Boone County IA Archives History - Books .....Spirit Lake Massacre, Chapter 12 1914
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Book Title: HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY IOWA

CHAPTER XII
SPIRIT LAKE MASSACRE
By George W. Crooks

   The Spirit Lake Massacre took place in the early part of the year 1857. It
was a very atrocious affair and the early settlers became much concerned about
their safety, especially those living as far south as the City of Des Moines.

   In April following it was reported from what seemed to be a reliable source
that a large body of Indians were moving from the north in two divisions, one
following the Des Moines and the other the Boone River, and were murdering
settlers as they advanced and laying waste their improvements. When the news
reached Boonesboro the people became aroused and the question was "What shall we
do?" Some were in favor of deserting their homes, which they did, while a large
majority were in favor of defending their homes at all hazard. The people had
but a short time to decide what they should do, the news having reached
Boonesboro late in the evening by a person who claimed to know the facts and
said that his purpose was to notify the settlers of their dangerous situation.
On the following morning it was decided to raise and equip a military company at
once to march north for the purpose of relieving the settlers and assist in
checking the advance of the Indians. By 1 o'clock of that day about one hundred
and fifty men had enlisted and were armed and equipped with all kinds of
firearms, from the best rifles then used to a very inferior quality of shotguns.
After selecting S. B. McCall captain and the other necessary officers, the names
of whom the writer of this scrap of history, although a member of the company,
has forgotten, except that of C. W. Williams, who was one of the lieutenants,
the company selected Hon. C. J. McFarland, J. M. Thrift and Joseph Hardin as a
strategy board, particularly relying upon J. M. Thrift and Joseph Hardin, they
having had much experience as frontiersmen and understood the disposition of
Indians. The company was christened "Boonesboro Tigers." About 2 o'clock the
company started north on the Des Moines and Fort Dodge highway. They had not
marched more than three or four miles until they were met by many settlers and
their families, fleeing south from the Indians. Soon after we began to meet the
settlers, Joseph Hardin, one of the strategy board, met some persons with whom
he was well acquainted, who informed him that there were no less than five
hundred Indians, and that they were devastating the country, killing, robbing
and doing other depredations usually carried on by unfriendly Indians. It seemed
to alarm him very much, and he rode up beside the company, relating what he had
heard, the tears coursing down his cheeks. He stated that it was useless for us
to engage in battle with the Indians in such force and suggested the idea of
returning to Boonesboro, inquiring of the company what they thought of the
suggestion. The answer came quick and decided: "Retreat, never. We have started
to relieve the settlers north and we are going, and we are going until we meet
the Indians. It may be that we will all be scalped, but it will not be until we
have offered every resistance in our power!" And the cry rang out from the
entire line: "Forward, march!" It was no trouble to see by the twinkle of their
eves that they meant just what they said, and it was demonstrated later on that
such was the case, for quite a number of that company became soldiers in the War
of the Rebellion and acquitted themselves with marked distinction.

   It soon became impossible for the soldiers to march in the highway, it being
entirely taken up with fleeing settlers. When we would meet a wagon in which
there were two men, unless they were quite old, one of the two was pressed into
the service, and when he was a married man it was much sport for the boys to
witness the parting farewell.

   The company reached Hook's Point, where it camped for the night. We were on
the march early next morning and were nearing the Boone River, when a man rode
up and inquired which way we were going, whether up the Boone or the Des Moines
River. Being informed that he must see the captain in regard to the matter, that
we knew nothing as to where we would probably be taken, he seemed very much
excited, saying in language that demonstrated his feelings: "For God's sake, go
up the Boone River; the Indians are killing all the people in and about Webster
City." He said he saw their campfires and heard the firing of the guns during
the night. The horse he was riding was the most exhausted animal that the writer
has ever seen, being hardly able to remain standing. He saw the captain and it
was agreed that the company would go on to the Town of Homer and that likely
they would meet the stage there from Fort Dodge and learn the situation in and
about Fort Dodge and then determine as to whether or not we would go on to Fort
Dodge or go up the Boone River.

   When the company reached the Town of Homer, the stage from Fort Dodge was at
the hotel and the driver informed the captain that the Indians were from fifteen
to twenty miles north of Fort Dodge and doing great depredation. But the people
of Fort Dodge were prepared to defend the city, so it was decided by the
officers that they would go up the Boone River, in view of the report received
in the morning near Hook's Point. The captain sent forward eight or ten scouts
on horseback, among whom I remember was J. M. Thrift, Joseph Hardin and some
other experienced backwoodsmen, with explicit instructions that if they
discovered the Indians, to ascertain as near as possible the number and their
location, and after so doing to return and report the number and location as
near as it could be ascertained. The infantry had been marching for quite a
while, and had become footsore and fatigued. In many cases it had sought an
opportunity to ride. When about halfway from Homer to Webster City we saw three
of the scouts coming back at full speed, and it was then thought they had
discovered Indians. The captain ordered the company to make ready for action,
and it was surprising to see how quickly every man was in line, with his gun in
hand, and with that eager expression of countenance that showed the captain that
they were ready to defend the homes of their wives, children, fathers and
mothers at all hazard. But when the scouts arrived, the only report was "we were
on the wrong road to reach Webster City."

   When we neared the city we found a large number of people camped in a grove a
short distance north and west of the town, who had left their homes for miles
and miles north of the town and assembled in the grove, awaiting further
developments at to whether or not it would be necessary for them to move farther
south. No military company was ever received with a mere hearty welcome than the
Boonesboro boys were received by the refugees and the people of Webster City. It
seemed impossible for them to do too much for us. They threw open their
dwellings, stores, churches and schoolhouses to give us shelter from the
inclement weather and furnished us with provisions more than was necessary for
our consumption. They went so far as to detail two ministers of the gospel, each
with a tin pailful of brandy and a tin dipper, to pass along the two files of
soldiers and give each who desired it a drink of brandy. It seemed as if all the
rules of society were suspended, everybody present becoming as one family and
interested in each other's welfare as such. The women especially seemed to
appreciate the fact that we had been mindful of their dangerous situation and
had come to their relief. I am unable to command language to express their
gratitude toward us. The captain was informed that the people of the city had
taken the precaution to send ten or twelve scouts up the Boone River with fleet
horses to discover whether the reports of the advance of the Indians were well
founded or not, and go a sufficient distance to determine the truth or the
falsity of the report and that it would be well for the company to remain in the
city until a report was received from the scouts, which we did. Just about
nightfall five or six of the scouts returned and reported that they had gone
ninety or a hundred miles north and were unable to discover any Indians. Upon
the report of the scouts being made known, the joy of the people of the town
seemed to break out anew and lasted almost through the night. Gatherings were
had and speeches made by many of the citizens and soldiers. Early in the
morning, in order to show our appreciation of the kindness the company had
received at the hands of the citizens of the town, we marched through the
principal streets and saluted the people. We then returned home and disbanded
without the loss of a single soldier, and we felt thankful that we had been true
to our country and our neighbors. Soon after our return a meeting was held by
the old veterans for the purpose of the formation of a military company and the
following proceedings were had:

                           "Boonesboro, Boone County,  Iowa, May 2, 1857.
   "Citizens met in courthouse pursuant to call for the purpose of organizing a
military company for the protection in the impending war. W. D. Parker was
chosen chairman; C. J. Couch, secretary. Remarks were made by V. B. Crooks, C.
Beal, S. B. McCall, Judge Montgomery and C. J. Couch.

   "Motion was carried that we organize ourselves into a military company to be
styled The Boonesboro Frontier Guards. Roll was prepared and a large number of
names were immediately placed thereon. The following officers were reelected:
Captain, S. B. McCall; first lieutenant, G. B. Redmon; second lieutenant, J. H.
Upton; third lieutenant, W. D. Parker; first sergeant, W. L. DeFore; second
sergeant, Solomon McCall; third sergeant, Charles Goetzman; first corporal,
William Smith; second corporal, Richard Hiatt; third corporal, R. Upton; fourth
corporal, George Vontrees. The following committees were chosen: On uniform,
Cornelius Beal, G. B. Redmon, J. H. Upton, S. B. McCall; on music, S. B. McCall,
Charles Goetzman, E. Bowman, Thomas Parr, W. L. DeFore; on by-laws. V. B.
Crooks, J. H. Upton, C. Williams, Charles Goetzman, G. B. Redmon.

   "A collection was taken for procuring musical instruments. A motion was
carried that the expenses of the company's Indian expedition be brought in and
paid for by the company. The committee on uniform made the following report:
Jackets of blue cloth with single row of military buttons; military collar
trimmed with red; noncommissioned officers with chevrons on arm in red; pants of
blue satinet with red stripes on the legs; cap of blue cloth made in some
approved military style, trimmed with red. The commissioned officers to wear the
regular uniform of the United States army. Motion was carried that each member
immediately advance $10 for the purchase of material. The regular meeting of the
company was fixed on Saturday of each week. Adjourned.
                                    "W. D. PARKER,
                                          Chairman.
                                    "C. J. COUCH,
                                          Secretary."

   The meetings of the company were kept up regularly for some time and
occasionally until about the time the War of the Rebellion broke out. The
formation of the company above referred to was the inception of the formation of
the company in the spring of 1861 by Capt. S. B. McCall, that served in the War
of the Rebellion with such great distinction, and as I now remember, constituted
Company E, Third Iowa Volunteers. Many of the boys who enlisted in the company
at the time of the emergency call in Boonesboro were members of different
companies in the War of the Rebellion and demonstrated beyond question or doubt
their ability to serve their country.

REMINISCENCES
By John M. Brainard

   In the autumn of 1863 the writer of these paragraphs was publishing the Story
County Aegis at Nevada. It was "war time" and the boys were marching away to
Dixie, or being brought home to recoup from wounds or disease. The railway had
been completed only to Marshalltown and Boone County. To dwellers situated one
county nearer market, Boonesboro was only a vague myth, a locality where coal
existed, but was unattainable because of the prohibitive freights incident to
wagon carriage. In 1864 the railway reached Nevada, and for a year she put on
queenly airs over towns and regions not familiar with the "iron horse."

    In the spring of 1865 W. W. Walker, chief engineer and vice president of the
Chicago, Iowa & Nebraska Air Line Railroad (under which name the present Chicago
& Northwestern Railroad was constructed) began to advertise a lot sale in the
new Town of Boone. Nevada "looked wise" but felt rather patronizing. She knew
more in less than a year.

   The sale was appointed for March 29, 1865, and the first train carrying
passengers was run over the line to Boone, the engine driven by that veteran
engineer, George W. Dutton, and this writer being one of the passengers in the
coaches behind him. Regular trains did not commence running until the 17th of
July following this "Lot Sale Special."

   There were some surprises at this sale, for we had seen the land sales of the
Osage Land District, in Mitchell County, with its excitements and desperate
"figuring;" but this Boone sale was "straight goods." The train stopped on the
east side of Honey Creek, somewhere in the neighborhood of the Wilson residence
on Eighth Street, and the passengers crossed the little rivulet on fence rails
covered with straw or hay; thence walked up to the Keeler House, over plowed
ground, and looked about. The broken corn stubble still littered the field, the
mud was of the usual quality known to early Iowa in the March season, a row of
cottonwood trees marked the west side of Story Street opposite the Keeler House
and a farm wagon stood in the street in front of it, from which the auctioneer
announced his decisions and the successful bidders.

   The first lots offered were 1 and 2, block 68, being those now carrying the
street number, 924 Story Street, occupied bv E. A. Ringland & Company. George
Lowe secured them at $600-a tremendous price pioneer folks thought, who had been
accustomed to lots at $25 to $50. Lowe had been in the farm implement and lumber
business at Nevada during the sojourn of the "end of the road" there, and was
preparing to follow up the advance to Boone, as he continued to do until the
Missouri River was reached.

   The next property was a business site on the west side of Story Street,
between Eighth and Ninth, about the middle of the block, probably lot 6 or 7,
block 93, say No. 811 of that row now. It went for $200 and again the Nevada
folks were astonished. The third sale was a residence lot-one on Fifth Street,
where A. E. Munn now lives, No. 1015 of that street and occupied for several
years by Rev. Joshua Cooke. It was "knocked off" at $75. Then there was an
adjournment for dinner. Mr. Walker remarked that the land company was not
anxious to make a record sale in quantities, his principal desire being to
"establish prices." Then the Nevada company dispersed and visited in Boonesboro
until the train was ready to return eastward.
   In the fall of 1869 the writer came to "Montana," a name which caprice had
fastened on the young city in the effort to get release from the primitive title
of "Boone Station," bestowed by the railway folks, and commenced the publication
of the Standard, thus bringing him personally in contact with the growth of the
City of Boone. Some time in this autumn of advent the foundations for the Knight
& Smith flouring mill were laid, and by either that fall or early the next
spring, the mill was in full blast. It was a profitable property and was
followed in a few years by a storage elevator for grain and the first one by
still another. The mill had extensive contracts for the making of flour for the
Government order, for military posts beyond the Missouri River and for the
Indians on reservations, an arrangement which permitted the use of varying
qualities of grain. But the settlement of the cheaper lands, even better for
raising small grain than those of Iowa, militated against the mill, which
gradually was reduced to corn grinding, or the making of flour from wheat
brought from the north. Its business became less from year to year until finally
that great enemy of flouring mill property, fire, intervened and the mill was no
more. Now we buy our flour; then made it.

   The Historical Museum of the Ericson Public Library shelters an old photo of
R. M. Weir's foundry and machine shop, which stood in the pioneer days of Boone
upon the site now occupied by the Boone Electric Company. It was rather an
imposing factory for those days and supplied the necessities of users of
machinery-miners, millers, threshers, etc.-for several counties in this part of
the state. Mr. Weir was the inventor and patentee of a very good heating furnace
for dwellings, some of which are yet in commission, and were made in the old
brick structure spoken of. His health, none too rugged after his return from the
navy during the Civil war, failed in the trying climate of Iowa and for many
years he has been a resident of California, first at the navy yard at Vollejo
and now at Santa Cruz.

   In 1869 the high school was held in the second floor of the school building
situated on the same lots now occupied by the Franklin school, the same being a
four-room structure of brick. Afterwards, to accommodate the increase in
attendance at the grades, the high school was shifted to the second floor of the
city hall building, offices now occupied by the city clerk and city engineer.
This must have been in 1874, for the city hall was not .in existence prior to
that date. The school board was often hard put in finding accommodations for the
school pupils, for the town grew faster in numbers than in wealth. So public
opinion said: "Build a high school structure." A site for the same had been in
possession of the school authorities for some time awaiting the opportunity to
build upon it-being the lots now occupied bv Mr. Barkley's residence on Boone
and Fourth streets, but previously owned by the Baptist congregation and
occupied by a quaint little structure of brick. Col. C. W. Lowrie, a prominent
figure in those days, resided near this site and did not fancy the presence of a
school so neighborly, and to prevent its use busied himself in finding fault
with the location and in discovering a new one. Pie was successful and the
present site of the high school was chosen, the other property being sold. The
museum has the original "Articles of Agreement" between the school board
represented by its president, O. T. Marshall, and the owner of the lots, Daniel
S. Love, bearing the date, December 4, 1874. The consideration was $1,000, $200
paid down and the rest at interest at 10 per cent. The abstract of title is also
in the same envelope, certified by Recorder J. F. Brett and carrying only three
entries: John I. Blair to W. W. Walker, power of attorney; Blair, by Walker,
showing town plat; and Blair and wife, by Walker, deed to Daniel S. Love; the
several transactions extending from 1864 to 1869. The property is in Block 89,
Boone, but by an oversight the figure "9" is omitted and the certification is
made to apply to "Block 8." It is probable that the title is not in peril,
however; the district has had undisputed possession for the full required time
to acquire title. The school board was urged when building began to make the
basement high enough for occupancy with classes, when the future should demand
the same; also to azquire the remainder of the then vacant lots in the half
block. Neither of these self-evident precautions were adopted and the public has
suffered from the lack of judgment in its officers ever since. In fact, but one
school building in our city has the proper convenient space-that in the First
ward with its full block.

   On the west side of Story Street, midway between the lot line and the curb
and extending from Ninth to Eighth streets, was a row of cottonwood trees,
marking the half section boundary during the farm-day period, and at the time of
the founding of the city being 16 to 20 inches in diameter. One or two like
trees stood in front of the Keeler House on the east side of the street. These
furnished nice "roosting places" for loafers' feet and were usually so employed
at all times of the day in the summer season. As the young city grew the
presence of these trees became a badge of its minority and their removal was
demanded by the majority, but stoutly resisted by the owners of adjacent
properties as a rule. The city council "ordained" and "instructed its marshal"
in favor of cutting down the cotton-woods, but they did not fall. In fact, one
more vigorous individual- or at least more bellicose-declared he would resist
with bayonet and musket any attack upon his trees! There had obtained a belief
that things in the street might belong to the adjoining lot owner. One night
Marshal Rhoads, who long held the sword of office, attacked the forest; by
midnight it was laying corded up in the street, and no blood shed!

   It seems ludicrous at this day to recall how thoroughly a trifle like the one
recorded should disturb the serenity of a whole village or embryo city.

   Portions of the Keeler House, the first hotel on the site of Boone in the
spring of 1856, remain, in which Keeler, Beal and Holcomb bought in that spring
season 160 acres of prairie, now included in the central portion of Boone, being
well convinced that the expected railway would turn down Honey Creek for a river
crossing, and that a town would be made at "the top of the hill." Keeler had put
up the frame of a hotel, 46x40 feet and two stories high, in Boonesboro, and had
the roof on when this second thought occurred. The building was razed and set up
on the new site, where it was afterwards re-christened Wescott House. The St.
James and again the Butler House occupied the ground now covered by the Wells
House. A part of that original building stands at the rear of the Wells House
property, next to the alley, covered with red iron rust; another portion became
a part of the dwelling house of Mr. Lawson, at 1228 Story Street; and some of
the lumber in the Keeler House doubtless has found place in the interior of the
Wells House.

   The Keeler Mouse stood on the post-road leading from Des Moines to Fort Dodge
and was a stage station from the time of its erection until the advent of the
railway, which latter was in 1865. Other farmhouses on the original site of what
is now Boone (east end) such as the Phelan home, the original log house of the
Holcombs, and it may be of others, have vanished, so far as the writer's memory
serves.

   The first city hall in Boone still stands at the northeast corner of Seventh
and Keeler streets, an illustration .of "the survival of the unfit!" The term is
not a new one; it was applied to the building as far back as A. D. 1872-73, and
when items were scarce could be held in readiness for a "stickful of local." As
a continual dropping will wear away a stone, so the persistent comments of the
local press wore out the endurance of the city fathers, and the lots where now
stands the city building were purchased and the structure, practically as it now
stands, was erected in 1874. The date is assured, for it was "cast in the
walls." The surface of the ground at that site was some eight or ten feet above
the present street level and had to be dug down and carried away in order that
the "traditional hole," in which Boone establishes her public buildings, should
be obtained. A customary lack of foresight which has always characterized our
city was invoked in that case in not buying sufficient ground for the plainly
seen growth of the city. The result has been embarrassment for lack of room and
the dispersion of city buildings in several directions, when public policy would
have centered them, or should do so. Another blunder in that "enterprise" was
the planning of an ostentatious tower to cap the roof. But the architect had
failed to make provisions for a foundation to carry this ornament; the builder
either did not notice the deficiency or cared to ignore it until reached, and so
the Council was obliged to order its omission and it is said the contractor was
something more than a thousand dollars "to the good" in consequence.

   In the first years of Boone there was no provision whatever, save access to a
very few wells, for fighting fires. The newspapers continued to harp upon this
neglect but without avail, until there should be a verification of their
predictions. This came one night when the blazes ate up the frame building of
James Grace's meat market and adjoining buildings to the corner of Eighth and
Keeler, south side of Eighth. Mr. Grace was buried in Des Moines a few days ago.
His shop stood on the ground on which the Boone National Bank is now rising to
its sixth story.

   Apropos of fires, the "finest one" was when the lower portion of Story
Street, west side, burned down. The entire side of the street had been built up
in wood, save one structure of brick, about four or five numbers south of
Eighth. A fire started at or near the south end of the row. The summer weather
was perfect-no breeze and but very little water protection. What there was
consisted of a connection with the Northwestern Railway's water-tank, by the
line which had been carried up to the depot, at which place the city was
permitted to tap it with a three or four-inch pipe, carried down Story Street to
Eighth and, it may be, extended to Seventh. The pressure was very small and the
stream was not carried with any force upon the buildings, which burned down
without much more effort than an autumn bonfire. Most of the movable property
was saved and the burned district was built up in brick within a year or so. The
picturesque feature which remains most vivid in memory of this "quiet, domestic
conflagration" is the immense vociferation which E. L. Haff communicated to the
occasion. He had been an old fireman in some eastern city, was a shoe merchant
in Boone and "enjoyed a scrap with flame" as a matter of course. What a carrying
voice he had! Brother A. P. Fogg's articulation was paralyzed while Haff had the
top of the ladder. The brick building stopped the performance.

   When the writer came to Boone (1869), he found the following brick buildings
used for business: The Eagle Hotel, by C. E. Phipps, next to (now) Fitzgerald's
drug store; D. F. Goodykoontz's drug house, on site of his rebuilt store, now
occupied by H. T. Cook; Metropolitan Block, now First National Bank and
adjoining numbers; almost, if not all, of the intervening property south of the
foregoing to the end of the Goeppinger holdings, on the east side of Story
Street between Eighth and Seventh streets; the one lone building on the west
side of Story between Eighth and Seventh; the wooden building on the corner,
same side (now Mason's retail), had the siding removed that fall and was
veneered with brick; there was no brick off Story Street. Within a year or so G.
H. Welsh's present store building, the Boone County Bank Building, the building
now occupied by Hoxsie & Wilder and the James Grace Building following his fire
was erected. Still later the erection of the McFarland Bank Building, now
occupied by the Boone National Bank, was considered a notable structure, one in
which the town took great pride. The D. B. Knight Building (Hoxsie & Wilder) was
the first to sport plate-glass windows in its front and Boone "strutted some"
when the same were perfectly installed. In February, 1873, the writer was
appointed by President Grant as postmaster at Boone, the office building being a
frame on the site of the Germania Building of Goeppinger Brothers. A. K. Wells,
the only banker, proffered to build a brick at the alley corner just west of the
city hall for a postoffice, and the same was occupied by the postoffice when
ready and by the bookstore of Mr. Burtus. The latter failed in business, but the
postoffice was retained there during the rest of the official term.

   Metropolitan Hall was the somewhat aspiring title given to the third story of
the block before mentioned, the same being under the mansard roof of the
structure a rather flimsy one and a source of constant apprehension when an
audience was present through dread of fire and panic in its cramped quarters. It
finally did burn down, without other disaster. There cluster about the old
building many interesting memories, for it was the amusement and business center
of the embryo city. There was held the famous "hot-term congressional
convention" which nominated Charles Pomeroy for Congress, when the district
embraced almost a quarter of the state, extending from Marshall County to Sioux
City. It resounded to the fervid "Indiana-pioneer" oratory of L. Q. Hoggatt, of
Story, to the long roll calls of its thirty or more counties, and its heated
walls caused an effort for relief by accepting the offer of the little frame
Methodist Episcopal Church, on the common in Boonesboro south of the
school-house, which came nigh breeding a riot between Boonesboro and "Plugtown."
In the same auditorium was fought out the contest for supremacy really between
the two communities, but ostensibly for or again>t the nomination of Capt.
Jackson Orr.

   On June 26, 1882, the rails of the Wabash Road, under the name of St. Louis,
Des Moines & Northern Railway, were laid into Boone and by the 28th the manager,
C. E. Kinney, announced the readiness of the company to receive freight and
passengers. It had been an unusually wet season, greatly embarrassing the work
of grading, etc.

   A year or two thereafter the street railway was built by L. W. Reynolds. It
was an unpretentious affair, a small car, narrow gauge rails, drawn by one
horse, but it beat the "mud wagon" and walking. The system, practically under
the same management, has grown to the importance of its present existence and
may ere long become a part of the trolley system of this region of Iowa. How
much the installation of this "horse car railway" influenced the sentiment which
led to the union of the east end and the west end may be a subject for
conjecture, but it did have a tendency in that direction. The substantial growth
of Boone dated from the construction of these two public utilities.

   It may not be recalled by many present residents that Boone at one time went
through the "oil excitement." It had its "gold craze" in the very early day, be
it remembered, and about a dollar a day could be panned out from the sands of
Honey Creek, between town and the river. The oil though grew out of the release
of gas by boring a stock well down in Douglas Township, some time about 1883 or
1884. A company was organized, charters obtained in Des Moines, Boone and
perhaps Ames and Perry. A well was sunk in the neighborhood of Crocker and
another on the county courthouse grounds in Des Moines and in Boone a pretense
for finding water by boring at the present waterworks was encouraged until a
depth of 3,012 feet had been attained. The hope of finding oil did not
materialize, nor was the gas which was found a permanent supply, but proved to
be only the familiar "marsh gas." But it was a famous season for building-"air
castles!"

   The church edifices in Boone in 1870 were the Presbyterian, a small frame on
the present site; the Methodist, with about the same, on the site now occupied
by that denomination; a like building by the Baptists, on a lot a short remove
north of the present postoffice; an African about the locality of Mr. Cadd's
marble shop on Arden Street, and possibly a Swedish church on Crawford, north of
Eighth; and the "little brick" on Division Street, the only one of all yet
standing in its original site. There was also the Catholic, now used as Sodality
Hall. The Baptist brick, on the Barkley residence lot, corner Fourth and Boone,
was idle and somewhat dilapidated. The improvement in the character of the
church buildings is apparent to all observers and does not need recapitulation
here.

   The temptation to protract these reminiscences must be curtailed or they will
lead to an undue length. They are pleasant in the recitation, it must be
confessed; and recall the equally pleasant social state of the new society
gathered here in a frontier town from all quarters of our common country. It
must be remembered that the great Civil war had but just closed in 1865 when
Boone was launched on the yet turbid waters. The returning soldiers were
changing their "spears for pruning hooks" and the new West tendered the lines of
least resistance. That bloodshed had ceased was a cause of great joy, making
assimilation of mixed ingredients the more easy. We had but one class of society
those who behaved themselves and were willing to be friendly. The usual mite
societies, Christian Endeavor, Epworth League and the like, together with an
occasional dancing affair, music and dramatic home entertainments, formed the
chief opportunities for social gatherings. Then there was the presence of almost
Universal Youth to aid. A gray head was so rare that one turned on the street to
look back at it. Father Theron Reed and the very youthful white head of Chauncey
Lowery are the only ones which loom up through the mists of the past upon our
recollection. We seem to see a greater sense of chivalry in the young gallants
of those days than prevails at this date; and there was a sweet graciousness in
the young women which somehow contrasts with the occasional masculine swing of
the girl of the hour-who "don't have to ask mother!" The literary entertainments
were decidedly superior to those of the present. Our lecture courses embraced a
portion of the very best talent in the land Professor Swing, of Chicago;
Theodore Tilton, Wendell Phillips, Camillo Urso, the Mendelssohn Quintette Club,
and later the Andreas family, were samples of the aesthetic food which the
tastes of that day demanded. Our course tickets cost $5 for the winter, and the
community was much less wealthy then than now. It wanted the best or none.


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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