"An Interesting Early History of Decatur County"by Mrs. O.N. Kellogg |
| Chapter Five THE OLD LOG CHURCH-SETTLERS BUY MORMON CLAIMS- THE FIRST ENTRY OF LAND IN THE COUNTY |
| The Mormon cabins, though with one or two exceptions entirely
destitute of windows, were healthful, comfortable dwellings, in
consequence of their one grand feature, open fireplaces. These were made
without a farthing of expense except the time necessary for their
construction. A kind of clay, such as bricks are made of, was hauled to
the building and some clapboards or long singles got up edgewise and
firmly staked in the shape of a fireplace-this frame being hollow to
admit the clay, which is pounded in dry until it is almost as smooth as
putty. The frame is then removed, a stick chimney built on, a hearth
pounded in and it is ready for the fire. The amount of comfort dispensed
by these old fireplaces at a time when comforts were luxuries is beyond
comprehension. Soon after we were installed in winter quarters, one
keen, bright, frosty Sabbath morning in November, about sunrise, a
stranger galloped into town from the west. We queried-Where did he come
from? What was his errand? For verily he had the appearance of one who
bringeth tidings from afar. He must have camped out, but that was not
unusual then even for travellers on horseback. As to his errand, there
was but one way open to a gentile, by which to ascertain it-that was by
going to church. The church was a huge log building, one story high, provided with a puncheon floor, an enormous fireplace, and puncheon benches arranged around the sides. (Mrs. Fitch has had for a number of years made the place famous by the beauty and variety of the flowers she has cultivated near the spot where it stood.) On this particular morning we resorted to the assembly of the Saints. After a short prayer by the President, the courier was called to the floor. He referred to the fact that Garden Grove has been erected into an election precinct and embraced nearly all the voters in the county. But this nothing to them, here or then, unless they chose to make it their business. Politics, they cared nothing about, and office holding they ignored for the reason that no office within their reach would benefit them. It was an insult for any man to seek them for their votes. Had they not been robbed and driven from their comfortable homes and had not their wives and little ones been exposed to sufferings and even death? God forbid that they should cast a vote to please any man! The heads of the church, however, had taken cognizance of the action of the two great political parties as regarded themselves and the preference was due the democratic party. To that great party they must look for leniency in the future, and it was counseled that at the approaching presidential election, every man vote the Democratic ticket. No Mormon ever disregards the counsel. A few evenings after this occurrence we went to church again, and on this occasion there was not only a prayer but music also. The young men and maidens were assembled-a goodly company-to “trip the light fantastic toe.” The first and most important preliminary in getting up a dance was waiting upon the President for permission. After it was accorded, he, as in duty bound, either attended it himself or obtained a substitute to open the meeting with prayer, and usually to close in the same manner. Prayer ended, the violins began the inevitable tuning process, while the dancers took their places on the floor, usually led off by the Elder himself. They glided over that rough puncheon floor with as much ease as if it had been smooth as polished marble. One refractory slab, too short for the sleepers, had an ugly habit of clipping off at one end, and dropping down about a foot and a half to the ground. But so accustomed were these people to think lightly of difficulties when these catastrophes occurred, no break was made in the set, nor was any notice taken of it. The most perfect decorum prevailed at their social gatherings and their young people were patterns of industry and good behavior. They had occasional little private parties, with the consent of the President, where the religious element was dispensed with, usually at Mr. Van Buren's or over at the “Four Oaks,” so long owned by Mrs. Ann Knapp-a favorite resort for young people long after the Mormons had departed. Mrs. Enos Davis taught school that winter at the residence which was furnished with a window, a mark of distinction claimed by only five buildings in town. In the course of the winter of 1848-49, the Davis family bought most of the Mormon improvement, and in march, O.N. Kellogg bought Mr. Carter's claim on the south side of the road and took possession of it. The house stood on the spot of ground now occupied by Dr. Ladd and was the farthest out on the prairie although there were stumps within a stone's throw of it, but there were no trees left standing. The Garden, indeed was there, but the Grove had disappeared. He afterwards bought out John Carson's claim on the opposite side of the road, owning on both sides what is now the business portion of town. In April of the same year he made the first entry of land ever made in the county. The land office was then at Fairfield. Soon after the land had been surveyed and brought into market, commissions were appointed to locate Saline and school lands and very much of the most desirable timber and prairie was then located for the State. The following is found among early records: “I, John McDaniel, of the County of Decatur and State of Iowa, do hereby release, give up, and set at liberty as a free man, George A. Black, a colored man, who has served in my family from boyhood. Said man is about forty-five years of age, about five feet eleven inches high. Witness my hand this 25th day of February, 1852. John McDaniel.” In 1852, at the August election the following county officers elected were: Samuel C. Thompson, County Judge; Wilson S. Warford, Clerk; Andrew J. Evans, Prosecuting Attorney; Thomas Mills, Supervisor of Roads. Among early orders of Judge Thompson was one providing for a vote be taken at the election of the year on the question of removing of the county seat from Decatur City to Independence, subsequently named South Independence, which town was surveyed in 1853, in May, and on the 13th of May, the Court House was ordered built. |
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