Boone County IA Archives History - Books .....A Story Of The "Claims Club", Chapter 11 1914
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Book Title: HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY IOWA

CHAPTER XI
A STORY OF THE "CLAIMS CLUB"

   One of the first associations of men in Iowa was the "Claims Club." The
object of this primitive organization was to protect the claimants on the public
lands against claim jumpers and land speculators. There was a well organized
claims club in nearly every settlement, with messengers passing from one to
another, thus keeping up a mutual understanding and friendly cooperation. The
officers of a club consisted of a president, secretary and an executive
committee with a wide range of discretionary powers.

   It was the duty of each member to keep a strict outlook for claim jumpers,
land speculators, or any signs of treachery in their own neighborhood and among
their own members. In case of any discoveries of this kind a report of the same
was made to the president who, if he deemed it necessary, called a meeting of
the members and laid the matter before them for their consideration.

   A large per cent of the pioneer settlers were poor when they came west in
search of homes and per force of circumstances they had to make their living and
the purchase money for their lands after selecting their claims. The custom was
to select a claim of 160 acres of land, move on it, and improve it, those who
did so being regarded as bona fide claimants. In many cases there were fairly
good improvements made before the lands were subject to entry. When that time
arrived many of the claimants did not have the money with which to purchase
their lands, even at the low price of $1.25 per acre. This was before the
passage of the homestead act and a mere claim by location and improvement had no
legal efficiency. Any person had the legal right to go to the land office and
purchase any unsold lands whether claimed or not, but in that day the exercise
of that right over a claimant was looked upon as an unpardonable crime. Claim
jumpers and land speculators were looked upon as demons, and it was the sworn
duty of each club member to keep up a strict scrutiny for them at all times. If
one of them was found looking over an nentered claim he was sorely punished. If
a member turned out to be a traitor to his fellow members he was treated as an
outlaw.

    In its day the Claims Club was productive of much good and served well the
purpose for which it was organized. There are main interesting scraps of
history, which grew out of the workings of the Claims Club that have never been
published and which at this day of much interest.

   One of these incidents occurred at a settlement in the Des Moines Valley,
about sixty miles north of Fort Des Moines, in 1853. It very seldom happened
that a traitor was found among the members of a "Claims Club," but this incident
proved to be an exception to the general rule. There were but twelve of the
chosen disciples of our Savior, and one of them was a Judas. In this club there
was a Judas, and a bad one at that. About this time the country swarmed with
homeseekers and speculators. These land speculators, in particular, were much to
be feared and the eves of the claimholders were upon them. Among the strangers
who came into the settlement just mentioned was a man who made his stopping
place at the house of Amos Wilson, who was a member of the local "Claims Club."
This man had secured his claim and held a certificate of purchase for it; but
his neighbor, Owen Brown, had a valuable claim, with only half enough money to
pay the government price for it. Wilson and Brown were both members of the local
club, but it was plain that Wilson wanted Brown's claim. He had on one occasion
offered Brown a small sum for his claim, telling him at the same time that he
had better take that than nothing, for he would most likely lose the claim
anyway. Brown rejected this proposition with firmness and reported it to the
club which, from that time, began to look upon Wilson with an eve of suspicion.

   The following week enough evidence came to the surface to require prompt
action on the part of the club. The stranger stopping at Amos Wilson's proved to
be his brother. One morning Wilson's children boasted to Brown's children that
their uncle would start home that afternoon, that he would go by wav of the land
office in Fort Des Moines and enter Brown's claim in his own name. He would hold
it until all the trouble should pass by, he would then deed it to their father,
and the Browns would be compelled to move off. The Brown children lost no time
in giving this statement to their mother. Mr. Brown was seriously ill at the
time and this dreadful news was kept from him. Mrs. Brown sought the president
of the club and with sobs and tears told him her sad story, for to her it was a
sad story. The president sent messages around and brought together such members
of the club as were truly reliable and whose services could be depended upon in
case of emergency. By 2 o'clock in the afternoon the club was called to order by
the president, and the facts of the situation vividly stated by him. "What I
have called you together for," said he, "is to devise the best way under the
circumstances to save our sick brother's claim, which he and his family by hard
labor have improved and designed for a home, and which by right they should have
and own themselves. What will you do?" Several plans were briefly proposed, one
of which was that a committee of three should immediately follow Wilson,
overtake him and bring him back, and that both of the Wilsons should then be
taken to the nearest tree and be hung. The president ruled this out as being an
act beyond the legal rights of the club. "What we want to do first," said he,
"is to secure a title to Brother Brown's claim, and after that we can decide
what punishment to inflict upon the traitor who has violated his pledge."

   Among the members present was a young man of twenty-eight years named Thomas
Parsons, who had served five years among the dragoons under Col. Nathan Boone,
and who was held in high esteem by the entire membership of the club. Parsons
was now called upon to give his opinion as to the best plan of procedure. As he
arose to speak every eye was fixed upon him and the best attention was given to
every word he uttered. "If," said he, "this young man, David Wilson, did not
start until 1 o'clock this afternoon, it is plain to my mind that he does not
intend to go further than the Twenty Mile House today, where he will lodge
tonight. It is certain, then, that the claim will not be entered today, for
young Wilson will take breakfast tomorrow morning twenty miles this side of the
land office. There are, then, just two things for us to do, and which we must do
in order to head off this treacherous and infamous work against our brother. The
first is to get money enough to enter Brother Brown's claim. If that can be done
the other will be an easy matter. I understand that our brother has $100, and it
will take $100 more to pay for that claim, which of course we will have to make
up ourselves. We must be prompt in what we do, for there is no time to be lost.
I can let him have $50 for a while," and as Parsons said this he stepped forward
and laid $50 on the secretary's desk. No sooner had he done this than two more
members stepped forward each laid $25 on the desk and the money was made up.

   "Now, Mr. Parsons," said the president, "you have accomplished the most
difficult of the two things you said must be done. Now tell us what the other is."

   "Mr. President, it is now past 2 o'clock. The land office will close this
evening at 5, and will not open until 9 tomorrow morning. It is sixty miles from
here to the land office, and some member of this club must travel that distance
this evening and tonight, be at the land office when it opens tomorrow morning,
and enter that claim in the name of Owen Brown at all hazards. I move that the
president appoint a member of this club who shall start forthwith and who shall
spare no effort to perform the duties outlined." The motion carried unanimously.
After a moment's reflection the presdent said, "that in my opinion the
originator of the plan is the most competent man to carry it into execution, and
for that reason I appoint Thomas Parsons as the man above all others to
discharge those duties."

   Parsons sat down at the desk and hastily wrote a few lines, to which he
signed the name of Amos Wilson, put them in an envelope and addressed it to
David Wilson. No one knew what he intended to do with this letter, but the
purpose he designed it to serve will appear further on. Rising from the desk
Parsons addressed the president, and said: "When I was in the service I
performed all the duties assigned to me without a murmur, and I shall do so in
the present emergency, I shall do my best to make my errand a successful one. It
is now 3 o'clock, and I shall start at half past 3. Send a man for Brown's
hundred dollars and have everything ready by that time." Parsons went from the
club to his boarding place, put on a regular suit worn by the dragoons in
service, mounted his horse, which was the best the country could afford, and
returned to the headquarters of the club, where everything was in readiness for
him to start. Here he announced that he would be back next evening at 6 o'clock,
and for all members to meet him at Mr. Brown's residence at that hour. Then with
a wave of his hand he galloped across the prairie in the direction of the road
leading south. As he rode away he looked every inch a hero, and never did a man
go to the discharge of a duty who had more fully the confidence of those who
assigned to him that duty. Indeed, they had a right to so regard him, for never
was there a braver or truer man than Tom Parsons placed on duty anywhere. The
president of the club was so elated that he sent word to Mrs. Brown that her
home would be safe by sundown the next evening, or he would pay the price of
uttering a falsehood.

   Looking back over the years that have intervened since that time, with their
many changes, it is next to impossible for our people to grasp the true
situation or the vital importance to this pioneer family of the mission which
Tom Parsons had undertaken. No one could feel the full burden of his mission as
did Tom Parsons himself and no one could more earnestly desire to succeed in the
undertaking, so all his energies were employed for that purpose.

   When Parsons reached the road or trail leading south, he gave his horse a
touch of the spur and a quick pull on the bit which told the well-trained animal
that hard riding was the next thing in order, and instantly his courage was
aroused for the task. It was now a sixty-mile race for a valuable home of 160
acres of valuable Iowa land, with the difference that one of the competitors had
two and a half hours' start of the other. Parsons had figured on riding forty
miles from 3.30 to 7.30 P. M. On that warm, sultry afternoon, in the month of
June, taking into consideration the kind of roads traveled over in those days,
this was making good speed. He expected to reach the Twenty Mile House by
sundown, and he also expected to overtake David Wilson before he reached there,
notwithstanding the fact that Wilson had two hours and a half the start of him.
The fact proved that Parsons had figured well, for about three miles north of
the famous hostelry he came up with his man. The enemy was now located. Greek
was arrayed aganst Greek and the tug-of-war was on. Parsons and Wilson had never
met before, and were therefore strangers to each other. The dragoon's suit that
Parsons wore was designed to keep down all suspicion as to the object of his
trip or the business he intended to transact. When Wilson heard the sound of the
horse's feet coming up behind him, he turned to the roadside, reined up his
horse and looked back in blank astonishment. Parsons allayed Wilson's surprise
by a wave of his hand, a nod of his head and a friendly smile.

   "A United States soldier, and where from?" exclaimed Wilson.

   "Yes, sir, from Fort Dodge, taking a message to Fort Des Moines."

   "Ah, indeed; are you going into Fort Des Moines tonight?"

   "No, sir; I will stop over night at the Twenty Mile House a few miles ahead
from here."

   "Good," said Wilson. "It is my intention to lodge there for the night, and I
will be glad to have such distinguished company."

   "Thank you," said Parsons; "I am also glad to be blessed with good company on
this lonely route. Where did you come from and to where are you bound?"

   "I have been on a visit to the Boone Forks Settlement, and am now on my way
to my home in Illinois."

   "Indeed, sir, I am glad to learn that you are acquainted with the people in
the Boone Forks Settlement, for I often stop with them for refreshments. At 2
this afternoon I took dinner with Amos Wilson of that settlement, whose kindness
I will never forget."

   "My dear sir, I am happy to tell you that Amos Wilson is my brother, and to
visit him was my reason for going there."

   "Oh, yes, I remember now," said Parsons, "that he spoke of a brother who left
there today, and that reminds me of a little errand he requested me to do in
case I should see you in Fort Des Moines."

   Parsons then took from his pocket the letter referred to in another part of
this story, and handed it to Wilson, who opened and read it eagerly. "Thank
you," said he, "that corrects a fatal error in some business directions from my
brother.  Many thanks, sir."

   That letter read as follows:
   "MY DEAR BROTHER:

   "In giving YOU the numbers of the land you are to enter at the land office, I
made a mistake and gave you Range 26 instead of Range 25, the correct one.
Please give this your careful attention.
                         "From your brother,
                                   "AMOS WILSON."

   Parsons could now rest assured that in case so strange a thing should happen
that Wilson should beat him to the land office, he would follow the directions
of this letter, and in that event he would enter a tract of land six miles east
of Brown's claim and which ten years from that date would be worth little more
than the $1.25 per acre paid for it. Parsons intended not only to outwit and
outgeneral the Wilsons in their attempt to steal Brown's claim, but wished to
further mortify them by making them the victims of a clever trick at the same time.

   When they arrived at the Twenty Mile House, they were both cordially welcomed
by Josiah Hopkins, the clever and genial landlord, and both were treated to the
best the house afforded. After supper was over, Wilson complained of being weary
and sleepy, and at 8 o'clock retired, all unconscious of who Parsons was or what
was his mission. Parsons knew that the landlord was a pioneer of the true type,
that he was a member of a claims club himself and that, should he confide any of
the secrets of his mission to him, they would be faithfully kept. So he and
Landlord Hopkins were soon engaged in a confidential conversation, the result of
which was that Parsons left that evening at 10 o'clock for Fort Des Moines. The
next morning Wilson was entertained in such an interesting manner that he did
not get away from the Twenty Mile House until 9 o'clock.

   When the land office opened in the morning Parsons was the first to put in an
appearance at the business window, and in a short time he had a certificate of
purchase for the much coveted claim in the name of Owen Brown. The race was now
ended, the victory was won and right had triumphed over wrong. At 10 A. M.
Parsons started on his return trip. Five miles out he met Wilson wending his way
for the land office, in blissful ignorance that Parsons had in his pocket a
certificate of purchase for the claim he intended to enter, and also in
ignorance that he had been silently beaten in an attempt to commit a piece of
rascality for which he and his brother came very near being introduced to the
business end of a hempen rope.

   After the usual travelers' greetings had passed between them, they separated,
never to meet again. At noon Parsons took dinner at the Twenty Mile House, where
he and Landlord Hopkins enjoyed a good laugh over the successful termination of
the matter.

   At half past 5 that evening every member of the Claims Club in the Boone
Forks Settlement had assembled in Owen Brown's front yard anxiously awaiting the
arrival of their messenger, just about 6 Parsons rode up in front of the house,
both horse and rider looking fresh and gay. He dismounted, tied his horse and,
as he passed in at the gate, took from his bill-book the certificate of
purchase, and as he handed it to the president, said: "There, Mr. President, is
the document after which you sent me." The president rose to his feet and read
the certificate aloud. Parsons was then greeted with a hearty shake of the hand
by the president, followed by each member of the club. He was then called into
the house and to the bedside of Mr. Brown, who embraced him with tears in his
eyes, while Mrs. Brown shed tears of joy, in which she was joined by the three
little Browns, who stood around her.

   The same evening the club expelled Amos Wilson, after which he became so
unpopular that he had to leave the settlement, to which he never returned.
Parsons came to the conclusion that holding down claims was too monotonous for
his impetuous nature, so he joined the regulars and went farther west to assist
Uncle Sam in chasing the red man.


Additional Comments:
Additional Comments:

[Transcriber's note: The first 5 chapters have to do with a brief and very
general history of Iowa, geology, and Native American sociology. These chapters
will not be transcribed.]

Extracted from:

HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY
IOWA
N. E. GOLDTHWAIT
SUPERVISING EDITOR
ILLUSTRATED
VOLUME I
CHICAGO
PIONEER PUBLISHING COMPANY
1914

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