Mrs. Dr. O. Burbank sent the following account of the first
Thanksgiving day in Waverly, Iowa. It occurred in November, 1854,
in Peter B. Foster's house, located where the State Bank now stands.
A few of the ladies of Waverly one afternoon were talking about the
approaching Thanksgiving day, and of the Thanksgiving days of
their eastern homes, when someone suggested a picnic dinner, which
seemed to please all. So the cooks got together and found out what
[ 133 ]

each would furnish or do. Not much variety was expected or possible
but they had roast pork and a roast goose, coffee, doughnuts, mince
pie, good light biscuit and vegetables. No butter could be found in
town, but Mrs. Dr. 0. Burbank had brought a crock of butter from
Cedar Rapids, which she placed at their disposal. The men repairing
the sawmill said they looked too rough to attend the feast, but the
managing ladies said, "Wash your faces and hands, put on clean
collars, and we will excuse the rest." No one was omitted in the
invitations. Everyone seemed glad to get together and have a good
social time on that Thanksgiving day. The men declared they had
never had so good a dinner before, and such an abundance was left
over that all came back to supper and had a good social time during
the evening. Most all who took part in that pleasant Thanksgiving
dinner have passed the limits of worldly interests and mortal life,
and the few who remain are looking for the day that ends all
earthly strife and ambitions.

PIONEER DAYS of BREMER
COUNTY

Chapter III.

HARMON MILLER CONTRIBUTES INTEREST
ING EXPERIENCES OF HIS BOYHOOD AND
EARLY DAYS IN BREMER COUNTY

| HE FIRST trip I made to Bremer county
was with my parents, May 20, 1855. Our
household goods were hauled from
Dubuque by team. We bought the home
of John Miles, a log house and a barn.
We were never able to find among the
transfer papers a blueprint of the house;
the contractor may have it. I will give
you some of the items of building
material used in the rough log house,
16x24: Red elm joints in lower floor and
same in upper floor; round logs, 8 inches
in diameter, puncheon floor and shake
roof. Perhaps I had better explain
the floor and roof covering more fully for the benefit of
young people. A puncheon floor is made from nice, second-growth
bass-wood logs, 10 to 12 inches in diameter, split thru the center,
with the round side at the ends sized down to three inches, and laid
face side up on the pole joist. Shakes were made from nice straight-
grained red oak logs, 2% to 3 feet in diameter, sawed in cuts 3 feet
long and split in quarters, and with the use of a tool called a frow,
these quarters were split in pieces % inch thick by whatever width
the block would make. The lower end of the shake rested on the top
side wall log. The logs in the gables were beveled to a one-fourth
pitch. Logs running lengthwise of the house were notched down
to an even surface with the gables; this not only acted as a support
to the gables, but being 2% feet apart, made a perfect bearing for
the shakes, giving them a 6-inch lap. After shakes were laid, heavy
green logs were placed over each row, and with wooden pins were
fastened. It was a common occurence for snow to sift thru this roof
onto your bed and into your hair. The cracks between the logs were
first filled with split pieces of wood, according to size; the walls both
inside and outside were pointed with wet clay, mixed with straw as a
[ 135 ]

binder. The logs on all four sides of the house, as well as the roof
logs, were not uniform in length; there were logs on all four corners
projecting from 8 to 24 inches — very handy to hang a dressed hog
on. On the outside this home presented anything but an inviting
appearance, but it was our home for three years.
My father, John Miller, was the first justice of the peace in
Lafayette township. The first couple he pronounced man and wife
were William Payton and Miss Wood, and it was the first wedding
I ever attended. Mr. Wood will be remembered as the first man to
settle on the farm now owned by Otto Walther.
The first strangers that called on us were the Layton family.
They had three covered wagons, prairie schooners, loaded with house
hold effects, a crate of poultry, etc. Bedding was carried from the
wagons to the house, where the women slept, while the men bunked
in the wagons. The following day they reached their destination,
New Bradford (not Old). Mrs. Hannah Medders, of our city, will,
no doubt, remember the circumstance, as she was a member of the
family. The first justice court I attended was in the log house in 1855.
Edward Parkhurst, living at Spring Lake, had a misunderstanding
with his hired man relative to the price of a two-year-old heifer
that the hired man was to take as part payment for his labor, and
suit was brought before my father. This being the first lawsuit in
the township, quite an interest was taken. The plaintiff and the
defendant, with their witnesses, were on hand by 9:00 a. m. George
W. Ruddick and G. C. Wright were the attorneys, and at that time
both were single men. Wright called me to one side and said he
would give me five cents if I would gather a pint of strawberries for
him. I was 6V2 years old and it was the first opportunity I had ever
had to earn five cents. Strawberry season was nearly over and the
berries were hard to get. There were patches of hazel brush dotted
promiscuously over the pasture, and around the border of these
patches a few deep red or purple berries could be found. By noon
I had a pint cup rounding full, and delivered it to Mr. Wright. He
shoved his hand into his pants pocket and pulled out a handful of
silver coin, but nothing smaller than a 25-cent piece, and you can
imagine my feelings when he said he would hand it to me some
other time. Four years after that, on the way to town with my
mother, we met Mr. Wright, and I proposed asking him for the
money. My good mother said, "No, if he isn't man enough to pay
you, you are man enough to get along without it." Now, kind readers,
if you obligate yourself to a child in any way, especially in the way
of a monetary consideration, don't betray him, for while he lives he
won't forget it. G. C. was naturally a good-hearted man, and, no
doubt, forgot the five cents.
In the summer of 1856, the first frame schoolhouse was built in
East Lafayette, which was all in one district. The directors were
Darias Freeman, Edward Tyrrell, and John Miller. Freeman had the
only frame house in the district, and lived on the farm now owned
[ 136 ]

by G. G. Lindner. Mr. Tyrrell improved the farm now owned by John
Donlon. The new schoolhouse was 30x42 feet, one-story, with ten
windows having twelve 9x12 lights in each.
The first and most appreciated gift I ever received was from
John Worthington, a good old uncle of Will and Charley Tyrrell and
Mrs. James Conner. My father had only 15 acres of land broken,
with a shanghai fence around it, and we raised 10 acres of corn on
the Worthington farm, now the N. B. Marsh place. We were entitled
to pasture the corn stalks, and it was my duty to drive our cow and
yearling heifer to the stalk field each morning. I had no shoes, and
the mornings were frosty. I would run out, start the cattle, stand
in their warm nest with my bare feet until they were nearing the
Worthington home, then run as fast as I could thru the glistening
frost, open and close the bars, and then run and stick my feet under
Aunty Worthington's stove. While I warmed my feet the kind old
lady would give me a full slice of bread, with a first coat of golden
yellow home-grown butter, and a second coat of extra C sugar.
If you were ever a boy of 6V2 years, you can imagine how thankful
I was. It was, I think, on the third, morning, and there was more
frost than usual, when Uncle John, having finished his breakfast,
said to me, "My lad, it's pretty cold for bare feet. I have a pair of
kip boots a little tight for me, and if you like, I will give them to
you." The boots were thankfully received; I put them on and went
home, the proudest lad that ever trod the soil of Lafayette township.
The first teacher we had in the new schoolhouse (in the winter
of 1856) was a young man by the name of Bruer, from Vermont.
He was a high-stepper and a genteel good-looker, and had all the
ear-marks of a first-class dude. He was hired to teach the school
four months at $16.00 a month, and "board around" among the
scholars, the length of time at each home to be in proportion to the
number of scholars from that home. Notwithstanding the fact that
our log hut was only 60 rods from the schoolhouse, Bruer boarded
at Freeman's, John Elliott's, Geo. B. Miller's, Elias Wright's, and
Harris Wallace's, all from % to 1% miles away. These houses were
all either frame or hewn logs, with sided gables, had shingle roofs,
and presented a much better appearance than ours. My mother had
sent Bruer different invitations to come to our house and board when
ever it suited his convenience. She had learned that Bruer had made
inquiries relative to our neatness and qualifications. I went home
each noon to dinner, so he had no way of knowing whether we had
ANYTHING to eat or not. The last invitation sent to him was just
three weeks prior to the close of the term. He came home with me
from school, stepped inside the cabin, cast his eyes to the white
washed ceiling and walls, and remarked, "Your house is like a singed
cat — better than it looks." He sat down to supper. T watched him
closely; he ate four biscuits, a dish of home-made maple syrup,
seven slices of home-made dried beef, a piece of raspberry pie, a
dish of crabapple sauce lubricated with sugar and rich, sweet cream,
and drank two cups of tea. I began to think the cooking suited him.
[ 137 ]

When breakfast was ready, he was on hand and ate nine large, light,
fluffy home-grown buckwheat cakes, with home-made sausage made
from a 3-inch strip along either side of the backbone (including the
tender loin, with other choice parts of the hog, seasoned with pepper,
salt and sage, such as "mother used to make." He then started to
school to look after the sweeping and the fire. I told my mother not
to worry, he had a change of heart, and was coming to his appetite.
After Bruer became accustomed to the ways and habits of the wild
west he became sociable, and an all-around good fellow. He boarded
at our house the rest of the term.
The large boys hauled and chopped wood on Saturdays for the
winter's fuel. In this list were Butler, Alzathan and John Freeman,
Frank and Nicholas Tyrrell, Joseph and Thomas Brown, Ben Skillen,
J. M. Miller, John Walter, Joseph Campbell, Hugh Elliot and a man
named Hill; and of the older girls there were Eveline, Mary, Phoebe
and Permelia Wright, Mary and Mariah Brown, Mary Skillen, Jane
Tyrrell, Elizabeth Miller, Mary Ann Baker, Mary Freeman, Lucretia
and Jane Elliot. At the close of school an exhibition was given, a
large stage having been erected, equipped with sliding curtains. By
8 o'clock p. m. the house was filled and standing room was at a pre
mium. People came from miles around. There were speaking,
dialogs, clog and jig dancing, and Ben Skillen represented a hard
shell Baptist preacher, in his sermon, his attire, and his gestures,
to a T. At the close the school "spelled down." Mary Skillen was
the last to remain standing and she spelled ten additional words
correctly and then took her seat.
Two boys north of Horton, whose names I do not recall, arranged
with Charley Morris that the three couples would all go to the enter
tainment by the same conveyance. Morris and his lady were waiting
at the roadside, and when the team came near, the whip was applied,
the two couples drove on and left Morris and lady. Morris offered
to hire a rig, if it cost ten dollars, rather than be disappointed. The
lady said, "No, I don't care to associate with people so utterly devoid
of principle, but you go and get even with them, if it takes you a
year." Morris took a five-mile hike and was on the school ground
within an hour and a half. All were interested in the program, so
Morris unsnapped the lines, drew them from the harness of the
Horton lad's team, tucked them under his coat and followed the
back-track until opposite the James Andrews home, thru the yard,
out into a cornfield, up a tree and tied the lines in the branches. He
then returned to the schoolhouse. When he entered he noticed a
broad smile on the faces of his betrayers. All went well until the
close of the program, when the boys missed the lines. A hasty
search was made thru the woodpile, but in vain. At that time fence
wire and binding twine were not known, and slippery elm bark was
frozen so hard it wouldn't peel. The mercury stood 15 below, the
horses were cold and anxious for home. The departure of other
teams made the animals almost unmanageable. So the boys each
mounted a horse and rode them home. Morris had jumped into the
[ 138 ]

sleigh, seated himself between the two ladies, adjusted the lap-robes
and rode to his destination. He then thanked the girls for their
company and the boys for their courteous treatment, and told them
that when they had occasion to use the lines they could find them
five miles south by sixty rods west, in the top of an oak tree on the
Andrews farm. The last time I saw Morris he told me it took ten
years to get the sweet taste of revenge out of his mouth.
In the year 1867 the first sawmill was built in Lafayette township.
The owners were Dr. Oscar Burbank and James Moss. Mr. Moss
was the first settler on the place now owned by Geo. Leonard, of
our ";ty. The mill was operated by water power, an up-and-down
saw, a pole and brush dam, located at a place called Yell City. The
mill, the dam and the city have been gone for 55 years, and only
an occasional yell is left. There was but very little lumber sawed
at this mill. It was, I think, in 1860 that the river, during the spring
freshet, cut a new channel to the east and left the old mill site, so
far as water power was concerned, bone-dry.
In the fall of 1860, Geo. C. and Wm. Stevenson made a proposition
to the log cabin proprietors of Lafayette township that if the citizens
would guarantee the delivery of 500 saw logs on the C. S. Colton
timber lot by the first of February, 1861, the Stevensons would move
their steam sawmill from Greenwood, Chickasaw county, to Lafayette
township. A meeting was called and after the object of the meeting
was announced, the 500-log contract was signed by all parties within
an hour. Of the signers of the contract, but two are living — C. S.
Colton, of our city, and Philip Cave, of Waterloo.
At that time there was no bridge spanning the river in that
vicinity, there were no railroads in the county, and no truck wagons
strong enough to carry a 120-horse-power boiler. But the Stevensons
were mechanics and equal to the occasion. A large raft was con
structed, the boiler was rolled onto the raft, and floated down the
river during the spring freshet; and by the aid of boats and pike
poles the raft was towed in and along a bayou to within 40 feet of
its destination. A skidway was built and with the aid of a large
block and falls, the boiler was rolled from the raft onto its founda
tion, and within ten days the mill was ready for business. When the
first log was rolled onto the carriage to saw, there were 1200 logs
in the mill yard. The mill did a good business and within three
years the farmers that had opened up their farms had good frame
houses and barns.
My father died in the spring of 1860, leaving my mother with
five children to care for; I was eleven years old. At that time hogs
at $1.75 per cwt., wheat at 40 cents a bushel, butter at 6 cents a
pound, eggs at 4 cents a dozen, and wool at 18 cents a pound made
it hard for us to keep the wolf from the door. The wool we had
to spare was sold to O. A. Strong, then in business in Cedar Falls.
We bought a double-shovel corn plow, the first one I ever saw, and
with it I raised seven acres of nice corn.
[ 139 ]

The first circus I attended in Waverly was 57 years ago this
summer. I sold a clog pup for 35 cents, paid cash for a ticket, and
went to the show. I had but one objection to the performance; it
didn't last long enough.
The first girl I asked for her company home from singing school
said she had rather be excused, and I very reluctantly granted the
excuse. The first dozen eggs I sold went to Theodore Hazlett for 4 cents.
I took a hank of black thread for 5 cents and went home 1 cent in
debt. He asked me how many hens we had. I told him thirty.
He told me to feed them flaxseed and run them up hill and I would
get more eggs. I went barefoot at the time, and I loosened a plum
stub in a cow path, or a toe nail occasionally, and sometimes both,
stuck thorn apple brads in the bottoms of my feet, and had an occa
sional boil, and I came to the conclusion that flaxseed was worth more
to me as a poultice than as an egg-producer, so I did not use Mr.
Hazlett's recipe.
The first live hogs we sold were driven to Janesville on foot,
price $1.75 per cwt. These hogs were fed, watered and rested over
and the following day were driven on to Cedar Falls, the then ter
minal of the I. C. railroad.
The first dozen of nicely dressed rabbits I sold went to John
Dunn, price 25 cents in trade. Dunn had a one-story building stand
ing on the corner now occupied by Mr. Sohle as a grocery store.
The first good, sound thrashing I got in school was given me
by a man named McCord. He would come out on Monday mornings
from Waverly, and bring a hickory switch about six feet long. Asel
Wollis and the writer got into a punching match one day, and both
were immediately "pinched" by the school master. We were asked
what our plea would be. Wollis pleaded "not guilty" and I "self
defense." Both were over-ruled and we got the full extent of the
law and the full force and effect of the gad.
The first melon I stole was from Millard Potter. He had fastened
a double-barreled shotgun to stakes in the patch, and a complete
net-work of twine ran thruout the patch and fastened to the triggers
of the gun, so that the least disturbance of the twine would discharge
the gun. The boys from Lafayette considered this a challenge, and
we formed a company of sixteen — no trouble to get volunteers. Matt
Walter was a captain and William Breneber 1st lieutenant. Breneber
lived in a log house out on the road, on the farm now owned by
E. S. Weikert. We traveled across lots to avoid suspicion. Our
captain halted us near the danger zone, and he, being not only a brave
man but an old nimrod, slipped carefully over string after string,
until he reached the breech end of the gun, grasped both gun locks
in one hand and with the other removed both the gun caps, lowered
the locks on the tubes, and quietly announced that the melon was
ready to cut. We carried two grain sacks full of melons away
without the loss of a man. We learned later that the gun was really
intended for George Hunt, Henry Cretzmeyer and the Hullman boys.
[ 140 ]

The first apple I stole was from the first tree in bearing on the
first farm opened in East Lafayette, owned by Henry Wollis, now a
part of the Ohlendorf farm. There were thirteen fine apples, an
unlucky number. Wollis was so anxious to bring these apples to
maturity that he guyed the tree in four directions with cords. His
boy Asel and I were equally anxious to sample the first-grown fruit.
Young Wollis was not permitted to go near the tree. When the
apples were nearly matured and of a deep red color and glistened
in the sun, they would make any boy's mouth water. Young Wollis
arranged for me to get two of the apples, one for each of us. My
signal was that when the woodhouse door closed the dog would be
shut in and Mr. Wollis at the supper table. I got two of the apples
and gave Asel one. We both pronounced them A-l, but we did not
mention their good qualities to the owner.
The first lady teacher we had in the district was Dora Downing.
She taught a splendid school, and being an expert musician, taught
numerous classes in music. She had a musical instrument of the
melodian family, that was called a seraphine, and she gave her
scholars a party and a musical at the close of the term. Dora was
a sister of Fred Downing, and later became Mrs. H. L. Ware, the
mother of Mrs. E. A. Dawson. Fred remarked recently that he would
give a good deal for that old musical instrument as a relic.
The first and most enjoyable dance I attended was when I was
16 years old, and the affair occurred at the home of Mr. and Mrs.
Levi Nichols. The lady who had refused my company one year
before was my partner — must have changed her mind. At no other
home in Bremer county at that time (nor since, as long as the host
and hostesses lived) were people, young and old, more welcome or
more royally entertained than at the home of Levi and Clarissa
Nichols. Three couples of us started for the dance in a sleigh, and while
stuck in a snowdrift, the off horse broke a singletree, which was
mended with a piece of hickory and the two rum straps. We got
there a little late. A large crowd had gathered. We noted excep
tionally broad smile on everyone's face. We soon learned the cause.
A lady from somewhere in Iowa was there, the owner and possessor
of a monstrous bustle, direct from Paris — the only one I ever saw,
dead or alive. The gyrating by the owner in round dances and the
right and left angles in the old square dances were amusing to us
in those days. Finally, a good-natured cuss weighing about 200
pounds secured an introduction to the girl and invited her to dance.
In the promenade her feet touched only the high places, and in the
last change, which was lively, and while "promenading seats," the
bustle lost its balance, left its moorings, struck on its rim, and rolled
at a 2:40 clip across the hall toward the music stand. Sighting it
with his eagle eye, Joe Russell sprang to his feet, pounded vigorously
on the back of his violin and, at the top of his voice, shouted, "Run
away! Runaway! Clear the track! Clear the track!" Mrs. Nichols,
who was nearby, seized a shawl, and smothering the bustle in its
[ 141 ]

folds, hastened with it to the ladies' room. Mrs. Nichols immediately
passed the supper plates in order to aid in allaying the mortification;
then we danced a few more changes and went home.
The first Fourth of July celebration I attended was in a beau
tiful oak grove, on the farm now owned by Paul Mether. The settlers
at that time lived along the edge of the timber, on either side of the
Shell Rock, the Cedar and the Wapsipinnicon. They came by ox and
horse teams from Bremer and Butler counties. All the men brought
their guns. William Mooney and Geo. B. Miller furnished the anvils.
The men would form in line and, at the command of their captain,
would fire volley after volley from their guns. The crack of firing
pieces mingled with the roar of anvils kept up at intervals during
the day. The Declaration of Independence, as I remember, was read by
Ben Skillen.
The uplifting and soul-cheering strains of martial music filled
the air. A 35-foot pole swing was constructed, with box seat and foot
rest. Two cook stoves were set up, both ovens filled with roasting
beef. On the top of one stove were cooking two wash boilers full of
pared potatoes, and on the other four skillets kept busy frying eggs
and smoked ham. By this time a large crowd had gathered — every
body glad to see everybody else. There were no family troubles;
every man thought more of his own wife than of his neighbor's wife.
There was only one grade of society, and that was the very best.
Two tables 80 feet long had been constructed of posts and poles
covered with boards. The good mothers brought dishes and table
cloths. When the tables were loaded with good things to eat, boy-like
I walked down the line, and I noticed pieplant, pumpkin, gooseberry,
strawberry, blackberry, black and red raspberry pies, strung out down
the center line of the tables, about three feet apart and cut in quar
ters. Some people think one must live near a grocery, a bakery and
a meat market to get good things to eat; but give me the farm table.
I have tried both. Among the various kinds of meat at that old
celebration there were 10 smoked hams produced from hogs fed on
roots, herbs, nuts and sweet bur-oak acorns, with a little corn, and
smoked over a smudge of shell-bark hickory bark to a golden brown.
When sliced and fried they had a flavor rich enough to flood with
saliva the mouth of a Jewish rabbi.

X

3>

PIONEER DAYS of BREMER
COUNTY

Chapter IV.

By L. C. OBERDORF.

INDIANS; DAYS WHEN THE RED MEN REIGNED
SUPREME. WINNEBAGOS IN THIS
SECTION OF IOWA

|HAT PORTION of Iowa in which Bremer
county is situated was ceded to the Win
nebago Indians by the United States
government in 1833, in return for the
land owned or claimed by the Indians in
Illinois; the government giving in addi
tion to this land $10,000 in specie and
establishing a school for them, with a
farm and garden, and providing other
means for the education of their children,
to an amount not to exceed $3000 yearly;
the whole treaty to continue in force for
twenty-seven years.
This brought the treaty down to the year 1850, at which date a
new treaty was made, in which' the Indians gave up this territory for
other allotments of land further north and west, and in addition they
were to have certain yearly allowances from the United States.
The Winnebagos and other tribes, including the Sioux, the Sac
and the Fox Indians, continued to hunt in this territory and to fish in
the Shell Rock, the Cedar and the Wapsie rivers. During these trips
they camped in favorable places for from a couple of days to several
weeks at a time. While the men were hunting and fishing, the
women would look after affairs at the tents and go on begging trips.
These trips would sometimes extend for some distance and the women
would return with quite a quantity of provisions and sometimes cast-
off clothing, which had been given them. In these times, however,
they were not so insistent in their asking as they were in later years,
when they would not only ask for what they wanted, but would
expect people to comply with their wishes, and they would sometimes
get a little angry if they were refused.
[ 143 j

Each year the Winnebago, and perhaps other tribes, would go
to Cedar Rapids to receive their allowance from the government,
usually down the Cedar River. It will thus be seen that Indians fre
quently passed thru Waverly or camped along the banks of the river
near town.
In moving from place to place, their tents and other equipment
were conveyed in various ways, much of the luggage being fastened
on either side of their ponies. The bundles seemed larger than the
ponies themselves, and on the top three or four children usually
perched, making altogether a load that one could scarcely believe the
ponies would be ably to carry. In addition to this mode of conveyance,
they would sometimes have several carts or small wagons fully loaded,
or perhaps they would have a couple of poles fastened like fills on
either side of a pony, the rear ends dragging on the ground. These
poles were well loaded with a part of the outfit, and the whole
procession was quite as attractive as a circus parade.
The chief of the Winnebago tribe, which most frequently passed
thru this section, was named Bradford. He had some education,
having attended school in Illinois for several years. He dressed much
the same as the whites, except that he usually had a blanket with
him, and seldom, if ever wore boots or shoes, his footwear being
moccasins; I never saw him wear anything else on his feet.
I recall an amusing incident that happened in the spring of 1858.
The bridge over the Cedar river having washed away in January of
that year, when Bradford and his tribe came to Waverly and wished
to cross from the west to the east side of the river, they forded thru
the cold water at the lower ford, the crossing at Ellsworth street.
When most of the Indians were on the east side Bradford crossed over.
He was fully dressed in a suit of black cloth and wore a high silk hat
(stove-pipe), and drove a fine pony hitched to a sulky. When about
half way across the river the pony refused to go further, and no
amount of urging on the part of the chief could induce it to take
another step. In vain the chief shouted and whipped, the pony
would not go. All this greatly amused the on-lookers, including all
the Indians. The pony reared and plunged and finally lay right
down in the water and Bradford was forced to get down from the
sulky and wade in the cold water to the head of the pony, and after
much urging he finally led it across. During the whole of this time,
the other Indians were enjoying the scene to the full, laughing and
poking fun at the chief, all of which he seemed to take in perfect good
nature. I do not remember to have ever seen but one real old Indian.
While some Sioux were encamped where the R. I. stock yards are now
situated there was with them an extremely old Indian. He was
quite feeble and nearly blind, and seemed to have much difficulty in
breathing. His nostrils seemed to close, and instead of silver tubes
thru which to breathe, he was provided with a couple of reeds of
some kind. They said he was about 90 years old, and he certainly
looked it. He was fed and cared for by his relatives.
[ 144 ]

On nearly all times while the Indians were encamped near
Waverly, the young Indian lads would make a business of shooting
arrows at pennies (the kind then in use being about the size of a
silver quarter of a dollar). The pennies would be placed on edge
and the lads would shoot from a distance of about 12 or 15 feet.
When they hit the penny it was theirs. They were quite expert at
the game and seldom missed. They often gathered in quite a sum
of the "coin of the realm." This pleased them, and the crowd was
quite interested in their prowess.
The school boys frequently visited the camps, desiring to view
the Indians' mode of living. It amused them to see a pappoose
fastened to a board and carried on the back of a squaw, or, when
resting, stood up against the side of a tree, out of the wind, and, if
possible, on the sunny side.
Also, the boys desired to talk to the Indians about their hunting
and fishing trips, in which they seemed to take great interest. Their
different styles of tents, the way they were put up, and the material
of which they were made were also of considerable interest to them.
At one time the Winnebagos, with Bradford as chief, were encamped
about where the beet sugar factory is now located. It was in the
summer time and one fine afternoon after school several boys, includ
ing Will and Clarence Tyrrell, Albert Taber, John Lawrence, and, I
believe, Harry Hazlett, and led by the writer, paid the Indians a
visit. On coming to the camp, they inquired in which of the tents
Bradford could be found. When told, led by the writer, they marched
single file to the tent and finding neither door bell nor any place on
which to knock, they raised the curtain which answered the purpose
of a door, and, without further ceremony, walked in, much to the
surprise of a squaw, who was baking wheat pancakes on an iron
griddle suspended above the fire by three chains from the center of a
tripod made of sticks. The cakes looked as fine as any the writer
ever saw, and she was turning them with a butcher knife. Either
from being startled, or for the purpose of having some fun with the
boys, she raised the knife and circled it aftout the head of the leader,
who was so badly frightened that, as the saying goes, he "stood
rooted to the spot". The other boys at one bound flew the tent, to
the great enjoyment of Bradford and the rest of his household.
When Bradford could control his laughter enough, he shouted to the
boys to come in. It took some urging, however, to induce them to
accept the invitation. It has always been an open question with the
boys whether it was early piety or that scare that caused me to lose
the hair from the top of my head.

SOME OF THE "FIRST THINGS" IN BREMER
COUNTY
One can scarcely realize the great, the wonderful change that
has taken place in this county in the short space of 73 years, since
the first white settler came here. There are people now living in this
[ 145 ]

county who have been here continuously and who have been thru the
most of and helped to make it. Picture in your mind, if you can, a
country of rolling prairie in which there are numerous groves, some
of considerable extent, and across which flow rivers whose shores are
lined with timber of both hard and soft woods, and across which also
run several creeks, lined in some places with timber — a country whose
surface in summer is covered with wild grass, growing in most places
high and thick enough to yield immense quantities of hay, were there
anyone to cut it, and pastures for thousands of head of stock; among
this grass grow wild flowers of many kinds, and in so great pro
fusion that in some places it looks like a mammoth flower garden. A
country whose silence is broken only by the roar of the storm, the
chirping of the birds, the occasional crack of the huntsman's rifle,
the howling of prairie wolves and the infrequent shout of an Indian;
a country whose rank vegetation in summer shows the abundant
fertility of the soil, and in the winter season whose surface covered
with snow, and added to this is the deep silence, except when broken
by the sound of the wind as it whirls the snow about in great bliz
zards, making a scene of great desolation.
If you can fix this in your mind, you will have a good picture of
Bremer county prior to the year 1845, and in many respects the
picture will be that of all this part of Iowa before the coming of the
white settlers!
Now look about you, and see the good farms, with fine houses
and big barns, corn cribs, machine sheds, windmills, and other
improvements; the lively, enterprising towns dotted here and there;
the surface crossed, as before, by rivers and creeks not quite so large
as in the first case, to be sure, but still here, and in addition to this,
there are several railroads, telegraph and many telephone lines, con
necting the county with near and distant places; the whole country
teeming with life and the sounds of industry. Note the herds that
are consuming the vegetation that is now grown where before the
vegetation was wasted. No longer desolation and silence reign, but
the whole country is filled with sounds of life and the hum of
industry. When you have viewed the two pictures you will have
measured the distance that has been traveled in the short time before
mentioned and I believe that you will agree with me that the change
has not only been very great, but it has been truly marvelous.
With this introduction we will now take up some of the doings,
events, happenings and "first things" not previously mentioned and
possibly enlarge on some and re-arrange others that have been told.
Many of these have been obtained from works published at different
times, and as recent as 1883. The dates are taken from these pub
lications and as they were either taken from the records or were
furnished by the early settlers of the different townships, they are
presumed to be correct.
As my people came to Waverly April 28, 1855, at which time I
was about 7 J years of age, and as I have lived in or near Waverly
continuously since, I am familiar with most that has happened since
that date. [ 146 ]

The first settlement in Bremer county was made in what is now
Jefferson township.
The first white settler was Charles McCaffree, who made a claim
to and located upon what is now Section 34, Township 91, Range 13.
During the first year of his residence he broke about 50 acres and
grew considerable sod corn. Soon after McCaffree, came Jerry
O'Connor. He took a claim and broke about 5 acres, but remained
only one season. Next came Jacob Beeler and Andrew Sample.
Beeler did not remain long and Sample moved to Chickasaw county
in 1851 and became part owner in the town-site of Nashua.
In the spring of 1846 a party came from Marion county, Indiana,
consisting of J. H. Messinger and family, Geo. Tibbetts and family,
T. Fisher and P. Miller.
During the spring of 1847 several others were added to the little
colony that setled in or near the "Big Woods" of Jefferson township.
These were followed by others making settlements in different parts
of the county, some of whom we will mention later on in connection
with the township in which they settled.
All who took claims and settled within the county prior to the
government survey were termed "squatters". The county was
surveyed into townships during 1847, by John Ball, who later became
a resident of it. During the year 1848, Township 91, Range 31 was
divided into sections by a man by the name of Berry. A little later
the whole county was sectionized, and in about 1851 the land came
into the market. In a short time it was all taken up except the school
sections and what was known as "Swamp Land" Much of it was
bought by those who held it for speculation. Trading claims and
town lots at an advanced price was one of the methods used to boost
the price of them, some of these being traded "unsight and unseen"
as they called it. Trading back and forth between the same parties,
each time at an advanced price, and these prices were quoted as
showing the rapid advance in values. The holding of the land by
speculators and the low taxing of these lands did much to retard the
early development of the county. In regard to this more will be
learned further on.
In 1850 the filing of the claims of the sections allowed for school
fund purposes was allowed by the government. In 1851 the filing of
claims by several of the early settlers was allowed.
The first marriage among the young white settlers of the colony
was that of Isaac McCaffree to Rebecca Beeler, in the year 1847.
They went to Linn county to have the ceremony performed. On
their way they encamped at Spring Creek, in Blackhawk county, and
were snowbound five days and nights. But, nothing daunted, they
continued on their way after the storm, and the ceremony was per
formed, tho a few days later than they had planned.
Charles McCaffree and Cynthia Messinger were the contracting
parties in the second marriage. They went to Independence, Bu
chanan county, to have the ceremony performed.
The first white child born in the county was Zachary T. Mes
singer, son of E. J. and Catharine Messinger, January 15, 1848. He
[ 147 ]

was a great favorite with the Indians. They wished to keep him as
their own, and it was with difficulty that they were prevented from
so doing. The first death in the county was that of of Mrs. Fee, mother of
Joseph and James Fee. Her remains were taken to Linn county for
burial. The second death and the first burial in the county was an
infant son of Isaac and Rebecca McCaffree. The child was buried on
the farm later owned by Matthew Farrington.
The first person naturalized in the county was William Gould,
who, on the 29th of June, 1854, renounced all allegiance to Great
Britain before Jugde T. S. Wilson.
The first sermon preached in the county was by Rev. Mr. Collins,
a Methodist minister, in the winter of 1850, at the home of E. J.
Messinger, in Jefferson township. The second minister to visit the
county was the Rev. Mr. Vail, who was also a Methodist.
The first frame house built in the county was erected in 1852, for
a Methodist parsonage, on the farm of William Payne, which was
located just on the northeast edge of Janesville.
The first marriage license issued in the county was by Judge
Jeremiah Ferris, and was given to Jonas Mishler and Sarah Michael.
It was dated August 20, 1853.
The first deed upon record was datea October 4, 1853, and was
given by John Barrack and wife, Jane, to Frank Coddington, James
M. and E. E. Moss. The acknowledgment was taken by John M.
Bennett, a justice of the peace.
The total amount of the first tax (levied in 1853) was $653.52.
The next year it amounted to $1,194.75. The total amount of tax, for
all purposes, to be collected this year (1918) is $362,511.42. This
shows quite an enormous increase in the value of the property in the
county and, perhaps, a somewhat higher rate of taxation.
The first store opened in Bremer county was by John H. Winter
and Ashbury Leverich, at Janesville.
The first probate proceedings of record in the county related to
the appointment of S. F. Shepard as administrator of the estate of
James McRoberts, and bore the date of Nov. 19, 1852.
The first house in the county (a log one) was erected by Jacob
Beeler in the fall of 1845, in Jefferson township.
Janesville was the first town laid out in the county, and the plat
was the first filed for record, on July 22, 1854.
The first school in the county was taught by Richard Miles,
during the winter of 1852—53, in a log hut in Jefferson township. The
hut belonged to John Clark.
The first postoffice in the county was established in 1850, and
was intended to be called "Neutral," but by a mistake in spelling the
name in the application, it became "Nautrille". J. H. Messinger was
the first postmaster. The mail came by way of Cedar Falls.
The first chattel mortgage an record in the county was given by
John Miles to Joel Sumner on October 15, 1853.
The first real estate mortgage bears the date of March 20, 1856,
and was given by Philander and Cornelia Olmstead to Wm. McHenry.
[ 148 ]

The first grand jury in the county was composed of the following
persons: T. J. Sewell, J. Queen, James Michael, Jacob Bevard, La
fayette Sturdevant, Ira Earl, John S. Jenkins, Geo. K. Baskins, Culver
Tuttle, Chandler Eveland, William Powell, Claudius Albee, Alexis
Jackson, James Null and William Baskins. The first petit jurors
were: J. D. Jackson, William Edgington, Enos Lewis, Geo. Kerr,
Wm. Westervelt, Samuel Jennings, Washington Thorp, W. P. Harmon,
George Cagley, Nathan Payton, John Pattee, Elijah Kendall and
Loren Rima.
In 1850, as has previously been stated, the Indian reservation was
purchased by the U. S. government. The same year the territory, now
Bremer county, was attached to Fayette county for civil and judicial
purposes, but as there was little, if any, intercourse between the two
counties and no road was broken connecting* the settlements of these
counties, the relations were soon dissolved and Bremer county was
attached to Buchanan county for the above named purposes.
Preparations were made for a township organization, and the
entire county was made a civil township. On the 29th day of April,
1851, the first election in the county was held at the house of John
H. Messinger in Jefferson township. The judges of this election
were John Miles, Geo. Tibbetts and E. J. Messinger, and the clerks
were H. A. Miles and Aaron Dow. The officers elected were:
Israel Trumbo and Chas. N. Martin, justices of the peace; H. A.
Miles and J. H. Martin, constables; Geo. Tibbetts, John Clark and
J. H. Messinger, trustees; E. J. Messinger, treasurer; Aaron Dow,
town clerk. A total of 25 votes were polled.
In April, 1853, the second election was held, at which 68 votes
were polled.
In May of this year, J. W. Wood, John T. Barrack and O. H. P.
Russell, commissioners for the location of the county seat, gave their
decision in favor of Waverly, and in August the organization of
Bremer county was made permanent by the election of county officers.
The election was held at the house of Frederick Cretzmeyer. There
were only 80 votes polled, and the following officers were elected:
County judge, Jeremiah Farris; sheriff, Austin Ferris; treasurer and
recorder, John Hunter; clerk of courts, Heman A. Miles; school fund
commissioner, John H. Martin; surveyor, Israel Trumbo.
Altho Iowa was admitted into the Union December 28, 1845, it
was not until April 3, 1854, that the people of Bremer county had an
opportunity to vote at a state election.
At this time all the property in the county listed for taxation
amounted to only $43,168. The first court house in Bremer county,
was a little frame building twenty by thirty feet in size,
and one story high, and located on the southeast corner of the block
just north of the present court house. It was erected in 1854 by
Richard Miles for $147.50. Mr. Miles was allowed the further sum
of $1.25 for clearing the ground and furnishing the seats for the
court room. The first jail was built about 25 feet west of the then
court house. It was about 16 or 18 feet square, and was built of
2-inch hard wood plank, doubled and driven full of spike nails. It
[ 149 ]

had a couple of iron rod grated windows well toward the top on
opposite sides, and an iron grate in the door, which opened and thru
which the prisoners received their meals. It was built in 1855 by
J. W. Wood, and cost $1194. In this jail at one time were kept two
men who had been arrested on suspicion of having stolen the county
school funds from John H. Martin, who was at that time the county
school fund commissioner. The name of one of the men was Shippy,
the name of the other I have forgotten. It was said of Shippy that he
was exceedingly strong in his jaws and that in a store at Janesville
he had taken between his jaws a 100-pound keg of nails, by the end
of the staves and lifted it up and threw it over his head. He was
also a pretty good singer and frequently entertained the school chil
dren who attended school in the, at that time, new stone school house,
situated on the next block east of the jail. One morning, a few
days before their trial was to have been had, the children on their
way to school noticed that the door of the jail stood wide open and on
investigation saw that the jail was empty, and on the door jam was
written: "Farewell, John Martin, and all your trash,
We're gone, that's sartin, with all your cash."
Quite an extended search was made to capture the parties, but
if they were found, they were never returned.
On another occasion a man, who was put in jail for some
offense against the local government, sought to obtain his freedom
by setting fire to the inside of the building. Soon the smoke suffocated
him and he cried out for help, but when help came he was told to
put out the fire or roast. He soon became quite busy, and it was not
long before the fire was extinguished.
On the 25th day of August, 1855, the county court made an order,
as follows: "Ordered by the County Court that Michael Currier, of Jackson
township, Bremer county, Iowa, be and is hereby appointed county
agent to sell intoxicating liquors for medical, mechanical and sacra
mental purposes, and for no other purpose, from the 25th of August,
1855, till the first of May, 1856, and that said Currier give bond in
the sum of one thousand dollars, and to purchase liquors to the amount
of $211.31." Jonathan N. Fowler, of LeRoy township, was also made county
agent for the same purpose, and was required to give bond in the
same amount. He was permitted to purchase liquor to the amount
of $69.66. It would appear from the foregoing that snakes must have
been more numerous along the Cedar river than along the Wapsie,
tho it was generally thought the opposite was the case. Whiskey
being the favorite remedy in those days for snake bite, and its use for
medical purposes being allowed, snake bites were frequent. I have
heard that there were times when occasionally a settler had "snakes
in his boots."
The county court went out of existence by an act of the state
legislature passed the winter of 1859 — 60. The same act created a
[ 150 ]

Board of Supervisors, which took over nearly all the powers formerly
vested in the county court. The first meeting of the board was held
at the office of the county auditor on January 1, 1861. It was com
posed of one member from each township, as follows:
B. M. Reeves, Washington; Barnes Thompson, Polk; T. V. Axtell,
Jackson; David Marquis, Jefferson; N. M. Smith, Warren; John
Acken, Douglas; E. J. Walling, Frederika; P. H. Wilson, LeRoy;
Otis Clark, Fremont; William Matthias, Maxfield; Ichabod Richmond,
Franklin; L. J. Curtis, Dayton; L. M. Sholes, Sumner; R. J. Stephen
son, La Fayette. L. J. Curtis was elected chairman.
At this time Waverly was still a part of Washington township.
On the 3d of April, 1861, the board passed the following:
Resolved, That hereafter no bills presented for tobacco furnished
paupers will be allowed by this board.
In 1860 the proposition of purchasing land for a poor farm, at a
cost not to exceed $5000, was submitted to the voters at the fall
election and was carried by a vote of 944 in favor and 261 against.
The plats of the several towns of Bremer county were filed for
record upon the following dates:
Janesville, the first was filed on July 22, 1854; the second on
January 20, 1857.
Waverly, the original plat was filed April 14, 1855. The last of
several subsequent additions was filed June 28, 1916.
Horton was filed on December 6, 1856.
Jefferson City, or Denver, was filed March 27, 1856.
Tripoli was filed on December 27, 1865.
Deanville was filed June 16, and Plainfield on June 18, 1868.
Sumner was filed on July 1, 1873.
Frederika was filed on July 29, 1873.

BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE FIRST SETTLEMENT
AND ORGANIZATION OF THE VARIOUS
TOWNSHIPS
DAYTON TOWNSHIP
In the spring of 1854, Isaac Brandt, John Brooks and Mr. Alshouse
located on the east side of the Wapsie river. During the summer and
fall several other families made settlement, among whom were Isaac
Guard, Simeon Peck and his two sons, W. M. and A. S. Peck. William
Gibbs and George Watts also came this year.
Among those who settled in 1854 were John Develin, Jacob
Glattly, Albert McCumber, John Zimmerman, John Koch, Theodore
Link, John Hill, Ira Allen, H. N. Miller, A. D. Allen and W. V. Curtis.
The township was organized on the 10th of February, 1858, and
the first election was held at the house of Wm. Peck, in April, 1858.
The judges of the election were Elijah Grinnell, Albert McCumber
and John Williamson. The clerks were Wm. Peck and John Zimmer
man. The officers elected were W. M. Peck, Albert McCumber, J. J,
[ 151 ]

Williamson, trustees; Lyman J. Curtis, clerk; James H. Yerton and
Lyman J. Curtis, justices of the peace; A. S. Peck and W. V. Curtis,
constables. The first white child born in the township was Ida Frances Gibbs,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Gibbs.
The first death was that of Simeon Peck, who died on April 15,
1855, aged 61 years, 6 months and 14 days. He was buried in Grove
Hill cemetery, in Franklin township. This was the first burial in this
cemetery. The first couple married in the township was V. B. Grinnell to
Amanda Harwood, in November, 1858.
The first school taught in the township was in the summer of
1858, in a log house owned by John Brook. Maggie Harwood was
the teacher. The first school house was built on Section 28, by L. J.
Curtis. The second was built on Section 20.
The first religious services were held in the school house on
Section 28. They were conducted by Elder Reardon, a Baptist
minister. In 1866 Robert H. Davis opened a small store on Section 15. He
remained in business about two years. E. M. Cass then started a
small store which he operated four years.
In 1874 Louis Mohlis opened a store and shoe repairing shop on
Section 32, and in 1877 W. W. Bezold opened a store on section 32.
A grist mill was erected on the east side of the Wapsie on
Section 32, by Cornelius Miller in 1876. Around this mill there
collected a number of houses, and the place was nicknamed "Smoke-
to wn". A postoffice named Bremer, was established in 1858, with J. H.
Yerton as postmaster.
In 1878 August Meier started a blacksmith shop near the Mohlis
store and did a good business.
Dayton postoffice was established in 1861, with Burrell Rood as
postmaster. He kept the office at his residence, on Section 9. In
1880 it was discontinued. DOUGLAS TOWNSHIP
Albert Stannard was the first person to settle in this township.
He came with two minor children, a son 16 years of age, and a
daughter 14, from Battle Creek, Mich., in the fall of 1852. They
wintered in a rude hut, constructed of logs and poles, on the banks of
the Wapsie. He was followed the next summer by Crawford Thor-
oughman and his son-in-law, Andy Guless.
John Mitchel, John Acken, Asa Adams, J. H. Eldredge, Wm.
Blackwell and Simon George settled in the township in 1852.
Then followed in rapid succession Benjamin and Frank Goodwin,
Thomas Lashbrook, R. G. McDonald, Malcomb Fisher, Robert and
John McCracken, James Leamon, Timothy Clary, Chauncey Brooks,
G. T. Sayles and a few others. [ 152 ]

Douglas township was organized June 22, 1858, and the first
election was held at the house of Asa Adams, June 28th of the same
year. John Acken, J. P. Goodwin and Albert Stannard were the
judges; G. T. Sayles and L. F. Goodwin were the clerks of election.
The following were elected to office: A. Stannard, N. A. Sanford
and Simon George, trustees; L. F. Goodwin, clerk; G. F. Sayles and
Wm. Blackwell, justices of the peace; Thomas Lashbrook, constable.
Whole number of votes cast, 23.
The first death was that of Stephen Goodwin, a son of Mr. and
Mrs. J. P. Goodwin. He was a boy ten years of age. Seventeen
days after coming to the township, and while still living in their
wagons, he attempted to get a rifle from a wagon to shoot some
chickens. In drawing the gun from the wagon, muzzle toward him,
the gun was discharged, the ball entering his chest. Death was
almost instantaneous.
The first marriage was that of Orville McGinnis to Mary Good
win, October 4, 1854.
The first birth was that of Walter Goodwin, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Benjamin Goodwin, in March, 1857.
The first postoffice was established on Section 25, in January,
1880: Phillips Burgess was the postmaster. In 1879-80 he opened a
small store in connection with the the postoffice. He continued in
business but a short time. Mrs. A. E. Walker opened a store on
Section 8, with a stock of general merchandise in 1880. She had a
good trade. The place was called "Dickie", for her husband, Richard.
Helen A. Acken taught the first term of school in a log house on
Section 12.
The first religious services were conducted by Mr. Newell, a
Free- Will Baptist, in the spring of 1856, at the Acken school house on
Section 12. In June, 1857, Elder Terry, a regular Baptist minister,
began to hold meetings at the residence of J. P. Goodwin. The first
regular religious organization was effected by the St. Paul's Evan
gelical Lutheran church, which was organized in 1872, with Rev.
August Engelke as minister, and had a membership of 32 persons.
The next was that of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church, organ
ized in 1874 by Rev. G. Hageman. The first pastor was Rev. David
Kutz, who remained until 1880.
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP
Melton Harrington was the earliest settler in this township. He
selected a home on Section 3, in the spring of 1854.
Ichabod Richmond and family arrived May 21, 1854, and located
on Section 15. Noah Porter came about the same time and located on
Section 16. In July, H. Bockholt located on Section 26, and H.
Kniffkin located on Section 33. John McRae came on October 7, of
the same year, and settled on Section 10. Jas. D. Sankey, S. K. Davis
and W. H. Taylor also located in the township in the fall of 1854.
Among those who arrived in 1855 were W. F. and N. C. Peck, Albert
Dexter, Frank Evert and Clarence Bacon. During the years 1856
[ 153 ]

and 1857 quite a number arrived, who were prominent in township
affairs. Franklin township was organized September 6, 1858. The first
election was held at the house of Ichabod Richmond, April 2, 1855.
The number of votes cast was 17, and the officers elected were: Ormel
Clark, clerk; J. F. Barker, W. H. Taylor and John McRae, trustees;
Ichabod Richmond and Simeon Peck, justices; Noah Porter and W. M.
Peck, constables.
The first house was built by Melton Herrington in the spring of
1854 and was built of logs.
The first marriage was that of Henry White, of Buchanan
county, Iowa, to Elizabeth Richmond, in 1856, her father performing
the ceremony. The first white child born in the township was Frank McRae.
The first death was that of Mary Ellen Kerr, September 27, 1854,
and eight days afterward her father, Francis Kerr, was numbered
with the dead.
The first school was taught by the Widow Greeley in the winter
of 1855, in the house of I. Richmond, and the second school was taught
in the house of J. M. Ellis, in the winter of 1856, by Mrs. J. M. Ellis.
The first school house was built during the fall of 1857. It was a
log house 16x20 feet in size. The bench seats were made of inverted
slabs with wooden pins for legs.
The first religious service was held in the house of Mrs. Elizabeth
Kerr, by Rev. Mr. Abbott.
The first postoffice was established on Section 22, at the home of
Thomas Fortner. It was called Eagle, and Thomas Fortner was the
postmaster. The next was Grove Hill, established in the summer of
1859. Francis Harwood was the postmaster.
A blacksmith shop was opened in 1856, Geo. Haun being the pro
prietor. In 1882 a store was opened by Howard Page, which did a
good business during its existence.
The first flowing well in the county was struck on the farm of
B. F. Call, on the southwest corner of Section 15. Other flowing wells
were struck later, and there are now quite a number in this and other
townships along the Wapsie Valley.
FREDERIKA TOWNSHIP
Bremer county and Frederika township were named for Frederika
Bremer, a popular Swedish novelist.
Levi Rima, with his family and Loren Rima, his father, were the
first settlers in this township. They came on September 20, 1852, and
located on Section 20. Loren Rima returned to Illinois in the spring
of 1853, and came back in the fall, bringing with him two other sons,
Aerial and Gideon, and a daughter, Lucinda. George Rima, a brother
of Loren, W. R. Bostwick, M. F. Gillett, Crawford Thoroughman,
Andrew Gillilan, Albert Walling and sisters and their mother, and
Jeremiah Turk all came in the summer or the fall of 1853.
[ 154 ]

Eli Eisenhart and Asa T. Martin, with their families, came from
Illinois and settled in this township in 1855. Thomas Lashbrook, John
Ronco and E. J. Walling settled here in 1856.
The first death was that of a child of a Mr. Robinson, who lived
on what is now Section 3, Fremont township, but which was then a
part of Frederika township. The child died in November, 1853.
The first birth was a child to Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah Turk, who
lived on Section 32.
The first marriage was that of M. F. Gillett and Olivia Walling,
March 20, 1855.
The first sermon preached in the township was at the house of
W. R. Bostwick, by the Rev. Father Jenkins, in April, 1854.
The first school was taught by D. P. Walling in his own house on
Section 19, the winter of 1855-56. The first school house was com
menced in the summer of 1858, on Section 19, and was occupied for
school purposes the following winter, Porter Bement being teacher.
The first sawmill was built by Loren Rima, in the now town of
Frederika. It was operated by water power and was in running order
in June, 1855. In 1857 John Henry bought some land in Section 7. He
there built a gristmill in connection with the Rima sawmill.
The first cluster of houses in the township was called Martins
burg, after A. T. Martin, who located it. Its name was changed to
Tripoli when a postoffice was located there. A. T. Martin was the
first postmaster. A steam power sawmill was built there by A. T.
Martin in the fall of 1855.
The first house, a log one, was built by L. C. Rima, on Section 18,
in 1852. The first frame one was built by A. T. Martin, at Tripoli, in
1855. The township was organized on the 22nd of May, 1858, but the
first election was held at the house of W. R. Bostwick, in April, 1854.
The following were elected to office: M. F. Gillett, clerk; W. R. Bost
wick, Loren Rima and Crawford Thomas, trustees; L. C. Rima, jus
tice; Aerial Rima, constable.
The town of Martinsburg was platted by H. S. Hoover and
recorded December 27, 1865.
The town of Frederika was surveyed May 6, 1868, but the plat
was not filed until 1873.
The town of Frederika was called at first Henrytown, or Henry's
Mills, for the gristmill located there. The mill did a large business
for a long time and was widely known for the excellency of its
service. Frederika is a hustling little town containing several stores,
a bank, a creamery and other business enterprises. The business
men look after the needs of the fine farming community by which it
is surrounded. There is a good church and a pretty good school
building. The people take a deep interest in school and religious
affairs. Any enterprise that is undertaken by the people of Frederika
and vicinity is sure to be a success. [ 155 ]

FREMONT TOWNSHIP
During the year 1853 five persons came to this township, but they
only stayed until the next year, hence they cannot be called settlers.
George Kimball made a claim to 240 acres on Sections 10, 11, 12
and 13 in November, 1853, and settled thereon in 1854. R. D. Titcomb
made a claim on Sections 10 and 11, and settled there in 1854. Henry
and Hiram Lester and John Franklin came also in 1854, while Matthias
Wuest, Mr. Satterlee and Mr. Adkins came in 1855. John Chapin and
Robert Jolly came in 1856.
The first religious services were held at the house of John Frank
lin, Sr., on Section 14, by Rev. Mr. Smith, a Methodist divine, in the
fall of 1867.
St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church was the first church
built in the township. It was built on Section 31, in April, 1868.
The first school was taught in a log house built for school pur
poses, on Section 22. Mr. Owen was the teacher of the first school,
in the winter of 1858-9.
The first death was a child of John Hall and wife, Oct. 11, 1859.
The first birth was a daughter to Matthias Wuest and wife, on
August 25, 1855.
The first marriage ceremony was performed September 22, 1857,
the parties being C. C. Cook and Ellen M. White.
The township was organized in 1856. The first election was held
at the house of John Hale July 21, 1856. The following were elected:
Sidney Booth, clerk; Henry and Hiram Lester and E. B. White,
trustees; R. D. Titcomb, justice; John Closson, constable. Twenty-
two votes were cast.
The town of Tripoli was named by H. J. Wynhoff in honor of
the old town of the same name in Frederika township.
The first house was built by B. Kingsbury; the next by Marvin
Trowbridge, the first blacksmith, who commenced business in 1873.
The first wagon shop was that of Otto & Mueller.
The postoffice was moved here from Old Tripoli in 1880, and H.
J. Wynhoff was the first postmaster.
Tripoli school district was organized as an independent district
in the spring of 1882. The first principal of the school was Professor
Moore; the first primary teacher was Miss Effie Cook.
St. Peter's German Evangelical church was built in 1881. The
first pastor was Rev. Paul Foerster. The Baptist church was built in
1881, the first minister being Rev. R. Norton.
The first store was started in 1873 by H. J. Wynhoff & Co. In
1875 Mr. Wynhoff took over the whole business, and in June, 1880, G.
B. Cook became a partner, and in the same year Christoph Wilharm
started a wagon and blacksmith shop south of the railroad track.
Aug. Bockhaus built the Tripoli House in the spring of 1880.
Otto & Mueller started their wagon and blacksmith shop the same
year. M. M. Watkins commenced the sale of lumber in 1880.
Tripoli is now the third town in size in Bremer county. Its busi
ness men are enterprising and courteous, always looking after any-
[ 156 ]

thing that will add to the advantage of its citizens. The business
buildings compare favorably with any town of its size elsewhere. The
residences are modern, and many of them are equipped with most of
the modern improvements.
All lines of business are quite well represented. There is here
located a good creamery doing a large business, also a good canning
plant. Tripoli has two banks, a weekly newspaper, a water system
and an electric light plant, a fine school building and three churches.
It is surrounded by a farming community of progressive people.
It is situated on a branch of the C. G. W. railroad, and about one mile
from the Wapsipinnicon river.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP
The early history of this township is identical with the early
history of the county.
Ezra G. Allen was the first settler in the township. He settled
on Section 25 in 1848.
John T. Barrack came with his family in 1849, and was the
founder of Janesville, which was named for his wife, Jane.
Issac McCaffree was also a settler in 1849, settling on Section 32.
Aaron Moore, J. H. McRoberts, Rev. S. W. Ingham and Rev. S.
T. Vail came the same year.
Wm. Payne came in 1850 and settled on Section 36.
During 1851, J. H. Martin, Samuel Jennings, Simeon F. Shepard,
Wm. McHenry and Abraham Meyers arrived.
The first township election was held in April, 1854, at which 61
votes were cast. The following were elected to office : Trustees, T. J.
Sewell, James Boyd, and James Queen; clerk, E. W. Fish; justices,
Matthew Rowen and R. J. Ellsworth; constables, P. B. King and
W. B. Hamilton.
The first school — a subscription one — taught in the township
was at Janesville, by Rev. S. T. Vail. The first regular school was
taught by Dr. Loveland in a log house on Section 35.
The first religious service was held at the house of Wm. Payne
by Rev. S. T. Vail, in the fall of 1850.
The first marriage united Joseph Thornbrey and Miss Kane.
The first child born was a son to John and Jane Barrack, January
2, 1853. The first postoffice was established at Janesville, in 1853. John
Hunter was postmaster.
The township, as it is at present constituted, was organized on
March 9, 1857.
Janesville is the only town in the township, and is the oldest in
the county. The first settler, as said before, was John T. Barrack.
The first store was opened by Hunter & Leverich. The next
was soon after established by Keeler & Olmstead.
The first Baptist church was organized April 17, 1858, and their
church building was- erected in 1867.
[ 157 ]

The Presbyterian church was organized December 17, 1853, at
the residence of Matthew Rowen. During the summer the church
edifice was erected.
Janesville circuit of the M. E. church was organized in 1854.
The church building was completed in February, 1866.
The plat of Janesville was filed July 22, 1854.
John T. Barrack erected a sawmill here, and afterward there
was built a grist mill, but at present both they and the dam across
the river are things of the past.
The town of Janesville, while not large, has a fine lot of hustling
citizens and is sustained by some of the most enterprising farmers
in Bremer county. The stores are well stocked with those things
most needed by its trade. There are a bank, a newspaper and a
creamery doing a fair amount of business, and the only cheese
factory in the county. This factory is owned by the Fowler Brothers,
of Waterloo. It produces a cheese of excellent quality, which finds
a ready market. The town has a consolidated school, which meets
the approval of its patrons. Most lines of business are represented.
Janesville is on the Illinois Central railroad, and is situated on
the Cedar river. JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP
Much of the early history of this township has been given in
the early history of the county, as it was here that the first settlement
was made. At the time of the first settlement, about one-half of the
township was covered with timber, but at this time, 1918, much of it
has been cut and the land is now being cultivated or used for pasture.
An account of the early settlers and early happenings has
already been given in the early history of the county.
In this township there was organized, in an early day, a society
to protect the claims of early settlers against "land sharks" and
claim jumpers. This did much good in helping the actual settlers in
protecting their claims. It remained in existence until the county
was organized.
The first election was held at the house of James Bevard, April,
1855, and there were 64 votes cast. The following persons were
elected to office: Trustees, Wm. Kern and E. J. Messinger; clerk, G.
A. Michael; justices, Humphrey Hogan and W. P. Harris; constables,
H. B. Boyd and W. Hogan.
The township of Jefferson was organized March 17, 1858. It has
but one town, that of Denver.
Denver — then Jefferson City — was laid out by Jeremiah Farris.
The surveying and platting were done by Matthew Farrington. The
plat was filed for record March 20, 1856.
During the year 1856 a blacksmith shop was opened by John B.
Ackerson. Powell & Farris opened a general store. Sabin Cooper
opened a cabinet shop. J. Schukar engaged in wagon making and
David Biggs began shoe making. [ 158 ]

A postoffice called Breckenridge was established in 1856 or 1857,
Alexander Flemming being the first postmaster. About 1863 the
present name, Denver, was given to the postoffice, and later to
the town. Denver has grown to be a fine, thriving town, being up-to-date
and chuck full of enterprising people. All lines of business are
represented. It has good schools and two good churches. Besides
its stores and shops it has one bank, a steam sawmill, a creamery, a
water works system and an electric light plant. It is surrounded by
some of the best farm lands in Iowa, which are also among the best
improved. Denver has good railroad connections, by way of either Waverly
or Waterloo, being on the W. C. F. & N. electric railway.
LAFAYETTE TOWNSHIP
The first settler in Lafayette township was James Collier, who
settled, in 1850, on the northwest quarter of Section 15, where he
opened a blacksmith shop.
Soon after, J. G. Baker settled on Section 26.
The next year James Estep, W. O. Edgington, John Buckmaster,
Daniel Walters, Isaac Null, Samuel Armstrong and Wm. Wilsey made
settlement. In 1852 Wm. Powell, Samuel Buleh, E. M. Wright, Nathan Peyton,
Nathaniel Harris and his brother, and M. Sumner arrived and settled
in this township.
Among those who came in 1853 were Mason Eveland (who first
located in Jackson township in 1851), W. A. Pelton, John Miles,
Horace Wallace, John Worthington, Edward Tyrrell, Wm. Vandiver,
Justis Hall, Joshua Stufflebeam and Albert Goforth.
The first election held in this township, as at present organized,
was held December 25, 1858. The following officers were elected:
Clerk, W. V. Lucas; trustees, Thomas Dudgeon, Samuel Lease and
Wm. Vandiver; justices, W. W. Norris and L. B. Ostrander; cons
tables, N. A. Miller and Henry Eveland. The township had been
organized December 6, 1858.
The first religious service was held at the house of Mason Eveland
in the spring of 1853, by Rev. Andrew Goforth, a Baptist minister.
The first marriage was that of Aerial Rima to Miss Harriett
Freeman. The first birth was a son to E. M. Wright and wife, in 1852. The
child died in about three months, and this was the first death in the
township. The first church organization was effected by the Rev. James
Skillen, in about 1856.
The first postoffice was established at Spring Lake, on* Section 17,
in 1857, with Edward Fairhurst as postmaster.
A water power sawmill was built in the township in 1858, as
already has been stated, and a steam sawmill was built in 1857. It
was at first located on the west side of the river, where it remained
[ 159 ]

for about six months, when it was moved to the east side and located
on Section 16.
There is no town in the township, and much of its early history
already has been told. LE ROY TOWNSHIP
This township was originally about one-half covered with timber,
but the most of this has been cut away, giving place to fine farms,
improved with good substantial buildings.
The first settlement was made by Patrick O'Day, in June, 1854.
He located on Section 2. W. A. Moulton, Emmor Flood and Nelson
Long located on Section 13.
In September, 1854, J. N. Fowle, Nathaniel Perry, D. C. Thomp
son, Stephen Parkhurst and John Parkhurst, and later in the fall
Abram Watenpaugh, Robert Brodie, A. S. Funston, Patrick Griffin,
Isaac Gard, James Wilson, Peter H. Wilson, Adam Broadie, Joseph
Carter and H. C. Moore settled in different parts of the township.
John Bingham came in the spring of 1855, and E. Watenpaugh came
either the same year or in 1856.
The first marriage in that township was J. N. Fowle to Miss
Nannie Page.
The first birth was a son to Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Guard, in
January, 1855. The second person born in the township was Hattie
O'Day, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick O'Day, in April, 1855.
The first death was that of Mrs. Isaac Guard, in January, 1855.
The first school taught in the township was by Mrs. Perkins, of
Waverly, in District No. 1. The school closed suddenly at the end
of the second week. The number of pupils in attendance was eight.
The first postoffice was Le Roy, and Daniel Hatch was the first
postmaster. The first sawmill was built by J. N. Fowle and others, and was
in operation in 1855. Another sawmill was in operation soon after
ward at "Pin Hook" and was built by Thomas and William Riley.
The first school house was built in 1856, on Section 13.
The first store was at Le Roy, the next two at "Pin Hook."
The first blacksmith shop was opened by Adam Broadie.
The first religious services were held at a school house on
Section 13, by the Methodists.
St. Mary's Catholic church was established in 1869, on Section 13.
St. John's German Lutheran church was organized in 1875, and
the society erected a building in 1879.
Bremer Center Class, United Brethren, was organized during the
summer of 1857, by the Rev. B. Allen. It has had a quite wide
influence for good.
Le Roy township was organized July 27, 1858.
Bremer Center was located on land belonging to W. A. Moulton,
who caused the village to be platted in 1857. A store was opened by
Mr. Pratt, but was soon closed. Another store was opened by Hatch
& Sweet, who remained in business about two years.
[ 160 ]

The first election was held at the house of J. N. Fowle, April 22,
1855. The following officers were elected: Trustees, A. J. Parkhurst,
A. Watenpaugh, and A. L. Stevenson; clerk, J. S. Parkhurst; justices,
J. N. Fowle and J. N. Bemis; constables, J. N. Parkhurst and A. L.
Stevenson. Le Roy township is settled by a very good and enterprising
class of farmers. MAXFIELD TOWNSHIP.
Maxfield is a full congressional township, having 36 sections of
land. Its inhabitants are all, or nearly all, of German birth or descent.
With but few exceptions the early settlers were from Cook county,
Illinois. They are thrifty and successful. The buildings are among
the best, and much better than the average, in the state. The
farms are well tilled and the stock is among the best.
Christian Wente was the first settler. He erected himself a log
house on Section 18 in 1854. This was the first house in the township.
The same year John Griese, Christopher Kehe, August Tegtmeier,
Christian Engelbrecht, Henry Meier, Henry Reick, Henry Schumacher,
Christian Nevermann, John Messerly and Mrs. Borchert located in this
township. Among others that located here in 1855 were Frederick and
Conrad Oltrogge, Herman Raecker, J. W. and William Matthias.
Others came in rapid succession, until the township was pretty well
settled. Politically this township was united to Jefferson and Franklin
until, on September 6, 1858, it was organized into a separate township.
The first election was held at the house of John Griese, in October,
1858. The whole number of votes cast was 53, and the officers elected
were: Trustees, Martin Tombs, Charles Close and Herman Raecker;
Clerk, D. F. Phillips; Assessor, J. P. Burgis; Justices, David Downs
and John Moehling; Constables, William Beard and Christian Engel
brecht. The first marriage was that of Fred Hagemann and Dorothea
King, on April 11, 1857. The second was that of John Bruns to
Elenore Grupe, June 10, 1859.
The first birth was that of Caroline Wente, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. W. Wente, on June 9, 1855.
The first creamery was established in the spring of 1880, by
Little and Huebner and the second in 1881, by Huebner and Seehase.
A postoffice was established in April, 1873, and named Maxfield.
H. Baumteath was the first postmaster.
The first religious services for the early settlers was held in a
building on Section 18, owned by John Moehling, and was conducted
by Rev. N. Volkert. In the spring of 1857, St. John's German Evan
gelical Lutheran church erected a church building on Section 19,
on 5 acres of land, donated by Charles Bruns.
The United Evangelical St. Paul's church was organized January
22, 1862. The church and parsonage combined was built during the
[ 161 ]

summer of 1863, and was dedicated October 25, by Rev. S. Hartmann,
of Chicago. The first minister was Rev. G. Geckler.
St. Matthew's congregation, Evangelical Lutheran church, was or
ganized by Rev. P. Bredow in 1878. The church and the parsonage
were built in 1878. The first minister was Rev. L. Lobeck.
To Maxfield township belongs the honor of having the first regular
church edifice and the first church bell in the county.
Readlyn — named for Mr. Read, who was a member of the townsite
company — is the only town in Maxfield township and is a thriving
little place. The town plat was filed November 2, 1903. Its business
men are all progressive and the town has perhaps the most up-to-date
improvements of any town of its age in the state. Its streets are
well lighted, its buildings are good and it has waterworks, electric
lights, a substantial bank, two churches, two machinery dealers, seven
stores of different kinds, two lumber yards, two garages besides other
shops and trades all being able to take care of the rich country by
which it is surrounded. POLK TOWNSHIP.
The first settlement made in this township was in 1851, by Allen
Smith, Lloyd Smith, Stephen Jackson, Ezra Allen and their families
on the east side of the Cedar river, on and near where the town of
Horton is now located.
Alex Jackson came in 1851 and Gideon Phelps, John Tyler, J. J.
Corlett and Joseph Smith came in 1853.
During 1854 the following arrived: Geo. Bawser, Geo. Richey,
Chas. Woodcock, Wm. and Obed Gaines and Louis Wheeler.
Adin Terry, E. A. Granger and John K. Head came in 1855, and
about the same time among other arrivals were: Nutting, Lane,
Eldredge, Tape, Lease brothers and Cagley.
The first election was held at the home of Lloyd Smith in April,
1854. The following officers were elected: Trustees, John S. Tyler,
Allen Smith and G. G. Phelps; Clerk, Addison Phelps; Justices, G.
G. Phelps and S. D. Jackson; Constables, Lavinus Phelps and Spencer
Jackson. The township was organized December 6, 1858.
The first postoffice was established in 1854 and was called Polk.
S. W. Jackson was the postmaster.
Horton postoffice was established in 1857 with Lyman Nutting
as postmaster. The first church organization was the Methodist and was formed
in 1854. The first frame school house was at Horton in 1859.
The first church building was that of the Free-Will Baptist, 1869,
at Horton. The first school taught in the township was in a log cabin in
1854; Mrs. Louisa Nutting, teacher. There were about 15 pupils
in attendance. A steam saw-mill was in running order at Horton in March, 1856.
[ 162 ]

Woodcock & Hopkins erected a saw-mill on the -Cedar river on
Section 6. They operated it three or four years, when it was
abandoned. A steam saw-mill was built by Silas Farr in 1855. It ran as a
saw-mill for three or four years, after which it was remodeled for a
grist-mill and distillery. It was finally sold and removed.
The first marriage was in 1853, Mr. Elliott and Miss Ellen
Buckmaster being the contracting parties.
The first death was that of Thomas Hawkins in the spring of
1853. The first birth was that of Mary E. Smith, daughter of Allen
and Elizabeth Smith, on September 19, 1852. The second birth was
a son to Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Smith, in November, 1853.
Horton — this town is located on parts of Sections 26 and 27, and
was platted in 1856 by C. A. Lease.
The first house built after the place was laid out was by Carlton
Brown. The first store was opened by Anson Nutting and about the
same time a blacksmith shop was built by C. A. Lease and was
operated by a Mr. Bower.
The first preaching in the place was by Elder David Terry, a
regular Baptist, in 1857. Rev. Terry also performed the first marriage
ceremony, which united the destinies of W. W. Gray and Miss Lucinda
Nutting, in the summer of 1857.
The first death was an infant, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chauncey
Lease, and the first birth was a son to the same parties.
A creamery— among the first in the county — was in operation
for some years, but was finally discontinued.
Horton still contains a number of residences, one of the largest
general stores in the county, a graded school, one church, a black
smith and repair shop, a garage, etc.
Plainfield is situated on the Iowa division of the Illinois Central
railroad, and on part of Sections 29 and 30. The town was platted
October 16, 1866.
Previous to the platting of the town site, Mr. Folks had built a
frame building and put in a stock of goods. This was the first store
in the town.
The first postoffice, which was named Polk, established in 1854,
has previously been mentioned. It is said of this office that the
first quarterly report showed receipts of 45 cents for postage stamps
and there was unpaid postage on books, pamphlets, etc., to the amount
of 27 cents, which shows the amount of business transacted in early
days. The first school in Plainfield was taught by H. M. Swan, a Meth
odist preacher.
Plainfield became an independent school district in 1872, and in
1881 a new school house was built which has since been enlarged.
It is a credit to the town. [ 163 ]

The Plainfield House, a frame structure, was the first hotel, and
was kept by Geo. Ketchum.
Mr. Henry Flint was the first shoemaker to engage in business
here. A steam saw-mill was operated by Bement and Boorom and a
good business was done until 1869, when the boiler exploded, caus
ing so much damage that the project was abandoned.
Dr. H. Nichols was the first physician to locate here. This was
in 1869. E. F. Temple started a store here in 1873 and remained until the
spring of 1877 when he sold both stock and store to E. J. Walker.
The first drug store was opened in 1870 by Warren Connor. He
remained in business until 1870.
At different times two different attorneys sought to make a living
here, but the citizens were too peaceful and they left for more
turbulent towns.
Wm. Ryon built a blacksmith shop in 1876 and hired Peter
Fisher to do the work.
Plainfield has grown to be a town of some little size. It has
electric lights, two banks, two elevators, a good creamery and feed-
mill, two churches, several stores, lumber yards; agricultural imple
ment shops, restaurants, a hotel and a boarding house and other
enterprises, all doing a fair amount of business. Its schools are
good and its citizens are public spirited.
SUMNER TOWNSHIP.
The first settlement made in this township was by E. P. Bemis,
J. N. Bemis and Allen Rowe in June, 1854. J. N. Bemis built the
first house.
In the fall of the same year came Chas. Rowe and A. L. Steven
son and Rev. A. K. Moulton came in 1855.
In 1856 came Albert Rowe and in 1857 Geo. Wheaton, D. R.
Hatch, Henry Lease, Jr., and Geo. H. French settled in the township.
Sumner township did not settle up very rapidly for some time.
The first marriage was that of D. R. Hatch and Miss Mary A.
Davis, April 15, 1858.' This marriage was soon followed by that of
Charles Sweet and Nancy Moulton.
The first birth was a child to Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Stevenson,
which was born in May, 1855. It lived but a few weeks. This was
the first death in the township.
The second death was that of Hattie, wife of Andrew Parkhurst;
she died in October, 1856.
The first school taught was by Mary Ann Hart, in a little build
ing used as a granary, on the premises of J. N. Bemis, in the fall
of 1857. The first schoolhouse was built in 1858, in what was afterward
called Rowe Independent district. [ 164 ]

The first religious services were held by Rev. A. K. Moulton,
near Wilson's Grove.
The first postoffice was established at Wilson's Grove in 1855.
J. N. Bemis was the postmaster.
The township was organized July 27, 1858, but the boundaries
were afterward changed.
The first election was held at the house of Rev. A. K. Moulton,
on August 16, 1858, where the following officers were elected:
Trustees, H. E. Jaggar, Geo. H. French and L. M. Sholes; Clerk, H.
W. Griffith; Justices, J. N. Bemis and J. N. Wilson; Constables,
Charles Rowen and M. Baker.
Sumner — the town of Sumner — is near the northeast border of
Bremer county and on the C. G. W. railroad. It is on the thru-line
from Chicago to St. Paul and on the branch of the same road to
Waverly, where it connects with the main line from Chicago to Omaha.
The town plat was filed July 1, 1873. To the original plat there have
been added several additions.
The first house built in Sumner was a residence by Chauncey
Carpenter, in 1871. Mr. Parsons built the next one and Ebed Brooks
built the third in 1872. A. S. Buls built the next one in 1873.
D. B. Hatch opened the first store in Sumner in 1873. The
next store was opened by Brown & Ward. Green & Lovejoy erected
a store building in 1874, and Stephen Todd put up the next business
place in 1874. S. F. Cass came to Sumner township in 1866 and
opened a store about four miles north of Sumner town. His trade
became quite large and in 1867 there was a postoffice established there
with Mr. Cass as postmaster. The place was called Cassville and
there were a few other business enterprises started, but finally they
all concluded to cast in their lot with the town of Sumner, and during
the winter of 1875 — 76 all Cassville was moved to Sumner. This ad
dition to Sumner nearly doubled its size and gave it quite a boom.
The first railroad — then called the Dubuque and Dakota — reached
Sumner in 1880, since which time the town has had a steady growth.
In the spring of 1876 Sumner became an independent school
district, and a two-story frame school building was erected. After
ward a couple of additions were made. During the year 1901 the
present fine brick building was erected. There is now a good graded
school, with a full twelve-years' course of study.
The first newspaper was the Sumner Camera. The name was
later changed to Sumner Gazette, which still continues to keep the
citizens posted on current events.
Sumner now has a water works system, electric lights, three
banks, several churches, many fine stores, handling different lines of
trade, lumber yards, implement dealers, a creamery and other lines
of business that go to make up a first-class town.
[ 165 ]

WARREN TOWNSHIP.
Warren township was originally a part of Washington township,
from which it was taken in 1859 and erected into a separate town
ship. Its surface consists of rolling prairie, crossed by several small
creeks. At the time when it became a separate township it contained
three good groves of fine timber, a little of which still remains. The
soil is, for the most part, rich and deep and is fairly well cultivated
by a thrifty class of people.
The earliest settlements were made in 1853, by N. M. Smith,
William Ogden, Israel Trumbo, Enos Lewis, Samuel Lewis and
Claudius Albee. Others came later, but the township did not settle
up very rapidly until about 1864.
The first election in this township was held on February 28,
1858, at the home of N. M. Smith. The following were appointed to
hold said election: H. W. Perry, N. W. Perry and Horace Smith,
judges; H. D. Perry and H. D. Smith, clerks. Those elected to office
were: Trustees, W. B. Ingersoll, H. D. Perry and N. W. Perry;
Clerk, H. W. Perry; Justices, N. W. Perry and Horace Smith; Con
stables, E. N. Perry and O. Skillen.
The first school was taught on Section 34, by Miss Lottie Craw
ford, during the winter of 1854 — 55, in a log schoolhouse built by
the neighborhood, and Miss Jessie Berry taught school in the same
house during the summer of 1855.
The -first marriage was that of George Michael to Miss Elizabeth
Trumbo, at the residence of Israel Trumbo, on Section 34, by Squire
Ellsworth, in 1854.
The first death was a child of W. B. Ingersoll and wife.
The first birth was that of Abner Ogden, a son, to Mr. and Mrs.
William Ogden, in 1854.
The first house was built by Israel Trumbo, on Section 34.
The first religious services were held in a school house on Section
27, by Rev. Sessions, a Methodist minister from Waverly, in 1858.
The first church was built of logs by the German Evangelical
Church Society, in 1864, on Section 34. The first pastor was Rev.
Geiper. In 1872 this society built their present church edifice on
the S. E. corner of the S. E. % of Section 28. It is a frame structure
and cost $3300. The first pastor in this church was Rev. Jacob Nuhn.
Another German Evangelical church is located on the N. E. Y±
of Section 26. It is a frame building and was eretced in 1871 at a
cost of $1500. Their first pastor was Rev. L. J. Cramer. A neat
parsonage was built in connection with the church.
A Methodist Episcopal church was built in 1882 on the S. E.
corner of the S. E. % of Section 6, at a cost of $1700. It was
dedicated in November of that year. The sermon was preached by
Rev. Elliott, of Charles City, attested by Elder Crippin. This church
was once in a flourishing condition, but at present services have been
entirely discontinued. The members have nearly all removed or have
gone to their final rest. There has been talk of disposing of the
church property to other parties, but as yet nothing has been done.
[ 166 ]

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND WAVERLY
The early history of Washington township and of Waverly are
much alike, the only difference being that the early history of Wav
erly does not include all the early history of Washington township.
On February 21st, 1859, when this township was organized
Waverly was a part of and included in Washington township and so
remained until it became a separate township, January 8th, 1886.
The first election was held April 3rd, 1859, at a house formerly
occupied by H. A. Miles. At this time the following officers were
elected: Town Clerk, N. M. Smith; Tmstees, Edward Tyrrell, Horace
Wallace and James Estep; Assessor, Edward Tyrrell; Justices,
N. M. Smith and John R. Buckmaster; Constables, Joseph G. Ellis
and Jonathan Goforth; Drainage Commissioner, Edward Tyrrell;
Supervisor of Roads, Wm. Powell. The most of those elected were
residents of what is now La Fayette township.
To clear up the difference between the time of the first election
and the organization of the township and, perhaps, some of the others
as well, it will be necessary to state that this election was held under
an order of the County Court, given February 6, 1854, dividing the
county into election precincts as follows:
Townships 91, 92 and 93, ranges 11 and 12, constituted Bremer
precinct (afterward changed to Frederika precinct).
Township 93, ranges 13 and 14, constituted Polk precinct.
Township 92, ranges 13 and 14, constituted Washington precinct.
Township 91, range 13, constituted Jefferson precinct.
Township 91, range 14, constituted Jackson precinct.
The. first to settle in the township, outside of Waverly, was John
Clark. He came with his wife and eight children in the fall of 1849
and settled on section 8, township 91, range 13, which is now a part
of Washington township. He was a real pioneer and did much to
help build and settle up the country. One of his sons, David Clark,
has been several times favorably mentioned in former articles.
Among others that came in 1850 were Rev. Chas. N. Martin
with his wife and sons, J. H. Martin, Samuel B. Martin, Wm. B.
Martin and their families. The Rev. Martin was a Baptist minister,
who for a long time looked after the spiritual welfare of some of the
early settlers, and his wife, familiarly called "Aunt Betsey," has been
before mentioned as the first doctor to locate in the county.
Wm. Hinton, Jacob Heckard and his sons, David and John
Heckard, J. H. McRoberts, Joseph Kerr and Aaron Daw came also
in 1850. Daw was a nephew of Lorenzo Daw, the famous eccentric early
day preacher, and, like his uncle, was rather peculiar in his ways.
W. P. Harris was a prominent pioneer who came in 1853.
Robert Farnsworth came in 1855. About this time there came
H. R. Wells, John Findley, B. W. Johnson, John Davis, Anson Case,
E. I. Bussey, A. M. Winner, Mr. Glassford and several others, all
of whom were active in the development of the township.
[ 167 ]

CITY OF WAVERLY
At the time when the first settlers located in what is now
Waverly, all that part of the present site east of the river was
covered with heavy timber, consisting of oak, elm, basswood, ash
and hard maple. There being much of the latter kind and for
many years after the town was first settled much maple sugar
was made. The timber extending beyond the eastern limits and
from a mile to a mile and a half east of the river. But on the west
and the south side of the river there was but little timber.
I believe that Jacob Hess and Jonathan Goforth with their fam
ilies were the first persons to settle within the present city limits.
Hess was a son-in-law of Rev. C. N. Martin and came with him and
his sons in 1850 and settled south of the river and built a log house
just west of where Wm. Brooks now lives. He afterward built the
stone house that still remains in that neighborhood. Mr. Goforth
is credited as having come at the same time and settled on land in
the northwest part of town, near where Winnie Eldredge now lives.
In 1852 Frederick Cretzmeyer, with his wife and two girls, settled
on a tract of land east of the present site of the court house, which
was afterward platted and became a part of the city.
Wendeline Cretzmeyer came the same year and secured ten acres
from his brother, upon which he built a log house. Both these
families had considerable to do with the early development of the
town. The founder of the town was W. P. Harmon, who, in the spring
of 1853, came west on a prospecting trip. On arriving at what is
now Waverly, he was impressed with the natural advantages the
spot had for the location of a town, and at once set to work to take
advantage of the situation. He secured the land and had O. H. P.
Rosell, county judge of Buchanan county, survey it into lots. When
this was finished he went to Cedar Rapids where he met R. J.
Ellsworth, his brother-in-law. From there he went to Independence,
accompanied by Mr. Ellsworth and family. At Independence he was
married, July 28, 1853, to Miss Alzina Reeves. The next morning
Mr. and Mrs. Harmon and the Ellsworth family started for Bremer
county, arriving the same day. They lived with Frederick Cretzmeyer
until they could build a log house for themselves. Then the work
of starting the new town began in earnest. A dam, made of logs,
stone and other material, was built across the river and a saw mill
was erected at the east end. While this work was being done other
settlers came. The first was Samuel Henderson, who built a log
house just south of where the First National Bank is now situated.
James Null came next and built a log house in the same locality.
In August of the same year Porter W. Earle (a peddler) came
with a pack of goods and was persuaded to unload his goods and
start a store. In the fall W. H. Hamilton came from Cedar Rapids
and started another store. [ 168 ]

There Were quite a number who settled in Waverly in 1854,
among them being Ebenezer Martin and family (his wife being a
sister of W. P. Harmon and of Mrs. R. J. Ellsworth), Henry Harmon,
Doctor Burbank, H. A. Miles, P. B. Foster, William Reeves, David
Milburn, Dennis Buckingham, Philip and Elizabeth Smith, Charles
Ensign, James W. Wood, N. L. Turner, Hayward Howell, Nelson and
Samuel Flynn, Hamilton and Horatio Geddes, Amos A. Case, James
and William Sturdevant, Doctor Fisher, J. C. Hazlett, Jeremiah Fer
ris, Theodore Hullman, H. W. Lehmkuhl, Daniel Lehman, Alexander
Buckmaster and Ira Sturdevant.
In 1855 the settlers were more numerous, among them being
Moses Lehman, John Browned, Philip Oberdorf, Jacob Gish, Samuel
Cottrell, Hiram Lampson, Samuel. Patterson, B. F. Perkins, John
Goddard, J. J. Smith and his brother, W. O. Smith, Nicholas
Cavanaugh and Thomas Downing.
This year the dam across the river was made higher (about the
height of the present dam), and the few complaints that were made
about the overflowing of land were settled without much trouble.
The dam was planked this year and, as a bulkhead for the west end,
a saw mill was built there by Eben Martin and N. L. Turner. This
mill was sold in 1857 to Oberdorf and Brownell, but was not used
after 1861.
As nearly as I remember, in 1856 a grist mill was built by
Harmon and Reeves, a few rods south of the east of the dam and
a water race was built from the dam to it. On the water race were
later built a turning lathe shop and a woolen mill. About 1854 a
Mr. Buckmaster equipped a shingle splitting machine which supplied
shingles made of oak for the first houses. James Wood later built
another one. About 1869 a tannery was built near the end of South
Water street east, so that about the beginning of 1860 there were the
following industrial enterprises located at Waverly: A grist mill,
two saw mills, a woolen mill, a tannery, a turning lathe mill, two
shingle cutting machines, a grain cutting machinery reaper, three
blacksmith shops, a couple of tailor shops, two shoemaker shops and
a harness shop.
The first merchant was Porter W. Earle, who opened a store in
1853. The next was W. B. Hamilton, who started business a little
later the same year. Then came J. C. Hazlett, who built a dwelling
and store building on the north side of Bremer avenue, near the
center of the first full block east of the river.
The first death in Waverly occurred in the winter of 1853 — 54,
the party being a sister of Mrs. Wendeline Cretzmeyer. She was
buried on the bluffs south of town. The next death was that of Mrs.
Scarf, in 1854. She was buried on the west side of the river.
The first birth was a son to Mr. and Mrs. James Null. This
occurred early in 1854. He Was named William Waverly. The first
name in honor of William P. Harmon and the latter in honor of the
town. [ 169 ]

The first marriage in Waverly was that of Norman A. Reeves to
Miss Rhoda Willis.
The first school was taught by Charlie Ensign, in a log house
standing near the center of Bremer avenue near the east end of the
bridge. The first religious services were held in a little log cabin built
by R. J. Ellsworth, the minister being Rev. James Burley, a Methodist
Episcopal circuit rider.
The first store was started by Porter Earle, who afterward built
the stone building on the corner where the Savings Bank now stands.
Mr. Earle was also the first postmaster in Waverly.
William B. Hamilton erected the first frame building in the winter
of 1853 — 54 and started the second store.
A minister by the name of Barclay was the first preacher to
locate in Waverly.
The first school building — a stone one — was erected during the
summer of 1855.
P. B. Foster erected the first brick store store in 1855.
The first building used as a hotel was erected by Harmon and
Ellsworth in 1853 and stood where the First National Bank now
stands. The landlord was J. J. Smith.
The first bridge across the river was erected in 1857 and was
swept away by a freshet January 26, 1858. The second bridge across
the river was built in 1859, and on February 26, 1871, it was swept
away by ice and high water. The present structure was built in 1899.
In 1859 Waverly was incorporated as a town and officers were
elected. In 1868 it was incorporated as a city of the second class.
In December, 1864, the first train of cars ran into Waverly. Up
to this time the growth of the town had been rather slow, but after
this the town grew more rapidly. In 1866 this railroad, then called
the Cedar Falls and Minnesota, now the Illinois Central, was extended
to Charles City.
The first election in Waverly was held at the house of Frederick
Cretzmeyer.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
The first church society was that of the Methodist Episcopal,
organized either in 1854 or 1855, it is not definitely settled which. Rev.
J. Burleigh was the first pastor in charge. Services were held at first
in pivate homes, then at school houses, and afterward at the Court
House, until the present church edifice was built. It was commenced
in 1866, and completed and dedicated January 12, 1868. The total cost
of the building was $11,000. At different times the church has been
remodeled, and at present is a fine modern church, with all the
attendant features of a present-day structure.
About the year 1887 a parsonage was built at a cost slightly over
$2000. There is a flourishing Sunday school and the usual societies
in connection with the church. [ 170 ]

BAPTIST CHURCH
The next organization was that of the Baptists. The first services
were held at the home of Samuel Patterson, the services being con
ducted by Rev. David Terry. Afterward services were conducted at
his home and at the court house for a time, and in September, 1855, a
society of this denomination was organized.
In 1858 the society erected a story-and-a-half building, which served
the double purpose of a church and a dwelling. The upper floor was
used as a residence for the minister, and the lower floor as a place
of worship and for other church services. Rev. Austin D. Bush was
the first pastor to serve in this building. He was followed in 1859 by
the Rev. H. H. Burrington, who served for over five years.
The society outgrew this house, and in 1867 a church structure
was built at a cost of about $7000. This building served the congre
gation until 1901, when the present modern structure was erected, at
a cost of $11,000. It has, in addition to the main auditorium of the
church, a lecture room and a Sunday school room. The society has
a fine parsonage near the church.

ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH
The origin of St. Mary's parish dates back to 1854. The mission
at Waverly was opened by a Father Tracy in that year. At first
there was not a resident pastor, and for ten or twelve years the
mission was attended by priests from neighboring towns. Mass was
celebrated for the first time in this community by Father Tracy in
the home of William O. Smith, which occupied the site where the
Wile & Maaser furniture store now stands. The parish was formally
organized by a Father McLaughlin, of Davenport, in 1865, who gave
it the name of St. Mary's.
The earliest Catholic residents in Waverly were John J. Smith,
William O. Smith, Lorenz Selbig, Charles Fosselmann, Mrs. Tyrrell,
Nicholas Cavanagh, Wendeline and Frederick Cretzmeyer. These
people organized a parish society in 1865, and with the funds which
they raised they bought vestments, a missal, and other requisites
for carrying on divine worship. William O.' Smith organized and
taught the first Catholic Sunday school, which met in his home every
Sunday morning at 10:00 o'clock.
For some years services were held in the school house which
stood on the present site of the Washington school on the west side
of the river; then for a short time in the court house. About 1860
Father John Shields came as the first resident pastor. He immedi
ately took steps toward the construction of a church, and the founda
tion for the old brick church was laid during his pastorate. He died
while the work was in progress, and the church was completed by his
successor, Father Murphy, in 1868. Its cost was $6000. Father
Shields was buried in the old churchyard, but about four years ago
his remains were moved to St. Mary's cemetery, where they were
[ 171 ] ,

placed beside the body of Father Gilchrist, who died in 1897, while
pastor of this parish.
The first episcopal visitation of the parish was made in 1870, by
Bishop John Hennessey, who dedicated the church and administered
confirmation. In 1882 Father Bernard W. Coyle was appointed pastor. He
remained until 1891, during which time he built the convent school
and the parochial residence; he also founded a mission at Shell Rock
and built the church there.
In 1912 Father Dennis Lundon, the present pastor, was appointed
to Waverly. The old church was now deemed inadequate to meet the
needs of the parish, and in 1912 — 1913 the splendid new church was
built at the corner of Downing and State streets, at a cost of $40,000.
In 1917 a modern parochial residence was constructed on the grounds
adjoining the church.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
The First Presbyterian church society, of Waverly, was organized
September 15, 1856, with a total number of six members. For a time
services were held in the stone school house, then in Union Hall,
situated on the north side of East Bremer Avenue.
In 1866 the congregation erected a brick church building in the
block north of the present Catholic church. It cost about $2000. The
first pastor was the Rev. J. D. Caldwell. He was followed by the
Rev. J. D. Smalley, who served until 1867. The society has gone out
of existence, and the church building has been torn down.
EVANGELICAL CHURCH
The Evangelical Association society was organized in Waverly in
December, 1859, and a church edifice was erected in 1871. It was
located on West Water Street North, and was built during the pastor
ate of Rev. Nuhn. This served the congregation until 1902, when a
fine modern church was built at 322 North Elm Street. This structure
is fully equipped with all modern conveniences, and cost about $7000.
There is a flourishing Sunday school and all the societies usually
belonging to a church organization.
ST. ANDREW'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
St. Andrew's parish was organized in December, 1863, the Rev.
Hale Townsend being minister in charge. Articles of incorporation
were filed on record February 29, 1864. The first wardens were Dr.
Samuel Jones and H. S. Hoover. The first vestry was made up of
Wm. Follet, Charles R. Beardsley and A. J. Tanner.
The first church edifice, being the first in Waverly, was built
during the year of 1864, the first service being held January 29, 1865.
The last service in the first church was held on April 29, 1885.
[ 172 ]

A new church building was erected during the year 1885, costing
about $16,000. The corner-stone was laid by Bishop Perry on June
11, 188. The first service was held in the new St. Andrew's church on
April 18, 1886. Forty-two received the Sacrament of the Lord's
Supper at that service.
The church was consecrated on the festival of S. S. Philip and
James, May 1, 1866. At that time Rev. S. R. J. Hoyt was rector;
H. S. Hoover and J. R. Smith, wardens; and the vestry was composed
of W. R. Bowman, J. H. Bowman, J. L. Leonard, A. W. Yokum, and
Robert Maunder.
From the organization of the parish until the present time, the
following rectors have had charge, in the order named: Rev. Hale
Townsend, Rev. Charles. Stewart, Rev. William Wright, Rev. Frederick
Humphrey, Rev. S. R. J. Hoyt, Rev. Chas. L. Pardee, Rev. John B.
Van Fleet, Rev. Joseph A. Antrim, Rev. A. B. Shaw, Rev. George H.
Bailey, and Rev. John S. Cole, who has been in chaarge of the parish
since February, 1906.
The congregation recently erected a fine rectory near the church.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
The Congregational society was organized May 5, 1865. The first
services were held in the court house. During this year steps were
taken to build a church, which was completed early in 1866 and
dedicated on February 4th of that year. This building served the
society until 1897, when a new structure was erected. This, with the
parsonage, cost about $12,000. In 1917 the church was remodeled,
and a basement with the usual equipments was added. This gives
the society a fine church structure, comparing favorably with the
best arranged church buildings.
The society has a Sunday school with an exceptionally large
enrollment, and has also the usual young people's societies and other
church organizations.
ST PAUL'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH
St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran church, of this city, one of the
strongest congregations, in point of numbers, in this section of the
state, was founded in 1872 by the Rev. Paul Bredow, then pastor in
Maxfield township, who came regularly to minister to the few Luther
ans in Waverly. The congregation, at first weak in numbers and poor
in funds, tho rich in faith, passed thru a checkered career. It had a
number of pastors who followed each other in rapid succession. It
worshipped in several modest places of worship. In 1886 it secured
its first permanent church, an unpretentious frame structure on North
Elm St., just north of its present handsome edifice.
Especially during the pastorate of Rev. F. Zimmermann who
came to Waverly in 1886, the congregation entered upon a rapid de
velopment. The present substantial modern parsonage was built and
t 173 ]

the parish school established, which today numbers over one hundred
pupils and is conducted by three teachers under the supervision of the
pastor, who has also charge of the religious instruction in the upper
classes preparatory to confirmation. The English language only is
used in all branches. Miss Ida Goeken is the principal, and she is ably
assisted by Miss Helen Becker and Miss Laura Grube. Miss Becker
is also the organist and choir leader of the congregation.
After seventeen years, Rev. Zimmermann was succeeded as
pastor by Rev. Weyrauch, during whose days the present handsome
church was built, costing at the time over $30,000 aside from the pipe
organ, which was purchased for the old church and removed to the
new, and the baptismal font, of pure Carrara marble, which was
donated by the young people's society, and which is probably the
finest font of its kind in the state.
At present the congregation numbers more than fourteen hundred,
with upwards of a thousand communicants. Its property is worth
approximately $50,000. Its budget for 1917 was $4734.35, which sum
was raised exclusively by its own members, without outside help. In
addition to this amount, it contributed $3348.55 for benevolence at
large. Its people purchased over $110,000.00 worth of bonds during
the Third and Fourth Liberty Loan drives. The congregation is
affiliated with the Synod of Iowa and other States. The Rev. Emil H.
Rausch, who took charge of the work in September, 1908, is the
present pastor.

THE GERMAN EVANGELICAL PEACE CHURCH
The society of the German Evangelical Peace church was" organ
ized September 15, 1902. This society belongs to the German Evan
gelical Synod of North America. The church is located on West Water
Street North, and is a modest structure suited to the present needs of
the congregation. The first pastor was the Rev. Karl Doering. ' The
present pastor is the Rev. Ph. Hilligardt. The society is in a pros
perous condition.

ST. JOHN'S GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN
CHURCH
St. John's German Evangelical Lutheran society of the Missouri
Synod was organized in the fall of 1913, and a church building was
erected on the northeast corner of Clay and Locust streets, during
the year 1913. This is the latest church society to be organized and
the last church to be erected up to the present time. The congregation
has had a steady growth and now numbers 45 communicants. It is
at present under the charge of Rev. O. F. Koch, who has been the
pastor since 1915.

[ 174 ]

CONCLUSION
Waverly is a finely located city of about 3700 inhabitants. It has
more up-to-date business houses of all kinds than are usually found in
a city of its size. Its business men are a live bunch, always on the
lookout for means to improve the city and the surrounding country.
It has, in addition to these business houses, an orphans' home, the
academic department of Wartburg College, the Wartburg Publishing
House, St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital — one of the largest and best in the
state, the Kelley Cannery, with a capacity of 4,000,000 cans annually,
a gas plant, an electric light and water power plant owned and oper
ated by the city, a fine beet sugar factory (not operating at present),
a brewery (closed now), feed grinding mills, three lines of steam rail
ways and an interurban electric railroad connecting Waverly with
Waterloo and Cedar Falls, and running on to Cedar Rapids. Its
schools, having an average enrollment of about 700, are among the
best. Most of the fraternal orders have lodges here.
Waverly is also the home of the Bremer County Fair Association,
which puts on annually an exposition commonly known as the "Live
Fair." It put on its first fair in the Fall of 1909, and was from the
start one of the leaders. During the years 1911, 1912 and 1913 it
outclassed any fair of its kind in the state and was known almost
all over the United States. It reached its apex in 1913, but it is
still among the leading fairs.
Altogether, to the hustling man of business, to the man seeking
a place to educate his children, or to the man who has reached the time
when he wishes to retire and spend the remainder of his days in
congenial society or in the company of fraternal fellowship, Waverly
will be found a good place to have a home.
In concluding this account of the settlement of Bremer County,
it is well to state that the settlement of the county was greatly
retarded, not only by the lack of transportation facilities, but on
account of the fact that much of the land was bought up by specu
lators, whose land was but lightly taxed, altho its value was greatly
enhanced by the improvements by which it was surrounded. In West
ern Iowa and in some other states this was different, and these lands
were taxed at their selling value. Thus speculators had to bear their
full share of the cost of public improvements.
Taken as a whole, Bremer County people have had but two
periods of hard times. The first, as has already been mentioned, was
caused by the lack of transportation facilities and by worthless money.
The second was from about 1878 to 1881 or 1882. This was mostly
caused by the contracting of credit after the Civil War and by the
rapid opening of the West to farming and grazing, thus causing a
greater supply of foodstuff than could profitably be disposed of.
Naturally, there are people at any period who have "hard times", but
during the period referred to, nearly everyone found it difficult to keep
from becoming bankrupt. [ 175 ]

About the year 1880 dairying, in connection with stock-raising,
began to engage the attention of farmers. At first the creameries
were operated by private parties, but soon they became co-operative
enterprises. Since the time when this method of farming became
really established, Bremer county has prospered wonderfully. It is
claimed for the county that more milk is produced here per square
mile than in any other part of the United States.
Co-operative insurance also takes the lead here, and co-operative
buying and selling have been used to some extent.
Own a home in Bremer County and enjoy the fruits of your labor.