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CHAPTER XV.

HISTORY OF WOODBURY AND PLYMOUTH COUNTIES.
SIOUX CITY-Continued.

UNITED STATES LAND OFFICE AT SIOUX CITY-THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE OFFICE--TERRITORY EMBRACED--LIST OF OFFICERS, BY YEARS--BUSINESS
OF THE OFFICE-LAND WARRANTS - PRE-EMPTIONS-HOMESTEADS--CONTESTS--SELLING LANDS AT AUCTION--THE GREAT RUSH--REMOVAL OF THE OFFICE TO DES MOINES--FIVE MILLION ACRES REDUCED TO Two THOUSAND ACRES.

A GOVERNMENT land office was established at this point in the month of December, 1855, and continued nearly twenty-three years and did a vast amount of business. The district assigned
to it comprised all of the lands from and including range thirty-four, west to the Missouri river to about range forty-nine, an average distance of eighty-five miles, east and west; and reaching north from townships eighty-six to 100, inclusive, or about ninety miles, making the territory included nearly 8,000 square miles, or equal to 5,000,000 acres of land. This territory is now comprised in the counties of Lyon, Osceola, Dickinson, Sioux, 0' Brien, Woodbury, Clay, Plymouth, Cherokee, Buena Vista, Ida and Sac and the western tier of townships in Emmet, Palo Alto, Pocahontas and Calhoun counties.

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The following served as registers:

Dr. S. P. Yeomans, from 1855 to 1861; William H. Bigelow, from 1861 to 1864; S. T. Davis, from 1864 to November, 1866; F. M. Ziebach, from November, 1866 to March 4, 1867; William G. Stewart, from March 4, 1867 to June 1867, at which time he died; John Cleghorn, from July 19, 1867 to July 19, 1871; George H. Wright, from July 19, 1871, until the office' was closed and transferred to Des Moines in July, 1878.

The receivers of the office were Gen. Andrew Leech, from 1855 to 1860; Robert Means, from 1860 to 1861; James P. Edie, from 1861 to 1865; Dr. William Remsen Smith, from 1865 to March 1, 1867; Capt. C. L. Rozelle, from March 4, 1867, for a period of four days, his term expiring under the tenure-or-office act, a short interregnum fol-

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lowing; Dr, William R. Smith, from April 17, 1867, to the final closing of the office in July, 1878.

Locations and entries of public lands by individuals were made after a variety of methods, of which the following were the most usual: Location of land warrants issued by the government at various times, as a sort of bounty to soldiers who served in the war of 1812 and the Black Hawk and Mexican wars,

Purchasers for cash, in which the title passed from the government to individuals for a definite consideration as soon as the transfer could be made at the general land office at Washington.

Pre-emption, in which the purchaser is given one year's time from date of settlement thereon, in which to pay for land already offered for sale.

Location of Agricultural College scrip, which in 1862, was apportioned to the several states for the benefit of agriculture and mechanical arts.

Entry of land as homesteads, under an act of congress of 1862, which provided that persons living on such lands five years should receive a title to the same by the payment of the survey and other expenses. He who had served in the Union army during the Civil war was entitled to a reduction of time equivalent to the time he had served in the army.

Timber culture entries being provided for by acts of 1873-74 for the encouragement of tree-planting, provided the occupant a free title if he produced one-fourth of the tract in growing trees by the end of ten years.

The number of locations and entries at the Sioux City land office from date of opening, up to the last year it transacted business was as follows:

The years 1856-57 were the times when the most rushing business was done in land warrant locations and cash entries; but 1869 is noted as the year of the largest cash sales, the receipts from this source during that year being nearly $1,000,000. Some single days it went as high as $40,000. More homesteads were taken in 1871 than in

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any other one year, the number amounting to 1,950. During October of that year 411 were taken. The month of January, 1876, saw the greatest number of "final papers" proving up home-steads-there being 234.

The number of "contests" to which the land officers were called upon to attend to, reached far up in the thousands, many of them occupying two weeks' time.

The United States land office was, in years gone by, much of a help to Sioux City. It brought thousands of men from all parts of the east with money to invest in lands. We quote from the Sioux City" Journal," date of December, 1877, a description of the burning of the old land office building, in which that paper said: "'* * The material for this old landmark structure arrived from St. Louis on a steamboat in 1856, all-ready framed, to be, erected on Douglas street, above the corner of Sixth street. In it the first general election ever had by the Sioux City people was held; that was in August of 1856 -- the Buchanan-Fremont campaign. In this building was sold more land than at any other point along the Missouri slope. During the palmy days just preceding the collapse of 1857, time was, literally, money here in Sioux City. There were crowds of settlers and speculators who came here to locate land warrants and scrip, and it was impossible to transact, in any ordinary way, the business which pressed in upon them. A rule was therefore made that applicants for locations should register their names in the order of their arrival at the office, and that each should be allowed only ten minutes for business. There was a number of men who had no special business to attend to, who would register their names and then sell out their chance or "turn" to those who had warrants with which to locate lands. The usual price was $50 for each ten minutes, which was freely given, especially where the buyer stood near the foot of the long column of men seeking entrance. The seller would then go and register again, and dispose of his chance when it appreciated in value by nearing the top. Men were just wild, and the scramble was terrific. Prior to this plan, it was "first come, first served," but this soon led to such conflict and disorder it had to be changed. Men would remain up all night, forming a line leading to the office door, and he whose hand grasped the door-knob, slept there."

Selling lands by auction was followed, also, and Judge J. P. Alli-

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son was auctioneer. Sales were made in forty-acre lots, and no bid received under $1.25 per acre. Some tracts in Sioux county sold as high as $3.50 per acre. Sales .usual1y reached as high as a township per day, and one can hardly appreciate how tiresome it was to dispose of so much territory in such a short time.

With the close of the year 1877, an order from Washington removed the office (which had outlived its usefulness) to Des Moines. From 5,000,000 acres sold in 1856, the offerings had dwindled down to about 2,000 acres of land so rough as to be untillable. Just think of it! Only 2,000 acres in all northwestern Iowa which nobody wants!

The old land office building was used for a meat-shop until destroyed by fire in 1877. It was the earliest erected in Sioux City, and in it was deposited the first bal1ot cast hereabouts. The years have told profitable and unprofitable stories for those who so eagerly scrambled at the land office for titles to portions of Uncle Sam's domain, and the scene of their strife has gone with the memories of the great majority of those who engaged in them. Those who are now big folks, but who then were little folks, will no longer be reminded of those pioneer days by the sight of the old brown building, for it rests in ashes!

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CHAPTER XVI.

SIOUX CITY-Continued.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

THE OLDEST CHURCH--THE CITY NOTED FOR CHURCHES--THE PRESBYTERIAN-METHODIST--CONGREGATIONAL--BAPTIST--ROMAN CATHOLIC--LUTHERAN EVANGELICAL--CHRISTIAN--SWEDISH LUTHERAN--UNITY--LATTER DAY SAINTS--EPISCOPAL AND REFORMED CHURCH--YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

SIOUX CITY is pre-eminently a city of churches, for no place in Iowa outranks it in this respect. There are thirty-eight church organizations, and all have houses of worship but three.

Where the church spires and public school buildings are numerous, the "stranger within the gates"--no matter what his own belief may be--feels that he is in a safe and goodly abiding place. No better index can be given of a city than to learn of the welfare of its religious and educational institutions.

It will be the aim in this connection to give as much as possible concerning each society.

The oldest church organization of the city is the First Presbyterian, whose house of worship is on the corner of Sixth and Nebraska streets. According to its pastor, it was formed August 2, 1857.

In July, 1856, Rev. Charles D. Martin preached to this people at Sioux City. The original membership of the church was twelve, and the first pastor was Rev. Thomas M. Chestnut. Since then the pastors have been Revs. Stephen Phelps, A. E. Smith, E. H. Avery and George Knox. The present pastor, Rev. H. D. Jenkins, was installed December, 1889. The present membership is about 375, including its mission. Its home Sabbath-school numbers 225. The property held by the church is worth $65,000. A $5,000 parsonage was erected in 1889, and a new edifice is now being planned, the present building having a seating capacity of about only 400.

The Second Presbyterian church was formed in 1887, and has

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about fifty members. Their place of worship is situated on Cook street, between Fourth and Fifth. It has a seating capacity of 125. The property is valued at $6,000.

The Third Presbyterian church was formed in 1888, and is still a small society. Rev. H. C. Herring has charge of this and also of the Second Presbyterian church. The value placed upon the property of this society is $3,000.

The First Christian church, holding services in the court-house, was organized in 1888, and now numbers sixty-seven. Rev. R. A. Thompson is the present pastor.

Emerson Heights Christian church was organized in 1888. It now enjoys a membership of sixty devoted Christian workers. Their church property is valued at $3,200. The pastor of the First Christian church also presides over this society.

The First Congregational church is one of Sioux City's first religious denominations. It was in the fifties that believers in this faith petitioned Home Missionary Rev. Mr. Gurnsey, of Dubuque, to have a minister sent to this section. In July, 1857, two Congregational men were visited here by Rev. John Todd, of Tabor, with a view of organizing a church. It was deferred until August 9, when W. H. Bigelow, H. D. Clark and Ed. C. Foster, met with Mr. Todd at Bigelow & Chamberlain's banking house on Douglas street, between Sixth and Seventh streets, and effected the organization. No further services were held until 1859, when Rev. George Rice, of Onawa, held communion services and added eight to the church. Union services were held with the Presbyterian people in a school-house on Nebraska street, until the completion of the Presbyterian church. Early in 1861 they decided to call a pastor and worship alone. May 1, 1861, Rev. Marshall Tingley began his pastorate here, preaching his first sermon in the old council chamber town hall. The society passed through vicissitudes which befell so many early-day organizations. In 1868, by self-denial and liberality, the present frame edifice was completed and dedicated October 22, by Rev. Mr. Bull. Rev. Tingley was followed by Rev. J. H. Morley, who served for eight years. The frame building spoken of, stands just opposite the Oxford hotel, and has recently been sold, together with the lot, for many thousand dollars, and a new edifice is now about completed, on the corner of Nebraska and Eighth streets, that will seat 800 people. Its cost is to be

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$60,000, exclusive of a $4,000 pipe organ. The material of this edifice is Ohio sandstone. The present membership of the church is 350, and they own $75,000 worth of property.

Mayflower Congregational church, located on Center, between West Sixth and Seventh, has a seating capacity of 200. The valuation of the property is $3,600. The society was organized in 1887. Rev. R. W. Jamison is pastor.

Pilgrim Congregational church was organized in 1888, and now has a membership of 163. The society holds property worth $10,000. Their edifice seats 200 people, and it is located on Seventh street, between Wall and Iowa. Rev. J. E. McNamara is present pastor.

The first Methodist Episcopal church of Sioux City was organized in 1858. It is one of the pioneer church organizations in the place, and has ever been aggressive and zealous to the best religious interests of the city. Many of the most talented ministers of Iowa have, from time to time, been sent to this charge. Among those whose names will not soon be forgotten are Rev. Whitfield, Rev. R C. Glass, Rev. John Hogarth Lozier and George Haddock, all of whom were active workers, not alone in strict church work, but who became great prohibition leaders, and from the Methodist Episcopal pulpit sounded forth words of wisdom, which ere long were put into practical use by the citizens of the place in the suppression of intemperance. This, however, was not brought about until Rev. George Haddock's life was sacrificed at the hand of a saloon element mob, who shot him down in life's prime. Concerning this tragedy see full account elsewhere in this work. This church has occupied numerous buildings as a worshiping place. For many years their church was located on Pierce and Sixth streets, where the Corn Palace has been built four years in succession. They sold that property for about $12,000, and built, in 1883, their present beautiful brick edifice on the corner of Seventh and Nebraska streets. The seating capacity is 375. The total value of church and parsonage is $35,000. The present membership is 430. Rev. W. D. Johnson is the present pastor, a man of fine attainments. It is designed to place a $3,000 pipe organ in the church during the present year.

Grace Methodist Episcopal church, located at Morning Side, has the following history: Rev. RC. Glass began preaching at the little frame school-house at that point on the first Sabbath of November, 1888, to a little congregation made up of the scattered families residing

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in that outlying portion of Sioux City. A few weeks later a Sabbath school was formed, with I. N. Stone as superintendent, which numbered some forty members. Early in 1889 a class was organized with six members, consisting of Mrs. I. G. Whitfield, wife of the presiding elder, Rev. Wilmot Whitfield, Mrs. R. C. Glass, Miss Lula Glass, Mrs. Lizzie A. Andrews, and Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Simons. In the latter part of March, 1889, .the little society was duly organized and incorporated as Grace Methodist Episcopal church. The first board of trustees consisted of the following persons: E. C. Peters, James A. Jackson, F. H. Ludlow, Wilmot Whitfield, John T. Cheeney, R. C. Glass, E. D. Allen, H. E. Douglass and T. H. Stevens. Steps were at once taken to build a church edifice, which resulted in the erection of a beautiful brick structure, costing, with furnishings, about $10,000, which was dedicated to the worship of Almighty God, according to the forms peculiar to this church, December 1, 1889, by the Rev. Bishop Henry W. Warren, D. D., LL. D., in the presence of a large congregation. The church has continued to prosper, and at this date, August, 1890, numbers some forty members. Rev. R. O. Glass is still its pastor. He is also connected with the new university, now being built at Morning Side [see history elsewhere J. Rev. Wilmot Whitfield was presiding elder at the date Grace church was formed, and the same board still holds, with the exception of A. S. Garretson, recently added.

Haddock Memorial church, on the corner of Steuben and Fifth streets, Rev. J. B. Kilbourn, pastor, was organized in 1886. It now has a membership of 140. The seating capacity of their neat chapel is 225. The total value of church property is $10,000.

The Norwegian-Danish Methodist Episcopal church, on Iowa street, Rev. James Peterson, pastor, was organized in 1881, and enjoys a membership of eighty-five. The seating capacity of their church is 125, and the value of church property is $5,000.

The German Mission holds services at a private place on Omaha street; Rev. Frank E. Moll is superintendent.

The German Methodist church, located on Steuben, between Third and Fourth streets, Rev. C. A. Schuldt, pastor, was organized in 1886, and has a membership of fifty. The value of church property is $8,000. The seating capacity of their chapel is 125.

The African Methodist Episcopal church, on Main and Sixth

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streets, Rev. S. McDonell, pastor, was formed in 1884, and now has a membership of fifty. The seating capacity of their church building is 200. Total value of property, $4,000.

The First Baptist church of Sioux City was organized in 1860, and now is one of the strongest in the city. It has a membership of over 550. Their property, which is valued at $50,000, stands in the very heart of the city. The estimated wealth of its membership is $4,000,000. The present pastor is Rev. C. H. Strickland.

Immanuel church, Oto, between Fifth and Sixth streets, was organized in 1886, and now has a membership of seventy. Rev. A. O. Blackman is pastor. Their building seats 350 persons, and the total value of their property is placed at $3,500.

Fourth Baptist church, located on Fourth street, between Howard and Clark, was organized in 1888, and numbers fifty-five. J. W. Bees is pastor. The supposed value of this society's property is $8,000.

The First Swedish Baptist church is located on Virginia and Tenth streets. It was formed in 1874, and numbers thirty-five. Valuation of property, $7,500; L. J. Ahlstrom, pastor.

St. Thomas Episcopal church was one of the first organized (in 1857), and they erected a frame chapel in 1859, which building served until 1870, when it was enlarged, and again added to in 1882. In June, 1890, the property was sold and another site procured. The original location was the corner of Seventh and Nebraska streets, and their recent purchase is on the corner of Twelfth and Douglas streets, upon which ground it is proposed to erect a magnificent edifice to cost $50,000, the plans for which are now being made in New York.

The present membership of this society is 275. The following have served as rectors: Rev. M. Hoyt, Rev. George W. Pratt, Rev. W. W. Esterbrook, Rev. L. Ramsey, Rev. Richard Ellerby, Rev. William Richmond, Rev. George H. Cornell. The present (1890) officials are: Wardens, Luther C. San born, William D. Irvine; vestrymen, J. C. French, W. H. Beck, George D. Hicks, J. H. Bolton, J. M. B. Floyd, H. G. Pierce. The first vestrymen were elected in November, 1859, as follows: James M. Bacon, H. C. Bacon, William R. Smith, John H. Charles, John P. Allison, George Weare.

St. Paul's Episcopal church was erected in 1885 at a cost of $1,200. It seats, 150 persons. It is located on the corner of West Sixth and Center streets. The present membership of the society is

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seventy-two. The rectors have been William Richmond, W. E. Jacob and E. H. Gaynor.

Calvary church (Episcopal) is situated at Morning Side. It is a new society there. A chapel was erected in 1889 at a cost of $1,000. It has a seating capacity of about 150 persons. The present rector is Rev. E. H. Gaynor.

The First Swedish Mission (Lutheran) church, corner of Court and Seventh streets, Rev. F. O. Hultman, pastor, was organized in 1874. It now has a membership of 250. Their new church edifice, built in 1889, seats 300 and cost $15,000. Total value of property, $25,000.

The Swedish Lutheran Augustana church is one of the finest in the city; it was dedicated in February, 1890, and is located on the corner of Sixth and Court streets. It is built of Sioux City pressed brick, arranged in Gothic style. Its size is 54x98 feet, and has a tower 115 feet high. The seating capacity of the building is over 1,000. The present membership of the society is 400. The pastor, Rev. A. P. Martin, a native of Sweden, has been in charge since 1886. The church is in a flourishing condition, and possesses a property valued at $45,000. The Swedes are a church-going people. "America need not be afraid of them-they love Sweden as their mother and America as their bride."

The German Evangelical church, on Jennings street, is the home of the society which was formed in 1889, and now enjoys a working membership of fifty. They have a neat church, valued at $7,000. Rev. W. Jones is the pastor.

The Trinity English Lutheran was formed in September, 1886, by Rev. D. L. MacKenzie, the present pastor. The membership is now sixty-three, with a Sabbath-school of 150. They own a fine church property on Eleventh and Nebraska streets, dedicated in May, 1889. Its cost was $10,000 aside from the $5,000 grounds. Only $100 stood against the entire property in 1889.

The First Unity church, one of the most refined and popular societies in the city, dedicated May 5, 1889, a beautiful church on pouglas street; it seats 600 people and cost $20,000. The society is a strong and growing one. It now has a membership of 325. Its devoted ministers are Revs. Mary Safford and Elinor Gordon. It may be added, this church is noted for fine music. A $3,000 pipe organ was placed in the church a few months since.

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St. Mary's Catholic church was organized in 1863. Its present congregation numbers 4,000 souls. They owned a $75,000 church property (including lot) on the corner of Sixth and Pierce streets, which was sold and torn down in July and August, 1890. It was a brick structure with a seating capacity of 600. A new edifice is being erected on Tenth street, costing $50,000, intended for the cathedral of the Northwestern Iowa diocese. The new building has 2,000 sittings and IS to contain a $4,000 pipe organ. At the time of gathering this data Father T. Treacy was pastor of the congregation.

St. Boniface Catholic church was. formed in 1886, and now has a membership of 400. The value of their church property is $12,000. Rev. J. A. Gurlman is pastor. Their building is on Main street and West Fifth.

St. Rose Catholic church, at Morning Side, was organized in 1888, and has become a prosperous society, numbering about 200 souls. Their new church building and grounds are quite valuable.

The French Catholic church was formed in 1889, and has a membership of seventy-five souls. A neat chapel was completed in 1890, which, with the lot, is valued at $7,000. It stands on Seventh, between Pearl and Water streets. Its seating capacity is 250.

Grace Reformed church, corner Cook and Sixth streets, was organized in 1888, and has a membership of twenty-six. Rev. F. Wetzel is the pastor. Services are now held at Smith's hall.

The Sioux City branch of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was formed May 20, 1885, and now numbers about twenty-five. The headquarters of this society, for Iowa, is at Lamoni, Decatur county, and the nearest branch to Sioux City is at Little Sioux, where there are about 200 members.

Trefoldigheds church, Rev. K. Skyburg, pastor, northeast corner of West Sixth and Bluff streets, was organized in 1872. It now has a membership of ninety. The cost of their edifice was $3,000 and of the parsonage, $2,000. The church seats 250 persons.

Zion Norwegian church, north side of Seventh, between Court and Iowa, Rev. H. Yderstad, pastor, was organized in 1885, and has a membership of seventy-five. The church seats 125 and the property is valued at $1,200.

St. Paul's Evangelical church, Rev. O. Runge, pastor, was formed in 1875 and has a membership of sixty-six. The property of this society is valued at $10,000.

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St. John's church (Norwegian), on the corner of Court and Sixth streets, Rev. L. Harrisville, pastor, was formed in 1884, and now has a membership of seventy-five. A small edifice stands on property worth $8,000.