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Audubon County |
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Biographical History of Shelby and Audubon Counties
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Early in 1851 five men, named Nathaniel Hamlin, James Hamlin, Samuel Ogden, William Powell and David Edgerton, left Mahaska County, Iowa to seek homes in the western part of the State. Having heard of the trouble among the Mormons at Council Bluffs they first made that an objective point, but upon their arrival were not pleased with the appearance of the country; hence they made an extended tour up the Missouri River, prospecting in several of the western counties of the State; but still being unable to find a desirable location they turned their faces eastward again, and came as far back as what is now known as Troublesome Creek, in Audubon County, at a point a few miles above its junction with the East Nishnabotna River, where they remained several days, quite well pleased with the country. They followed the stream up to section 35, township 78, range 35, west, and there camped for the night. The following morning (the latter part of the month of March, 1851), Nathaniel Hamlin staked off his present valuable farm, through which Troublesome Creek meanders. The first stake driven for this purpose was the first blow toward the actual settlement of Audubon County. Mr. Hamlin resolved here to make his home -- his fortune -- and here to remain the remainder of his days. There was not a white settler within twenty miles of the place; he hastened home and made preparations for moving. He took his oldest daughter, ten years of age, and left his family behind; and with a monstrous Pennsylvania wagon, drawn by seven yoke of cattle, and a breaking plow and accouterments, he started for his new home among the wolves and deer which then ran in packs and herds of scores and fifties. The spring was forward for this latitude. In March the new grass had grown several inches, and a large herd of deer, almost as tame as sheep, grazed on the bottom lands where now stands the district school-house. On the 6th day of May Mr. Hamlin and his daughter reached their destination, accompanied by a young man named John Hoggard and his sister Elizabeth Ann, who took a claim a half mile north of Hamlin's; also Arthur Decker, who claimed a tract in Big Grove, near the place where Louisville was afterward platted. Upon entering the county the pioneer party had to halt on account of high water of the Middle River. Logs were cut and a bridge constructed, over which they crossed. This was beyond question the first bridge ever built by a white man in this section of the country. Notwithstanding the year 1851 was the rainiest (up to the middle of June) ever known in the State, Mr. Hamlin set about the erection of a rude half-hewed log cabin, and when this was accomplished started his breaking team, consisting of seven yoke of oxen, and began to turn a twenty-four inch furrow with a rod plow, the first soil ever overturned for agricultural purposes within Audubon County. By July 1 he had succeeded in breaking forty-two acres, all of which was planted to "sod corn." Seven acres of this virgin soil was sowed to buckwheat among the corn, besides a large amount of turnips -- three crops, all planted on the same land. Cultivation was unnecessary, as weeds never flourish on newly broken land. So when autumn came Mr. Hamlin cut up the sod corn, and carried it from the field, then cut his buckwheat, which proved a very excellent crop, both as to quantity and to quality. Then, after the gathering-in of two beautiful harvests from the same field, he palled an abundant crop of the finest turnips ever grown in Iowa. The potatoes which grew underneath the sod turned that year were so pressed down by the heavy covering of sod that when they were ready to dig it was found that they were excellent in quality and size, but were all flattened, presenting a very curious sight. May and June were extremely wet, so that the streams were away out of their natural banks. It was for this reason that the United States surveyors, who at that time were running the township lines, named one of the worst streams Troublesome Creek. The prairie-breaking season having ended, and his crop being planted, the pioneer Hamlin yoked his teams and started back for the remainder of his family. Preparations were speedily made upon his return, and soon the large "prairie schooner" received its cargo and passengers, and with prow directed toward the setting sun, hove into port on the 13th day of September, and the weary found home and comfort. The season had been very favorable, and a bountiful crop was in waiting to bless the first husbandman's labors. The following year (1852) brought with it its blessings. The mail route from Fort Des Moines was established and through to Council Bluffs by the way of "Hamlin's Grove," thus turning all the Pike's Peak and Pacific coast travel to the very door-yard of the first settler in Audubon County. The mail service soon established a postoffice at Mr. Hamlin's place, making him postmaster. His first commission was from Zach Taylor, President of the United States. He served until after the election of Abraham Lincoln. Much connected with the early settlement of the county will be found in the biographical sketches of pioneers, especially of "Natty" Hamlin, as he is so commonly called. From the most reliable source we herewith publish a list of names of those who settled within the limits of the county prior to 1861, without regard to their location; each name will be of interest to some one: N. Hamlin, J. S. Johnson, Ruben Carpenter, William Carpenter, J. M. Donald, James Donald, W. H. H. Bowen, George Cannon, M. Sharff, Mark Heath, Milton Heath, A. Heath, Miles Beers, P. I. Whitted, Samuel Hockman, James Poor, Avery Belcher, Lyman Jordan, R. A. Oliphant, Hiram Beck, Joseph Kirk, I. Hallock, Sr., N. Wiggins, George Sharp, L. B. Montgomery, Charles Wiggins, Bradley Beers, D. Barlow, Daniel Crane, John Crane, J. W. Dodge, B. G. Dodge, Samuel Smith, D. L. Anderson, B. Milliman, A. B. Houston, Richard Gault, Edson Herrick, Erbane Herrick, A. J. Leffingwell, H. F. Leffingwell, William Leffingwell, Curtis Herrick, Charles Chapin, Frank Burnham, H. J. Green, William Holcraft, William Walker, I. V. D. Lewis, T. S. Lewis, R. M. Lewis, W. F. Ballard, Dr. S. M. Ballard, J. M. Hubbard, Lou Arnold, Jonathan Decker, I. S. Thomas, R. C. Meek, L. Early, A. Cooper, J. R. Thacker, Frank Hobbs, Lyman Bush, J. Hammer, William Norton, John S. Jenkins, Wallace Pearl, Josh Pearl, William Tringle, Alvan Herrick, J. A. Hallock, I. P. Hallock, Jr., Samuel Johnson, B. Sylvester, Palmer Rodgers, Henry Kinkade, John Williams, Oliver Smith, David Beers, William Stone, George Colder, John Colder, James Howlett, Samuel Howlett, William Howlett, William Nelson, Charles Van Garder, Colbert Strahl, J. S. Jobs, William Pangburn, George Dunbar, John Beers, William Wiggins, Samuel Smith (English Smith), Washington Bartlett, Lee Bartlett, John Patterson, R. S. Hallock, Thomas Rodgers, Benjamin Hiatt, William Hardy, G. N. Jones, J. M. Donald, David Edgerton, Jacob Sifford, Norman Archer, Ace Workman, Peter Barlow, "Judge" Benedict, Z. A. Phelps, James Pixley, John McConnell, Colt Herrick, Henry Myers, Charles Kemp, Thomas Rowland, J. C. Brown, John Van Houghton, "Tip" Herrick, E. Herrick, J. D. Herrick, Orleans Jones, Thomas Hire, John Montgomery, Levi Montgomery, George Montgomery, William Thompson, Ralph Eddy, E. Birge, James Birge, S. H. Perry, William Bush, W. P. Hamlin, Samuel Hopkins, John Countryman, Chancy Ward, Ruben Kenyoj, Messrs. Wilkins, Perkins and Kemp, Steven Deborde, William Powell, S. L. Day, Alvin Decker, A. M. Graves, O. Outtout, Thomas Truman, James Mounts and Robert Stansberry. This makes a total of 126 actual settlers, who were old enough to cast a vote, living in Audubon County prior to the Rebellion. The first men to settle in the north part of the county were men named Gage and Wilkinson, who settled on section 36, township 79, range 34, west, in what is now Greeley township. Their settlement dates from the spring of 1852. The next to try his lot in the undeveloped wilds of the county was Joseph Williams, who located on the northeast quarter of section 1, township 81, range 34, west. This was in 1859; he remained about two years, during which time he and the family almost starved. He then moved to Oregon Territory. FIRST EVENTS.The first deed placed on record in Audubon County was a conveyance of thirty-five acres of land by Samuel B. Hopkins to John S. Jenkins, for the consideration of $100. This land was a part of the southeast quarter of section 17, township 78, range 35, west. This instrument, it seems from the record of deeds "A," was given August 16, 1854, and acknowledged before V. M. Conrad, a justice of the peace. It was filed for record May 22, 1855, but was not actually placed on record until August 8, 1855. This delay was not occasioned by the press of business, but simply neglect. The first village platted within the county was Dayton, the same being executed July 9, 1855. The first birth was that of a child born to Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Decker, some time early in December, 1851. The mother died in childbirth, and was the first one to die in Audubon County of which there is any record. It will be remembered that nothing could be obtained in way of lumber, furniture, etc., at that date in these parts, and so when this pioneer woman's death was announced, the three or four men outside of the Decker household met together and planned for a coffin and the burial of the unfortunate woman. Finally Nathaniel Hamlin, James Kinkade and John S. Jenkins made a coffin (such as it was) out of bass wood puncheon, which they split from a green tree they felled, and in this rude box they placed the deceased. They also served as the funeral cortege and pall-bearers, carrying the rough slab-like casket to a point just north of the place where Daniel Miller's house now stands; here it was deposited in the earth; but many years ago its resting place was molested by the sharp plowshare. Mr. Decker left the county soon after his companion's death -- hence the uncared for grave of the first person who died within the county. The first birth of a child who now lives in the county was that of Mrs. Martha Jane (Hamlin) Calp. She was born September 6, 1852, and was the second person born in the county. The first marriage in Audubon County was that of George L. Kellogg to Susannah Kingon, April 16, 1856, Urbane Herrick officiating. The first log house was raised by N. Hamlin, the first settler, in the early spring of 1851, on section 35, township 78, and range 35, west. It was sixteen feet square. The first frame house was built by John Countryman and afterward sold to D. Glassgow. The first frame barn was raised for B. Milliman, July, 1857. The first mill in the county was the one erected by Green, Chapin and Hobbs, at Louisville, in the summer of 1856; it was a combined flour and saw mill, operated by steam-power. The first Fourth of July celebration was held in 1856, on one of the highest elevations of ground in the county, and at a point about two miles northwest of N. Hamlin's residence. It was the beginning of the Buchanan-Fremont presidential campaign, and a liberty-pole was erected from which floated the "Stars and Stripes." The flag hung there for some time afterward and was seen at great distances by the emigrants, who slowly wended their way westward. It may here be stated that there were but few Fremont men in these parts -- all voted for James Buchanan and good old Democracy. This pioneer celebration was not a grand affair, yet it showed a disposition to keep in remembrance the day of National Independence. The only music upon this occasion was that furnished by Mrs. Dr. Trescott with her old-fashioned melodeon. Anvils were fired, but the speeches were "short and sweet." However, a good time was had by all, as a barbecue was held, consisting of roasted animals and game, such as the new county then abounded in. The first county fair was held on section 15, township 78, range 35, in 1859, and one of the laughable features was the putting of a yoke of oxen in harness belonging to a span of horses present. The ox team was then "trotted" about the ring, which was but an imaginary track. The first newspaper was issued in December, 1860, and called the Audubon County Pioneer. (See Press Chapter.) The first school-house was a log building erected in 1857 by N. Hamlin and D. M. Harris, who furnished the only scholars for the pioneer school -- nine pupils was the largest enrollment! Miss Ellen Northgrave, who became the wife of Albert Wakefield, was the first to teach; she received $16 per month. This was not a free-school, but the private enterprise of Messrs. Hamlin and Harris. The first religious services in the county were conducted in the Hamlin Grove log school-house, by the Methodist people, about 1858. The first church edifice was the Congregational church at Exira, built in 1870. The first postoffice was established in 1852 at the residence of N. Hamlin, who was the first postmaster. He held the same nine years, until the Republican party came into power and President Abraham Lincoln removed him for party reasons, it is said. The stages at that time left Des Moines and Council Bluffs each Monday morning and met at "Uncle Natty Hamlin's" on Wednesday of each week. The first man to work at the blacksmithing business was (aside from Mr. Hamlin, who at that day was master of all trades as a matter of necessity!) Charles Marsh, who in company with Hamlin run a blacksmith shop in 1855-'56. They mined their own coal in Guthrie County, at Bear Grove. Their principal business was sharpening plowshares for the newcomers. The first shoemaker was John S. Johnson, who came in 1856. The first regular harness-maker was D. E. Soar, who located at Exira in 1870. The first goods were sold by N. Hamlin, who hauled the stock, from time to time, from Council Bluffs and Des Moines. His children (now married folks) will remember the times, as they used to count on getting a liberal supply of candy and sweetmeats upon the arrival of a new stock of goods! Soon after this Mr. Hamlin, in company with H. Beck, opened a general store at the newly laid out town of "Audubon City" -- now defunct. Among the earliest attorneys were D. M. Harris (county judge) and D. S. Andrews. The first court was held by Judge Sears at Hamlin's log school-house, in November, 1855. The jury had to retire to the grove, close to the school-house, and there decide the case, according to "law and evidence," of course. The grand jury of that first term of court found only one true bill, and that was against Thomas S. Lewis for the illegal sale of liquor -- prohibition evan at an early day! The officers of this court were: E. H. Sears, Judge; B. M. Hiatt, Sheriff; John W. Beers, Clerk. The following served as the first petit jurors: G. W. Taylor, Mark Heath, Hiram Perkins, James H. Donnell, William Walker, William Carpenter, George Wire, Ruben Kingon, B. Milliman, Robert Stansberry, James Mounts. The grand jury was as follows: David L. Anderson (foreman), Charles E. Marsh, W. H. H. Bowen, J. L. Frost, John Countryman, Ed. Gingerly, John Crane, John Scifford, Allen McDonnell, J. S. Johnson, N. Hamlin, J. S. Kirk, Richard M. Lewis. The first civil action was against a Methodist preacher, against whom judgement was obtained. The title of the case was "Blanchet S. Shacklett vs. Richard C. Meek." The first election in Audubon County, after its real organization, was held April 7, 1855, at Hamlin's school-house.< ORGANIZATION.As now constituted, Audubon County is in the third tier of counties from the Missouri River, and the fourth from the southern line of the State. It contains an area of about 446 square miles, and is bounded on the north by Carroll County, on the east by Guthrie County, on the south by Cass County, and on the west by Shelby County. It is within township 78, 79, 80 and 81, and in ranges 34, 35 and 36, west of the fifth P.M. |
| Previous <=== Continue Reading ===> Next Transcribed by Cheryl Siebrass August, 2014 from "Biographical History of Shelby and Audubon Counties", Chicago: W. S. Dunbar & Co., 1889, pg. 639-644. |
