History of Buchanan County, Iowa
VOLUME I
History, properly speaking, is a systematic, written record of past events, particularly of those affecting a nation, institution, science, or art and usually connected with a philosophical reason of their causes; a true story as distinguished from a romance, distinguished also from annals which relate simply the facts and events of each year in strict chronological order; from biography which is a record of a person's life and from memoir which is history composed from personal experience, observation, and memory. "Histories are as perfect as the historian is wise and is gifted with an eye and a soul." — Carlyle.
But this history is to be a compilation of all the different phases of history connected with both the individual and the physical features of this county.
And it will be our earnest endeavor to make it as authentic as possible, to substantiate all that has been written in previous county histories and add to, all that we deem important or of interest in the development of this county since the last history was written.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER I
GEOLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY 1
CHAPTER II
FLORA AND FAUNA 21
CHAPTER III
ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS 41
CHAPTER IV
EARLY HISTORY 53
CHAPTER V
ORGANIZATION 61
CHAPTER VI
EARLY COMMERCE 75
CHAPTER VII
AGRICULTURE 89
CHAPTER VIII
THE EARLY SETTLERS ASSOCIATION 99
CHAPTER IX
BUCHANAN COUNTY IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION 109
CHAPTER X
SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR 195
CHAPTER XI
MISCELLANEOUS MILITARY AFFAIRS 211
CHAPTER XII
EARLY HISTORY OF INDEPENDENCE 217
CHAPTER XIII
HISTORY OF TOWNSHIPS 227
CHAPTER XIV
COUNTY FAIRS 287
CHAPTER XV
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS 293
CHAPTER XVI
MISCELLANEOUS 317
CHAPTER XVII
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 347
CHAPTER XVIII
THE INDEPENDENCE STATE HOSPITAL 361
CHAPTER XIX
EDUCATION 367
CHAPTER XX
FRATERNAL AND SOCIAL LIFE 401
CHAPTER XXI
CONVENTIONS 449
CHAPTER XXII
PUBLIC EVENTS 455
CHAPTER XXIII
CHURCH HISTORY 465
CHAPTER XXIV
COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY 491
CHAPTER XXV
THE CITY OF INDEPENDENCE 509
CHAPTER XXVI
WHO'S WHO 521
CHAPTER XXVII
THE INDEPENDENCE PRESS 525
CHAPTER XXVIII
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION 533
CHAPTER XXIX
BENCH AND BAR 539
CHAPTER XXX
BANKS AND BANKING 557
CHAPTER XXXI
INTERESTING EVENTS 563
CHAPTER XXXII
REMINISCENCES 597
CHAPTER XXXIII
PROMISCUOUS PACTS 621
APPENDIX
HISTORY OF THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK, OF INDEPENDENCE, IOWA 627
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VOLUME II
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To those subscribers who have made this volume possible through their cooperation and interest and financial support, is this book dedicated, if not of so much value to themselves surely of inestimable value to their progeny, who will appreciate their ancestors' forethought in establishing this record of facts for them.
And to those who have so ably assisted in various ways by furnishing data not otherwise obtainable, to both the Bulletin Journal and Conservative who have kindly loaned us their newspaper files and furnished us valuable data, to Mr. E. Little who loaned us those valuable old Guardian files, the only files in existence prior to 1870, and to those who have written us short sketches, we wish here publicly to express our gratitude. If we have failed to acknowledge any assistance which we have received, let those to whom we are especially indebted be assured that the omission is not due to any lack of appreciation. Besides this, we wish to acknowledge that we are not satisfied with this effort, possibly such a state of animus satisfactus could never be reached — but inadequate time to do some subjects justice is one vital excuse for us.
In explanation of the difference in length of the various histories of soeie ties, lodges and churches we wish to say that it was not determined by their respective importance but by the accessibility of data. It seemed impossible in the limited time given for the completion of this work to collect all the facts.
Another reason is that we did not have the privilege of writing the town- ship histories, and as no two peoples' viewpoints are the same in regard to essentials, and details, hence the difference in expression. A professional historian has credit for the township histories (as much of the early history is connected with the various townships, it is compiled in the general subjects, as far as possible).
Another thing which makes the writing of Buchanan County History more difficult than most is that thirfy-three years have elapsed since one was written, which is at least fifteen years more than customary — and too, the fact that for a lapse of several years there are no newspaper files to consult to substantiate facts— they having been destroyed in the big fire of 1874. Begging these palpable excuses for your consideration and hoping that even a small per cent of the pleasure and profit of delving in these old records may be afforded the reader as it has the writers, we herewith submit for your perusal and edification Buchanan County History.
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