HISTORY: Montgomery Co., IA From the A.T. Andreas Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Iowa, 1875 This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Pat April 2003 ************************************************* Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************* ________________________________________________________ NOTE: For more information on Montgomery County, Iowa Please visit the Montgomery County, IAGenWeb page at http://iagenweb.org/montgomery/ ________________________________________________________ MONTGOMERY COUNTY. Montgomery County is the second from the Missouri River in the second tier from the south line of the state. It contains a superficial area of 432 square miles, or 276,480 acres. STREAMS. The county is well watered by numerous streams, some of which are of a character to afford good mill sites. The names of the principal streams are Middle Nodaway, West Nodaway, Tarkio Creek, East Nishnabotany, Walnut Creek, and Indian Creek. West Nodaway enters the county near the northeast corner, and runs nearly directly south across the east range of townships. Middle Nodaway enters Montgomery from Adams County near the middle of the line between them, and crossing the southeast corner of the latter, forms a junction with West Nodaway a short distance above the south line of the county. The next considerable stream west is Tarkio Creek, which rises in the north part of the county, and runs nearly south, passing out a little east of the middle of the south line. The next and largest stream in the county is East Nishnabotany, which enters a little west of the middle of the north line, and flows across the county in a direction somewhat west of south. Among its tributaries which serve to drain the county and afford excellent water for stock, are Coe's Branch, Long Branch, Romp Creek, and Red Oak Creek, all flowing in from the east. Some four or five miles further west, and running almost parallel with the East Nishnabotany River we come to Walnut Creek, which also has several tributaries. Indian Creek crosses the northwest corner township, and also passes through a corner of the next township south. Several of these streams afford sufficient water power for mills. There is one on Middle Nodaway, near Valiska; three on West Nodaway; three on East Nishnabotany, and two on Walnut Creek, making some ten water mills now in the county. The streams are all supported by springs, and consequently never go dry, but always afford a plentiful supply of fine living water. There is living water on nearly every half section in the county. Wells of the purest cold water are easily obtained in all parts by digging rarely to exceed twenty feet, and numerous springs are also found along the water courses. But few counties are better watered than Mont- gomery, every part being favored in this respect. TIMBER. The best timber is to be found on the West Nodaway and East Nishnabotany, the finest bodies being along the latter stream, and extending in a belt entirely across the county. There are likewise some fine groves on Tarkio, Walnut, and Indian Creeks. The timber, as usual, in this prairie county, is confined to the valleys along the streams, there being but few groves on the high prairie. Where the fires have been kept away, however, for a few years, the young timber is gradually encroaching, and much of this young growth is large enough for good fire-wood. It is to be hoped that the people will spare no pains to preserve it. It is estimated that about one-tenth of the county is timber. As the water courses are pretty equally distributed to all parts of the county, so, too, is the timber. The principal varieties are red oak, burr oak, walnut, hickory, ash, elm, hackberry, honey locust, linn, cottonwood, soft maple, and willow; with also some cherry and mulberry. There are no white oak to be found in the county. Among some wild fruits which are plenty, may be mentioned the plum, grape, strawberry and gooseberry. The wild, or crab apple, is also abundant along the streams at the edges of the timber. A few artificial groves have been cultivated, and with some attention in this direction the county may in a few years feel no serious inconvenience from the scarcity of timber, especially as the lands are now being pretty generally enclosed with hedges. The railroads furnish lumber to Montgomery County for all necessary uses in building. The three kinds of timber which are most abundant and most used here, are red oak, burr oak, and black walnut. These varieties all grow on the rich bottom soil, which has not clay enough for the white oak to flourish in, hence it is not found here. The reason why timber appears only along the valleys, is because there the fires have not so readily swept over and destroyed it, there being in such localities more moisture and less exposure to the effects of the winds that weep over the higher grounds. There is no element in the soil uncongenial to the growth of many kinds of timber. This fact is abundantly demonstrated where artificial groves have been planted. The raising of timber is more a matter of time than of labor. SURFACE AND SOIL. The surface of the county is generally undulating, as a consequence of the numerous streams which are distributed in all directions. Along the streams, however, the bottoms are large, often spreading along the Nodaway and Nishnabotany to the width of from one to three miles. These bottom lands are equal in fertility to those of the Miami or Wabash. They are all above high water mark, and are not at any season of the year subject to malaria. Where not covered with timber, or in cultivation, a heavy growth of wild grass annually covers the ground. It requires a strong team to turn this sod and bring this land into cultivation, but after the first year it is always loose, and easily worked. It produced the most luxuriant crops of corn, as well as grain of all kinds. The higher prairie lands are also very fertile, and are equally as good for the cereals as the bottom lands. There are but few gravel points, or places subject to wash, and the soil is of such a character as to suffer but little, either from extreme dry or wet weather. In excessively wet weather, the rolling surface with the numerous streams, drain the land very rapidly, while in dry weather the sub-soil is of such a nature as to retain moisture, and supply it to vegetation as needed for its growth. In the cultivation of his crops, the farmer necessarily loses but little in consequence of his ground being too wet to work. MINERALS. Some coal has been found in the northeast portion of the county, being doubtless the same bed which appears in Adams County. Its exposure in this county is in conformity with the same general line of the exposures in that, and being at right angles with the course of the streams. The vein does not appear to be more than twenty inches in thickness. About six miles north of Red Oak are large quarries of limestone which furnish a large part of the quicklime and building stone used in the county. Clays suitable for brick and pottery are obtained in different places. In the central part of the county a red clay or ochre is found, which makes a very good mineral paint, and has been manufactured and used to a considerable extent. There are also some beds of sandstone appearing at different places, especially along the slopes to the valley of the Nishnabotany. An exposure of this sandstone appears within the limits of the town of Red Oak Junction. Brick, of tolerable good quality, have been manufactured at several points in the county, including Red Oak Junction and Arlington. PRODUCTIONS. In its wild and uncultivated condition, the whole face of the county is covered with a spontaneous growth of grass and various kinds of vegetation, on which vast herds may graze and fatten. But the plow easily prepares the soil for the production of all crops common to the latitude, and it rarely fails to yield an abundant return for the labor bestowed upon it. It is well adapted to corn, wheat, oats, rye, and all kinds of vegetables. Irish and sweet potatoes, cabbages, pumpkins, squashes, and melons grow easily and come to great perfection. As yet, the various kinds of noxious weeds, common in the older portions of the state, have not intruded on the operations of the farmer here, making the labor of producing a crop comparatively easy and agreeable. Those pests of the older farming districts, known as the cuckold burr, Spanish needle, thistle, etc., are little known here. The rich loam which covers the surface of the prairie to the depth of from one to five feet, only requires the seed to be planted or sown, and the bestowal of a little additional labor, to insure a good crop. But in the ratio that labor is bestowed, and the soil cultivated, will all crops generally be improved in quantity and quality. Good crops are made with little cultivation, but far better with attentive labor and culture. The Hungarian grass is raised to some extent and generally yields heavily. Timothy, blue grass, and clover, have been tested sufficiently to prove that the soil is well adapted to their culture. For timothy, especially, no soil can excel the bottom lands along the steams in this county. Fruit, so far as tried has succeeded. There are in the county a few bearing orchards, and some kinds of apples have yielded well, and among them, especially, the White Winter Pearmain. Many young orchards have recently been planted, and some attention is given to the raising of the various kinds of small fruits. Currants, gooseberries, raspberries, and strawberries, embracing several varieties of each, have been tried, and are found to succeed admirably. The soil and climate seem to be naturally adapted to grapes, and indeed the same may be said of all this part of the state. Grapes, as yet are only cultivated to a very limited extent, but we have seen some fine bearing vines about Red Oak Junction, and the universal testimony is, that they do well. The Concord is the variety chiefly planted. A pretty general interest seems to be manifested in hedging. All that have been properly planted and cared for, have done well. For this purpose, the Osage orange has been chiefly used, but there are some hedges made of the native honey locust, that promise to succeed. Many farmers, especially in the west part of the county, have resorted to wire fences. They are said to be cheaply constructed, and answer the purpose very well. They are, however, not to be compared with hedges, as they get out of repair frequently. They are constructed by setting post at from twelve to twenty feet apart, and stretching the wire through staples driven into the posts. There are usually from three to five wires, with the lower ones closer together, as board fences are usually made. At proper intervals, a reel, or apparatus for increasing or lessening the tension of each wire, is attached. If they become slack, as they probably may by expansion in warm weather, they are easily wound up to the proper degree of tension. The superior grazing advantages of this county, as a matter of course, render it well adapted to the raising of stock. Many fine herds of cattle are to be seen on the prairies in all directions, for which the owners always find a ready market at their doors. Cattle buyers from a distance visit the county regularly and buy up all suitable for the market, at remunerative prices. This is the great source of profit, as yet, to the farmers of this county. So great has been the demand, and so tempting the prices offered, that some farmers have really sold off their stock too closely. There is no trouble in disposing of all they can raise. As to horses, mules, swine and sheep, it may be said that all of them do well. Nearly every farmer has a good flock of sheep, and I doubt not that wool growing may be successfully engaged in here. The finer grades of sheep have not yet been introduced, or at least to any considerable extent. It may be a matter of importance to state that nearly all the streams in the county are plentifully supplied with fish. Many are caught in the waters of the Nodaway and Nishnabotany, and at the proper seasons of the year fishing is resorted to by many of the people, both for pleasure and profit. As for game, it may be stated that prairie chickens, turkeys, ducks, and quail are found in great abundance; and occasionally, along the valleys and in timber, the lucky hunter may still bring down a lordly buck. But, like the Indian, his race is rapidly yielding to the encroachments of civilization. EARLY HISTORY. By an act of the Legislature of Iowa, approved January 12, 1853, Montgomery and Union Counties were attached to Adams for revenue and judicial purposes, each constituting a civil township, the first election in Montgomery to be held at the house of Amos G. Lowe. On the 15th of January, 1851, an act had been approved defining the boundaries of Montgomery and other counties. This is the first legislation in which the name of the county appears, and in this act the present boundaries are fixed. The first County Judge was Amos G. Lowe, a native of Kentucky. He is still a respected citizen of the county. The first Clerk of the District Court was S. C. Dunn, who was appointed by the County Judge, October 6, 1853. The first Treasurer was John W. Patterson, who was also appointed by the Judge, October 14, 1853. The first order made by Judge Lowe is dated August 15, 1853, and authorizes the levy of taxes for certain purposes. The salary of the County Judge for the first year's services was $50; of the Clerk, $25; and the Treasurer, $20. For the second year, the Judge consented to increase the salary of the Clerk to $30! What extraordinary means were used to bring about this reckless streak of extravagance and favoritism, does not appear! The first marriage license was issued to Samuel McNeily and Martha Elizabeth Donaho, January 20, 1855. On the first of October, 1856, the Judge made the following order; "Ordered, that T. A. Petty be, and is hereby appointed Commissioner to sell county liquors for medical, mechanical and sacramental purposes in Frankfort, until the first Monday in May next, unless sooner removed by the Court." Among the first white settlers of the county, were Amos G. Lowe, the first County Judge; William Dunn, who had a contract from the Government for surveying land; John Stafford, Carle Means, John Ross, James Carlisle, James Ross, Aaron Vice, L. C. Cook, and Wayne Stennett, settled on the Nishnabotany at an early day in the history of the county. Joseph Zuber settled near the present town of Red Oak Junction. Daniel Silkett was the pioneer mill builder in the county. He was the owner of five mill sites, and built the first on the Nishnabotany in 1856. Having built two mills, in erecting the third he fell a victim to his enterprise, and died from exposure before completing it. The following are also among the early settlers; Samuel Baker, George West, --Sager. The earliest settlement made in the county was on the Nodaway, in the southeast part. "Ross Grove" is a large body of timber in the southeast corner township. COUNTY SEAT. The commissioners to locate the first county seat were William S. Townsend, R. W. Stafford, and R. B. Lockwood. They seem to have received their appointment from the Judge of the Sixth Judicial District. On the 22d of July, 1854, they made their report to the County Judge, having selected the southwest quarter of section 17, township 72 north, range 37 west. The report and location were duly accepted by the judge, and the commissioners allowed $12 each for their services. The judge, having hailed from Frankfort in Kentucky, duly christened the new town by the same name. The first house was built in the place by John Burnside. He was probably the "first settler" there, as he brought water out of his well by a ladder, and ground his corn in a coffee mill. Well ropes, buckets, and flouring mills were not plenty in Montgomery County in those days. Among the first settlers of Frankfort were also Dr. Asa Bond, Judge A. G. Lowe, Samuel Baer, W. L. Boydston, and Thomas Davis. J. B. Packard, Esq., who subsequently served several terms as County Treasurer, settled in Frankfort in July, 1856, and W. W. Merritt, who has several times served the county in the Legislature, in May, 1857. For several years Frankfort prospered, and grew to become a village of some importance, until 1863, when a vote of the county was taken on the removal of the county seat to Red Oak Junction. On the ground of informality in the vote of one township, the election was contested, but the district court decided in favor of Red Oak Junction, the present county seat. So, in April, 1865, the county business was transferred to the latter place. The court house was removed on the snow in January, 1866. Since then most of the other buildings have been taken to Red Oak Junction, until Frankfort has become a deserted village. Indeed, there are but four buildings remaining on the old town site. Scattered around are to be seen the ruins of its former greatness, in the shape of cellars and heaps of ashes. So in this new country often passes away the glory of many prosperous cities. It is to be hoped that the "county seat question" is forever settled. COURT HOUSE. The court house is a two-story frame building, situated on the north side of the park, or public square, in Red Oak Junction. The county officers occupy the lower story, and the upper is used as a court room and for public meetings. It has also been used by Professor White for his select school, and for purposes of religious meetings. A MURDER CASE. The only murder known to have been committed in the county took place in 1859. The unfortunate occurrence grew out of the circumstance of a man named A. J. Millslagle agreeing to buy a man's wife, and to pay him a certain pig as the price. It seems that the husband of the woman one day asked Millslagle what he would give him for his wife, as he seemed to be so particularly attached to her. The latter replied that he would give him that pig, pointing to a shoat in the yard. The husband agreed to the price. He then went to the neighbors and made complaint that Millslagle (who boarded in his family) had robbed him of his wife. Several of the neighbors, thinking the affair not very creditable, collected together and proceeded to the house where Millslagle was, for the purpose of driving him out of the neighborhood. They surrounded the house, and Millslagle, seizing his gun, shot one of the party, a young man named Stipe, killing him instantly. He was tried, found guilty of murder in the second degree, and sentenced to the penitentiary for twelve years. It is said that some of the best citizens in the county took part in the attempt to mob Millslagle, but afterward had occasion to regret their rashness. The whole affair, it is said, grew out of the whining representations of a worthless fellow, as a mere pretence to get rid of his wife. REAL ESTATE MATTERS. The first entry of land was made in Montgomery County by William Findley, May 31, 1853, that county being in the Council Bluffs Land District. The land is now all entered, except what is claimed and held by the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad Company, embracing about 64,000 acres, and some that is termed "swamp lands," yet held by the county. As in other counties in this part of the state, a very large proportion of the land belongs to non-residents, who entered it for speculative purposes. Much of this is now held on sale, through the local agents at Red Oak Junction. CHURCHES, ETC. The leading church organizations of the county are Methodist Episcopal, Baptist, and Christian, but other churches have members in different parts of the county. Good substantial bridges cross the streams on all the principal roads in the county. Montgomery County offers many inducements to the farmer and stock raiser, and persons wishing to find new localities to engage in agricultural pursuits may find in the fertile prairies and rich valleys of this county the sure road to wealth, or at least to a competency. As the resources of the soil are developed, manufactories, the mechanic arts, and other industrial pursuits, will necessarily follow. COUNTY OFFICERS FOR 1875. HENRY HOWARD, Auditor. H. H. PALMER, Clerk of Courts. W. P. WILEY, Treasurer. Wm. B. KENNEDY, Recorder. J. T. MARTIN, Sheriff. W. P. PATTISON, Supt. of Schools. J. M. HEWITT, Chairman Board Supervisors. RED OAK JUNCTION. This town is situated on the Iowa Division of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. Its situation in pleasant and picturesque. Part of the town plat rises up on the high ground, and commands a fine view of the valley each way with the river, and the groves skirting it on either side. The valley of the Nishnabotany at this point is about two miles wide, with the river running through the middle of it. It is about four miles west and a little south of the center of the county. It is situated on a grand slope to the east bank of the Nishnabotany River, with a stream called Red Oak Branch running directly through it. This branch is made up of springs on the town site, or in the vicinity. The state road passes through it, from east to west. It is thirty miles from Quincy, the county seat of Adams County, and thirty miles from Glenwood, the county seat of Mills County. It was intended to be situated at the intersection of the main line of the B. & M. R. R. R., with the branch railroad from Nebraska City to Red Oak Junction. There are large bodies of timber near the place, on the Nishnabotany. The little creek which passes through it called Red Oak, is so named from the fact of a considerable grove of that species of timber being found on it. There are also several stone quarries within a mile of the town. Years ago a railroad was proposed to run from Nebraska City up the valley of the Nishnabotany, to intersect the B. & M. R. R. R. at Red Oak Junction. Hence the proprietors, when they laid out the town, attached the word "Junction" to the name. This road has been built down the valley to Hamburg, in Fremont County, there connecting with the Council Bluffs & St. Joseph Railroad. It passes through one of the grandest and richest agricultural valleys in the world. The original proprietors of Red Oak Junction were David Remick, A. Hebard, and Charles Hendrie. The first house was built in 1857, by Joseph Zuber, and is the same now used as a hotel, and called the "Red Oak House." The historian of the place in 1869 summed up its business as follows; Red Oak Junction now contains five general stores, three family groceries, two shops, one boot and shoe store, one stove and tinware store, one jeweler, two harness shops. One boot and shoe store, two meat markets, one steam saw and grist mill, one water flouring mill, two hotels, five attorneys, four physicians, one land agency firm, three blacksmith shops, two milliners, one dealer in agricultural implements, two brick makers, one printing office, one dealer in stationery, news, etc. This county, and especially the vicinity of Red Oak Junction, is well supplied with good mills. Messrs. Stover and Lane are now erecting one of the best ever erected in the county. It is on the Nishnabotany, about a mile south of Red Oak Junction, the building is thirty by thirty feet, and four stories high. There are two run of burrs. All the machinery is new and of the best character. W. H. Kerrihard has also, within the limits of the town, a large steam flouring and saw-mill. Mr. Kerrihard is one of the enterprising business men of the place. He is just finishing a large two-story business house on the north side of the Public Square, the upper story of which he has fitted up for our friend Eaton, of the Montgomery County Express. Speaking of the Montgomery County Express, reminds me of my duty to record the fact, that this is the first ever published in the county. It was commenced by that enterprising newspaper man, Webster Eaton, on the 21st of March, 1868. It bids fair to become one of the permanent institutions of Montgomery County. It will be remembered that Mr. Eaton also published the Adams County Gazette, Quincy. The gentlemen engaged in a general mercantile business are C. H. Lane, H. Roberts, W. H. Kerrihard, D. W. Montgomery, and J. R. Cooley, all of whom are doing a substantial business. Mr. Roberts ships a considerable quantity of wool. Mr. Cooley has recently established himself in business here with a large stock, and seems to be a wide-a-wake, thorough business man. Mr. Montgomery is the senior partner of the hardware firm here of Montgomery & Stratton, which is the only house trading exclusively in that line in the place. Among the prominent and substantial business men of the town, I also make mention of G. M. Holmes, druggist; Whittier & Strait, harness makers, and Joseph Barker, in the same line of business; Thomas J. Edwards, dealer in boots and shoes; L. M. Harding, stage agent; William Reevers, of the "Red Oak House;" G. J. Sheldon, of the "McMillen House," and Drs. M. N. McNaughton and R. D. Sperry, practicing physicians. Messrs. Simons & Beeson are leading attorneys, and well established in their profession. T. W. Crandall is an old citizen, and has large interests in and about the place, and is always ready to assist in promoting the good of the community. E. Piper is one of the industrious mechanics and builders. With such men as those mentioned, Red Oak Junction can hardly fail to become an important point, especially if she is so fortunate as to get a railroad, of which there is strong probability. Mr. Sheldon, of the "McMillen House," is a new man in the place, but manifests an enterprising spirit, having thoroughly refitted the house. I have heard it highly spoken of. The town and a portion of the adjoining country constitutes an independent school district. It boasts a good public school, at present in charge of Miss Maggie Follmer, an experienced teacher. The Masons have a flourishing lodge known as Red Oak Lodge, No 162. They own a good hall, which they use for their meetings, and have it well and tastefully furnished. The lodge numbers over fifty members. THE PRESENT CITY. Such was the status of Red Oak Junction six or seven years ago, but from the description no one would recognize the present city, so rapid has been its growth, and so much has it improved in every respect. The business streets adjacent to the public square present substantial and elegant buildings, among which is the National Bank building, an unusually fine structure of brick and iron, and one which would do credit to almost any city. The place contains several very fine stores and residences, and the streets are improved and graded, with good sidewalks. The Methodists have in process of erection in the city one of the finest church edifices west of the Mississippi River. NEWSPAPERS. The newspapers now published at Red Oak Junction are the Red Oak Express, by J. Mayne & Co., and The Record, by J. S. Stidger. The Express is a thirty-two column weekly, Republican in politics. It was founded in 1867 by Webster Eaton, as mentioned above, who was succeeded by B. E. Simons in 1871. Eastman & Fisher succeeded Simons in 1872, and in November, 1872, it came into the hands of the present proprietors. It is ably conducted and well supported. The Record is also well edited, and enjoying a good degree of prosperity. CHURCHES AND MINISTERS. Among the ministers who have labored in behalf of Methodism in this county, we mention Reverends Farlow, Howbut, Hughes, Rand, Shornburg, Coe, Howe, and A. J. Andres. There are several places of preaching in the county, and the church is represented as being in a prosperous condition. The church in Red Oak Junction has a thriving Sabbath School in connection with it. The Baptist Church was organized in Red Oak Junction in 1864. There is a flourishing Sabbath School connected with the church. The Sabbath was organized in April, 1868. The Christian Church was organized in Red Oak Junction in April, 1868, with a membership of twenty-five. There is a Christian organization in the southwest part of the county. Their place of worship is at "Kenyon Grove," in Page County. There is also another organization of this church in Douglass Township in the northeast portion of the county. There are numerous members of this church scattered throughout the county. VALISKA. – This is a small village on Middle Nodaway, in the southeast part of the county. It is sixteen miles from Red Oak Junction, and in the midst of one of the best timbered portions of the county. It contains several stores, blacksmith shop, grocery, one drug store, one steam saw mill, one school house. It was laid out in 1857. There is a flouring mill on the Middle Nodaway in the vicinity. Valiska has a weekly paper, The Review, published by H. G. Thurman. There is a town called Arlington laid out on West Nodaway, about eleven miles east of Red Oak Junction. There is a good water mill in the vicinity. The post offices in the county are six in number, as follows; Red Oak Junction; Frankfort, the old county seat, about six miles northeast of Red Oak Junction; Sciola, on the West Nodaway in the east part of the county; Valiska, on the Middle Nodaway, in the southeast part; Grant, in Douglass Township, in the northeast part; and Carr's Point, about eight miles southwest of Red Oak Junction, on Walnut Creek. This distribution of post offices affords convenient mail facilities to all the settled portions of the county.