INCIDENTS.

     The above sketch will aid the reader in gaining some knowledge of the hardships and trials of the early pioneers, and of the difficulties and dangers under which they labored in order to gain an honest livelihood.

     Some of the difficulties of traveling from place to place in those days, as also the unpleasantness and sometimes dangers attending their travels, are nicely illustrated by the following from the same writer: "In February, 1846, Wil1iarm Ellis and George Haworth set out to follow the Raccoon river on the ice, from Des Moines up to Stump's cabin, about twenty miles by land. After a hard day's travel (not less than twenty-five miles) they found themselves, at dusk, not more than half way. They now attempted to cross the country, but the dry weeds were so high and so dense that this was given up and they had to camp for the night. But they had neglected to take any matches with them, and the only alternative to an all night's travel was to ignite some dry grass by firing their guns into it.

     "This was effected after the expenditure of a good deal of patience and powder, and they carried their fire to the timber, some half a mile away, where they spent the winter night with what comfort they could."

     This was the first trip of these parties to Dallas county, when they came and laid their claims, as before mentioned, and soon afterward returned, and the following month moved out here with their folks and settled on their claims as before selected—Ellis on the land now owned and occupied by Joseph Otterman, and Haworth on what is now the Barto farm, or "Haworth Point "—and through life, doubtless, they will not forget that pioneer adventure.

     Previous to this, however, some time in January of the same year, a no less singular, but rather more successful, expedition—so far as speed and ease in travel is concerned—was made up the same river road on the ice by John Wright, the frontier hunter, and his cousin, "Deaf Jim" Wright, in a one-horse "pung."

     Of John Wright it is said: "His rifle and his bottle were his delight and

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consolation." He was brave and reckless, having little sympathy with the ways and customs of civilization; yet generous to a fault, always kind and true to his friends, but to his enemies, bitter, malignant and revengeful.

     His cousin, "Deaf Jim," was the skilled mimic of the settlement, who had the power of so accurately personating various persons in their striking peculiarities, even on short acquaintance, that the subject was readily recognized. He was, therefore, just the man for sport at a public gathering.

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THE FIRST DEATH.

     The first death of a white person in the county occurred in the winter of 1846-7; that of William Coffin, father of Greenbury Coffin, and father-in-law of John Wright.

     The deceased was a blacksmith by trade, and though well along in years when he came here, faithfully worked at his anvil and forge set up on the open prairie until a shop was built, sharpening ploughshares, mending broken articles, and doing other small jobs of smithing, to assist in "earning his bread by the sweat of his brow," and by the exercise of his strong right arm, until finally called away from labor to rest. He died in the Stump cabin, of old age, and was buried in the "Clayton grave-yard," in what is now Bodne township.

     The coffin, or box, in which he was buried, was made of puncheons split out of large logs, and dressed and fitted by Levi Wright, Noah Staggs and other neighboring settlers as best they could under the circumstances, and his remains were lovingly laid in their last resting place with decency and respect by the hands of those who had been friendly and true to him in life.

     Thus this memorable Stump cabin was not only the first house built, but also was the place where the first death occurred in the county, and therefore afforded both the first place of entertainment for the living, and preparation of the dead for the silent tomb.

THE FIRST MARRIAGE,

     This Stump cabin was also the home of the first white woman who lived in Dallas county. Early in the year 1846, perhaps in February, Miss Mary Stump came and kept house in it for her three brothers, until their father, Henry Stump, and the rest of his family came on soon afterward.

     She has the honor, also, of being the first white woman married in the county, and hers was the first marriage ceremony performed within the county limits.

     She was united in marriage with George Haworth, on the second day of September, 1847, by J. C. Corbell, Esq., who was the first justice of the peace to perform such a ceremony in the county, and this was his first experience in that line.

     Whether this marriage occurred in the Stump cabin, or in the new hewed log house of the bride's father, we have not been able to ascertain definitely.

     The bride and groom were of even ages, each twenty-four years, and were nearly of like dates as early settlers of the county, as Mr. Haworth also came early in 1846, and settled within the present limits of Van Meter township, where he and his affianced bride lived in prosperity and comfort until a few years ago, they moved to a new home, about two miles north of Adel, Their old homestead is now known as the John Barto farm.

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     They are still living, each past the age of fifty-five, well entered on the decline of life; and while now gone on a trip to Oregon, with gratitude, can look back over more than thirty-one years of married felicity and prosperity passed in Dallas county, Iowa.

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THE SPORTS AND CUSTOMS

     Of the early settlers were not so numerous and varied as at present, but they were no less enjoyable and interesting.

     Hunters now-a-days wou1d be only too glad to be able to find and enjoy their favorable opportunities for hunting and fishing; and even travel hundreds of miles sometimes, counting it rare pleasure to spend a few weeks among the lakes, and on the wild prairies and woodlands, in hunt and chase, and fishing frolics, where not half so good hunting and fishing sport was furnished as was in this vicinity twenty-five or thirty years ago. There were a good many excellent hunters here at an early day, too, who enjoyed the sport as well as any can at the present.

     Wild animals of various kinds were found here in abundance during the time of the early settlement. The prairies, and woods, and streams, and various bodies of water, were all thickly inhabited by more than Indians before, and even for some time after the white man came.

     Deer, turkeys, ducks, geese and various other kinds of choice game were, plentiful, affording freely and at the expense of killing what are now considered the choice and costly dishes in the restaurants. The fur animals also, were abundant, such as the otter, beaver, mink, muskrat, raccoon, panther, fox, wolf, wild-cat and bear.

     Deer and elk were quite numerous on these prairies for some time after the first settlements were made. These various kinds of game afforded not only pleasure, but profit for those among the early settlers who were lovers of hunt and chase; and skillful hunters were not scarce in those days in proportion to the number of inhabitants. Many interesting incidents and daring adventures occurred in connection with these hunting excursions, which the old settlers who still remain seem never tired of relating. It is. difficult to reproduce these scenes now, and present the incidents with their' original "pith and point" as those most intimately connected with them have nearly all passed away, and these stories must have passed through many minds and mouths before reaching us, and therefore have become more or less colored in passing, so that as related now they might not be easily recognized as the same stories by the original actors.

     In point, we quote a part of an article on "old times," as published in The Dallas County News, February 2d, 1876, at that time published by S. H. Greene, which will give some idea of the customs and sports of the early settlers.

     "The capture of elk calves was, in those early days, a favorite pastime, or business, rather, for there were visions of wealth to be derived from their sale. In these adventures John Wright was the natural leader and captain. The outfit consisted of teams and covered wagons sufficient to convey provisions, camp equipage, etc., and to bring home the proceeds of the chase. Cows were taken along to furnish milk for the young elk; sometimes the expedition would be gone a month or more. From Greene county to the head-waters of 'Coon, was the favorite hunting ground. The hunting was done on horseback. And first the old elk must be found, which was done

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by looking over the surrounding country from some high point and then with the aid of dogs to thoroughly search thereabout for the hidden calves. These were usually found in the tall grass surrounding the ponds that so abound in that part of the State. When the calf found that he was observed he would spring from his hiding place and run with the speed of a race horse, and if two or three weeks old it took good 'bottom' to overtake him in those bogs and ponds. Many a good farm horse was ruined in the effort; rarely a very young calf was captured by springing upon it in its bed.

     "On one of these excursions John Wright saw some dark object at a distance and determined to interview it. It proved to be a half grown black bear. It fled. Wright gave chase, and coming up with it, he aimed, by a flying leap from his horse to grapple with and prevent its escape. As our hero came down, Bruin turned and received him in a cordial embrace. He was now in his element and glory, and after a protracted struggle, in which one of his hands was badly lacerated, besides getting sundry smaller bites and scratches, he bound his captive and took him in triumph into camp; and subsequently, on his way home, he passed through Adel with this pet and a score or more of young elk. The last known of John Wright he was on his way to the Far West.

     "These elk sadly disappointed us all. Theoretically they were most useful domestic animals, for the shambles, for the plow and cart, carriage and course, possibly for the dairy—why not? As thus: in size and form, in hoof and horn, they were own cousins to the reindeer—that indispensable adjunct to arctic humanity. Their speed and bottom had been proven in many a hard half day's heat; their beef was as that of the ox. They could winter where the mule would freeze or starve, and so easily domesticated! —take a young one that never saw the face of man, carry it in your arms a hundred yards and it would follow you through water or fire. But they turned out unmitigated nuisances. They would neither work nor play. The trial was fair and conclusive. In the spring of 1851 much valuable time which had else been devoted to 'seven-up,' euchre and kindred industries, was spent in Adel, in breaking them to harness and saddle; and Elisha Morris, then well known in sporting circles, harnessed a span of two year old bucks to a light buggy and started for some eastern emporium where it was thought the unique turn-out would command bags of gold. Eight days' drive took him to Oskaloosa, where he was fain to swap the whole rig for a horse that he sold for some eighty dollars. His verdict was, 'they won't work; they are too much like a d-d Indian.' They were utterly lawless, going without let or hindrance into field and garden, and doing mischief out of sheer wantonness. They seemed aware that a horse, not familiar with them, would stampede at sight. They would curve the neck, throw up their huge horns, set the hair forward and snort to increase the fright. Runaways from this cause were frequent. At certain seasons of the year the males were as dangerous as mad bulls. A son of Dr. Rush, at Des Moines, was attacked by one, his abdomen ripped open so that his bowels protruded; the boy recovered—the brute was destroyed. Sic transit gloria' elk.

O. S."

     Fish.-The streams and lakes, also, afforded fish in great variety and abundance, which were caught by quantities in extemporized traps by the early settlers, and were feasted on by then with a relish.

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     These fish traps were generally considered as public property, and when once established in good working order they secured a bountiful supply of choice fish, of which the neighboring settlers partook in common. One of these traps was located on the shallow just below the site of J. H. Warrington's mill, in Sugar Grove township, and proved a success in catching fish for the entire community. Sometimes as high as one hundred and fifty fine fish have been taken in at one time.

     Another of these traps was located at Rocky Ford, on the Middle Raccoon river just above Isaac Fee's farm, in what is now Linn township. This one supplied all that community with fresh fish in abundance. So also there were several other similar ones in various localities extemporized by the early settlers, as the occasion required, and placed in the most suitable location for the convenience of all concerned. There being no mill-dams then on the streams to muddy the water or prevent the fish from coming up the channels, the water was so clear and the fish so plentiful that they were easily secured by the settlers going out in canoes and dugouts and spearing them. In this way great quantities were caught, affording both pleasure and satisfaction to the fishermen.

     These various incidents and occurrences, in connection with the early settlement and pioneer life in the county, are of intense interest, and might be further dwelt upon at great length, especially by anyone who was familiar with the scenes and intimately connected with many of the occurrences.

     The lives of those early settlers, while frought with dangers and discouragements and inconveniences, still had their bright spots of encouragement and joy.

     On account of the high price of corn during the first years, and the great inconveniences of procuring it at distant markets, they were compelled to be economical and judicious in the use of it, and used every means and effort within their power in making preparation the first year, so as to be sure of a crop the following year; and for this labor and care they were almost invariably rewarded with an abundant harvest. The labor, care and anxiety of one year was generally repaid with prosperity, peace and plenty during the next, and the majority of the pioneers found more pleasure in thus having a plentiful supply of the necessaries of life and being able to give of their substance when the occasion required, to those in straightened circumstances around them, than in being dependent and needy themselves, and thus being On the receiving list. Oftentimes, indeed, such persons had the privilege of realizing the truth and beauty of our Saviour's sweet words of comfort, "it is more blessed to give than to receive."

     While the early settlers were generally industrious, honest, generous and sympathetic, moving along peaceably in the even tenor of their ways about their daily duties, and usually temperate in their habits; still their customs and habits were not altogether of the same character as those of the present day.

     Customs and habits that are now looked upon as quite improper and degrading by society generally, though practiced still by a large per cent of the inhabitants, were considered by many of the early settlers as not so very much out of place, while others of their number—perhaps no smaller per cent in proportion to the population than at present—were faithful to shun and frown down upon all such improper conduct. Still a good many

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of them seemed to deem it eminently proper and quite essential in starting off on a journey to take with them a handy-flask in their pocket, and sometimes the "wee brown jug" in their wagons, well filled with something to keep them warm and in buoyant "spirits," and also to have something along with which to accommodate their particular friends of like tastes and longings whom they might accompany or meet with on the way, and thus be able to sustain their cherished title of , "hail fellows well met."

     The following little incident as related by Judge L. D. Burnes furnishes a good illustration of that phase of pioneer customs:

     "We and Squire Babb were returning from a business trip to the Fort in the winter of 1847-8. We met Corbell on the ridges east of the site of Waukee, going to the the Fort on horseback, for the mail. We had never seen Corbell before. Babb had seen him only once, but had no acquaintance with him at all. They stopped mutually and eyed each other for a moment. Squire Babb addressed Corbell thus:

     " 'It seems to me, sir, that I have seen you before.'

     " 'No doubt of it, sir,' replied Corbell, 'I'm Squire Corbell, of Dallas county, have just been appointed postmaster in Penoach by the commissioners of the General Land Office, sir, and I'm goin' down to the Fort for the mail matter. What might your name be?'

     " 'My name, sir, is Squire Babb. I have just come to your county to seek a little rest. I have held many official places of honor and trust in my day. I was appointed by the legislature of the State of Indiana, one of the re-locating commissioners to re-locate the seat of justice of Fountain county, Indiana, and sir,—' By this time Squire Babb was out of the wagon and Corbell was off his horse. They rushed toward each other; they clasped hands and tangled congratulations followed. Squire Babb had brought with him from the Fort a jug of pretty large capacity, well filled with sweetened homiletic elaborator, and in order to cement the friendship just formed with Corbell, he lifted it from its hiding place in the wagon, and with an introductory speech on hygiene, that was interlarded with affirmative responses from Squire Corbell, it was gracefully given to the latter, accompanied by this laconic sally, 'Squire, let us drink to a better acquaintance in Dallas.' Corbell taking the jug, replied, 'I will never refuse a friend, sir, in such trying times as those.' ' Babb then politely turned his back, and Squire Corbell proceeded at once to flood his epiglottis. Squire Babb now took the jug, saying, 'here is to my friend, Squire Corbell, great Jupiter, prithee,' he then threw back his head, poised his jug on his pouting lips, a long gurgling current coursed its way toward his plastic epigastrium, and the jug was grounded. Squire Babb then continued the colloquy: 'Now, Squire Corbell, I beg of you not to mention my name in connection with any office whatever. I have come to Dallas with no such purpose. I want the good people of Dallas county to let me enjoy the sweets of private life on the mellifluous waters of the classic 'Coon, the one great object I had in coming here. Yes, sir, yes, let me hunt the bear, the elk, the deer, and trap the pretty fur-coated tribes of the woods and waters, and office may go begging for me.' Squire Corbell could hardly see how it was possible to comply, and would not promise Squire Babb. They drank again, they mounted and parted with a wave of the hands."

     We see by the recital of this little incident by what means, in two many cases, office, popularity and position were gained even by those who were

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utterly unworthy of any such public trust; and honesty and candor compel the statement that, in this regard, very little if any change for the better has occurred even until the present day.

     Though, perhaps, not practiced so openly and above board, yet the deadly deceitful work of the evil practice still prevails.

     Too long and shamefully that accursed fiend of intoxication has been the means of placing in many of our important offices of State and positions of public trust, men who were utterly unqualified and unworthy, to the detriment and disgrace and threatened ruin of our cherished government.

     May the day speedily come when this destructive, deadly fiend shall be robbed of his power, and when public men and officers shall be measured in the campaign, and at the ballot box, not only by their intellectual qualifications and statesmanship, but also by their firm adherence to the strict principals of temperance in all its forms, and when society shall demand the same of all its members, male or female, high or low.

     But we are deviating, and already with regard to many of these incidents and occurrences have been anticipating as to dates. We must therefore turn to other items equally interesting and important under the early history of the county, which are, perhaps, of a somewhat different character; and the aim hereafter will be, as nearly as possible, to weave the various items and events in their chronological order.

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ORGANIZATION.

     With regard to the origin of dividing individual States into county and township organizations, which, in an important measure, should have the power and opportunity of transacting their own business and governing themselves, under the approval of, and subject to, the State and general government of which they each formed a part, we quote from Elijah M. Haines, who is considered good authority on the subject.

     In his "Laws of Illinois, Relative to Township Organizations," he says the county system" originated with Virginia, whose early settlers soon became large-landed proprietors, aristocratic in feeling, living apart in almost baronial magnificence on their own estates, and owning the laboring part of the population. Thus the materials for a town were not at hand, the voters being thinly distributed over a great area.

     "The county organization, where a few influential men managed the whole business of the community, retaining their places almost at their pleasure, scarcely responsible at all, except in name, and permitted to conduct the county concerns as their ideas or wishes might direct, was moreover consonant with their recollections or traditions of the judicial and social dignities of the landed aristocracy of England, in descent from whom the Virginia gentlemen felt so much pride. In 1834 eight counties were organized in Virginia, and the system, extending throughout the State, spread into all the Southern States, and some of the Northern States; unless we except the nearly similar division into 'districts' in South Carolina, and that into 'parishes' in Louisana, [Louisiana] from the French laws.

     "Illinois, which, with its vast additional territory, became a county of Virginia, on its conquest by Gen. George Rogers Clark, retained the county organization, which was formally extended over the State by the constitution of 1818, and continued in exclusive use until the constitution of 1848.

     "Under this system, as in other States adopting it, most local business was

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transacted by those commissioners in each county, who constituted a county court, with quarterly sessions.

     "During the period ending with the constitution of 1847, a large portion of the State had become filled up with a population of New England birth or character, daily growing more and more compact and dissatisfied with the comparatively arbitrary and inefficient county system. It was maintained by the people that the heavily populated districts would always control the election of the commissioners to the disadvantage of the more thinly populated sections-in short that under that system, 'equal and exact justice' to all parts of the county could not be secured.

     "The township system had its origin in Massachusetts, and dates back to 1635.

     "The first legal enactment concerning this system, provided that, whereas, 'particular towns have many things which concern only themselves, and the ordering of their own affairs, and disposing of business in their own town,' therefore, 'the freeman of every town, or the majority part of them, shall only have power to dispose of their own lands and woods, with all the appurtenances of said town, to grant lots, and to make such orders as may concern the well-ordering of their own towns, not repugnant to the laws and orders established by the General Court.'

     "They might also (says Mr. Haines) impose fines of not more than twenty shillings, and 'choose their own particular officers, as constables, surveyors for the highways, and the like.'

     "Evidently this enactment relieved the general court of a mass of municipal details, without any danger to the power of that body in controlling general measures or public policy.

     "Probably also a demand from the freemen of the towns was felt for the control of their own home concerns.

     "The New England colonies were first governed by a 'general court,' or legislature, composed of a governor and a small council, which court consisted of the most influential inhabitants, and possessed and exercised both legislative and judicial powers, which were limited .only by the wisdom of the holders.

     They made laws, ordered their execution by officers, tried and decided civil and criminal causes, enacted all manner of municipal regulations, and, in fact, did all the public business of the colony.

     "Similar provisions for the incorporation of towns were made in the first constitution of Connecticut, adopted in 1639; and the plan of township organization, as experience proved its remarkable economy, efficacy and adaptation to the requirements of a free and intelligent people, became universal throughout New England, and went westward with the emigrants from New England into New York, Ohio and other Western States."

     Thus we find that the valuable system of county, township and town organizations had been thoroughly tried and proven long before there was need of adopting it in Iowa, or any of the broad region west of the Mississippi river. But as the new country soon began to be opened, and as eastern people continued to move westward across the mighty river, and form thick settlements along its western shore, the Territory and State and county and township and town organizations soon followed in quick succession, and these different systems became more or less modified and improved, accordingly as deemed necessary by the experience and judg-

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ment and demands of the people, until they have arrived at the present stage of advancement and efficiency.

     In the settlement of the Territory of Iowa the legislature began by organizing counties on the Mississippi. As each new county was formed it was made to include, under legal jurisdiction, all the country bordering west of it, and required to grant to the occidental settlers electoral privileges and an equal share in the county government with those who properly lived in the geographical limit of the county, The counties first organized along the eastern border of this State were given, for a short time, jurisdiction over the lands and settlements adjoining each on the west, until these different localities became sufficiently settled to support organizations of their own; and finally, at the first session of the legislature, after the Indians sold out, the newly acquired territory, including all Northwestern Iowa, was laid off into counties, provisions were made for their respective organizations when the proper time should arrive, and these were severally named.

     Dallas was organized as a county, then, in pursuance of an act of the State Legislature of Iowa, approved February 16, 1847. In order to complete this organization, under the old Territorial law then in force, it was necessary to elect three county commissioners, one county commissioners' clerk, one clerk of district court, one treasurer and recorder, a sheriff, surveyor, judge of probate, prosecuting attorney, coroner, sealer of weights and measures, and a school fund commissioner, with the required number of justices of the peace and constables. For this purpose, at the same session of' the legislature, a sheriff was duly appointed and a special election was provided for, to be held on the first Monday of April, 1847, at which the, county officers and such justices of the peace and constables as might be ordered by the organizing sheriff, should be elected, The county officers elected under the provisions of this act were to hold their respective offices until the first Monday of August, 1847, and the justices and constables were to hold theirs until the first Monday of April, 1848,

     Eli Smithson was appointed organizing sheriff, to hold office until his successor was chosen, on Monday, the fifth day of April, 1847.

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