CHAPTER VII.

EARLY PROFESSIONAL MEN.

A unique company assembled at Newcastle in the late summer of 1851. A Methodist exhorter named Hughes visited our town at the solicitation of Uncle Billy Stanley. Elder Hughes hoped to be able to establish a permanent ministerial circuit; so, a camp-meeting was called to convene at our home. The season was not an auspicious one, for company. Almost no crops had been raised, but although material benefits were withheld we were very glad to be alive and well.

Invitations were sent to the settlers about the country at Fort Dodge, Homer, Pea Ridge and Marshalltown. Large numbers attended and remained over the four days' session. The attendants from the military post at Fort Dodge brought with them a well-filled list of commissary supplies which was most fortunate for them-and for us. Several Indians were present and brought in game every day.

Arrangements were made for cooking out of doors under a pole frame-work covered with boughs which furnished protection from sunshine or a light shower. Forked sticks supported the poles from which were suspended the cooking-pots. Meat was stewed in the half-barrel sized kettles which were utilized-at other times-for sugar-sap or soft soap boiling. These meat orders were pieced out with jerked venison and smoked fish. Some of the settlers brought supplies of coffee and potatoes.

For potato baking a hole was dug in the ground and partly filled with heated stones, upon which the potatoes were placed. Ashes and live coals were heaped on top of them and they were left until done. The Indian bucks were adepts at potato roasting.

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Several days before the date of the meeting we were kept busy in preparation. The corn-cracker was worked overtime to furnish a sufficiency of meal. Elder Hughes arrived a couple of days ahead of the company. In order that the supply of corn-dodger might be kept in advance of consumption he suggested that we at once begin baking. This was done; and the cakes were corded in rows on the shelves of the cabin. The fatted sheep was prepared for the feast, but the quality of mutton-stew on that occasion, today would not influence a prodigal's return to his home and family.

Groups of from two to four attendants arrived afoot. The same number tramped beside a horse or took turns in riding the beast, and whole families came with oxen and covered-wagons.

The tents which we had brought from the East still were in fair condition and with the prairie-schooners were utilized for shelter and sleeping quarters. It, however, was more comfortable to rest at night in the open air in close proximity to the many smudges. The mosquito was no respector of members of either secular or religious assemblies; and billions strong, his industrious family demanded attention night and day.

The sessions were held in the edge of the grove and were characterized by their length and monotony. The exhorter taxed his powers of endurance in speech and ours in listening. Several of the visitors signified their desire to follow the lowly Master, but I did not identify myself with the movement.

The week was a memorable one to me. Not because it was the first religious gathering, but on account of the week's strenuous work of cooking for the crowd of hungry attendants. The copious supply of spiritual food dispensed by Elder Hughes in no way reduced the physical appetite of the apostles of faith. Many of the visitors assisted in preparing the meals, but I never have been able to appreciate the effort which was necessary to care for the members of the assemblage.

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Early Ministers.

I suppose that Rev. Bird, of Des Moines, or Elder Hughes arranged for other itinerant exhorters to serve us, for Elder Johns often came to us from Boonsboro. Joshua Housework presided at the meeting-house services, intermittently, during the winter of 1851 and 1852. Jamie Woods, a young man of Scotch extraction and ministerial aspirations, came west in 1851. This young disciple acted as spiritual advisor and Sunday-school leader during the absence of Reverend Housework. He also cheerfully assisted the settlers in logging, rail-mauling or other heavy labor. So far as I know he did not receive any compensation for his services in church-work; although a minister's keep, such as it might be, always was assured.

The unusual wedding ceremony mentioned elsewhere, seemed to open the way for numerous pastoral calls on the Schultz family. Jamie began to pay court to Hulda Schultz, sister of the bride. Everybody in the settlement loved the young preacher, but Hulda said she did not think she was cut out for a minister's wife. Woods remained here about a year, and unfortunately for us, procured a pastorate in another location.

It is doubtful whether some of the early exhorters were authorized preachers, or the early lawyers authorized attorneys. They came and went in much the same way and if the practice was irregular no one objected.

Spiritually we were served occasionally, during the winter of 1852 and 1853, by Elder Kent-and an exhorter named David Eckerson, with Judson Barkus as resident helper and Sunday-school superintendent. While Elder Kent traveled our district he met and married Mrs. Haviland, an early resident of Webster county who, compared with many other pioneers, was well provided with this world's goods. Elder Ezra Rathbun and Elder Jones also came from Des Moines at long intervals.

Attention to domestic and material interests made the trips of brother Kent less frequent and they finally ceased

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altogether. Following Kent, Eckerson and Barkus were the regular circuit riders Montgomery, Skinner and Day, whom many of our town's people remember, along with the itinerants of the various religious denominations.

There was no sect or creed distinction in the early church work. If the ministers were listed or labeled no one seemed to know it. Assistance and advice seemed to be the purpose of the leaders and for a long time no denominational differences arose.

Second Public Meeting Place.

I attended Sunday-school services at the Stanley cabin, and there learned verses from the New Testament which was presented to me by granny Peabody, who periodically came to our cabin in the capacity of midwife.

The growth and attendance at both the sacred and secular services made it necessary to change the meeting place; so a building at Division and Union streets-a log dwelling occupied by the Wheeler family who kept a stock of supplies-was chosen. Day-school sessions also were held here with Mrs. Wheeler as teacher until another change was necessary.

Lawyers.

The summer of 1852 brought two young attorneys, Jasper Jackson and Joel Benton, who were seeking a location in our new country.

The first-named member of the proposed firm of "Jackson and Benton," declared himself to be a lineal descendant of the former president, Andrew Jackson. The claim of an illustrious progenitor, however, did not seem to impress the pioneers who were diligently striving to subdue nature and compel her to smile upon and approve personal effort.

Jackson and Benton were extremely bright and genial young men. They made some very excellent business suggestions which for the time were not followed. They advised against the slipshod methods of taking, staking, and

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trading claims without record; they sought to show that it was unbusinesslike to assume a financial obligation without requiring a note or mortgage security; they warned us that the then prevailing " 'pon honor" rule eventually would prove troublesome if not disastrous.

These law partners, who had been student chums, remained at our home nearly all summer. They made trips to Fort Dodge and Homer, in addition to visiting the various settlers about the country. Finally they decided that the settlements were too remote from each other for profitable work. They made the jesting remark as they departed for Dubuque: "If you succeed in locating a county seat we will return."

It elsewhere has been recorded that our family accepted no pay for entertainment of newcomers. The evening before their departure Jackson and Benton requested that the bill for board and lodging be prepared for them.

They were assured that no charge would be made. They insisted, but the proffer of money resolutely was refused. The next morning they set out, afoot, upon their journey.

Dinner-time arrived. In the iron. pot beside the fireplace we found a buckskin pouch containing three golden eagles; quite enough money at that time to have purchased the claim of a discouraged, home-sick settler.

The following spring Wesley Brown, a prepossessing but unassuming young man, with rather the manner of a minister than of a lawyer, came to us from a frontier town in Wisconsin. The young attorney walked the entire distance. In addition to his light clerical work, he willingly performed daily manual labor.

Brown remained until displaced by William Berkley, who went to Homer from Illinois in the fall of 1852, and later came to Newcastle. Berkley's assertive, aggressive personality marked a striking contrast from the quiet manner and conscientious work of his predecessors. He went into any case or game to win--for Berkley--and the success of a client or welfare of the community was incidental.

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William Berkley remained in Newcastle for several years and prospered financially.

Doctors.

The full-fledged disciples of Aesculapius were not welcomed among us with the enthusiasm which promised remunerative returns, for it was difficult to displace the home-prepared roots-and-herbs remedies. Our first doctor was a young man named Lester Prentiss, who came from our old Indiana home in 1852, and stayed with us during the summer and fall.

The predisposition of people to be 'taken sick" during the stormiest weather is proverbial. The change from short trips and comfortable methods of travel to long trips on almost impassable roads was very discouraging. Besides, in some families, male doctors were not popular. Competition, at that time, was not the life of trade nor could any division of profits be considered. The "old grannies" freely contributed their home-made dope and graciously threw in their services, so the young physician deserted our aspiring hamlet and returned to Indiana.

Doctor Prentiss was followed by Benjamin Hamilton, M. D., and Doctor Sterling. Both were elderly men, but were unsuccessful and did not remain permanently. Dr. DeTarr, of Boonsboro, occasionally was called to our settlement.

Doctors of medicine, for many years, ministered to the sick as an avocation while pursuing some other kind of work such as storekeeping, milling, drug-handling or tavern-keeping. Doctor Benedict, a man of worth and wisdom, supplemented his professional earnings by working as a day-laborer.

An army surgeon, Charles Keeney, was stationed at the military post in Fort Dodge, from 1850 to 1853, but I do not think he visited us professionally. As time passed the lists included doctors Baum, Cochran, Sage, Coyle, Jewel, Spears and others. Dr. Hampton Corbin, of Homer,

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declared the country to be disgustingly healthful. The story still facetiously is told that at Hook's Point it was necessary to kill a man in order to locate a graveyard.

CHAPTER VIII.

INDIAN RECIPROCITY.

We never were troubled with Indians, although bands of Pottawattamies must have broken camp shortly before our arrival. We found many newly cut coon trees along the river and fresh camp-fire ashes at various points.

Small numbers of Indians often came to our home and swapped supplies or sold canoes and trenchers-wooden dishes. They committed no depredations, however, nor did they evince any animosity at our presence. They were absolutely honest in dealing with our family and manifested a well developed degree of reciprocity. A case in point:

During the summer of 1850 Little Bill Brewer, who was to make a trip to Des Moines for supplies came up from Hope Hollow and requested that I keep his wife company during his absence. Permission was given and we began the trip on his pony. I rode sidewise behind my cousin and clung tenaciously to his knit galluses, for I was in continual danger of falling off backward and in momentary dread of pitching forward into the mud.

While the pony was laboring through a particularly bad portion of swamp a quartet of barebreasted Indians--one a boy about my own age--approached us upon the right. We drew rein and manifested our friendliness. They wanted to trade for tobacco but as my cousin had none with him the redskins accompanied us to his home and were supplied with the commodity.

The horse showed signs of fatigue from the trip and one of the braves dismounted, deftly lifted me from behind my cousin, placed me upon his own pony and the rest of the journey was made by this stalwart son of the plains walking beside his mount.

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Before the visitors departed northward the moccasins, but newly worn by the Indian boy, were presented to me by "Star-Point." This name we concluded must be correct since he touched reverently, one by one, the points of a large crimson star tattooed upon his breast, and with fingers indicating the number of points he swept his hand toward the heavens.

The gift in itself was of little consequence; but I have remembered the occurrence as evidence of the untaught instinct of equitable exchange.

The third day after the departure of Little Bill for Des Moines, Star-Point and the young boy returned afoot. A deer had been killed and dressed by them. On a pole, the ends of which rested on the Indian's shoulders, was suspended by the feet the carcass which they wished to trade for tobacco. Finding my cousin away they indicated their desire to remain until his return. They jerked the venison which had been brought for our use, and at night slept on the ground outside the cabin door. During the following days they hunted and cured the game taken.

The wife of Little Bill was a young woman, and I a girl; but we did not think of being afraid of the Indians. Throughout the four days' sojourn they resigned themselves to the delay quite as a matter of course; and their repose of manner, their attitude of patient assurance, inspired confidence--instead of fear.

Mail; Indian Hunters.

For some time the various settlers acted as mail-carriers. Whoever made a business trip to Des Moines, and later to Homer, brought the mail for any of the other families. The first mail-route was covered, alternately, by Amos Brewer and Jim Doty the early part of 1852. The same season Doty was elected sheriff. The carriers rode our horse to Des Moines at intervals of a few weeks, more or less, according to weather and condition of the trail.

The season "Long Tom" came into our possession he

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was the heroic figure in a life-saving episode-or so his rider declared.

The day was mild and sunny and the tired mail-carrier must have dozed in his saddle as he crossed the prairie southwest of our settlement. As he came opposite a point of timber at about the Low Lawn farm, he was startled by five or six redskins who were camped in the shelter of the trees. They suddenly sprang forward gesticulating vehemently. The Indian vernacular sounded hostile to Amos; he did not wait for explanations but beat the ribs of "Long Tom" with his boot-heels, and the surprised animal made a record run for home.

A frightened backward glance by the fleeing carrier assured him that the savages had mounted their ponies and were in pursuit. This fact lent strength to the heels of the rider who spurred the energies of the excited horse. The mail-carrier was greatly disgusted when, soon after he reached home, the red skins rode into our yard and peaceably unfolded the account of a buffalo-hunt which had extended from the western borders of the state.

A bunch of seven animals had been separated from the herd; these were followed by the Indians who now sought our help to pursue and kill them.

Buffalo Hunt.

Jack was sent to notify Major Brassfield at Hook's Point. He was requested to take the trail where the Indians had camped, while our men were to take separate lines in a westerly direction and draw together at a designated camping-place. Early in the morning the Indians, my father, two brothers, Isaac Lyon and Sam Schultz began the buffalo-hunt.

The first day there was nothing to report except that the trail and grazing-place were located. It was agreed that the next day the horsemen should make a circuitous detour and turn, if possible, the buffaloes back toward the footmen. On the afternoon of the second day the bunch

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of bison was located in what now is Webster county, at an old wallow where the animals had herded during the earlier years.

The Indians with their ponies were masters at the rounding-up and some of our hunters were expert as riflemen. A common expression was: "If Brewer or Brassfield draws a bead on game the critter is as good as dead."

A racing buffalo, however, is not so easy to shoot. Evening was approaching before the sixth animal was killed; and the gathering darkness gave opportunity for the bull to escape, although he carried several musket-balls in his anatomy.

These buffaloes were, as far as I know, the only ones seen after our arrival. Two of them were shot by Major Brassfield; one each by my father and brother; the other two were killed by the Indians; and the red skins doubtless bagged the wounded bull on the way back to their hunting-ground.

When the town of Homer began to develop metropolitan aspirations a regular line of communication was established between that place and Newcastle; and "Long Tom" equipped with saddle-bags was ridden by Bob Turner who brought the mail from our friends in the East. When our town was officially platted, Rob Martin was named as postmaster.

Hardships of Mail Service.

Harris Hoover who several years later, was in the mail-service on the northern Iowa frontier, often recounted experiences in which he swam swollen streams, braved freezing blizzards, imperiled his life on ice-fields and daily faced the possibility of attack by wild beasts or Indians. The human animal invariably pressed into the breach and proved his endurance when the weather was too severe for a horse. One incident follows:

Hoover started afoot to cover his route on the north fork of the Des Moines river. The weather was bitterly

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cold and the snow untracked except for the trails of wild animals. He kept to the river for guidance, although this course made the distance much greater.

For several hours a pair of wolves had been skulking along the river's bank and occasionally howled a hideous chorus as an accompaniment to his march. He started a fire at midday to thaw his frozen victuals. While resting and eating, the wolves were more obtrusive in their attentions. They came so closely upon him during the afternoon that he threw off his knapsack, loaded and primed his gun, and prepared to shoot at least one of the creatures and, perhaps, frighten the other away.

Two shots rang out from the river's bank before the carrier fired, and the wolves dropped dead in their tracks. Hoover held the rifle to his shoulder and awaited developments. Soon three Indians approached him from the right and indicated to him that they were hungry. They poured the contents of the mail-pouch upon the snow, but as it contained no food, replaced the letters and returned it to the carrier.

The white man divided his supply of jerked venison and corn-cake with the savages. They pointed out a shortcut across the prairie and, for many miles, trudged ahead of him through the deep snow to his destination. Hoover often expressed his gratitude for their friendliness and companionship at that time.

All Night in a Tree.

My brother, John Thomas, on one of his trips to the Bill Funk woods, was not so fortunate in locating himself as Roll had been on the trip to Homer. The boy set out with bow and arrows to hunt squirrels. The purpose of squirrel hunts was not to supply meat but to furnish light, unsalable skins for children's mittens which were made from the uncut skin with fur inside.

The bulldog, when not helping the hunting canines, was the boy's constant companion and accompanied him on this

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trip. The young hunter kept within the river's range for some time but a frisky squirrelled him astray. Scanning the tree-tops instead of paying attention to the trail, he soon realized that he was lost so sat down to think it over.

He had no gun to discharge which might attract attention and no means of making a signal fire or lighting a torch. He could shout, but unless a searching party were near he could not be heard; and of course, no one would be alarmed at his absence, at least, until nightfall.

The lad tried to send the bulldog home but Lockjaw whined and refused to leave him. The dog's master never before had been so far from his mother and thought he never had seen such mammoth trees or so many of them. The sun was not visible but he continued the effort to locate himself by reaching the river or coming out on the prairie. The usual perverseness of confused travelers pursued him and he could not escape from the timber belt.

The evening shadows began to deepen and he knew he must spend the night in the woods. He dared not sleep on the ground for fear of being devoured by wolves. Lockjaw could have protected him from one member of almost any forest family, but the dog could not be relied upon to kill a pack.

An immense tree with low-growing limbs and a grapevine decoration was selected as the place for his night's vigil. He took off his wampus and arranged a band about the body of the dog just back of the fore-legs, and a slender grapevine was attached to the band. Retaining his hold on the free end of the vine, he climbed the tree and selected as comfortable a crotch as was available. The dog was hoisted to a crotch below the one selected for himself, and the two were located for the night.

Meanwhile, the family were wondering as bedtime approached why the youth did not return. An older hunter we did not look for until he arrived, no matter whether he was gone a day or a week. Nothing could be done however until morning, and we did nothing.

Morning came; but the boy did not. Jack was in-

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structed to scout down one side of the river and Roll down the other side, keeping within shouting distance of each other. Father struck out south toward the trapping camp of a half dozen Indians which was located in the Biernatski bottom. He explained the reason for his visit. The red skins at once circled out into the forest with the air of confidence that meant the successful termination of the search. One of the squaws, an unsolicited assistant, signified her intention of canoeing up the river.

Daybreak had signalled John Thomas and Lockjaw from the tree. The boy decided from the early morning lighting of the heavens that his directions could be straightened. He, however, took the precaution of trimming twigs from the saplings along his course so someone could trail him if his calculations were incorrect.

He was making his way through the Briggs' timber about the middle of the forenoon, when he heard a prolonged whistle shrilled through the air. Joyfully he shouted a reply and ran in the direction of the sound. A few rods brought him to the river's brink where the squaw was patiently waiting. The lost was found; but he was not disposed to trust himself to the tender mercies of an unknown Indian woman. The bulldog, contrary to his usual unsociableness, immediately made friends with the squaw by frisking about, fawning at her feet, leaping into the canoe and bounding from the reluctant boy to the gesticulating canoeist with such apparent understanding of her good intentions that at length the lad decided to accompany her.

The long piercing whistle again was sounded. When camp was reached two of the bucks already had returned. A signal gun was fired. Soon another and another as answers from different directions, and two from the distant hunters up the river.

The squaws were so solicitous for the comfort of the lad that he feared they were going to keep him with the band. He was overjoyed, however, when pap pulled into camp. After the hungry boy and dog had been fed they

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made good time toward home where Jack and Roll already had arrived. Jack had discovered the trimmed saplings and found the wanderer had crossed his own trail several times in his circuitous meandering. Eventually he would have been overtaken by his pursuers had not the search been terminated by the squaw.

John Thomas declared he could not be lost a second time; but as he lived to be but a few years older the opportunities for testing his assertion were not numerous.

Four members of our family were claimed by death within seven months: father, Jack, John Thomas and Julia Ann. My youngest sister, Mrs. F. L. Meeks, was born during this period of affliction.

Indian Guests.

Two Indian bucks enroute from Iowa City to Sioux City on government business stayed at our cabin all night. The evening was spent in explaining to the boys their method of reckoning time and counting. I still remember the numerals to ten, although I do not know the correct spelling or to which tribe division or tongue they belong.

The braves used many English words and were efficient in expressing their wishes by signs and sounds. Their twelve moons correspond to our calendar. The flower moon, corn moon, hunting moon and snow moon represent May, September, December and February respectively, with other subdivisions. Distance they measured by a day's journey on foot, and the time of day is noted by the sun's rising, its setting time, and noon mark. The balance of the day is sleeping time.

It is quite remarkable that prairie fires did not escape control and reach the forests in this locality, but there had been no fire damage to timber. The red men were very careful when using the prairie fire method of corraling game. A band of Indians would encircle several miles of area heading game toward a central point. When within an agreed upon circular line the hunters, at a proper dis-

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tance apart, would fire the grass and form a ring of backfired surface. When the bare, burned space was completed the grass in the enclosure was ignited, burned toward the center and the game was caught within the flaming wall.

Numbers of the animals, seeking freedom, dashed through the fire only to be blinded, burned and finally shot by the Indians who were dosing in on the suffocating creatures at the center of the fire-screen. The "fire-corral" method was a notoriously cruel one and only was practiced when the need for food was imperative. It was not thought to be sportsmanlike; besides, the buckskins were more or less damaged by the heat.

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Chapter 9