J. Bradshaw and John D. Campbell
Mr. Bradshaw arrived in the spring of 1851, and the last of the Mormons did not leave until 1852, so he had a year's residence with them and ample opportunity to learn what kind of people they were. The only Gentiles living in the county when Mr. Bradshaw came, that he recollects of, were Wm. S. Townsend and John D. Campbell and their families, neither of whom, or any of their relatives, reside in the county now. Campbell settled in the grove near Atlantic's present site, on what is now known a the Reesman farm, known for many years as the Keyes farm, and lived there a year or two. His cabin was built in 1852 and still stands on the west side of the road, not far from Miller's brewery. His grove had an unusual attraction for hunters, as he had several captivating daughters. Campbell removed from Cass to Pottawattamie, in 1853 and his present whereabouts are not known. Townsend then resided n the vicinity of Indiantown. Someof the old settlers tell us that he then lived in a cabin on the 'Botna not far from the present bridge west of Lewis.
Besides having his own family with him, Mr. Bradshaw was accompanied by his son, V. M. Bradshaw and wife; Jesse Hyatt and wife; Lewis Hyatt and wife; and James Sprague and family. They all located land in Audubon county, near where Oakfield now is, but were prevented from crossing the 'Botna river by the high water of that year, when they returned to the place where Mr. Bradshaw settled, as above stated. M. Bradshaw recollects of an election being held at his house in the Fall of 1851, while Cass was a township of Pottawattamie. At that election, thirteen votes were polled, only nine of which were legal, as four transient young men voted, who were not qualified as to time of residence, Mr. Bradshaw was chosen a justice of the peace, by the voluntarily bestowed assurance of his fellow citizens.
From "History of Cass County, Iowa Together With Brief Mention of Old Settlers," by Lafe Young, Atlantic, Iowa, Telegraph Steam Printing House, 1877, pg. 5-6.
