HISTORY: Webster County From the A.T. Andreas Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Iowa, 1875 ************************************************* Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************* ________________________________________________________ NOTE: For more information on Webster County, Iowa Please visit the Webster County, IAGenWeb page at http://iagenweb.org/webster/ ________________________________________________________ WEBSTER COUNTY. GENERAL SURFACE. The general surface of Webster County is very similar to that of the northern tiers of counties, extremely beautiful. It is what may be termed moderately undulating, except on the margin of the rivers and streams, where there are frequent ranges of bluffs or hills of considerable size, intersected with ravines. The county is well watered by rivers and creeks, the margins of which are skirted with woodland and beautiful groves, there being an admirable distribution of prairie and woodland to suit the wants and convenience of the farmer. There are twenty congressional townships in the county, and 460,800 acres of land, 42,300 of which is timber of good quality, besides what may be called inferior timber, in small detached groves, which would make the timber land about equal to one tenth of the whole. The growth of the uplands consists of every variety of oak, hickory, hazel, elm, grape vine, blackberry, linn and plum; the bottom lands produce ash, different varieties of oak, black walnut, white walnut or butternut, elm, linn, quaking asp, sugar maple, hackberry, cottonwood, grape vine, plum, crab apple, sumach, and a variety of other trees and shrubbery. SOIL. The soil of the prairies, and particularly of the alluvial bottoms is extremely rich and fertile; it is a black, vegetable mould, intermixed with a sandy loam, easily cultivated, and stands drought remarkably well. In the upland prairies the soil will average from 18 to 24 inches in depth. The surface is nearly black, but becomes lighter in descending until it imperceptibly mingles with a bed of reddish clay, or gravel and sand, sufficiently compact to preserve moisture, and capable of being converted into excellent soil. The county generally abounds with fine springs of water, and good water is usually obtained in the upland prairie, from 20 to 30 feet below the surface. The proportion of wet or swamp land is small, and this proves to be the best when it is properly drained and cultivated. STREAMS. The principal streams within the limits of Webster County, are the Des Moines, the North and South Lizards, and the Boone Rivers. The Des Moines enters the county on the north lines, and winds through near the center, running from north to south. The North Lizard enters the county from the northwest, its general course being from the northwest to the southeast; the course of the South Lizard is from the southwest to the northeast, and the two streams uniting near the City of Fort Dodge, run directly east, and there empty into the Des Moines River. The Boone River flows westward but a few miles through the southern portion of the county, emptying into the Des Moines. Besides these rivers the county is intersected with a large number of smaller streams, among which are Skillet, Crooked, Brushy, Deer, Elk, Badger, Beaver, Soldier, Coal and Holliday Creeks, all of which are tributary to the Des Moines River. The Des Moines is a beautiful stream, with rock or gravel bottom; its main branch heads in Minnesota, about 70 miles north of the state line, and is fed by what are called the Shetek Lakes. This river was originally named by the Algonquins the "Moingonan," by Charlevoix "Moingona," and by the Dakota or Sioux Indians "Eah-sha-wah-pa-tah," or Red Stone River. The Lizard was named by the Sioux "Was-sa-ka-pom-pah," the river with lizards. Boone River was named after Captain Boone, of the U. S. Dragoons, who first explored the Des Moines Valley, above Coon forks. The Sioux name for Boone is "Sha-I-ha-shah-wah- pa-tah," Red Willow River. The smaller streams were all named by the first settlers, and the troops stationed at Fort Dodge. EARLY HISTORY. This county was originally included in the neutral ground established by treaty with the Sac and Fox and the Sioux Indians. Owing to the warfare kept up between those Indians, the United States Government interfered, and brought about a treaty between them, which resulted in their ceding to the United States a strip of land forty miles wide, reaching from a point on the Mississippi, near the mouth of Paint Creek, above Prairie du Chien, to the Des Moines; the Sac and Fox Indians ceding twenty miles wide on the south, and the Sioux twenty miles on the north. In order to arrive at any thing like a correct knowledge of the early history of Webster County it will be necessary to go back to the establishment in May, 1843, of Fort Des Moines, situated at the junction of the Des Moines and Racoon Rivers—on the site of what is now the City of Des Moines—which continued to be the outpost on the northern frontier of Iowa, until the 11th of October, 1845, when it was abandoned. At that time the territory lying north, northeast and northwest of Fort Des Moines was comparatively an unexplored region of country, inhabited only by the wild Sioux Indians, and ranged by buffalo and elk. The Legislature of the State of Iowa during the session of 1850-'51 laid out what is now Webster County, then named Yell County, and the present Hamilton County was called Risley County. But afterwards at the session of 1852-'53 the Legislature was induced, upon a petition from the settlers at Boone Forks-then the only settlement in the two counties-to unite them into one, which was named Webster, and in April, 1853, Webster County, embracing the two counties above named, was organized. At the session of the Legislature in 1856'-7, the original county lines were restored, by striking off the territory formerly embraced in Risley County, and erecting a new county, which was named Hamilton, and Webster City made the county seat. The new county embraced the Town of Homer. This left Webster County with all the territory originally embraced in Yell County, to which has since been added township number 90, taken from Humboldt County. The troops having abandoned Fort Dodge previous to the division of the county, the idea of a military reservation of land, which before then had been entertained by the government, was abandoned. A United States Land Office had been established, and opened for business on the 5th day of November, 1855, with Gen. V. P. Van Antwerp, for Receiver, and William H. Merritt, Register; after which the increase of population in the northern part of the county, in the vicinity of Fort Dodge, was very rapid. At the session of 1859-'60, the Legislature virtually abolished the office of county judge, and made provisions for the election of county, or rather township supervisors, whose duty it was to manage county affairs. In August, 1853, the first county election was held, at which seventy- six votes were polled, and the county officers elected were as follows; Judge, William Pierce; Register and Recorder, Tolman Woolsey; District Clerk, Jesse Goodrich; School Fund Commissioner, John Tolman; Sheriff, J. Doty; Justices of the Peace, John Johns and L. Mericle; Constable, John Heffey; Township Clerk, Sherman Hart; Assessor, Samuel Eslich; County Surveyor, George Warner. Homer, the first county seat, situated about 19 miles southeast of Fort Dodge, near Boone River, was surveyed and laid out in the Fall of 1853. Here the first post office in the county was established, and Granville Berkley was appointed post master. His office was in his house, and he kept the mail matter in a box under his bed, and those who called for letters drew out the box and examined for themselves. The first court in Webster County—embracing what is now known as Webster and Hamilton Counties—was held at Homer, in the Fall of 1854, the Honorable C. J. McFarland, District Judge, presiding. In April, 1856, after a very exciting canvass, the citizens of the county decided by a large majority, at an election held, to remove the county seat from Homer to Fort Dodge. The first court held in Fort Dodge, after the removal of the county seat, was in August 1856. Honorable J. C. McFarland presiding. Court was held in the public school house, then in an unfinished state. In April, 1858, the County Judge, Doctor L. L. Pease, submitted to the citizens of the county a proposition to build a Court house at Fort Dodge, which was carried by a majority of one hundred and ninety-nine votes, a violent opposition being made by the citizens of the south part of the county. In August, 1858, the contract for building the court house was given to Messrs. H. D. Merritt and Israel Jenkins, at $39,450. The plan adopted for the building was drawn by A.V. Lambert. After commencing the building, the original contractors sold out the contract to Messrs. Sweeny & Tierney, who progressed with the building until the first story was completed, when they gave up the contract to the original contractors, Merritt and Jenkins. In June, 1860, they sold out to Thomas Snell, of Illinois, and Abner Taylor, of Fort Dodge, who never finished the building as required by the plan adopted, omitting cupola and other parts. They were obliged to pay a considerable amount of money, as damages for non-compliance with the contract. The building is situated on a reserve square, on the corner of Market and Sixth streets. The Fort Dodge Company, by their agent, William Williams, donated to the county the ground on which it stands, also the square opposite. Commencing to build the court house aroused the citizens of the southern part of the county, who, urged on by their old allies at Homer, commenced the war against Fort Dodge anew. They held meetings, from time to time, and finally determined to remove the county seat to Border Plains, for their own especial benefit. G. C. Goss, John Johns, and others, circulated petitions praying for the removal. In July, 1858, they came up in force, accompanied by lawyers from Homer. Profound arguments were made, but the remonstrances presented to the County Judge were too strong for them-they failed in their attempts. The first of November following they made another effort, and again failed, their chief object being to stop the building of the court house. Finally, they called in a lawyer of Webster City who, in council with legal men of Homer, determined on the plan of forming an alliance with the settlers in Humboldt County, (who fancied they had grievances also) to take from Webster County township no. 90, alleging that it belonged to Humboldt. They took out an injunction, which was granted by Judge Hubbard, of a foreign district, to stop the work on the court house. FIRST SETTLERS. When Fort Dodge was established, the Indians deserted the east side of the Des Moines River and fled to the west side, then Indian territory. In August, 1853, the population, independent of the troops at the Fort, was about 150 souls, all of whom were located in the vicinity of Boone Forks, from eighteen to twenty miles south of Fort Dodge. They were composed principally of emigrants from Missouri, North Carolina and Indiana, with some three or four from New York. They formed a Republic of their own. Law and justice was administered in their own way. Every one read the code of Iowa, and expounded the law to suit himself. It was not long until a few troublesome characters came in and trouble commenced. Quarrels about claims and all kinds of contention arose amongst them. (It was the privilege of all to make claims. Every man, woman and child had a claim to see to new comers.) Little was attended to but quarrels and litigation with one another, for the first two or three years. When a law suit was to be tried, all the settlers would attend, quite an array of men with their rifles in their hands. The first settlers in Webster County were Isaac Bell, L. Mericle, Jacob Mericle, D. B. Spalding, Osborn Brannon, Henry Lott, John Tolman, Frank McGuire, Minton Brasfield, Squire McGuire, William Pierce, Tolman Woolsey, Samuel Eslich, Thomas Holliday, E. Gatchell and Philemon Johnson, independent of the troops at the garrison. Reverend J. Johns, who settled among them, preached and expounded the scriptures for them on the Sabbath day, when he was not too busily engaged in hunting elk and deer, or bee hunting or trapping. The first child born was Jackson Mericle, son of Jacob Mericle. The first death was that of Henry Lott's wife. The first marriage that appears on record was that of John A. Holmes and Emily Lyons, May 14, 1853, by William Pierce, County Judge. It does not appear, however, that Judge Pierce was elected, or that the county was fully organized, until in August of this year, and therefore the presumption is that he held his position by virtue of appointment. The first settlers in Webster County underwent severe trials and privations. They had emigrated from other states to better their condition, by securing land. They dearly earned all the advantages they gained, shut out, comparatively speaking, from the world, to shift as best they could and obliged to resort to hunting and trapping to procure the necessaries of life. The nearest mills where flour or meal of any kind could be had were at Fort Des Moines or Oskaloosa, a distance of from 80 to 150 miles. COAL. The State Geologist, in his report for 1870, says; "It is believed that about four-fifths of the area of the county are occupied by the lower coal measures, the strata of which, including valuable beds of coal, are well developed." Again, "Thus far, at least three distinct beds of coal have been identified within the limits of Webster County." Then, after explaining that at present it is only along the valley sides of the Des Moines River and its tributary creeks that these beds are at present accessible, he says, "But there can be no doubt that they may be reached by shafts from the prairie surfaces, over a large part of the county." All the coal mines of the county are opened by "drifting" from the ravines and minor valleys into the hill sides, and as the veins seldom "dip" the mines are easily drained, and consequently kept very dry. They are also easily ventilated. In relation to the quality of Webster County coal, the State Geologist says: "The quality of the coal of Webster County is equal to the average Iowa coal." But by comparison of the coal of this region with that of the other coal districts in the State, competent judges declare that the coal of this county is far superior to any yet found in the Western States. Cannel coal, which is most valuable in the manufacture of gas, yielding 10,000 feet to the ton, is here found in great quantities, the supply being deemed inexhaustible. There are large tracts of coal lands in the county, which indicate veins of from two to eight feet in thickness, in which banks will be opened as soon as the superior quality of the Webster County coal becomes sufficiently known to create larger demand for it. And from the interest exhibited by railroad and manufacturing companies, and others in the mining enterprises of the county, and the superiority of the coal to be found here, it is safe to predict that for the "Fort Dodge Coal" there will, at no distant date, be a demand far in excess of the most sanguine expectations entertained for it. By the census of 1875 there are nineteen coal beds now open, which employ 227 hands, and mined during the preceding year 78,800 tons of coal. IRON ORE, OCHRE BEDS, FIRE AND POTTERS CLAY. "Vast deposits of black-band and kidney iron ore are found imbedded along the streams and draws, extending back into the hills, and containing a percentage of iron which renders it valuable for smelting. This ore is found on sections 1, 12, and 13, township 87, range 28, and 3,87,28, which is easy of access. "On sections 1, 12, 13 and 18 we find heavy deposits of red and Spanish brown ochres, of excellent texture and quality. "On sections 1 and 13, township 87, range 28, and section 18, township 87, range 27, are found immense deposits of fire and potter's clay, of a superior quality. "Representative samples of the above named deposits have been procured for the Centennial. COAL INTERRUPTIONS. "A short distance up the river, above the sections we have mentioned, is disclosed a ledge of massive sandrock, commencing on section 1, township 87, range 28, and following the line of the river on both sides, through sections 35,26,27,33,32, and 15, township 88, range 28, which taking the place of the upper beds of coal, cut them out entirely. Yet, on section 21, the rock nearly disappears and the coal sets in again, embracing the Otho coal fields, where banks are opened and large quantities of coal taken out by different parties." GYPSUM. The State Geologist in his report for 1870, before alluded to, says; "The large deposit of gypsum near Fort Dodge is one of the most important yet discovered in the United States, and is the only one of any economic value known to exist, not only in Iowa, but in any of the adjoining states." This gypsum deposit is near the center of Webster County, the Des Moines River running through it. This gypsum does not occur in "heaps" or "nests," as it does in most deposits of gypsum in the states farther eastward, but exists here in the form of a regularly stratified, continuous formation. As little can be said with certainty concerning the lithological origin of this deposit as can be said of its geological age. According to the results of the analysis by Professor Emery, the ordinary gray gypsum of this region contains only about eight per cent of impurity; and it is probable that the average impurity of the whole deposit will not exceed that proportion. Although it has a gray color, it becomes white by grinding, and still whiter by a calcining process necessary in the preparation of plaster of paris. No hesitation, therefore, is felt in stating that the Fort Dodge gypsum is the best in quality in the country, even for the finest uses. It has been long and successfully used for building stone by the inhabitants. Besides the value of this gypsum for building purposes, it is of incalculable value in manufacturing plaster of paris, land plaster, cement, stucco, calcine, etc., etc. It was from one of the above quarries that the celebrated "Cardiff Giant" was originally taken in a coffin-shaped piece, and shipped by rail to Chicago, where it was chiselled into the statue of the size of a giant. From thence it was taken to Syracuse, New York, and buried so as to be easily found when the owner of the land started to dig a well. For a while it was a great mystery. The ordinary uses to which gypsum has been applied are perhaps known to most readers. It is easily crushed or ground to a fine powder, commonly called "plaster," an article which is used as a fertilizer. Being subjected to a further chemical process, an article called "plaster paris" is manufactured from it, some of the uses of which are known to most people. But the people of Fort Dodge have for a number of years been using it as a building material in the place of common stone. The first to use it in this way was Honorable John F. Duncombe, who, several years ago, erected a fine gypsum mansion on one of the beautiful eminences overlooking the Des Moines Valley at Fort Dodge. This experiment has been a sufficient test of its durability to induce many others to use it as a building material, and as the result, Fort Dodge now has quite a number of gypsum houses. The new six thousand dollar depot building of the Iowa Falls and Sioux City railroad at this place is constructed of this material, and makes a fine appearance. Some of the advantages of using it as a building material here, are its great abundance, its accessibility, and the ease with which it is quarried and dressed for the wall. It may be bored with a common auger as easily as wood, and, as a consequence, the use of the drill for blasting in the quarry is unnecessary. The blocks may be sawed, hewed, planed, or mortised as easily as wood, and with the ordinary tools used in wood-work. FORT DODGE. The site of Fort Dodge was first selected for a military post by Brevet General Mason, then Colonel of the 6th Regiment of United States Infantry. The object in establishing the post was to keep in check the Sioux Indians, and it was placed at the extreme western part of what was called the neutral ground between the Sioux and Sac and Fox Indians. In the Spring of 1850, Major Samuel Woods was ordered on with a portion of the 6th United States Infantry, and established the post which was named Fort Clark. But it was found that another detachment from the same regiment has established another post on the frontier west, which they also named Fort Clark. To prevent confusion in mail matters and in forwarding supplies, the name was changed, by order of the Secretary of War, from Fort Clark to Fort Dodge, in honor of Senator Dodge, of Wisconsin. The reservation of land laid out for the use of the post was four miles north and four miles south of the fort, and two miles on each side of the Des Moines River, making a strip of land eight miles in length, and four miles wide, with the fort in the center. The treaty of 1852 with the Sioux Indians was confirmed, and the United States Government by that treaty purchased of the Sioux all the territory in Minnesota, from Lake Pepiu to Rock River on the St. Peters. Also, all lands of the Sioux lying within the limits of the State of Iowa. This embraced the lands west of the Des Moines River. Captain Dana, of the 6th United States Infantry, and others, were ordered to select a site for a permanent post on the north line of the new purchase. The selection was made at the junction of Rock River and St. Peters (or Minnesota River), about one hundred and fifty miles north of Fort Dodge. In the later part of July, 1853, the troops at Fort Dodge were ordered to abandon the post and march to the St. Peters to assist in building the new fort. The country between Fort Dodge and the point they were ordered to being unexplored, it took them until late in September to finally leave Fort Dodge, being baffled by high waters, etc. The new post established was named Fort Ridgley. The principal cause for the abandonment of Fort Dodge as a military post, was the decision given by the Commissioner of the Interior of the United States, that the grant of lands made by Congress in 1848 to the State of Iowa for the improvement of the Des Moines river, extended from the mouth of the river to its source. By that decision it was found that the land (section No. 19, T. 89, R. 28 W.) was embraced in that grant, and belonged to the State of Iowa. The main buildings of the fort now form principally the north side of William Street, beginning between Fifth and Sixth Streets, on what is now in the town plat, Lot No. 4 in Block No. 2, and extending west to Lot No. 5 in Block No. 6. ANCIENT FORTIFICATIONS, MOUNDS, ETC. After establishing Fort Dodge, some time was spent during the Summer and Fall of 1851, in reconnoitering and examining the country, with the view of ascertaining the location of the Indians, and to determine on the best route for roads as well as to gain a knowledge of streams and the country generally. "We found many remains of ancient fortifications and mounds, which had evidently, from their location and construction, been (at some very remote period) raised for defense and positions of observation, giving evidence that this northern country was inhabited by a race of people long before the present race of Indians inhabited it. On viewing the location and tracing the lines we found them arranged with some judgement. Others evidently were burial places. On directing the attention of the Indians to them, we were unable to find any among the oldest Sioux who had any knowledge of them, either by tradition or otherwise; they all asserted that they were here when their people first came into the country. The most distinct of these ancient works will be found in the forks of Boone, on and in the neighborhood of L. Mericle's place, on the west side of the Des Moines, near where Mr. Beam lives, on Indian Creek, about twelve miles north of Fort Dodge, on Lizard Rivers, and at Fort Dodge. Some of the mounds at Fort Dodge have been removed, and in digging into them they were found to contain the remains of human beings, such as parts of skulls, teeth, thigh bones, etc., and along with them pieces of burnt or charred wood and coals. From their location, on high and dry ground, covered with sand and gravel, together with the appearance of the bones, their color, etc., physicians and all who examined them, were of the opinion that a great length of time had elapsed since they had been deposited there, perhaps two hundred years or more; the ancient mound-builders were in the habit of burning their dead, which is not the custom of any of the Indians of whom we have any knowledge." INDIANS. The Indians that inhabited this county and the surrounding section were Sioux. The acknowledged chief was Red Thunder. These Indians were great thieves, constantly roaming about in parties, watching trappers and emigrants who attempted to settle. After the troops abandoned Fort Dodge they became exceedingly troublesome. For the protection of the settlers, William Williams was given authority from the Governor to keep peace between them and the settlers. Major Williams succeeded in doing so very well, until Henry Lott, a desperate character, waylaid and shot "Si-dom-i-na-do-tab," their chief, and murdered his squaws and children, of which an account is given in the history of Humboldt County. After that outrage the Indians were naturally more difficult to manage, and for some time threatened the whites with destruction. It was some time after the murder committed by Lott before the skeleton of the murdered chief was found. In the meantime, the Indians collected on the north, alarmed the few settlers then in the county very much, until their intentions were ascertained. They made their raid on the Omahas of the Missouri, returning with a great number of ponies and much plunder. CITY OF FORT DODGE. Fort Dodge, the county seat of Webster County, is situated on the east bank of the Des Moines river, about two hundred miles west from Dubuque, on the Iowa Division of the Illinois Central Railway, and about eighty miles north of Des Moines City, the Capital of Iowa, and is the terminus of the Des Moines & Fort Dodge Railroad. The town of Fort Dodge is situated on an elevated plateau, composed of three terraces, which rise in all about one hundred and fifty feet above the level of the river. On the east it is approached by an extensive prairie, beautiful in appearance; on the northwest and south it is surrounded by heavy timber; the banks on the west side terminate precipitately, forming an amphitheater, and adding exceedingly to the beauty of the scene, which is not surpassed by any thing west of the Mississippi River. The Des Moines is a pure clear stream; flows over a rock and pebble bottom, at the base. The other streams in the vicinity of the town are Soldiers' Creek, on the north, and Deer Creek, on the south. On the east of the Des Moines, above the town, the Lizard River empties into the Des Moines. This stream affords good water power. All these streams are skirted with timber. The first town plat was surveyed and laid out on the 27th of March, 1854. After the troops abandoned the fort, Major W. Williams, and his son J. B. Williams, and Sergeant John Heffley, were the only residents for nearly two years. Among the first settlers that came to Fort Dodge, after it was laid on, as a town, we find Colonel Cyrus C. Carpenter, who subsequently distinguished himself as colonel of an Iowa regiment during the rebellion, and now so ably fills the office of Governor of Iowa. In April, 1856, the county seat of Webster County was (by the voice of the people) removed from Homer to Fort Dodge. Additions were then laid out, and the town extended. The first sermon preached in Fort Dodge was by Reverend J. H. Burleigh, of the Methodist Church. He came to the fort in the Fall of 1851, and was furnished with a large hospital tent, which was pitched on the ground now lot No. 11, in block No. 3, where he held a three days' meeting, very much to the gratifications of the officers and men. In July, 1856, the first newspaper was published, called the Fort Dodge Sentinel, edited by A. S. White. Honorable C. C. Carpenter had the honor of teaching the first school in the place, there being at that time about twenty children of school age. William Williams was the first post master appointed, and the first store opened was that of Williams & Lemp. Doctor S. B. Olney was the first physician, and John F. Duncombe, Esq., the first lawyer. W. R. Miller opened the first house of entertainment, in the building known as the "Wakonsa House." The United States Land Office was opened here in 1856, and in June of the same year the railroad company located their road to this place; and from that time on the village rapidly grew, until now, by census of 1875, it has a population of 3,537. The churches of the place have hardly kept pace with the other improvements of the village; but the Methodists have just completed a handsome, costly, brick edifice. The Presbyterian church, of brick, was erected in 1857, and the Congregationalists erected a chapel in 1870. The Universalists built in 1869; the Episcopalians in 1858. The Catholic church, Reverend T. F. Leuehan, pastor, was built in 1856; German Lutheran in 1862, and was built of stone from the famous gypsum quarries. The German Evangelical built in 1867. There is a large, brick high school building erected on a very commanding site, surrounded by a large yard. Other ward schools are built at convenient locations. A course of study has been adopted by the board, occupying four years. A convent school, in connection with the Catholic church, is under the supervision of the Sisters of Mercy, and is styled "Our Lady of the Lourdes Convent of Mercy." This order was introduced into this state three years ago, by Reverend Thomas M. Leuehan, and by reason of the competent manner of conducting the schools has rapidly grown in favor. There is now an average attendance of two hundred day pupils. The buildings are large and commodious. See view of the buildings in this atlas. The passenger depot of the Illinois Central Railroad is built of stone, at a probable cost of $30,000. The company have a round house and a repair shop, etc., located here. There are three flouring mills—two steam and one water power; two breweries; one pottery, which makes a good article of stone ware; and a few other small manufacturing establishments. Almost every branch of trade is represented in Fort Dodge, and the city is in a flourishing condition. The Semi-Weekly Times has reached its seventh year, and is managed by L. E. Train, as editor and proprietor. The Messenger (Republican) is issued by Albert and Pauline Swaim, as editors and proprietors, and is now in its volume. DUNCOMBE. Nine miles from Webster City. The place was laid out in November, 1869, by the Iowa Falls & Sioux City Railroad Company, and named for John F. Duncombe, of Fort Dodge. There are several other small villages and post offices about the county, but none of sufficient size to require a description. Around the various coal mines are erected numerous buildings, mostly occupied by the miners. The population of Webster County, by census of 1875, is 13,114. Of this number, 4,597 were born in Iowa, 3,264 in foreign countries, and 5,253 in various parts of the United States.