History of Cass County, Iowa - 1884

History of Cass County, Iowa
Springfield, Ill., Continental Historical Co., 1884. 1 v. in 2 parts.

Unless otherwise noted, biographies submitted by Dick Barton.

CHARLES MARSH, a brother of W. F. Marsh, resides in Exira township, Audubon county. He first settled on section 12, of Benton township, where he entered a quarter section and lived until March 1, 1884. He was born in Sharon, Litchfield county, Connecticut, in 1828. He was married to Elizabeth Millhollen, daughter of William Millhollen, an early settler of Benton township. They have five children – George, Anna, Eva, Isadora and Louisa. They have lost two sons – Franklin and Earl.

The father of the Marsh brothers, died in Pennsylvania, in April, 1830. Their mother came here and lived with her children till her death in 1867, at the age of seventy-nine years. The brothers have spent some time in prospecting and mining in Colorado. Charles went there in 1859, and remained till 1864. W. F. went in 1860, and came home in 1863 Both W. F. and Charles Marsh have been Republicans since the organization of that party, and still fight under that banner.

EZRA M. MARSH is a native of Grant county, Indiana, born January 16, 1840. He is a son of Enoch and Sidnie Marsh. Enoch Marsh with two of his daughters, Margaret and Minerva, came to Cass county in the fall of 1870, and bought a farm in section 22, Bear Grove township. The following spring he was joined by his wife, who was in feeble health having suffered from a paralytic stroke. She died in this township in 1876. Enoch Marsh has since his wife's death, lived a portion of the time, with his son Ezra, and the remainder of hiss time at Atlantic. Ezra Marsh came to Cass county in the fall of 1871. He was accompanied by his wife and two children. The first year they lived on the farm with his father, then settled on the farm they now occupy. It contains one hundred and sixty acres, located on sections 22 and 27. His residence is on 27. He was married June 6, 1860, in Grant county, Indiana, to Mary Louisa Evans, daughter of William M. Evans. She was born January 1, 1844. Ezra Marsh enlisted in September 1863, in Company K, Fortieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, as a recruit and joined the regiment at Columbia, Tennessee. He was in the famous battle of Franklin, Tennessee, in December 1864, and later at Nashville, and with General Thomas in pursuit of Hood's army as long as that army had an existence. They were in winter quarters at Huntsville, Alabama. He was honorably discharged June 16, 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Marsh have five children – Alice M., Rosa Belle, Joseph R., Minnie and George Leroy.

JESSE A. MARSH is a native of Grant county, Indiana, born August 8, 1844. He is a son of Benjamin and Mary Marsh, both of whom died in Grant county. Jesse A. Marsh and Margaret S. Howard were married November 6, 1868. She is a native of the same county, born March 2, 1846, and is a daughter of William and Ruth Howard. The former is now living with Mr. and Mrs. Marsh. The latter died in Grant county in 1876, and purchased eighty acres of improved land in section 15, of Bear Grove township, where they now live. He enlisted February 1, 1865, in company D, of the One Hundred and Fifty-third Indiana Infantry, and served until the regiment was mustered out of the service. Mr. and Mrs. Marsh have no children of their own, but are bringing up a child, Delila J. Morehead, born July 22, 1868.

LORENZO DOW MARSH, one of Cass county's pioneers, was born January 1, 1818, in Gurnsey county, Ohio, where he lived until he reached manhood. He removed with his parents, Jesse and Rachel Marsh, to Indiana, where they (the parents) died, near Marion, Grant county. There the subject of this sketch and Hannah Moore, were married, October 28, 1841. She was born January 4, 1823, near Dayton, Ohio. Her parents, Isaac and Rachel Moore, moved to Wayne county, Ohio, and later, to Indiana. They both died in Bear Grove, their last years being spent with Mr. and Mrs. Marsh, who removed hither in 1860, thus becoming pioneers of what is now Cass county. Mr. Marsh says, “then we had no near neighbors except wolves,” The first year he rented land and built a house and broke a little ground upon his present farm. His purchase was three hundred and sixty acres of land, to which they removed during the first winter. Mr. Marsh died on the anniversary of his birth, at his home here, aged fifty-five. His widow retains the homestead, and one hundred and twenty acres, the balance of the land was divided among their children, of whom there were ten, eight are now living – Isaac, of Villisca, Iowa; Enoch W., of this township; Eveline, wife of Ephraim Martin, of Lewis; James, of Davis county, Iowa; William, living in Holt county, Nebraska; Rachel, wife of J. McFadden; Ray, of this county; Lorenzo Dow and Almeda, at home. Mr. Marsh was a member of the Second Iowa Cavalry, company D. He was discharged in consequence of injuries received by being thrown from his horse. He remained in the hospital six months previous to his discharge. Enoch W. Marsh, second living son of L. D. and Hannah Marsh, was born October 8, 1846, and came with his parents to this county in 1860. He remained with them until his marriage to Catherine Underwood, daughter of Jesse and Mary Underwood, of Pleasant township, Cass county, formerly of Ohio. She was born May 4, 1851, and they were married April 28, 1875. They have two children – Laura Emily, born March 8, 1878, and Willis Woodward, born October 29, 1882. Mr. Marsh resides on section 19, upon one hundred and sixty acres, part of his father's original purchase.

WALTER F. MARSH resides upon the southwest quarter of the south west quarter of section 12, Benton township. The forty on which he lives, was pre-empted by Anson Brown in 1853 or '54. Mr. Marsh bought the pre-emption right of Mr. Brown in 1855. In the fall of the same year he pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres, comprising the southeast quarter of section 11, on which he built his first house. His farm still consists of the above described land. At the time of Mr. Marsh's settlement here there were living in what is now Benton township the following settlers: Stillman H. Perry, who, several years since returned to his native State, Pennsylvania; Anson Brown, now in Kansas; James Montgomery, who removed to Missouri and is now deceased, and Mrs. Elizabeth Eagen whose husband was killed here, by the running away of his horse. The above named all lived on Crooked Creek. Jefferson Goodale was living on section 6. He is now dead, but his family still own the homestead. Mr. Marsh came here in company with his brother, Charles Marsh. Walter F. Marsh was born in Sharon, Litchfield county, Connecticut, in September, 1825. He removed to Pennsylvania with his parents when six years old. He was brought up in that State, and married to Arralutia Minkler, a native of Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, born in 1830. Mr. and Mrs. Marsh have ten children, five sons and five daughters – Helen A., Parthena B., Horatio W., Zelotes C., Albert H., Chester E., Walter E., Phoebe G., Florence A., and Olive. They have lost two children – Arabelle and Estella.

MICHAEL MARSHALL, resides on section 30, where he owns two hundred and eighty acres of land, upon which he settled in 1871. All was at that time wild, raw prairie, but before many years had elapsed he had improved his farm, planted trees and built a fine residence. His house is of frame, two stories, and cost about $2,700, and he has besides this, a tenant house on the same section. Mr. Marshall was born in Ireland, and is the son of Michael and Ella Marshall. He came to America when about eight years of age, and first settled in Champaign county, Ohio, where he made his home until 1874, when he came to Cass county. He was married to Betsy Gafney, a native of Ireland. They have been blessed with five children: Michael, Thomas, Mary E., Anna and Josie. Mr. Marshall has been an honorable and upright man, and owing to his intelligence and industry, he has become one of the prosperous farmers of the county.

CHARLES W. McDERMOTT, son of James B., and Elizabeth McDermott, was born in Cedar county, Iowa, in 1856. He come to Cass county with his parents the following year. He is married to Isabel Nordman, a daughter of Frank Nordman, of Franklin township. Mr. McDermott resides on section 35, where he owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres.

GEORGE McDERMOTT was born in Benton township, Cass county, Iowa, November 15,1862. He is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Miller) McDermott, who were among the first settlers of Benton township, and also of Johnson county, Iowa. George received his education in the common schools of the township. He was married, April 27, 1884, to Ella M. Van Slyke, a daughter of Horace Van Slyke, who resides in Audubon county. Although but a young man, he has lived to see what was once a wild, unbroken and uninhabited prairie in all directions, transformed into fertile and well cultivated farms. Mr. McDermott is a young man of good character, and energetic, and owns one hundred and twenty acres of fine land in Grant township.

HENRY McDERMOTT located on section 12, in 1857, where he now has a large tract of improved land.

Henry McDermot was born in Richland county, Ohio, in 1828. He was reared a farmer, also engaged to some extent, in carpenter work. He came to Iowa in 1856, with his family, locating in Johnson county. The following year he settled on section 12, of Benton township. His farm contains five hundred and sixty acres. He also owns owns one hundred and twenty acres three miles east of Anita. He was married to Elizabeth Miller, a native of Richland county, Ohio. They have six children Ñ John, Charles, George, Thomas, David and Emma.

JAMES B. McDERMOTT came in March, 1857, and purchased of Dr. G. S. Morrison the southeast quarter of section 35, on which he made a permanent settlement.

James B. McDermott located in March, 1859, upon the southeast quarter of section 35, Benton township, where he now resides. He purchased the land at that time, of Dr. G. S. Morrison, who then lived in Grant township. At that time the only settlements in Benton, were on Crooked and Troublesome creeks. Mr. McDermott is a native of Richland county, Ohio, born in 1826. He was reared to the occupation of farming. He came to this State in 1855, accompanied by his family, and his brother Marcus, and his family. He lived in the southern part of Red Oak township, in Cedar ¢county, two years, coming to Cass county, November 1,1857. He had purchased his land here the previous year. Mr. McDermott is one of the large and successful farmers and stock raisers of Cass county. He increased his quarter section to about six hundred and forty acres. He has divided much of his land among his sons, but still owns the most of his original purchase. He was married to Elizabeth E. Westheffer, a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1825. She removed with her parents to Ohio in 1844. Mr. McDermott's parents were Mark and Sarah McDermott. His father died several years since. His mother is still living at an advanced age. They were natives of Pennsylvania, and among the early settlers of that part of Ohio. Mrs. McDermotts parents were William and Mary Westheffer. Mr. McDermott was previously married in Ohio, and lost his wife there. He had two children by his first marriage Ñ Martin L., and Anna E. He has by his second marriage, four children Ñ Charles W., James D., Verdie and Eva B. The youngest three were born in Benton township.

Thomas Meredith

PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS OF A PIONEER

I was born May 26, 1824, in the village of Donstone, Herefordshire, England, my mother's maiden name was Sarah Beavan, she died when I was but four years old. My father in the year 1829, moved to the Parish of Glasbury, Radnonshire on the borders of Wales -- as he was the owner of some tenement houses with gardens attached. One of these houses was built, as I have been told by my father, when I was a little boy, by his grandfather, probably three hundred year ago. It was built of stone and covered with tile, which consisted of thin stone which comes out of the quarries in that part of the county, and is dressed off by masons when taken out of the ground as then they are in a softer condition than when after exposed to the sun. The tile dressers, after it is squared off, picks a hole in each about half an inch in diameter and a oak pin about two inches long is driven in and made flush with the upper side, so as the other tiles will lay down smooth. These are laid in layers like our shingles, and moss that grows on, or about, the roots of trees in the woods, in that damp, moist county, is gathered and stuffed between the joints, to keep out snow and wind. This moss grows and fills up all between the joints of the tiling. Since that date they use slate for covering buildings, except mansions, which are covered generally with sheet lead. The house where I was brought up, had moss growing on the walls when I was a boy, and had been in my father's ancestor's possession since it was enclosed from the commons. The Lord of the Manor may have permitted some of my ancestors to inclose a few acres out of charity, or otherwise, I know not. My father died in the sixtieth year of his age, when I was about the age of nineteen, and out of my apprenticeship, as I was bound under Edkins, of Bristol, to learn the plastering trade. When a boy, I worked at Masbough Castle in the cast house, where there were over seventy-five plasterers at work, over a year. The work was done with plaster of paris and formed bead cornice, miters, center pieces, and all kinds of statutary, etc. What I learned there was never of any use to me, as after the death of my father, I took up his business, he having kept a small shop where he sold groceries, etc. This Masbough Castle cost millions of money and was building for two generations, and was near the ruins of one of the old castles that Oliver Cromwell battered down in the days when King and Commons were at war. The castle belonged to the Walter Wilkins estate. I have heard my father say that the way the elder Wilkins accumulated his wealth was that he had ships at sea, and would run to Africa and catch, or trade trinkets, or goods, for a cargo of young Africans, then run his sailing ship to Charleston, and trade his cargo of blacks for a cargo of cotton, which he would bring back to Liverpool and sell it, then to Africa again; and that he brought the most of the ancestors of the colored people to this country and sold them into slavery, and made a fortune by so doing; and it cost the American people billions of money, and rivers of blood to do away with slavery. As I commenced telling, I took up my father's business and thought myself capable of taking the reins into my own hands and driving. I trusted out my goods and could not collect the debts, so I sold the store house and few acres of land, my father had left me, and made up my mind to come to America. I remember one old man, a schoolmate of my father's saying to me, "Oh, Tom! Tom! what would your poor father say, if he could come back to life, and know you had sold the property he had left you. Oh! Tommy, you should never have sold it." I had got married to a young widow who had one little boy, four years old, which I brought up. My wife's name was Martha Griffiths, the daughter of James Griffiths, the saddler of Bishop's Castle, Shropshire, England. I came to Madison, Wisconsin, in the summer of 1852. I bought a farm seven miles south of Madison, with a little frame house and a few acres broken up, about ten acres girdled, in the burr ok openings. I received the first letter from my wife stating that Lew, her brother, would not come out with her. I was somewhat out of humor. Late in the fall of the same year, I came here. I took the stage coach that run from Madison to Galena, and found everything frozen up and the roads very rough. When we arrived in Galena I was informed that most of the boats had gone down the river, and would not be up any more that season, but there was one still up the river, and if it was not frozen in, it would be down shortly. Finally it came along and I went down to the river bank and got out on some rocks and waved my handkerchief and held up my satchel. The boat stopped and took me and two other men on board, and we went up to the captain's office and paid our fare to St. Louis. There I got in to help the cook on the boa just starting for New Orleans, so I saved my fare, as I had about spent all my money for land in Dane county, Wisconsin. I got to New Orleans and fell in company with some English miners that were about to start for California. I thought I would like to go to the land of gold and make my pile, as the Californians call it. I got on board the steamship Union that was bound for Chagres, on the Isthmus of Panama. I engaged with the chief cook, who happened to be an Englishman, who took me in as ship cook. I had already got into the ways of the Americans, and could turn my hand to almost anything. I was to get $30 per month. When we got out to sea, I had to sign articles, as they are called by the seamen; I gave in my name, age and nativity, name of father, mother, etc., and agreed that I would not leave the ship in a foreign port, etc. We had about four hundred passengers bound for California. When we got to Chagres, on the Isthmus, we anchored out in the ocean, as there were no docks or harbors, all was in the state of nature. Our passengers were all taken ashore in skiffs, by the Spaniards, copper-colored fellows, all wearing palm leaf hats, and thin knit undershirts, and light pantaloons which was all of their apparel, except shoes. I wanted to leave the boat, but I could not get ashore, as we were anchored out some way from land. The next day after, the passengers had all left and gone up the Chagres river, as the railroad was not built over to Panama, at that time.

I asked the captain if he would release me. "What do you want to do here cook?" "I want to go to California." "Have you not signed articles?" "I have." "Well, you ought to know that I cannot release you in a foreign port, you could apply here to the American consul and he would send you to the States and maybe bring a bill against our company for the charges." We were there in the early part of January, and it was as hot as it is here in July. On about the 3d day, the Captain and Supercargo were taken ashore in one of our life boats, as each ship carries one on each side of the vessel. In the afternoon they were brought back in the boat by six able bodied semen, and had several shot bags nearly full of gold, that was taken as fare from passengers. The steward came to the kitchen and told us to get ready, that there were about five hundred passengers booked for New York - so next morning the Spaniards commenced to bring the returning Californians to our ship in their skiffs, so within a few hours we hoisted our anchor and made for Kingston, Jamaica, where we had to take in coal and water. Here our ship drew in alongside the wharf, and many of our passengers went ashore to get some Jamaica rum, while we took in about two hundred tons of coal, which was accomplished by about one hundred negroes, male and female. They formed in line by falling in behind one another, carrying about one hundred and fifty pounds of coal upon their head, in the half of flour barrels, and as each came on deck, dumped his load as he passed the hole, and keep inline one following each other singing "do-da-do-da, I am gwine to run all night, I am going to run all day, I will bet my money on the Bob-tail nag, who will bet on the bay," until you could not hear yourself think. They were some of the liberated slaves of that island, which was a part of the British colony of the West Indies. It was still very warm weather in January, there the oranges, lemons, bananas, etc., were in abundance. Our bell rang and our fog horn blew, and our passengers came quickly on board, and we were headed for New York. One of our passengers entering his state room, lifted up his satchel that was heavy when he left his berth, but it came up light, "Oh my God! My Gold is Gone!" He had had about forty pounds weight of gold dust and nuggets. He went, in an excited manner, to the Captain, who ordered a committee to search the ship, which was like looking for a needle in a hay mow. Some of the flunkeys got it and would be on a bender in New York as long as it lasted. Every day's run brought us into a colder climate, and when we got into the port of New York it seemed to me as cold as Greenland, as I had felt no cold weather that winter, since I left Wisconsin, about the middle of November.

As soon as we got into port, our passengers went ashore and our head cook went into the city to get some liquor and promised to be back within an hour. I cleaned up the kitchen and waited for him, as we had over two barrels of slush to sell to the bakers of New York; this was from the rendering of roast meat, etc. I waited patiently, and a customer appearing to buy our barrels of grease, and offering me $25 for it, I took it, and went into the office and received my pay for services rendered on the steamship Union. Poor Bill, the cook, did not return to get his share of the pay, for slush; I suppose he got on a drunk. I packed my satchel and took a hack for No.____ Washington St., looked for a daily paper to see what steamers were leaving for Liverpool, and saw that City of Bristol was loading at Pier No.____. Next day I went on board of that steamer and went to the Captains office. I was asked where I was cook last - I told him "on the Union." He remarked, "Be here by ten o'clock to-morrow, I will engage you to Liverpool." I did not return until about two p. m., next day. The Captain was just coming out of his office. I spoke to him. His reply was, "I have engaged two colored cooks, you were not on time." I turned on my heel and went to an office and paid my fare on a clipper that made the voyage from Sandy Hook to Cape Clear, within fourteen days, which was good work for a sailing vessel, but those clipper built ships are very long and narrow, for fast sailing. When I arrived in Liverpool, it was coming towards spring of the year. Within a few hours I was at Lime St. Station, and aboard the train for Bryn Mawr, Monmouthshire, Wales, where my wife and family were. I visited around my old home a while, and packed up and returned, with my family, to the farm I had bought near Madison, Wisconsin. When I got back to the place I started from, I counted up the miles of my trip, which was over 17,500 miles, or as much as two- thirds around the world. The first winter in Wisconsin was a cold one.

In the spring of 1854 or 1855, I started, with two wagons, three yoke of oxen to each, and about forty head of heifers and cows, to Oregon, as I was told it was a climate much like England; not much cold weather in winter. We got out as far as Cass county, and met some teams going east, and learned that the emigrants had by that time all crossed the river, west of Council Bluffs, and I could not go, as all had to meet at Council Bluffs and go in one train. These had a captain and officers, and were organized to fight the Indians, if needs be. I camped on the banks of Indian creek, near Iranistan, on the main emigrant traveled road to Council Bluffs. This county was new at that time; but very little land was entered in the county.

I was disappointed in not going to Oregon that season, but I looked around for a location. I went down the east Nishnabotna river, and found Joseph Pearson building a log house, which was the go in those days. I returned to camp that night, and next morning went with Jeremiah Bradshaw. He told me that he would show me a good cabin, good timber, and smooth prairie adjoining, which was on sections 29 and 32, township 77, range 37. We found one settler that had erected a little log hut, with clap-board roof and puncheon floor, the latter split out of logs! The only inhabitants within three miles of the place were Isam Pucket and John Porter, who had log cabins. Mr. Bradshaw and I went around the claim; he gave me some numbers and I got a township plat, by which I saw that there were only eight "forties" entered in the township. These were some of what they called the choice locations, good timber lands - as all struck for the groves of timber. I, next day, went to Council Bluffs, on what was called in those days the two- horse jurkey, which was the only public conveyance throughout this part of the country, except their own ox or horse teams. When I got to Council Bluffs, after walking up the hills, I found some Englishmen, who said they were "Latter Day Saints," as the Mormons were called. I found that Council Bluffs and vicinity was inhabited by Latter Day Saints from Nauvoo, Illinois. They were moving off to Salt Lake, and many were anxious to sell their claims. One owned a "forty" of entered land, about where the Court House now stands, or a little south. I believe it is now called Bayliss' first addition to Council Bluffs. I think he asked me eight hundred dollars for the forty acres, which had a log cabin upon it. I inquired around, as I did not know what was best to do. One old man told me to go over the river from Council Bluffs, and I might find the surveyors that were coming to survey a little in Nebraska. The old man told me to buy A. D. Jones' claim of half a section, as it could be got for about one thousand dollars. I offered eight hundred dollars for it, but as the sun was about going down I had to go back over the river, as the old flat boat or scow stopped crossing about sundown. There was a sod shanty built some way north of the Union Pacific depot, as far as I remember. Jones' claim was three hundred and twenty acres, taking in a part of the heart of where Omaha stands to- day. If I had given the one thousand dollars, (which was about my pile at that day), some fellow would have come along and offered me two or three thousand dollars, and I should have been very apt to let it go. I returned over the river to Kanesville, now called Council Bluffs, and next day entered a few tracts of land in Cass county, and built my hut. That summer I broke up about sixty acres of land on section 32, 77, 37, where John Berry's farm is to-day. The next spring I sowed about thirty acres of wheat, and had a good crop, about twenty-five bushels per acre. I tramped out some in the fall, and took some of the wheat to West Nishnabotna, to what was called Stutsman's mill, and brought the flour home and sold it at seven dollars per hundred pounds. Corn was then a dollar per bushel, but within a few years corn was only worth fifteen cents and wheat twenty-five cents per bushel. As soon as we broke up the virgin soil and it brought forth abundantly we overstocked the market, and as we had no outlet, except by team to Council Bluffs or Des Moines, prices fell. I have hauled wheat to each of these markets. The next settler that came into Brighton township was Thomas Leadly. He bought out John Porter, where Wm. Altig lives to-day, on section 33. Samuel Shields came in, and built a log house. They were all from Napierville, Illinois. The first school in the township was kept in the house of Samuel Shields. Adelia Page was the first school teacher; she was the sister-in-law of Shields. Joseph Everly married the girl some time after the death of his first wife, and I do not know what has become of her - whether she is dead or alive. Joseph Everly, her husband, was a clever man and good neighbor, but was a fool when he got drunk, as he would do when he went to Iranistan. He and Jake Watson went home together on a sled, as they lived at that time on the river, a few miles north of Lewis. Everly was killed on the way home, and his body found next day. Jake, fearing trouble, went away for awhile, and then came back, and there were nothing done about it. It was a drunken freak and the people thought, if, he got drunk and wanted to whip everybody, he ought to be killed. I went to Council Bluffs in the fall of 1856, to enter some land. They were entering by ranges, and as it would not come my turn for several days, I went to where they were building opposite the Pacific House, and as I had laid some brick, in England, and did not want to be idle, the contractor lent me his trowel, and I laid a few bricks. He agreed to give me $4 per day. I worked for Jesse Winn, about a week when I told him what I had come there for, to enter land. He said he would like to enter some good land, as he had some money on hand. I agreed to give him the numbers of a section for $25, and he entered land on section 5-76-37. I was in Council Bluffs the winter following, and I told Jesse I wanted him to buy a tract of one hundred and twenty acres of timber, as it could be got for $6.25 per acre, and it was three of the best forties of timber in Cass county. I met Jesse coming down the street, "Well, I have bought the timber," taking off his hat and taking the deed out of it. He was a peculiar man, raised down in Virginia, and was no scholar and he wanted to know if the numbers were all right. I told him they were. He said he would come out with me to see his property, and I remarked "I have an ox team and it will take me three days to go home." "Oh pshaw, I thought you were in with a pair of horses and cutter." "Well," said he, "I want to go and see my claim on the Elkhorn, Nebraska, and I will be out as soon as you." The four horse coach was running by that time. I waited and was expecting Jesse every day, but one day I received the Council Bluffs BUGLE, and saw in it the sad announcement that Jesse Winn had gone to see his claim on the Elkhorn and had found a man had jumped his claim. Jesse ordered him out of the house, but the man, in cold blood, had shot Jesse. Snow, the man that did the dastardly crime, was lodged in the old cottonwood jail, at Council Bluffs, but he broke out, and escaped from justice, and was not found. So, if I had had a horse team in place of oxen, I would have saved the man's life. But poor Jesse never saw the land. It was afterwards sold at a referee's sale at from $20 to $40 per acre. One cold winter, about 1858, the elk were forced down south from Minnesota and Dakota, upon us; there were thousands around us in every direction. John Leslie, Joseph Leslie, Charles Hebing, Gehart Hebing, and myself, went, one bitter, cold morning, to get some elk. We went with a pair of horses, and sled, and plenty of blankets, and one saddle horse, we had three rifles, and went up the ridge north, between Indian and Camp creek. We saw droves of elk, and would get as close to them as we could and fire. We would scare them and they would run. We shot more times than any experienced hunters, but got "nary" elk. We followed them ten miles, north. I got off and took out on foot, through what is now called Elkhorn grove. I saw the sun was about setting in the western horizon, and I was three miles from the sled, and when I got back to the south side of the grove, where I had left my overcoat, I found my horse had hobbled off down to the creek. I had left him tied down head and foot. I got my overcoat on and waded through the snow, as best I could. The snow was badly drifted and I had not gone far until I went down in a washout, over head and ears. I scrambled out the best I could, to get out, and finally made it, and caught my horse in a snow drift, and by the time I got back to the ridge the sun was down. I followed on the ridge, or back bone, south between Indian creek and Camp creek, and I came to where the snow tramped down, but the sled had been turned round and gone back for home. It became dark and I tried, in vain, to get on my horse, I had run my rifle between the surcingle and the saddle in trying to get on, and the saddle turned. This scared the horse, and he got away from me. I reached home at one o'clock at night, and found the folks up, waiting for me. Leslie, who drove the team, said he followed the tracks of the sled back and something had scared the horses, when he had gone a few miles, and he had to go ahead of the horses. Here he found that Charles Hebing had given out, and got under a snow pile to keep from freezing. Leslie and John got him on the sled and drove as fast as possible to save his life. We had no more elk hunting that winter, although there were many elk killed during that time, with clubs, in snow drifts, but they had become very poor in flesh.

WIND, RAIN AND HAIL STORM

Probably one of the most destructive and severe wind, rain and hail storms in the history of Atlantic and surrounding country, was that which occurred Tuesday evening, about half past seven, July 28, 1871. The rain was preceded by a terrible wind, and after a few minutes of the drenching elements, hail of enormous proportions fell, and being driven by the high wind, property and crops suffered greatly. The storm came from the northwest, lasting about three-quarters of an hour, and made barren its route, wherever that happened to be. During the storm the aspect without was the most gloomy and nerve-distracting character. The rain and hail were so dense, and the air so full of flying lumber and small movable articles of all kinds, that it was utterly impossible to see ten feet and was like looking into the darkness of night. As a criterion to the number of window panes destroyed, in about a week after the storm Atlantic firms alone had disposed of over 10,000 lights.

NOTES OF THE STORM

By glancing over the files of the weekly TELEGRAPH, the following items of interest in this connection are found, which we append:

The new brick store room being built by Stafford & Hawks, dry goods dealers, on the burnt district, which was just ready for shelving and being shelved, was leveled to the earth, a perfect wreck. It was two stories in height and stood 23 x 80 feet on the ground. About $500 worth of new goods had been stored in the building but a few days previous, which were also ruined.

The new Presbyterian Church, which had been completed, on Maple street, at a cost of $2,500, was moved three feet to the south, the plastering ruined and the foundation in a crumbling condition and almost ready to give away

Into a house on Walnut street a board was driven endways by the wind.

The frame for a new steam flouting mill stood firm and unmoved.

The office of the weekly TELEGRAPH was completely flooded. At one time the water was four inches deep in the floor.

The Reynold's House suffered the loss of all of its front windows and the number of windows was large.

The loss to the country was severe, but the track of the storm was so narrow that the effect of the ruined crops was not felt by the community at large.

Private residences, everywhere, in the course of the storm, were riddled without number. The number was too great to particularize.

BURNED TO DEATH

On the morning of September 18, 1872, a man by the name of Jackson was burned to death in the town calaboose, at Atlantic. He was arrested and locked therein the night before for entering a private residence on Maple street and creating excitement among the ladies of the household by his queer actions. The following morning the jail was discovered to be on fire. As the prisoner had previously threatened to burn the jail if he was not released before nine o'clock, it was undoubtedly set fire by him, as the flames originated from a pile of straw upon which prisoners were in the habit of sleeping. The fire was extinguished as soon as possible and the charred form of the man was rescued from the smoking debris. The arms were burned off to the elbows, and the legs off to the knees. The flesh was all off his head and face, but enough was left on the neck to hold the head to the body. The remains were interred in the Atlantic cemetery. The jail was a small building about 16 x 20 feet, divided into two rooms, the rooms being connected by a door. It was constructed of broad pine lumber, the boards being piled and spiked together something on the plan of modern grain elevators. Twenty-three kegs of nails were used in its construction and it was very secure and strong. The cost was about $500 and it was the property of the city.

A MYSTERIOUS MURDER

On the 21st of July, 1876, the body of a man, which was identified as Theodore A. Sloanaker, was discovered floating in Turkey river, about a hundred yards below the bridge which spans that stream, on the Lewis and Atlantic road, about two and a half miles north of the former place. The body was tied by a leather halter to a large floating log, and had the appearance of having been dead some four or five days. An examination disclosed the fact that a bullet had been put through the man's head, and that he had been struck several blows with a club, or something of that nature, across the face. The body was taken to Lewis, an inquest was held before Jeremiah Bradshaw, then justice of the peace, and the body was buried without an attempt having been made to identify it. When the news was received at Atlantic, J. F. Needham, Charles Radley and William Rahm drove to Lewis, dug up the body, and immediately recognized it to be that of Theodore A. Sloanaker. The murdered man was formerly Adjutant of the Tenth Iowa Infantry, and at the time of his murder a resident of Primghar, the county seat of O'Brien county, where he conducted an abstract office. He was forty-one years of age and unmarried. He enlisted in Company K, Tenth Iowa Infantry, at Davenport, in 1862, and served during the war, being promoted gradually until he became Adjutant of the regiment. For more than a year during the war he was detailed on recruiting service, with headquarters at Davenport. He was well known to General Baker and others at Des Moines. He came to Atlantic about three weeks previous to his murder, and called on Mr. Rahm, with whom he served during the war. He remained in Atlantic about two weeks, when he started to Pleasant township on a visit to H. A. Barton, whose acquaintance he had formed while teaching school in the neighborhood four years previous. Nothing further than the above particulars has ever been developed, and the murderer of Theodore A. Sloanaker still remains enshrouded in mystery.

MILES

In the spring of 1856, a man by the name of Miles settled upon section 17. He came here from Illinois. In January, 1857, his wife fell and dislocated her hip, but they thought at the time it was simply a bad sprain, and did nothing for it. But as it continued to grow worse and worse, a physician was called in. In its then swollen condition he

found it impossible to do anything to relieve the woman's suffering, or attempt a cure, and the following May, she died from the effects of the fall, and her body was buried on the place. Her husband remained but a little time, when he returned to Illinois, and his present whereabouts are unknown.

DAVID D. MORRIS was born six mile from Rochester, in Monroe county, New York, January 1, 1816. His parents, Anson and Hannah (Pearson) Morris, removed in 1826, to Trumbull county, Ohio, where Anson Morris followed his trade, that of carpenter and joiner. Here David D., lived until sixteen years old. He then went to St. Joseph county, Michigan, with an uncle, and remained four years, after which he returned to Ohio, where he lived until he came to Iowa, in the fall of 1854. He spent the first winter in Dallas county, and in the spring of 1856, came to Cass county and settled about two miles east of his present location. He removed to section 11, where he now resides, in 1874. He was married in Ohio, in 1838, to Sarah McAfferty, and by this union there were twelve children. He was married to his present wife in June, 1875. She was formerly Sarah Beart, and is a native of England. She is a sister of the Rev. William Abrahams, who formerly had charge of the Grove City pastorate. Mrs. Morris has one hundred and thirty-nine acres of land in two farms, both under good cultivation. They have two orchards, one of five, and the other of two acres, also a vineyard, and are engaged in stock-raising. Mrs. Morris is a member of the Episcopal church. In politics Mr. Morris is strongly Democratic, but has no political ambition. In pioneer days, Mr. Morris was a successful hunter, often killing two deer before breakfast, which was all the meat they had. They killed coons to make soap-grease. The first election after his arrival was held at Indiantown, the only precinct in the county.

NELSON BONAPARTE MORRIS came to Cass county in 1855. In 1857, he entered a quarter section of land in Bear Grove township. He kept this land until 1882, when he sold it to Henry R. Lee, without improvement. In March, 1858, Mr. Morris entered one hundred and twenty acres of land in Sherman township, Monona county, where he located in 1860, and resided until 1882. He then returned to Cass county. His son, Jason H. Morris, now owns the farm which he occupied in Monroe [.] Nelson B. Morris was born in Madison county, New York, in 1811. He was reared in his native county upon a farm, and remained there till 1855. In his youth he learned the carpenter's trade, but on account of an accident which rendered him unable to follow that trade, he learned the trade of shoe-making, which he followed about twelve years. Mr. Morris has been twice married. His first wife was Polly Neely, a native of Onondaga county, New York, where she died in 1864. She was of German descent. His present wife was Mrs. William W. Howard, formerly, Mary C. McMurphy. Her father, Solomon McMurphy, was a native of New England. He died while she was an infant. She went to Rock Island county, Illinois, with her grandfather, about 1833, where she was reared and married to William W. Howard, who was a native of Jefferson county, New York, and who removed to Rock Island county when a boy, with his parents. Mrs. Morris came to Cass county with her husband, Mr. Howard, in June, 1855, and settled where Mr. and Mrs. Morris now live, on section 1. The farm, however, was on section 12, adjoining the forty acres on which the house was built. Mr. Howard lived upon this place until his death which occurred May 3, 1876. His widow was married to Mr. Morris, September 6, 1882, who has one son by his first wife, Jason H. Mrs. Morris has seven children - George V. Howard, Mrs. Cylinda Gingery, Seneca S. Howard, Mrs. Marietta Green, Samuel R. Howard, Mrs. Amanda M. Bidleman, and Mrs. Emily Kelly. She has lost four children - Daniel O., died December 5, 1882, leaving a family; the other three were Loretta L., William and Turner, all of whom died in infancy. Mary C. Morris, formerly Mary C. Howard, was born in Pike county, Illinois, on the 25th day of December, 1827, and was married to W. W. Howard, September 1, 1843.