Woodbury County

Proceedings of the Academy of Science and Letters of Sioux City
Sioux City: Published by the Academy, 1904-1906. 2v

The following biographies were submitted by Dick Barton.

Charles, John H (v1) 37; (v2) 29
Groninger, August (v1) 44
Hoskins, J C C (v1) 41
Stone, Thomas Jefferson (v1) 47
Thompson, Charles Blancher (v1) 89
Wakefield, George W (v2) 63

JOHN H. CHARLES

By Frank H. Garver.

At the regular annual business meeting of the Sioux City Academy of Science and Letters held on April the 19th, 1904, there was chosen in addition to the regular officers, an honorary president. The person for whom this office was created was Mr. John H. Charles, first president of the Academy and the subject of this sketch. Ever since its organization in 1885 Mr. Charles has been one of the most active and enthusiastic members of the Scientific Association of Sioux City. Indeed he was chosen president each year from 1890 to 1903, when the Association was merged into the new organization incorporated as the Academy of Science and Letters of Sioux City. In honor of his previous services the Academy unanimously chose him as its first president and at the close of its first year designated him as honorary president.

While in his prime, though a man of unusual activity and burdened with the cares of a large business, Mr. Charles yet found time to attend the meetings of the Scientific Association with great regularity; now, though his health does not permit of attendance upon the Academy sessions, yet his interest in its welfare is keen and is manifested in various ways.

This man whom his friends and fellow citizens have delighted to honor has led an active, eventful career. Born on the 19th of January, 1826, in Hempfield township, Lancaster county, Penn., he moved at the age of four months, taking his parents with him, (as he himself puts it), to Mifflin township, Richland county, Ohio, where he resided till he reached the age of twenty-four. In the meantime a shifting of boundaries threw his fatherÕs farm into Ashland county.

During this period Mr. Charles learned the carpenter's and joiner's trade at which he worked during the summer months. This occupation was varied for some five years by that of keeping school in the winter, for which employment he received during the first year, eleven dollars per month and "boarded around." When he quit teaching, five years later, he was receiving twenty dollars a month, the highest wages paid in his county at this time. That very year gold was discovered in California and our school teacher caught the "gold fever." Consequently, on March the 13th, 1850, he left home for California. From Cincinnati he went down the Ohio to St. Louis. He "fitted out" for the overland trip at Independence, Mo., and after a westerly journey of five months finally "brought up at Hangtown, or Placerville, Cal., on the 20th day of August. After trying the mines unsuccessfully for a few months he returned to Ohio by way of the Isthmus. Eighteen months was now spent at home when a second expedition to California was undertaken. This time a longer stay was made in California, but with no better results, the return to Ohio being made by way of Nicaragua.

Gold mining was now abandoned for something more reliable, though the determination to go west still prevailed. A careful consideration of various prospects did not cause a change of plans. Consequently our subject, after an overland journey via. Chicago, Iowa City, Des Moines and Ft. Dodge, arrived on Dec. the 1st, 1856, at Sioux City, Ia., a frontier settlement on the very edge of civilization. This early arrival makes Mr. Charles one of the oldest settlers in the city or county, now living.

Before his first winter in Sioux City had passed he crossed over into Nebraska and took up a claim. From this claim he cut and sold enough cord-wood to buy himself a surveyor's outfit. With this equipment he started in the spring of 1857 up the Missouri river to locate a townsite for a party from Ohio. This was done successfully, the town, now St. Helena, Cedar Co., Neb., being then named Opechee. The following three years were spent in the real estate business, varied to a considerable extent by surveying.

In 1860 a departure was made, Mr. Charles entering Tootle's general merchandise store. Four years later he became a partner, the firm name changing to Tootle & Charles. From the first, the firm did a large business, an increasing percentage of which soon came to be that of fitting out steamboats. Mr. Charles continued active in the store 'till 1878, from which date to 1890 he gave all his time to steamboating, a business which, though profitable at first, gradually but steadily declined. The business consisted in furnishing Indian and military supplies to the reservations and forts of the upper Missouri. At one time not only the eight boats owned by the firm, but several others chartered by them, were busy the season through. Now all this is gone. The railroads killed the steamboat business, though not before our subject had made a competence out of it.

From 1880 to 1900 Mr. Charles was the local secretary of the Benton Transportation Co., a Montana firm. In the latter year he retired from active business, still vigorous in mind and spirit, though worn in body.

Mr. Charles has never sought political honors. But in spite of his personal attitude he has had his share of honors political and otherwise. At the first municipal election held in Sioux City, August, 1857, he was called upon to serve as a judge of election. At this time his fellow townsmen chose him alderman from the second ward. In the following October he was elected, much against his will, as justice of the peace. A year later he was appointed to the same position by the county judge. President Lincoln, in 1861, appointed him, without any previous knowledge upon his part, as Indian agent to all the Indians on the upper river. But, as it happened, Mr. Charles was then making preparations to return to Ohio to claim his bride, and as nothing could be allowed to interfere with this event, the appointment was declined. President Lincoln had sent the commission of appointment duly made out and signed. This was the first intimation to Mr. Charles that he had even been considered for the position. The commission is still in the possession Of Mr. Charles, by whom it is highly prized.

In 1876, during his absence from the city, Mr. Charles was chosen mayor. Though he served out his term, performing his duties in an able and conscientious manner, he declined a renomination at the hands of his party.

From the establishment of the Public Library Mr. Charles has been a library trustee continuously to the present time. He is also enrolled as a member of the State Historical Society of Iowa. These two facts illustrate his literary tastes, which are also shown by his private library, which is one of the largest and choicest collections in the city, stocked with the masterpieces of science, history and religion.

In 1895 there was organized at Sioux City the Floyd Memorial Association, the purpose of which was to commemorate the name of Chas. Floyd, a Sergeant of the Lewis-Clark expedition. Of this association Mr. Charles was president from 1896 on until the erection of a beautiful $12,000 monument in 1900-1 marked the completion of its work. In this noble undertaking all agree that the most powerful single factor working for ultimate success was the ever faithful and resourceful President of the Association, Mr. John H. Charles.

Since 1900 Mr. Charles has lived in retirement at his comfortable home on Pierce street. Here, surrounded by his books, specimens (of which several large cases are full), and souvenirs, he spends his time with his family and friends, of whom his house is the Mecca of a large number. During the past year he has spent considerable time dictating his memoirs, which promise to be exceedingly interesting, since his life was so intimately connected with the business of steamboating, now entirely a thing of the past. Mr. Charles was also a pioneer of Sioux City. Few are left. His comrades and associates of the older days are one by one passing away. Living in the present, yet dwelling largely in the past, Mr. Charles quietly, patiently awaits his turn. May his days among us of a newer age be multiplied.

REMINISCENCES OF JOHN H. CHARLES.

Introduction

By F. H. Garver.

The first plat of Sioux City was made in 1854. The late Mr. John H. Charles came to the new town on December 1, 1856, remaining here till the day of his death, which occurred on December 1, 1904, the forty- eighth anniversary of his coming. He was not a pioneer only; his residence in Sioux City had spanned at the time of his death practically the whole history of the town. He was here when the population numbered but a few hundred; he saw it increase to 40,000. He was here when the community possessed but little wealth; he saw prosperity come and abide. He was here when manners were rough and the country was wild; he saw culture come and refinement.

Mr. Charles life was primarily a business career. He was successively a real estate dealer, surveyor, clerk, merchant and government transportation contractor. Though not a politician, and never an office seeker, he was yet called upon to serve the community in the various capacities of justice of the peace, alderman and Mayor. Other honors could have been his for the asking, but he had a distaste for public office, and rejected all suggestions of personal preferment. He chose to give his spare time and surplus energies to interests of a semiprivate character. In this field several different subjects and enterprises claimed his attention and received his support. For years he was a loyal member of the Sioux City Scientific Association. He served the association as its president from 1892 to 1903. In the latter year he was foremost in the organization of the Academy of Science and Letters which was formed to Succeed the Scientific Association. During its first year Mr. Charles was president of the Academy. At the time of his death he was President Emeritus. For more than a mere pastime he brought together from many places a numerous and valuable collection of geological specimens and Indian relics.

Mr. Charles was much interested in the Sioux City Public Library. To it he gave many books and much of his time serving as a trustee from the establishment of the library to his death. Personally he was a great reader. His private library was one of the largest and best appointed in the city. It also contained many rare volumes of great age and value, another example of his collecting spirit.

As a pioneer, who for fifty years had witnessed the remarkable changes brought by advancing civilization, Mr. Charles was anxious that the story of the early history of Sioux City and of Iowa be preserved. A close friend of Mr. Charles Aldrich, Curator of the State Historical Department, he possessed a deep sympathy for the work of that institution and backed up his interest in a substantial manner. He was also for several years before his death a member of the State Historical Society of Iowa.

The chief service of Mr. Charles to the cause of local history was in connection with the erection of the Floyd monument. He was one of the organizers, in 1895, of the Floyd Memorial Association, an organization formed for the purpose of commemorating, in some suitable way, the name of Sergeant Charles Floyd, a member of the Lewis and Clark expedition, who died on the upward journey, in 1804, and was interred upon a bluff within the present limits of Sioux City. From 1896 on until his death Mr. Charles was president of this association, which in 1900-1 crowned its years of labor with brilliant success by erecting over the grave of Floyd a stately shaft one hundred feet in height. This successful consummation of the association's work, though many devoted men and women contributed to it, was more the work of Jr. John H. Charles than of any other individual. This fact is recognized by the Floyd Memorial Association itself, since at a recent meeting it voted to place upon the Floyd monument a bronze tablet in appreciation of the services of Mr. Charles in the erection of the same.

It was Mr. Charles' desire to aid in the preservation of the early history of Sioux City that caused him to dictate to the editor, during the late summer of 1904, the following reminiscences. In doing this no especial system was followed. Mr. Charles talked as the inspiration came, choosing his own subjects to some of which he would return on later days and make additions. The first task of the editor was to write out the dictations and read them to Mr. Charles for his correction. Such occasions were often seized by him for still further additions. One result of this method was to produce a fragmentary effect. The narrative was not always consecutive.

The chief task of the editor has been to rewrite and rearrange the Reminiscences, to verify statements and to correct what errors had crept in. Mr. Charles' exact words and phrases have been retained wherever possible. No facts have been altered. The meaning has always been preserved. One has a right to private views, hence no changes of mere opinion have been made.

Mr. Charles was asked to spell all personal names as he dictated. His spelling has been preserved in the text. Sometimes it was that of the frontier which, though common then, would not always pass now. Where a different spelling has been suggested by the editor it has been placed in brackets in the text. Sometimes initials and given names have been missing. Whenever it has been possible to supply these they also have been placed in brackets. Other minor corrections have been indicated in the same way.

Footnotes have been added by the editor for two reasons: partly for the purpose of making corrections more important or more extensive than those mentioned above; partly with view of adding more light to the subject in hand.

The headings have all been inserted as an aid to the reader.

What follows is not an autobiography of Mr. Charles. He makes no attempt here to tell the complete story of his life. A brief sketch of his career appears in Volume I of the Proceedings, the data for the same having been furnished by him at another time. Here Mr. Charles has limited his remarks mostly to life in Sioux City prior to 1865. His remarks are largely local and personal. The latter part, in which he recalls and describes a dozen prominent characters of early days, was added at the suggestion of the editor.

It is hoped that this paper may contain something of interest and value to the future historian of this locality. Any errors still found in it will be eagerly caught up and corrected by surviving pioneers; at least such corrections are invited. Perhaps others will be thus led to write down their own experiences, a result much to be desired.

The editor is under obligations to Mrs. John H. Charles for many favors. Also to Mr. J. C. C. Hoskins and Mr. George Weare for kindly going over the articles with him in search of errors, and to Mrs. Mary E. Hagy for verification of several points.

Ancestry and Youth.

My ancestors, on my father's side, were Swiss. My great-great- grandfather's name was Henry, or rather Heinrich, Karli. He was a native of the canton of Zurich, Switzerland. In 1734 he emigrated to America and settled in Manor Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He was the father of three sons, namely Joseph, John and Jacob. Joseph had two sons named John and Joseph. John, the eldest of these, was my grandfather. He also had two sons named respectively Joseph and John. Joseph was my father. He spelled his last name Charles, the family name having been Anglicized since their immigration to America.

I was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, on January the 19th, 1826. My mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Kauffman. Her people, who were also Swiss, had come to America and settled in Pennsylvania in 1717. I was the oldest child in a family of six children, four boys and two girls. In May, 1826, when I was four months old, my father moved from Pennsylvania to Mifflin Township, Richmond County, Ohio. A little later a shifting of county boundary lines threw my father's farm into Ashland County. This farm is still in the family. One of my sisters, Mrs. Ben J. Urban,* (*Mrs. Urban died October 12th, 1906, after this article had gone to the printers.) now lives upon it [1904]. It is located about nine miles east of the city of Mansfield, Ohio.

I lived on this farm until I was twenty-four years of age. The first fifteen years were uneventful. At fifteen I began to learn the trade of a carpenter and joiner, at which I worked most of the time during the summer months until I was twenty-four. For four or five winters I taught school. For this employment I received during the first year eleven dollars a month and "boarded around." When I quit teaching I was receiving twenty dollars a month, the highest wages paid in Ashland County at that time.

First Trip to California.

In the spring of 1850 the news of the discovery of gold in California reached our place. I, as well as many others, caught the "gold fever." Being a strong young man, and in my prime, I soon made up my mind to go. My folks were not much in favor of my plan. They, however, made no objection to my departure, though they saw me go with great anxiety. It was on the 13th day of March, 1850, that I left the old home for the far West. I went by rail from Mansfield, in an adjoining county, to Sandusky City, where I stopped over night. Next day I went by rail to Cincinnati, where I took passage on the Yorktown, a large steamer commanded by Captain Haldeman, for St. Louis. The trip down the Ohio and up the Mississippi rivers took us ten days. While in St. Louis I stopped at the Missouri Hotel, which a gentleman who was waiting for passengers on the levee said was the "cheapest dollar a day house in the town."

I left St. Louis on the steamer El Paso and went up the Missouri river as far as Liberty Landing,* (*In western Missouri, just south of the town of Liberty and a little east of Kansas City.) from which place emigrants started at that time for California. At Independence, Missouri, we "fitted out" for California, which was the "far West" then surely. We bought four yoke of oxen for each wagon, loading each with about two thousand pounds of provisions, outfit, etc. This was not a large load for such a team, but we thought it safest to have enough oxen. There were about eighty persons in our crowd. Altogether we had twenty-one wagons, which with their four-yoke teams made a very formidable appearance. We had not gone far, however, before grass became scarce. Then, too, we could not always agree as to the best route to be taken. For these reasons our large party soon split up into smaller ones, each taking whichever route it pleased.

By the middle of May we reached Grand Island, Nebraska, where we found our first good grass. This was an important item, since our cattle were already getting weak and thin. From Grand Island, where we struck the valley, we moved up the Platte river to old Fort Carney [Kearney], thence west by Ash Hollow and the North Platte to Fort Laramie, situated at the point where the Laramie fork enters the North Platte. Arrived at the Rocky Mountains, we did not follow the Union Pacific track over the divide, though this was the usual route, but took rather the South Pass over the mountains, which were passed about June 1. Once over the Great Divide we went down the Humboldt* (*In Nevada. No effort has been made to identify the exact route taken on this journey because the story of this trip may be considered as merely introductory to the main narrative to follow.) River to the Carson river and then up the Carson river to its head. The journey across the Sierra Nevada range, which was reached early in August, brought the greatest suffering of the whole trip, for the snow was heavy and it was biting cold. The crust on the snow was strong enough to bear up our heavy wagons, for which we were thankful, since it lessened the hardship somewhat. Descending the western slope of the Sierra Nevada range we reached the gold fields at a place called Hangtown [now Placerville], California, about September 1.

The three greatest trials of our four mouths' journey had been in crossing the Sierra Nevada mountains, some difficulty in always finding grass for the cattle, and scarcity of water, which was felt at times. It was in Nevada that we suffered most for water. On one occasion we ran out and while I stayed to guard camp my colleagues made a detour of many miles on either side in search of water. While I was awaiting the return of my friends a man came across the sands bearing a small keg of water upon his shoulder. When he came to camp I asked for a drink and was informed that I could have a cup of water for one dollar. I was so thirsty that I paid for the drink. Before 1eaving the man asked if we had an abundance of food. I answered "Yes." He started away, but soon came back and asked for something to eat. I charged him a dollar for a square meal and so got even with him.

I soon tired of prospecting for gold, and went to work for a mining company. The miners almost coerced newcomers into working for them, they wanted men so badly. Wages were high, so by May of the next year I had saved one thousand dollars. We had sold our surplus provisions upon arrival for a good price. Not liking life in the mining region, I now decided to return to Ohio, making the homeward journey by way of the Isthmus of Panama.

Second Trip to California.

I now remained at home for eighteen months. Upon my arrival there I was sure I should never go West again. But soon several young men in my county began to plan a trip to California and I joined them. We went again to Independence, Missouri, for our start across the plains. Here three of us who had made the trip to California before bought up a hundred cows. We got them for less than twenty dollars per head. We had an idea that we could drive them to California and make some money on them. We followed about the same route which I had taken two years before. We reached the mining country in the spring of 1853 and had no trouble in selling our cows at eighty dollars per head.

Our party tried prospecting near Sacramento City. After a time I gave that up and superintended the construction of a plank road leading out of Sacramento City. During the spring and summer of 1855 I farmed. In December of the same year I started East again, this time by way of Nicaragua, reaching Ohio in February, 1856. I remained at home until fall.

Comes to Sioux City.

During the summer of 1856, while in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on a visit, I learned that the United States government had made some rich land grants to three railroads* (*These three railroads grew into the present Rock Island, Chicago and Northwestern, and Illinois Central systems.) that were going to build across the state of Iowa. Several things turned my attention westward again. First, I had been West twice and got something of the Western spirit. I had an uncle who was loaning money on Wisconsin lands and he talked about the West to me. Then the nomination of Buchanan for president that summer seemed to promise trouble with the South, and finally I thought the land in Iowa would make a good investment. So I made up my mind to go West and settle down for good. After a careful study of the maps I chose Sioux City as my destination and started. From Mansfield I came by rail via Chicago to Iowa City.* (*This was as far west as the railroad came in Iowa in 1856.) Thence I went by stage to Des Moines, where I stopped off a few days. A second stage brought me to Fort Dodge. The hardest part of the journey lay between that point and Sioux City. No regular stage ran between these two places, only a lumber wagon which carried mail. In this I took passage. It took us six days to make the trip. The first night we spent at Twin Lakes, the next at Sac City, and the third at Ida Grove, where I stopped with a friend, Judge [J. E.] Moorehead. The last three nights we spent at Mapleton, Smithland and Sergeant's Bluff respectively. At the latter place I passed the night with Mr. [W. P.] Holman. We finally reached Sioux City on Monday morning, December 1, 1856, during a fierce snow-storm. That night I stopped at the Hagy House, or Western* (*The Hagy House of 1856 was called the Northwestern House later. The nickname "Terrific" had been applied to the house before Mr. Hagy became proprietor.) Hotel, of which John Hagy was proprietor. The hotel was located on the levee at the corner of Second and Water streets. It consisted of two log cabins near together, the space between enclosed only with rough hewn boards. The house was ordinarily referred to as "The Terrific."

A dozen men were in the hotel lobby. All were in shirt sleeves, but each man wore from two to four flannel shirts. One old man named Cowan, known familiarly as "Colonel," sat by the stove with an umbrella raised over him. The storm was very severe and blew so much snow into the upper part of the room that it settled down all over the floor. Above the stove the heat changed the falling flakes into rain, hence the umbrella. The men were a hard-looking set, harder than I had seen in the California mines or even on the Isthmus. They were dirty and ragged, but talked chiefly of their real estate sales and of the money they had made. But they looked harder than they were, for some of them were well educated and have since made their mark.

Near bed time I looked around for a sleeping room. Seeing none, and wishing to make inquiry, I approached the only man in the hotel whom I saw wearing a white shirt. He answered that none of the men had rooms, that there were no rooms, and that I would be lucky to get even a bed. He said that he himself slept between the two houses, and not having any bed fellow I could sleep with him. He probably noticed that I also wore a white shirt, and since we two were the only guests that did, this may be the reason why he took me in preference to any one else. We soon retired to sleep, under a buffalo robe. That is all that kept us from freezing. In the morning we were covered with snow several inches deep. Frost had formed around our eyes and mouths and our faces were covered with snow and ice.* (*Mr. Charles' bedfellow that night was Charles K. Smith, afterwards postmaster of Sioux City.)

When we arose in the morning we found the kitchen snowed up. The cook stove was completely covered. The dining room was half full of snow and it was still storming; indeed, it continued storming all that day and the next. It was nothing less than a genuine northwestern blizzard of wind and snow. On the whole, coming as I did almost direct from California, where running water never freezes, I thought I had been given a rather cold reception in Sioux City.

Since the kitchen was snowed under, our hotel could not serve breakfast. About 8:30 a. m. I started out to get a bite to eat. The storm had not abated and I found the streets almost impassable. But I was successful in that I finally succeeded in getting what was called a "hot breakfast" at the Sioux City House, located on Pearl street between Fifth and Sixth.* (*Rather on the corner of Fifth and Pearl. Building is still standing.)

While going in search of this meal I met at the postoffice* (*Located on the corner of Second and Pearl streets.) Mr. Samuel T. Davis, whom I looked upon as a friend as soon as I learned that he was from Pennsylvania, the state in which I was born. The severeness of the storm caused some of those who went through it to give up their half-formed intentions of locating here, but after talking with Mr. Davis about Pennsylvania, California and some other states we made up our minds to stay in Sioux City. In closing the conversation I said to him, "I'll be in Sioux City on the morning of January 1, 1900, and as the sun rises over the hills to the East I'll say, 'Hail, old Fellow! I'm still here.'" It came to pass. On the morning of January 1, 1900, Mr. Davis took breakfast with me at my house. Forty-four years had passed since we first met that stormy day in the little postoffice. You can guess what we talked about.

Locates a Townsite.

After looking around to see what could be done I made up my mind that I must pay expenses during the winter. So I went across the river, took up a claim in Nebraska and went to cutting cord wood and saw logs. In this way I made enough extra money to buy a compass in the spring so I could take up surveying, an occupation much to my liking. I soon had a chance to use my compass. During the last days of February, 1857, a man from Ohio, named Bennett, came to Sioux City. He represented an Ohio company which desired to locate a townsite somewhere along the Missouri river above here. None of this country had been surveyed and townsites had to be located as best they could in order to be held against the settlers. The pre-emption law allowed this to be done providing certain conditions were met. Mr. Bennett engaged me to locate his townsite for him. Accordingly on March 1, 1857, I took my compass and started, together with Father Martin of Dakota City, from Covington,* (*Located on the Nebraska side of the Missouri opposite Sioux City Both town and claim have since been washed away.) where my claim was, for the upper river. We had a span of horses and a sled to haul the provisions. The claim- men, ax-men, etc., walked, I with the rest. Towards evening of the first day we got as far as St. Johns,* (*Town has disappeared and site has been washed away. The present town of Jackson (Dakota County, Nebraska) is said to represent the former town of St. Johns.) Nebraska, where John Tracey* (*A Catholic priest and founder of St. Johns, having led a colony of Irish Catholics there in 1856. The fiftieth anniversary of this event was celebrated at Jackson during the summer of 1906.) lived. The snow was two feet deep and we could make but slow progress. On the second day the expedition reached Ponca, where we stayed over night. The next day we started for Concord,* (*There is a town named Concord in Dixon County, Nebraska but it is too far south to be the town here indicated because the Party was following the Missouri river closely.) which is at the head of Lime Creek. When we got there we found some Sioux City people - S. B. Mullhollen (Mullholland) and [Wesley S.] Trescott among them. The fourth night we camped on the open prairie and almost froze to death, as it was the night of a terrible blizzard. It was only by building a big fire that we managed to live through it.

Next night we stopped at St. James,* (*In Cedar County.) Nebr., on the Missouri river, where we found trappers who had gone there to trade with the Indians. I made my bed on a pile of beaver skins and was sleeping away, like a pig under a gate, when, sometime during the night, I was awakened by loud talking and swearing on the part of the trappers. They had remained up late to play cards and got into some dispute about the fairness of the game. They were so abusive that I thought some one would be killed, especially since their revolvers were much in evidence, yet no harm came of it. These four men were Bill Copeland, John [Henry] Campbell, Bill Craven[s] and [John] Mitchell, commonly called "Old Mitch."

Next morning we went up the river to a point opposite the present site of Yankton, S. Dak., where we found a party of New York men holding a townsite. On the way we had passed a high rocky point, which had looked so good to me and commanded such a fine view that I now recommended that we return to it. This recommendation suited Mr. Bennett, so we went back and staked out a townsite consisting of over 2,000 acres, or more than three sections. This took us nearly a week, after which we were ready to return to Sioux City. In the meantime the snow had melted and the return trip was not so difficult. After reaching home I platted the town, naming it Opechee, a name afterward changed to St. Helena. It was in Cedar County, Nebr., opposite* (*The town is still in existence.) the present village of Gayville [which is in Yankton County, S. D.]. Bennett went east and had the plat lithographed and sold lots right and left, getting himself into trouble,* (*And into the penitentiary.) since the land had not yet been surveyed by the United States government.

Fate of the Four Trappers.

In the fall of 1857 I was elected a Justice of the Peace in and for Woodbury County. One of the first cases to come before me was the trial of a man named Wm. O. Allen, for killing Bill Craven[s], one of the quarreling trappers whom we had met at St. James. Allen was bound over to the District Court, and, since there was no jail any nearer, the Sheriff* (*John Braden.) started off with the prisoner to Council Bluffs. They got as far as the Floyd River, then the Sheriff came back and reported that the prisoner had broken away. One thing is certain, he never came back.

Previous to our leaving St. James, the four trappers had had a second quarrel. "Old Mitch" was killed* (*By Henry Campbell, mentioned in the following paragraph.) by a blow on the head, "decently" buried in a shoe box, and nothing was ever done about it.

During the spring elections of 1858, Bill Copeland had a quarrel with H. W. Tracey, in front of the latter's store on lower Pearl Street. As a result Tracey shot him. This was the third violent death among these four men inside of a year. But such things were not uncommon on the frontier in those early days. The survivor, John [Henry] Campbell, soon went east "for his health," and what became of him I do not know. I had had enough interest in these men to keep track of them as far as stated.

Because of the escape of Allen and the miscarriage of justice in other cases I became so disgusted with the office of Justice of the Peace that I would have nothing more to do with it. But before leaving the subject altogether I might mention another of my exploits as Justice.

Performs First Mariage Ceremony.

One day while I was putting up an office opposite the Sioux City House, on Pearl Street, a man drove up and asked if I was Mr. Charles. I replied that I was. Then he asked if I was a Justice of the Peace. Again I gave him an affirmative answer. He said I was wanted at the Pacific Hotel, down on Fourth Street, where there was a small settlement.

I got into his rig and went with him, expecting that I was wanted to make acknowledgment of a deed. Reaching the hotel I was led to the parlor, and there introduced to a Miss Livermore and a Mr. [Osmond] Plato, who, I was informed, desired me to marry them. I wouldn't have been more surprised if they had told me I was to be shot. Up to that time my experience with weddings had been very slight; I had seen just one, my sister's. What to do I did not know. Just then the man who had come after me handed me a paper and said: "This is their license." I took the license and looked it over, pretending to read, but, in reality, I was trying to make up my mind what to say. Having made it up, I asked the parties to stand up and join hands. Then I asked if there were any objections to the union of the couple. There being none, I said, "By virtue of the authority vested in me as a Justice of the Peace I pronounce you man and wife," and it was all over and just as well done as if it had been performed according to the elaborate Episcopalian ring service.

Performs Marriage Ceremony in Dakota Territory.

On the first day of January, 1858, there came to my office in Sioux City a company of half-breeds and Indians from across the Big Sioux, who wanted me to come over there and marry a Frenchman and a Crow squaw.

While I was first a Justice the title "Squire" became attached to may name. After I had thrown up the office, following the escape of Allen, the murderer of Craven[s], I was still "Squire." Some years later I was appointed Justice by J. P. Allison, County Judge, to fill out an unexpired term. But when asked to go over to Dakota Territory* (*This phrase is allowable, though Dakota Territory was not established till March 2, 1861.) to marry this couple I was not a Justice at all, and so had no authority to perform such ceremonies. Even if I had been a Justice, my jurisdiction would not have extended outside of Woodbury County, much less outside of the State. So, of course, I refused to go.

The company went down town and saw Mr. L. H. Kennerly, who sent them back to me with instructions to go over and marry the couple. By and by Mr. Kennerly, himself, came up and talked with me. He said the Indians wanted me very badly and honestly believed that I could legally perform the ceremony. I repeated the statement that I had no authority, but finally, after Mr. Kennerly had presented the matter at length, I arranged for an escort of some twenty men and promised to go.

In truth, I was afraid of the half-breeds and didn't want to go. I know now that it was not a serious matter, but I thought differently then.

Next day we crossed the river. Arriving at the hut where the ceremony was to be performed we found everything in readiness. Without much delay I had the couple stand up. The Frenchman could not understand a word of English nor the Squaw a word of either French or English. The Squaw had insisted that an American perform the ceremony. She had been deceived upon a former occasion and now would trust only an American.

After the ceremony I asked a Mr. [Enos] Stutsman, who was present, a one-legged man,* (*A cripple from birth. Both legs were deformed and almost missing.) but talkative, to make an address. This he did, giving the newly married couple some good advice, which they could not understand, and wishing all present a good time and finally that all might go to the Happy Hunting Grounds and have a continual good time there.

The next thing on the program was the feast to be given at another house down on the bank of the Missouri River. To this place we proceeded through the brush and timber, each fellow for himself. Even the bride and groom had to travel in this way. Arriving at the house we found ample provision had been made for the feast. Great camp kettles full of bouillon (soup of dog) made up the principal dish. Of this all were invited to partake. Nearly all present did, but for some reason I had no appetite. Then I was given a piece of beaver tail, considered by the Indians a great delicacy. This was considered as an honor for me, for, since I had performed the marriage ceremony, I was looked upon by the Indians as a great chief, and treated as one - at very little expense to themselves.

After we had sat down to the feast some one asked where the bride and groom were. We all looked around but they were certainly not present. Upon investigation we found them outside. We at once made room for them and brought them in so that they too might partake of their own wedding feast. Coffee and hardtack were now served, so I did not go hungry, in spite of the bouillon.

After supper we all went back to the Angie cabin, where the marriage ceremony had been performed. Here a certain John Brazo [Brazeau] played the fiddle and the dance proceeded, as was customary upon such occasions. Brazo was a character who was accustomed to say that he was the first "white man" in this part of the country. In fact, if he was not a negro, for he was as black as one, or a mulatto, he was at least a very dark Spaniard. In my opinion he had both negro and Indian blood in his veins, but that made no difference with him. He considered himself a white man, and, as far as he was concerned, that settled it. After the dance our party returned to Sioux City. This was the first wedding in Dakota Territory after white settlers came to Sioux City.

Whatever became of the married couple I do not know. I presume, however, that the Frenchman learned the Indian language, since the French did this readily, and perhaps became a fur trader. Of the twenty white persons who accompanied me across the river to perform that marriage ceremony but two or three are left to tell the story [1904].

One still living is James E. Booge, of Sioux City, and another is "Gov." F. M. Ziebach, of Yankton, S. Dak.

Settlement of Sioux City.

In 1857 there were two clusters of houses in Sioux City, one on the levee on Second Street and the other in the region of Sixth and Douglas. At the latter place were located the U. S. land offices for the receiving and registration of claims, as well as the offices of many private land agents.

The first settler in Sioux City, probably, was Joseph Lyonais [Leonais] or Theophile Brughier [Bruguier].

Dr. John K. Cook, government surveyor, laid out the first city and named the streets. It consisted of a half section, laid out into lots, on the west side of Perry Creek. This was in 1854.

Then Sioux City East was laid out on the east side of Perry Creek, followed by a half section up on the bluffs known as Chamberlain quarter.

The population in l857 numbered less than one thousand, though it was larger in this year than at any subsequent date till 1865, the last year of the war. Of the population, anywhere from two-thirds to three-fourths were transients, many of whom were frightened away by the hard times following the panic of 1857 and by Indian scares during the war. The population came largely to make money out of the sale of Northwestern Iowa lands. One-fourth of the state was for sale at the Sioux City land offices.

The inhabitants came from all parts of the U. S., but in largest numbers from Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois. Pennsylvania and Ohio were not so numerously represented.* (*A study by the editor of the nativity of seventy of the old settlers of Woodbury County showed that the largest number was born in New York. Other states ranked in the following order: Vermont, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana, etc. These old settlers did not all come to Woodbury County directly from the states of their birth. The states from which most of them came were in this order: Illinois, New York, Ohio, Wisconsin, Indiana and Pennsylvania.) I was called a Pennsylvanian because I was born there, but, as I had lived most of my life in Ohio, I was more truly an Ohioan.

Everything needed in a frontier town came up the river by steamboat from St. Louis or Council Bluffs The regular mail came in this way.

I remember I came into Sioux City from Ft. Dodge in an open wagon, called a stage by courtesy, which carried mail. This was one of the first overland mails to come to Sioux City.

During my first year of residence in Sioux City [1857] a number of boats ran regularly in the Sioux City trade. Coming up from St. Louis about once a month they brought us almost everything. I remember especially the Omaha, Captain Wineland, as being one of the most regular.

The American Fur Company's boats for the upper river made but one trip a year, it was so long and perilous. Going up in the spring, loaded with merchandise, they did not return till fall, full of valuable furs.

These boats all stopped at Sioux City both going and coming.

Early City Politics.

The year before I came to Sioux City there occurred a three-cornered contest* (*This county seat election was held on April 7, 1856.) for the County Seat between Sioux City, Smithland and Sergeant's Bluff. Sioux City outvoted the others, and got the prize.

The election was held near the corner of Sixth and Douglas streets at the United States land office.* (*Incorrect. The election was held at Thompsontown or Floyd's Bluff. The incident following, though it probably did not apply to this election, was more or less typical of early elections here.) Out in the street in front of the office there was a well. A barrel of whisky was brought, placed beside the well and tapped. Whisky was as free as water that day, and as easily obtained.

The first election after I came to Sioux City took place in Aug., 1857. It was the charter election, i.e., the election when a city charter was voted on. The charter carried unanimously. I was one of the judges of the election, and as Kirkie [Cartier], "the wild Frenchman," came up to vote someone challenged his vote on the ground that he was not a citizen of the United States, but he swore that he was. I administered the oath to him, closing with the words, "So help you God," whereupon he exclaimed, "I hope so, too, for no one else ever helped old Kirkie [Cartier].

A number of votes were sworn in in this way, among them that of Joe Leonais and others who had been fur traders for the American Fur Company. We did not know whether they were legally citizens or not, but it was safe to have them swear in their votes.

At these early elections we voted everybody. Everyone who could swear in his vote did so. Half-breeds were generally challenged, but since they were always willing to swear in their votes they were allowed to cast them.

There were three wards in Sioux City at this time [Aug., 1857]. Two aldermen were chosen from each ward. I was chosen an alderman from the Second Ward. My colleague was Enos Stutsman. Since the city government was not organized at this time, as will be explained, we never served the city in the capacity of councilmen.

The candidates for mayor at this election had been Ezra Millard* (*A brother of United States Senator Joseph H. Millard, of Nebraska.) and Captain J. B. S. Todd, both democrats. Millard received the largest number of votes, but because of some irregularity the votes of one ward were thrown out and Todd was declared elected. Not satisfied with such proceedings Todd refused to serve, leaving the town without any municipal organization until the following spring.

Again [Apr., 1858] two democratic candidates were pitted against each other. They were Dr. Townsend and Col. [Robt.] Means. The later was elected, and served as mayor one year.* (*It was at this election that Tracey shot and killed Copeland.) Col. Means was quite a character. Immediately before retiring each night he always blacked his boots and brushed his hat. The first thing he did upon rising in the morning was to brush his hat and black his boots. Questioned why he did this he would reply, "I black my boots twice so that I may always have a shine left after the top one wears off."

Personal Politics.

In 1857 Sioux City was a land office town. The two United States senators from Iowa were Geo. W. Jones and A. C. Dodge, both democrats. The democratic party was so strong here that there were not enough republicans to maintain an organization. But the democrats were divided into two factions, called the "Hards" and the "Softs," and this gave the republicans a chance. There were many regular fire-eaters here at that time and elections were generally disorderly.

I remember that when, in 1857, we voted upon the new state constitution I voted to strike out the word "white" and this offended many of my friends. But it was a matter of principle with me. I could not agree in all things with the dominant party. If I had been entitled to a vote in 1856 I should have cast it for Fremont and Dayton. But I had left California too late and had not attained a residence here before election day. I had lost my vote in 1852 in much the same way. In 1848 I cast my first ballot voting for Van Buren and Adams, the third party candidates.

Banquet At Tremont House.

I well remember Thanksgiving Day of 1857 because of a dinner which I attended at the Tremont house, a new hotel built in central Sioux City. Mrs. Hagy kept the hotel. I was made chairman of the evening because I came from the president's state. On my right sat J. P. Allison; on my left H. W. Tracey. Some of the others present were: L. C. Sanborn, Jerome R. White, J. B. Flagg, Al Lovering, Chas. Warren, Col. Means and L. H. Kennerly. All are dead now [1904] except Kennerly, Allison and myself; perhaps Kennerly is, but he was not a year or two ago.* (*The Eagle under date of November 28, 1857, gives a column to the report of this banquet. Nineteen men are named as having been present, Mr. Sanborn's name not being among the list.)

This dinner I have good reason to remember vividly. We had a great old time. Mr. White and I were the only men present who did not drink. We were the only sober ones in the crowd, and sometimes I suspected White.

Each one had to sing a song or tell a story. Some of the boys got up onto the table and walked back and forth over it. You will find this dinner reported in the Sioux City Weekly Eagle, Vol. I [see * above]

The Sioux City Eagle was the first paper published here. It was edited by Seth W. Swiggett, who died a few years ago in Chicago. In politics the Eagle was neutral with democratic leanings. Its first issue was put out on July 4th, 1857. About two years later it was superceded by the Sioux City Register, "Gov." F. M. Ziebach, editor.

Sioux City as a Land Office Town.

As I said before, Sioux City was, in the early days, a land office town. The U. S. Government Land Office, where claims were received and recorded, was situated here, as well as many private real estate agents.

Land sold generally at $1.25 per acre, except when competitive bidding ran it up higher. Men bought not only for themselves, but for friends who were not on the grounds and also for speculation.

An agent was allowed to enter five or six quarter sections at a time. His commission on a quarter was about $40. A common plan was to enter a quarter section at $1.25 per acre and sell it at once on a year's time for from $2.50 to $3.00 per acre. By going east an agent could sell such a piece for $4 an acre. There was much politics in the land business. Agents were partial and not all comers were treated with equal fairness.

Admitted to the Bar.

Early in 1858 Col. Means and myself were admitted to the bar. He had some knowledge of the law, but I had none except what little I had picked up while I was Justice of the Peace.

But the boys were bound to have me be a lawyer, so Col. Means and I gave a supper. Judge Marshall F. Moore of the District Court presided. He appointed a committee to examine us. They asked us only one or two questions, and then certified that we had passed our examinations. In this way we were admitted to the bar, or, as the boys put it, we were admitted to be "eternally at law and solicitous of good chances."

I never practiced law in spite of my highly successful examination for admission to the bar. In fact, about the only advantage I received was to escape jury service thereafter.

Indians. Soldiers. Grasshoppers.

In May, 1861, I was appointed by President Lincoln Indian agent for all the Indians on the Upper Missouri River. I did not accept the appointment because I was to be married the next week in Ohio, but I still have the commission in my possession.

In July, 1861, we had an Indian scare here. On the 9th the Inkpaduta band* (*Renegade Indians of the tribe of the Santee Sioux, undoubtedly, but probably not of the followers of Inkpaduta.) of the Sioux rose and murdered Thomas Roberts and Henry Cordway [Cordua] in Bacon's Hollow, now Greenville, while they were in their fields hoeing corn. It caused a great flurry among; the people and stirred them to action.

A greater Indian scare* (*Called the "War of the Outbreak" in the history of South Dakota.) occurred in 1862, when the Santee Sioux rose and massacred the inhabitants of New Ulm, Minn. As the Indians proceeded west from New Ulm into Dakota the settlers along the Big Sioux and James Rivers began to leave for Sioux City and the east. They abandoned their crops and newly made homes in such large numbers that the region was almost depopulated. Much plunder was left to the Indians for the taking.

We, in Sioux City, did what we could to stop them. We placed a guard at the ferry across the Floyd River in order that their retreat might be cut off, but it was of no avail, for they would not be stopped. A stockade was built in Sioux City on the river front between Douglas and Pierce Streets. Every man in town was expected to help in the work of making the town safe. But the Indians never came near us after that and gradually fear died away. Some of the settlers who had fled never came back. Others returning later found that their claims had been jumped in their absence. Altogether these Indian scares were very expensive.

In the fall of 1862 came the soldiers, parts of three companies, to protect us from the Indians. At first they had a tendency to stop the wholesale departure of settlers, but, finally, when they began to help themselves freely to everything they could find, it was neither pleasant or helpful to the town. By and by they left us and went south.* (*They were, rather, sent up the river. Later they were mustered out at Sioux City.) We were rid of them and still lived.

Next came the grasshoppers.* (*Fall of 1864 and spring of 1865.) They were almost as bad as the Indians and soldiers. They moved down field after field of corn; in fact, they ate up nearly all vegetation, causing much suffering and distress.

It did seem hard upon us to be preyed upon by Indians, soldiers and grasshoppers in such rapid succession. These were lean years for us in Sioux City. It was enough to make even the stoutest hearts quail.

Dakota Territory.

In 1861 Dakota Territory was organized. Settlers had been going into that region for several years. Most of them passed through here on their way. Sioux City was also their depot of supplies, a kind of headquarters or capital for that territory. Some of our people went over there to settle. When Indian troubles threatened Dakota settlers fled here for refuge. Hence Sioux City and Dakota Territory had much in common in those days

The settlers in Dakota used to be jealous because their judges and other officials often lived in Sioux City while holding office over there. But it was better living here and I couldn't blame them.

We used to go over there at election times to see that some did not vote too often and that all got a chance; in fact, to see that no frauds were permitted. At the first election in Dakota, after the territory was organized, for the choice of a delegate to congress, J. B. S. Todd was a candidate and was elected. His opponents were [A. J.] Bell, regular republican, and Chas. P. Booge, independent. Todd was the people's candidate. He had been elected first mayor of Sioux City four years earlier and his friends here were interested in his candidacy. I recollect that some of us went over the river when election day came to watch the proceedings. Todd was there,* (*At Sioux Point. where Frost, Todd & Co. had one of their stores) but later in the day he went up to Vermillion and left me to look after his interests. The Frenchmen fell out and began to quarrel and fight and had an awful time. I wouldn't go through that experience again for all Dakota. Finally, when the votes were counted, it was found that less than 1,000 had been cast, but of these Todd had received a majority, and so was elected.* (*The vote stood: Todd, 397; Booze, 110; Bell, 78.) Todd had hardly gone down to Washington before he came back appointed by President Lincoln a Brigadier General and went into Northwestern Missouri to fight the guerillas.

Business Interests.

During my first four years in Sioux City, i.e., from 1856 to 1860, I was engaged in the real estate business. I also did considerable surveying. During most of this time I was closely associated with Geo. W. Ryall, who had been a friend in Ohio. Our office was situated on Pearl Street, across from the Sioux City House.

In August, 1860, I consolidated my business with that of Means, Allison & Co. The firm name was Allison & Charles. Our office was located on the lot where the public library building now stands. I remained in this firm but one month, selling out on September 6th to Geo. Weare, who is still in the banking business in Sioux City, the oldest banker here and a good one.

I at once entered the general mercantile business of Milton Tootle as a clerk. I received $65 per month. The store was on the corner of Second and Pearl Streets, and faced the river. Tootle lived in St. Joe, so I was virtually manager of the store. In 1864 Mr. Tootle recognized this and I became a partner with him in the business, the firm name becoming Tootle & Charles. I was now manager in name as well as in fact. We did a large general business, picking up considerable river trade. In 1871 new interests came into the firm, and the name became Tootle & Co. Our steamboat business, which was very attractive to me, now increased rapidly.

In 1875 I left the firm of Tootle & Co. and formed a partnership with A. H. Wilder, of St. Paul. This time the firm name was Charles & Wilder. We owned four steamboats, which ran between Sioux City and the upper river. We carried freight for Indian traders and miners and took government contracts to supply Indian tribes with their annuities.

Five years later [1880] I helped organize and became interested in the Benton Transportation Company. I became secretary and manager, holding those positions till July 1st, 1900, when the company ceased to exist.

Our business was entirely that of steamboating. From a large business at first, requiring as many as eight steamboats to handle it, we came at last to have almost none, owing to the building of railroads into the West. At the dissolution of the Benton Transportation Company I retired to private life.

Steamboating on the Missouri.

The steamboat business was fascinating and romantic. The Missouri River is very treacherous, the channel always shifting. To be a pilot required great skill and courage. The pilot was extremely well paid. But the river was not the only danger. Some of the Indians on the upper river were extremely hostile. It required great courage on the part of the captain, too.

When the steamboats first began to come up the river they were a great curiosity to the Indians and were warmly welcomed, indeed, by the whites. The approach of a steamboat was generally known long enough in advance for a good sized crowd to greet it at the levee when it came to land.

The first steamboat to come as far up the river as Sioux City was the Yellowstone, in 1831. In 1863 two new factors entered in, which increased the number of boats on the river very much. Fully sixteen or eighteen boats were doing business on the upper river, between here and Ft. Benton, in 1863. One reason for the increase was the discovery of gold in Montana, which called for a large amount of manufactured articles as well as for provisions. All freight destined for the mines was taken up the river to Ft. Benton and then hauled by teams to the camps. The second cause was Indian troubles. After the New Ulm disaster in 1863 the U. S. Government tried to punish the Indians. Gen. Sully was sent up the river in 1863 and still more troops followed in 1864.

The business increased in 1864 and 1865 and then fell away again, until 1868, when it reached high water mark.

In the spring of 1864 the first boat up took from our house express packages valued at $6,000. The transportation charges on the goods were often equal to their value. Everything, from the needles needed for sewing their buckskin to steam engines used for crushing quartz, had to go up the river by boat and had to come by way of Sioux City.

The orders which we used to get were something to be wondered at. Upon one occasion one customer ordered a marriage license and another a tombstone. All sent to me, supposing I could get them whatever they wanted.

The trade was so good that the public soon got its eye upon it. Competition set in, and became very keen. The Union Pacific hurried up construction on its western division so that traffic would go to Salt Lake by rail and thence to Montana by wagons.

I recollect the first gold brought back from Montana in 1862. The party owning it came down the Missouri in boats, which they abandoned here, and proceeded the rest of their way east by stage. I met one man in the party whom I knew. He was an old blacksmith from Mansfield, Ohio. Mr. Thompson, for that was his name, sat and told me stories of the far West for two or three hours. From Sioux City he went by stage to Dubuque and thence to St. Paul.

After the railroads reached Sioux City in 1868 steamboating revived here and became better than ever. A regular line of boats made this their headquarters. Cargoes coming here by the railroad were then reshipped and made the rest of the journey to Montana by boat.

Finally the Utah Northern was completed into Montana. Then, in 1870, the Northern Pacific was built and we were cut off all around. The steamboat business, which was at its height in 1868, began to decline about 1870 and by 1875 it was practically a thing of the past

Famous Men Recalled - Scientists.

In the fall of 1868 or 1869 I met Audubon as he came down the river, returning east after an expedition to Montana. He was accompanied by Louis Agassiz. Audubon was old and feeble and did not stop here, but continued down the river. Agassiz, who was in the prime of life, stopped off for a couple of days. Sioux City was the first railway station then as one came down the Missouri. From here he went by rail to Chicago. While in town Agassiz spent most of his time in the office of Doctor A. Lawrence, the owner of a line of steamboats. It was there that I met the great naturalist and had several talks with him. He was neither tall nor robust, though he enjoyed good health and was a very hard worker. In his dress I found him a little careless. He was smooth shaven while here and wore glasses when reading.

Completely absorbed in his own thoughts he was a poor conversationalist. Indeed, he was rather impatient with callers, or at least that was what several of us thought who honored him by dropping by in to see him. Perhaps if our acquaintance had been longer I would not have said that.

Prof. [E. D.] Cope, of the University of Pennsylvania also stopped off in Sioux City on two of his Missouri River trips. With him I became quite well acquainted. Some time before his first visit a boat pilot had found, way up the Missouri River, some of the bones of a plesiosaurian. He brought them down to Sioux City and I gave him $25 for them. When Prof. Cope was here I gave the bones to him. Later he printed a description of the bones in a paper published by the University and in it he gave me a complimentary notice.* (*The paper in question was entitled, "On the Structure of the Skull in the Plesiosaurian Reptilia, and on Two New Species from the Upper Cretaceous" by E. D. Cope. It was read before the American Philosophical Society on February 2, 1894, printed in the Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, Vol. 33, and reprinted in pamphlet form on March 6, 1894. The paper is a description of two specimens. One of these, termed "Embaphias circulosus," is declared to be both a new genus and a new species. After the description and measurements occurs this paragraph: "This is a species of large size, though not equal in dimensions to the known species of Elasmosaurus. It was found in the upper cretaceous bed of the Pierre epoch, at the big bend of the Missouri river in South Dakota. It was presented to the Academy of Natural Sciences by Mr. John H. Charles, of Sioux City, together with the remains of Elasmosaurus below mentioned. I wish to express my sense of the obligation under which Mr. Charles has placed the academy and myself by his liberality in this and other matters."

(The second specimen, termed "Elasmosaurus intermedius," is declared to be a new species. Following the description and measurements occur the words: "This specimen was found with that of the Embaphias circulosus at the Big Bend of the Missouri in South Dakota, and was presented to the museum of the Academy of Natural Sciences by Mr. John H. Charles, of Sioux City, Iowa.")

Prof. Cope was intense, very much wrapped up in his subject [zoology]. He could hardly talk anything else. During his second visit here a trip up the Big Sioux was arranged by D. W. Jenkins, Perrin Johnson, Geo. W. Felt, Prof. Cope and myself. On the morning of the proposed trip Cope came to my house after me before I was up. He seemed much interested in all we had to show him.

Prof. Cope was a German looking sort of a man, with black beard and eyes. His appearance was neat. He was of wiry build, a good conversationalist, a traveled-polished student and gentleman.

When the old Scientific Association, the parent of the present Academy of Science and Letters, was in its second year, having some money in the treasury, we decided to secure some noted man for a course of lectures. At the suggestion of D. H. Talbot, one of our charter members, correspondence was begun with Alfred Russell Wallace, the great English scientist, who was then in this country. The result of the correspondence was that Mr. Wallace, after finishing an engagement in New York State, came out to Sioux City and gave us a course of four or five lectures upon the subject of Evolution.* (*Mr. Wallace delivered but three lectures before the association. They were entitled, "The Darwinian Theory," "The Origin and Uses of Colors in Animals," and "Oceanic Islands." This was in the Spring of 1887.) We threw the lectures open to the public, and they were well received.

Several of us became quite well acquainted with Mr. Wallace during his stay of a week in Sioux City. We found him a typical English gentleman in every particular. He was a much traveled man of wide acquaintance. He understood himself and had confidence in himself. Though nothing of a society man he was easily approached by friends. Only those who felt antagonized by his views had any reason to feel his reserve.

Polite, genteel, neat in dress, he stood six feet high and was built in proportion. At the time of his visit here he was wearing a closely cropped beard.

Wallace was not an orator, not even a smooth speaker. He spoke carefully, without notes, and always kept within bounds. His lectures were strictly scientific. It was what he said, rather than how, that attracted. He was a pleasing conversationalist, one not given at all to small talk. Though it was hard for him to get away from the subject of evolution, I do not remember that he spoke a single time while here concerning his own great part in the working out of the evolutionary hypothesis.

Wallace's outdoor habits clung to him while he was here. He spent several days in the woods. I remember that he was greatly interested in the grasses on the Talbot farm and in the drift deposits along the Big Sioux.

Early Politicians.

In the fall of 1859 Saml. J. Kirkwood, republican candidate for governor, and A. C. Dodge, democratic candidate for the same office held a joint debate in Sioux City. I met and became acquainted with both gentlemen. Abe White and I went down below Sergeant's Bluff and met Kirkwood, who drove in, and brought him back to Sioux City. Dodge came in a little later on the stage from Council Bluffs.

Kirkwood was a farmer, and looked it. He wore course shoes, no stockings and flannel shirt. But though he was simple and plain he was also honest and straightforward, and so impressed people. He took well here. Though he didn't carry the town, because of the big democratic majority here in those days, he succeeded in reducing that majority considerably. He was elected governor.

Dodge was the son of a United States Senator from Wisconsin. He, himself, was one of Iowa's two first senators. He became a United States Senator when Iowa became a state, in 1846. He was re-elected once. Then he was succeeded by James Harlan, a republican. He was nominated by his party for governor in 1859. It was thought that his services to Iowa in Washington, D C., both before and after the state was admitted would elect him governor, but they didn't. He was just the opposite kind of a man from Kirkwood. He was very dressy, with his patent leather boots, white shirt and starched collars. In fact, he was quite a gentleman and aristocrat. He was a good man, however, and smart. In speaking he was earnest, but a little rhetorical. He was made much of here by his party, and probably lost votes here only because opinion in Iowa was turning strongly to the republicans.

Geo. W. Jones, of Dubuque, was Dodge's colleague in the United States Senate. I knew him better than I did Dodge. Jones was interested in the establishment of Sioux City. He owned one-eighth of the town, and was the most important factor in getting governmental legislation favorable to the place. He did many things of advantage to the town; in fact, he was a sort of patron saint to Sioux City.

Jones used to come here very often. I remember that in the spring of 1857, while he was yet a United States Senator, he went up the Missouri river as far as Ft. Randall. On his return he left the boat here, and went home to Dubuque, across the state.

Senator Jones was a good looking man, small in size, but well built. He must have been about 50 years of age in 1857. To me he looked like an Englishman. He did not impress me as a very remarkable man, and yet he must have been, though Dodge was the brainer of the two men, I think. Jones was more democratic or common in his dress and appearance. He was not much of an actor, was easy to get acquainted with and had a strong hold upon the people. Dr. S. P. Yeomans was his best friend in Sioux City. Yeomans was in the legislature at the time of Jones' last election to the United States Senate and cast the decisive vote for him for that office. Jones made Yeomans first register of the United States land office in Sioux City. Indian Traders and River Pilots.

One of the most interesting characters I ever knew in this Northwest country in the early days was Charles Larpenteur, a French Indian trader. I say a Frenchman, but since he spoke German as fluently as he did French it is my judgment that his ancestry was Swiss-French. Larpenteur came from the region of the St. Lawrence River to the Upper Mississippi, where he traded for a time. Then he changed over to the Missouri River. At first he worked for the company of Pierre Chouteau, of St. Louis, but later for himself. While in the employe of Chouteau he was stationed as agent at various places up the river, among them Ft. Union, at the mouth of the Yellowstone. I knew Larpenteur well. He purchased goods of me for his trade with the Indians for several years.

He was a delicately built man, though his life was one of much hardship. I believe he was thoroughly honest and upright. If he was more conscientious, he also had more refinement than the majority of the French Indian traders. His wife was an American woman. At the trading business he was very successful, so I think he did not lose because of his honesty.

In 1848, on thereabouts, Larpenteur settled at a ford on the Little Sioux, in Harrison County, Iowa. This particular ford was on the route from Sioux City to Council Bluffs. A little town grew up around him, which he called Fontainbleau. There he lived till 1873, farming in the summer and trading up the river with the Indians in the winter season.

Larpenteur was alive to the romance of his career. He kept an interesting journal, which has since been edited by Coues and published by Harper. It is very interesting to me.

Two of the most prominent men ever connected with the fur trade of the Northwest and with the business of steamboating on the Missouri were Pierre Chouteau, Sr. and Jr. They were Frenchmen, descended from the men who first settled and laid out St. Louis. The father first traded upon the Upper Mississippi, but later transferred to the Missouri. He built the first steamboat on the river, and ran it up to the mouth of the Yellowstone in 1831, astonishing the natives and everyone else who saw it.

When I came to Sioux City they were the principal men doing business on the Upper Missouri. Of course, they always had competition, but it never amounted to much. I did business personally with Pierre Chouteau, Jr., and so was acquainted with him, but not with his father.

I was better acquainted with some of the steamboat captains and pilots than I was with the principals whom they served. Two of the greatest pilots that ever guided a boat up the Missouri River were Joseph and John La Barge, two French brothers, who lived in St. Louis. After serving the American Fur Company for years they at length purchased boats of their own and operated them independently. For years they stopped at Sioux City both fall and spring. Our house acted as their agents here. John La Barge, the younger of the two, died in the service of the Benton Transportation Company. Joseph, the elder, continued steamboating till the early nineties, when the business languished and finally died. His career was as long as that of the business he followed. In his "History of Steamboating on the Missouri River," Col. Chittenden weaves his story around the life of Joseph La Barge, and makes a hero of him. While Joseph was older and was the head and front of the La Barge interests, still John was a steamboat pilot and captain whom everyone looked up to. In my opinion he was as good a pilot as any the river every had. He was a man of undoubted veracity and good character, too.

Joseph was a large, portly man. He used glasses and always wore a beard. He was a man of few words, much more dignified and reserved than John, who for this very reason was the more popular.

Local Characters.

Among the first men I met after I came to Sioux City was Dr. John K. Cook. He was a man of splendid physique, an Englishman by birth, educated as a physician. He came here in the early days as a Deputy United States Surveyor. It was said that he came to this country for the purpose of joining the Mormons, but of this I have never seen any definite proof. He was a man of good habits, considering that everyone on the frontier drank whisky and chewed and smoked tobacco; all of which he did, but with moderation.

Cook was the first postmaster of Sioux City, and it was said that he had his office in his hat and handed out letters to the citizens whenever he happened to meet them on the streets. I can't vouch for the truth of this statement, for when I came here Mr. [S. T.] Davis was assistant postmaster, and whenever the mail came in he blew a horn and we all went at once to the postoffice, on Second Street, between Pearl and Water, and the mail was distributed.

At this time Cook was about fifty years old and a married man. He was easy-going in his habits and very popular. For a number of years he was the only practicing physician here, and was very successful. I doubt if he ever made out a bill in his life. He was not much of a surveyor, though he did plat the first edition of Sioux City. He was a member of the first company which owned the town. His share was one-eighth. He disposed of his interest too soon, and hence did not make much out of it.

Probably the oldest settler within the present limits of Sioux City was Theophile Bruguier, a French Canadian, who lived on the river here for several years prior to the founding of Sioux City. From Canada he went to St. Louis, where he entered into the service of Pierre Chouteau [Sr.] and became a fur trader, his field of operations being the Upper Missouri. He became very intimate with the Indians, in fact he practically lived as an Indian until the whites came to this locality in large enough numbers to plant a colony.

Long before the Indians left this vicinity Bruguier settled at the mouth of the Big Sioux. This was about 1849. He had married a daughter of War Eagle, chief of the Yankton Sioux, and when she died he married a second daughter. War Eagle lived with him till he (War Eagle) died, whereupon he was buried upon the bluff along the Big Sioux, this side of Bruguier's place. Bruguier had lots of children, half-breeds of course, but they turned out to be the worst kind of Indians. Sometime after the whites came Bruguier went to St. Louis and married a French woman. He brought her up here and lived with her till he died. She made him a good wife.

Bruguier was a large man, with black hair and beard. He was careless in his dress. His education had been neglected. He was a good-hearted man, but his ideas of right and wrong were peculiar. They were not as well defined as they should have been, but it cannot be said that the frontier was the best place in the world to develop morals. Those pioneers, many of them still living, but rapidly falling off, who came through it all morally sound, were true men, indeed.

Bruguier was a sociable man, rather talkative. I think he was a little inclined to paint his stories to suit the occasion in hand. He especially liked to tell what "I done to the Injuns."

One of the most influential men in Sioux City when I came was J. B. S. Todd, early settler, trader, land speculator, politician and soldier. He was elected first mayor of Sioux City, but did not serve. Later he moved across the Big Sioux, his object being to get land in Dakota and become rich by holding it. He had seen land values rise in Iowa and expected the same to occur in Dakota. They sent him to congress as the first delegate from Dakota Territory, after its organization in 186l. He didn't stay long, but soon came back, appointed a brigadier general by President Lincoln. Todd was a democrat in politics, but supported President Lincoln, who was a relative of his by marriage.

Todd was in partnership with a man of means who lived in St. Louis. The firm name was Frost, Todd & Co. They had stores at Sioux Point, across the Big Sioux, at Vermillion, at Yankton Agency and Ft. Randall.

Todd was a tall man, but slender. His health was not good. He had been sickly from birth. He wore while here a full beard, reddish in color, like his hair. Educated at West Point he was a very capable man. He always passed as a gentleman, was sociable and very popular. His one fault was a common one here at that time, he couldn't let whisky alone.

AUGUST GRONINGER

By H. C. Powers

During the past year Death has knocked at the door of the Academy of Science and Letters and called away some of our most honored and useful members. Of these the first to obey the summons to come up higher was our fellow member, Mr. August Groninger, whose portrait is on the opposite page. To those who knew him it will not be necessary for me to say much concerning his life among us. Coming as a pioneer in 1857 to the then little hamlet that was to grow into our present Sioux City, he took part in all the busy interests that have made our city what it now is. When he first settled among the pioneers in the little village on the Missouri, he at once began an active business life which he continued up to the time of his death. He was in the true sense of the word an honorable man, one of whom it could be said with truth, his word was as good as his bond. Quiet and unassuming in all his ways, his life made the world better for his having lived in it. His home life was especially dear to him. Here he and his kind wife gathered together mementoes of the many lands they visited, and their home is filled with beautiful specimens of art and nature. The book cases are filled with choice books, showing the literary taste and culture of the owners. The visitor can read in the simple and artistic furnishings of this home the story of a happy life lived here by Mr. and Mrs. Groninger in Sioux City. They were both active and useful members of the Scientific Association and its successor the Academy of Science and Letters, and we shall miss the genial presence of Mr. Groninger at all our future gatherings. Mr. Groninger was born in Elsfleth in the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, in Germany, on Christmas Eve., Dec. 24, 1828. After a liberal education in his fatherland, he came to the United States in 1849, in his 21st year, and remained in New York City for the first six months after his arrival. For the first five years he was in this country he was in several of the eastern states and cities and always at work of some kind. But in 1857 he followed Horace Greeley's advice to "go west young man and grow up with the country." Coming to Sioux City he at once opened a hardware store, which he owned and conducted for 24 years, always successful in what he undertook. After he sold this business in 1881, he entered the banking business in which he continued for the rest of his life. At the time of his death he was Vice-President of the First National Bank of Sioux City.

While a Republican in politics, Mr. Groninger was in no sense a politician. Never seeking for office, he was still elected as city treasurer, and served several terms as alderman and member of the school board.

In 1860 Mr. Groninger was married to Miss Caroline Reinke, who still lives among us, following her life of kindness and charity which so many of us have known and felt in the past. But one great sorrow has come into the life of this kind couple, the loss of an only son who was accidentally killed in his 14th year. This loss only drew their hearts closer together, and the love which was their son's has spread over and blessed all with whom they have come in contact since.

Mr. Groninger continued in active business up to the time when his fatal illness began. He was always at his post in the bank with which he was connected until the summons came which all must obey. He contracted a severe cold to which he paid little attention, thinking it would soon pass off. But instead of doing this it developed into pneumonia, which in spite of every endeavor of skilled physicians and kind friends terminated in death on the 15th of December, 1903. Thus he lacked but nine days of being 75 years old. He lived among us more than half of his long and useful life and his face and figure were familiar to all as he passed along our streets. He will be missed in public and in the business with which he was connected, but more than all else is he missed in the home he loved so well. Happy the man who, like him, can lie down to his last long rest conscious of a whole life of kindness and honor in his public and private affairs. This Mr. Groninger could truly feel.

MR. J. C. C. HOSKINS

By Willis Marshall

Our esteemed and venerable friend, Mr. J. C. C. Hoskins, was born at Lyman, New Hampshire, on the 18th of January, 1820. His father was Samuel Hoskins, a reputable country physician of large practice although of small income. It will be remembered that money was not so abundant in those days. His mother was Harriet Byron, daughter of Caleb Cushing, Esq., of Orange, N. H. Mr. Hoskins was one of eight children Ñ five sons and three daughters Ñ all of whom exemplified the character of their paternal ancestry by a respectable mediocrity of ability, so far as the accumulation of wealth and extended influence go, and their maternal ancestry by a considerable fondness for reading and literature, which doubtless led to the college education of the subject of this sketch. Three of the sons Ñ all that were physically able also proved that the family hatred of oppression retained its ancient strength, by enlisting at the very outset of the war against slavery, and fighting for freedom until all were free. So in the Revolutionary war his grand-father Hoskins and four brothers fought from beginning to end. In Mr. Hoskins' boyhood there was not much money in his father's house. What fees his father collected from his farmer patients Ñ the community was entirely agricultural Ñ were paid in the products of the farm. So he, with an earnest desire for books and a college education, like most New England boys, had a poor show for success in a career that seemed to him as far off and as much to be desired as heaven itself. But he succeeded. By dint of working on the farm in the summer vacation, and teaching school in the winter, together with some aid from home, he worked his way through college, and at the age of twenty-one found himself possessed of a diploma as bachelor of arts of Dartmouth college, with liberty to go out into the world to see what he could do with it. Mr. Hoskins spent several years teaching Ñ from 1841 to 1846. In this, he was eminently successful, but breaking health made it necessary for him to change from school teaching to civil engineering. This latter became his life profession. Here also he acquitted himself with marked approval both to his superiors and to the public. On July 10, 1856, he married Clarissa Virginia Bennett, of Weston, Lewis county, Va., the second daughter of Hon. James Bennett, an influential lawyer, who had often represented his district both in the lower and in the upper house of the Virginia legislature. The Bennett family was numerous and prominent, and, though regretful of slavery, was outspoken in promoting secession. Because of this, and of interest in the Kansas war for liberty, Mr. Hoskins determined to go west, his first intention being to settle in Kansas; but his cousin, Mr. John C. Flint, insisted that he come to Sioux City before locating permanently. This Mr. Hoskins did, arriving on the 5th of May, 1857, with the result that Sioux City became his home. Mr. Hoskins led a very busy life until 1878, since which time he has had no regular occupation. The last work in his profession was done in the autumn of 1866, when he made the preliminary surveys for the Sioux City & St. Paul railroad, of which he was first president and chief engineer. He has been honored with various positions of trust, showing the confidence and friendliness of his fellow citizens. Financially and socially Mr. Hoskins has been a recognized factor in the growth of Sioux City. Into the fabric of her history have been woven out of the strength of this man's life the very threads which have made and are making for the permanent and the enduring. From the intellectual viewpoint, Mr. Hoskins was acknowledged to be a man of strength. He was one of the charter members and loyal supporters of the old Scientific Association Ñ an association now reorganized into and rechristened, "The Academy of Science and Letters." Of this he is a Fellow, giving, so far as his strength may permit, the devotion he gave to the old Association. And now in the evening twilight of his years, hopeful and optimistic concerning the world in which he has played so honorable a part, he is waiting calmly and fearlessly the great call.

THOMAS JEFFERSON STONE

By A. N. Cook

Thomas Jefferson Stone was born at Royalton, Niagara county, N. Y., August 13, 1825, and died at Sioux City, April 19, 1904. He was the son of a farmer and as such acquired the habits of industry which led to marked success in later years. His parents were Isaiah P. and Mercy Sawyer Stone. He worked on his father's farm until 15 years of age, attending the district school during the winter months. He then entered Oberlin College, Ohio, where he expected to take a full course, but was compelled to drop out during his freshman year on account of failing health. He afterwards attended the high school at Mt. Vernon for a time, when his health had improved.

In May, 1852, Mr. Stone married Miss Alice A. Heathcoat, of Mt. Vernon, Ohio. Two children were born to them - Edgar H. Stone, a graduate of Yale College and one of the most successful of the younger business men of Sioux City, and a daughter, who is the wife of George P. Day, cashier of the Merchants' National Bank of Sioux City. The first Mrs. Stone died in 1882. In 1886 he married Mrs. Frances A. Flint, who lived but a few years. The present Mrs. Stone was originally Miss Emma Quintrell, of Cleveland. She was an expert primary teacher and was invited to go to Des Moines at a salary of $1,000.00 per year, but she stayed there only a short time as the Board of Education of Sioux City offered her a salary of $l,200.00 per year, which is more than double what is paid any primary teacher in the city at the present time. Her work, however, was largely that of supervising other primary teachers in the city. Later she became Mrs. Hedges, but in a few years she was left a widow. Mrs. Stone is an active Christian worker in the Congregational church and is much interested in various benevolent enterprises.

While in school Mr. Stone had acquired a knowledge of surveying and in 1852, having just been married, he went west and became a surveyor in Wisconsin and Iowa for several years. He was also employed in the office of the county treasurer of Linn county, Iowa, for a time and was subsequently engaged in the banking business at Marion as a member of the firm of Smyth, Stone & Company.

"In May, 1856, Mr. Stone settled in the little frontier town of Sioux City, 300 miles from the nearest railroad. Nearly all of Northwest Iowa was then a vast, uninhabited region of prairie, still owned by the government, over which Indians, trappers, and white frontier hunters pursued deer, elk and other game and annually trapped beaver, muskrat, and mink. The few widely scattered settlements were of log houses and sod houses, built in the groves along the rivers, creeks, and lakes. Mr. Stone secured a clerkship in the office of the county treasurer soon after he settled in Sioux City. In 1861 he was elected treasurer and recorder, holding the office several years. This position enabled him to secure a very large business in paying taxes for more than a thousand persons. Mr. Stone opened up a land office and soon built up a good business, entering government lands, buying, selling and locating land warrants and scrip. He was not only a careful, capable business man, but he was enterprising, and far-seeing, and besides doing a large business for others, his knowledge of the country enabled him to make good investments in real estate in early days which brought him a large fortune in later years when the frontier town became a large city. For many years he carried on the largest real estate business ever established in Northwestern Iowa. In 1867 he opened a private bank in connection with his land business, and at the end of three years he, with the assistance of others, organized the First National Bank of Sioux City. He was first its cashier and later its president. For many years Mr. Stone gave his attention to the bank, which under his judicious management has grown into a strong and popular institution. By virtue of the wholesale and jobbing trade which Sioux City has in Nebraska, the Dakotas, and Minnesota, the First National Bank has extensive business connections in all the vast northwest region. In early days Mr. Stone foresaw from its location that Sioux City must in time become a large and important place, and he began to purchase lots in choice locations, which as the city grew would increase rapidly in value. As years went by his most sanguine expectations were realized, and many of the lots are now covered with the best business blocks of the city.

"Mr. Stone was connected with the private company which built the waterworks plant now owned by the city. He was president of the Library and Building Association which erected the magnificent stone building at the corner of Sixth and Douglas streets. He was one of the chief spirits in building the Congregational church and the Samaritan Hospital."

Mr. Stone had many friends and few enemies. In an editorial in the Sioux City Journal at the time of his death Mr. Geo. D. Perkins said, "Mr. Stone, while cautious in making loans, was very forbearing with his friends. Those familiar with his dealings say he never foreclosed a mortgage where he had confidence in the integrity of his customer or the sufficiency of the property. In other words, he never availed himself of the financial distress or embarrassment of men with whom he did business. He wanted his own but beyond that he wanted every man to have whatever he could realize for himself. So it was that here and there in the earlier times he held up many men. He nursed their property for them, and with their death he cared as best he could for their widows and children. He never made display of his benefactions, but his gentleness, his liberality, his continuous consideration will be remembered by many." His happiest moments were spent with his four little grand-children on Sabbath afternoons. One of his most marked characteristics was his charity for his enemies of whom, however, he had exceedingly few. He never spoke unkindly or harshly of any one even in the presence of those nearest and dearest to him. He was much interested in literature and scientific subjects. He had a large, well selected library of which he was a constant reader. His connection with the Academy of Science and Letters commenced with the old Scientific Association near its beginning, when it used to meet in the office of Mr. D. H. Talbot, and he continued to be a valued member until the day of his death. He and his wife were frequent attendants at the meetings held in the Library building. On the evening of the annual meeting he presided and was elected first vice-president of the Academy for the ensuing year. On their return home Mr. Stone complained of feeling chilly and dizzy. His wife felt no alarm, for he had been subject to such attacks. At the suggestion of Mrs. Stone he retired, but just as his head touched the pillow he gave a gasp and life was gone. Mrs. Stone hastened to his side, fearing the worst had come. The relatives and the doctor were quickly summoned, but all in vain. Dr. Knott believed that death had come instantaneously and without pain. The funeral services were held at the Stone residence on April 23d, Rev. Dr. Newhall White, of the First Congregational church, officiating. He was laid to rest in Floyd cemetery. The Masons had charge of the last services at the grave. All of the banks and the offices in the county court house were closed during the afternoon out of respect for Mr. Stone.

The principal recorded sources of his biography, aside from the two daily papers, which devoted much space to reports of his death, and to editorials are: History of Woodbury and Plymouth counties, page 625. U. S. Biographical Dictionary, page 408; Prominent Men of the Great West, page 369; and Representative Men of Chicago, Iowa, and the World's Columbian Exposition, page 564.

Charles Blancher Thompson

MONONA COUNTY, IOWA, MORMONS

BY C. R. MARKS

The origin and development of the Mormons as a religious body, and a social and civil organization, during this century is part of the history of the United States; and the rise and fall of the colony at Preparation, Monona County, Iowa, should have its record added to the others. This colony was founded by Charles Blancher Thompson, and something of his former career and his previous connection with the general body of Mormons, throws much light on the actual origin of this settlement at Preparation.

The Mormon church, or as the Mormons themselves styled it, "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints," as a religious sect was founded at Manchester, New York, in 1830, by Joseph Smith, a poor, uneducated young man then about 25 years old, born in Vermont, who several years previously claimed to have had revealed to him the place where the engraved plates of the Book of Mormon, a supplement to the New Testament, were buried. These, it was claimed, were found, translated, and Smith under them declared God's Prophet.

Smith, in his youth, is reported to have been an overgrown, lazy, good- for-nothing story-telling creature. He claimed to see visions, and to be able to locate hidden treasures by a witch hazel rod.

We avail ourselves of this opportunity to add to the recorded history of his early career, a few items which we understand are not given in any published account of his life, or of Mormonism. The fact that he lived in Pennsylvania for a time has never been so mentioned. The following matters were furnished me by Mr. E. W. Skinner, of Sioux City, Iowa, who acquired them from his parents and grand-parents, as having occurred in the place of Mr. Skinner's birth:

Joseph Smith came to the towns of South Bend and Harmony, in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, probably prior to 1830, before he claimed to have discovered the plates of the Book of Mormon. He had with him a brother, probably Hyrum Smith, and Martin Harris, and another man. Harris was the man who helped Smith translate the Book of Mormon and furnished the money to print it. Joseph Smith there rented a two-story board house of Joseph McKewon, an uncle of E. W. Skinner. He had with him a stone which he claimed had some supernatural qualities, and its size was not equal to that of a man's fist. Smith would take this into a dark room, put it into his hat, and then hold the hat over his face and claimed he could then see where gold could be found. He carried this stone with him, and consulted it often, and he had his brother, Harris and the other man dig for the gold in the places the stone indicated along the sides of the mountains. Some of the places were at the back end of the farms of Israel Skinner and Joseph McKewon, Sr., Mr. E. W. Skinner's grand-parents. Smith did not do any digging himself, and no gold was actually found. He married his wife there; her name was Emma Hale; he lived there possibly two years. One of Mr. Skinner's relatives prepared a manuscript history of Smith's career there for publication at a time when his life was being written up, but for some reason it was never published.

From another personal source (J. C. C. Hoskins, of Sioux City, Iowa), one acquainted with Joseph Smith's sister in Vermont, and the locality where he was born, we learn that as late as 1842 there was a man in that region who claimed to have a divining stone which enabled him to locate lost goods or treasure. It was about the size of one's fist, like a meteorite or smoky quartz, and the owner would fix his gaze upon it intently for a long time, and he claimed the color of the stone cleared up, and he could then see in it a picture of the object searched for, and its location, and he allowed no one to touch it or come very near it. This stone had presumably been known for a long time there, and Joseph Smith had probably heard his parents tell of it, or may have heard of it as a child in Vermont. I record these incidents here as throwing some light on the growth of ideas in Smith's mind leading up to the declared revelation of the location of the golden plates on which the Book of Mormon was said to have been recorded.

Shortly after their origin, the Mormons moved to Kirtland, Ohio, which was to be the seat of the New Jerusalem, where they were soon joined by Brigham Young. They started a bank, erected a temple, and sent out twelve apostles. In 1838 the bank failed and Smith went to Caldwell County, Mo., where numerous others followed, and there they again flourished. The native Missourians were hostile. Smith fortified his town and armed his people and defied the civil authorities. The militia was called out, and Smith arrested, and the colony was broken up. They had become numerous by this time, and it is said about 15,000 crossed the Missouri river back to Illinois.

A new colony at Nauvoo, Illinois, was organized. Smith escaped from prison in Missouri, and joined the Nauvoo colony, and became its leader. A charter was obtained from the Illinois Legislature on such terms as to make the colony almost independent of the State, and Smith a dictator. A new temple was started there in 1841; a military company, called the Nauvoo Legion, was organized.

In 1843 the revelation approving polygamy was promulgated. This provoked bitter dissension within, and great indignation without the colony. Smith destroyed a newspaper office which had published too severe criticisms, and the editor swore out a warrant for the arrest of Smith and others, who resisted the officers. The militia was called out, and the Mormons armed themselves, and civil war seemed imminent, when the Governor persuaded Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum to surrender, and stand a civil trial, and they were placed in the Carthage jail, but at night a mob broke in the prison, and shot them both; this was in 1844. This made a martyr of Smith. Brigham Young was elected president of the twelve apostles, but there were grave dissensions in the ranks over polygamy, and there were temporal and religious differences.

Many contended that under the book of Mormon there was no such thing as a religious successor to Joseph Smith; that Smith had never had any revealed command to assume political authority; that he was only the religious head, and that he had been punished by authority of God for trying to go beyond his spiritual powers. The Legislature of Illinois repealed the charter of Nauvoo.

Early in 1846 the leaders of the Nauvoo colony determined on a western migration to the Rocky Mountains, out of the reach of the other settlers; and it is said that in one month over 1,200 wagons crossed the Mississippi River, and by May 10,000 persons were crossing Iowa toward Council Bluffs; and as fast as they could sell out in Nauvoo, and buy teams, they kept leaving Nauvoo. Many of these travelers stopped and formed settlements in Decatur and Union counties, Iowa, the primary object in so doing, being to raise crops to feed them in their further journey. By mid-summer the head of the column reached Council Bluffs. From here they sent pioneers who founded Salt Lake City, and in 1847 and 1848 Brigham Young and a large colony followed.

Nauvoo was cannonaded in 1846, and the colony there practically ended. Other bodies located under different leaders all over the west, but large numbers were left scattered through Iowa on the line of the march from Nauvoo to Council Bluffs.

One of the chief aims of all the Mormons from the beginning had been to establish a separate independent local temple, city, or colony; to get off by themselves; and the unsettled condition of the west seemed to afford a good opportunity for the realization of such a scheme. And once admitting that revelation and prophecy still existed in Divine Government, there seemed to be no limit to the number of prophets that might arise. Now that the original modern prophet, Joseph Smith, was dead, these religious enthusiasts were ready to believe in any additional prophet, and in new revelations. They were ready to take up with a prophet and a prophecy or revelation that seemed to coincide with their own views. The Mormon literature of this period is full of religious speculation and controversy over minor points of Mormon doctrine.

A brief sketch of the early life of Chas. B. Thompson, the founder of the Monona County Colony, will better enable us to understand his subsequent career, and we give it from his own written sketch of himself.

With relation to the revelation to Joseph Smith as to polygamy, I have this personal information to add, which I believe has never been published. A member of Congress from Northwest Iowa was in Salt Lake City when the memorial funeral services were held after the death of Brigham Young, and through an official acquaintance was permitted to attend. One of the survivors of the early day of Joseph Smith spoke on that occasion, and attempted to give the true history of that revelation, because even among Mormons, it had been claimed there never had been such a revelation. The speaker was the official clerk of the Church, or recorder of the Church, and said that Smith came to him and handed him the writing which contained the authorization for plural marriages, which had come to him, Smith, as a divine command, and that it was to be recorded and promulgated as a law of the Church. This secretary kept it, and made a copy of it. That shortly after this Joseph Smith came back and wanted the revelation paper, saying he had told his wife about it, and she was very much excited, and was making a great fuss over it, and he would have to pacify her by destroying the revelation, and took it away with him. This accounted for the original not being found among the records, but the speaker on this occasion spoke as being a living witness to the fact that polygamy came as a divine command to Joseph Smith. The congressman was surprised to find that in the full newspaper accounts of these funeral exercises nothing was said of this part of the proceedings, and concluded that it was intended for Mormon ears only.

Chas. Blancher Thompson was born January 27th, 1814, at Niskanna, Schenectady county, New York. His father was a Quaker; his mother died when he was three years old, and his father supported him until he was eight, from which time up to when he was fourteen he earned his own living, and then commenced to learn the tailor's trade. At 17 years old he became interested in religion and at 18 joined the Methodist church, and commenced business as a tailor in Watervliet, N. Y. At 20 he withdrew from the Methodist church, traveled a year, as he says, searching for the Church of Christ, when he heard an elder of the Latter Day Saints preach. He went to their then headquarters at Kirtland, Ohio, Feb. 10, 1835, he then being 21 years old, and was baptized, and afterward confirmed by Joseph Smith, as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He wanted to preach, and claimed he was called of God in answer to special prayer. He was ordained by Joseph Smith, and Sidney Rigdon. Thompson, in one of his papers, gives in full what he claims were the words of such blessing and commission, which purport to confer great spiritual power, and prophesy great things for him. Thompson then started out to preach the new doctrine among his old acquaintances in New York, with indifferent success. In the fall of 1835 he came back to Kirtland, Ohio, and spent the winter, and again in 1836 went back to New York and preached in various places and was married this year. In the summer Of 1837 he organized a church Of Latter Day Saints at Sandusky, Ohio, and in the summer of 1837, following the westward migration of the Mormons, he moved with his family to Kirtland Camp in Far West Missouri, and soon moved to "Adam Ondie Ahem" in Davies county, Missouri, and under the exterminating order of Governor Boggs of Missouri was compelled to leave there, and went out of that state to Quincy, Illinois, with other Mormons. Early in 1839 Thompson was sent by the Mormon twelve apostles to New York, where his wife soon died from the effects of the exposure in the expulsion from Missouri, leaving a five-months-old baby. Thompson preached in New York for about four years, baptized about 200 converts, ordained elders and teachers, and organized there what was called the "Genesee Conference of Latter Day Saints." In 1841 he published a book on the "Evidence in Proof of the Book of Mormon." In 1843 he came back from New York and under direction of Joseph Smith settled at Hancock, Illinois, 20 miles from Nauvoo, and the following year was ordained a High Priest. After the death of Joseph Smith he removed to Nauvoo and assisted in voting the power of the church into the hands of the twelve apostles, and at first had confidence in them, but September 1st, 1845, he had one of those visions so conveniently common to Mormons in that day, in which he says, "He saw all the tribulations the Mormons had passed through, and that it was a punishment for their errors. Then he saw into the future; that the Lord's Hosts, under new methods, triumphed in the West." He did not then understand the vision, and in fact it was not published for several years. He was married again in 1846 and sealed for time and eternity under what the twelve apostles called "The Endowment." When the twelve apostles started west on their journey that finally ended in Utah, Thompson began to have doubts, and regarded them as apostates and tried to agree with the faction that followed Mr. Strang, known as the "Strangites," but soon regarded him as an imposter, and went off by himself to St. Louis and went to work at the tailor's trade again. In January, 1848, he claimed to have received a revelation or proclamation from "Baneemy," a spirit successor to Joseph Smith, by whom he was appointed agent, and in 1849 he claimed to have received the "Grand Key" which qualified him to act as "Chief Teacher of the Schools of Preparation," and in 1850 he organized what he called his first class in the covenant. About January 1st, 1851, he commenced to publish a small monthly magazine of eight pages, which he styled "Zion's Harbinger and Baneemy's Organ." This paper was full of Mormon theology and treated of the different views of the numerous factions into which the Mormon body had been divided after the death of Joseph Smith. It contained letters from numerous correspondents and subscribers. In it Thompson published his claims as Chief Teacher under his visions and revelations from Baneemy and gathered something of a following. His spiritual claim was that Joseph Smith was only a spiritual teacher, and by assuming temporal authority had provoked divine wrath and that there was no spiritual successor to Joseph Smith direct, but under the authority as set out in the Book of Mormon, the Lord would raise up in time someone to take up the work, and that so by revelation the Spirit "Baneemy" had received such authority, and in like manner Thompson was his (Baneemy's) duly authorized agent on the earth. When interrogated as to what Baneemy was before he was revealed in his present character and name, Thompson replied that the answer was withheld for a wise purpose by Jehovah, and would only be revealed to those found worthy to receive the key words of the Holy Priesthood.

As an illustration of Thompson's classical ability in derivation of language, word making and general style of theological writing, I give his own definition of this word.

"BANEEMY."

"Why is the successor of Joseph Smith called Baneemy? First, because his mission is to give public notice of the rejection of the church, and to make public proclamation interdicting its continuance, which is a curse upon the Gentiles; for 'Ban' signifies a proclamation or edict; a public order or notice, mandatory or prohibitory. Second, to say unto Zion, 'Behold your God reigneth,' and to Jerusalem, 'Behold your warfare is accomplished and your iniquity is pardoned, for you have received of the Lord's hand double for all your sins' - for 'ee' is the initials of 'ecce' (Latin) 'Behold.' Third, to cry in the name of the Lord, 'Behold my curse, interdiction, and notice of future work' - for 'my' is an affix to 'Banee,' and is a personal pronoun in the possessive case, and stands in this affix for Jehovah, our father in Heaven; whom Baneemy personates as the Father of Zion, which his name signifies in the Adamic or pure language. But as it stands in English 'Baneemy,' signifies, the voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, and giveth notice of God's curse upon the Gentiles, in the rejection and interdiction of the church among them, and also of that which is to come, proclaiming the day of vengeance of our God, and the preparation necessary to be made for the restoration of Israel and their salvation in 'that day.'"

Ten years later in testifying in the litigation that followed, Thompson had evidently forgotten the foregoing definition, for he then said that the word "Baneemy" is composed of two Hebrew words Bene and Emmi, signifying my mother's sons, or my brothers.

In February Thompson published a notice, that thereafter there would be three solemn assemblies of his organization which he called "Schools of Preparation of Jehovah's Presbytery of Zion," to-wit: on April 15, August 29th, and December 27th of each year, the first one to be held April l5,1852, at St. Louis. This assembly met at Thompson's house, and this appears to have been its first regular organization. Thompson was Chief Teacher and they elected one man a Chief of Quorum of Travelling Teachers, and another Second Chief of Travelling Teachers.

Wm. Marks, Richard Stevens and Harry Childs, "having been appointed by revelation," as Thompson puts it in his records, were accepted as a committee to locate a present place of gathering for the "Schools Of Jehovah's Presbytery of Zion," and they were directed to report to Thompson as soon as they had selected a place. At this meeting these travelling teachers were sent on their mission to the eastern states, from New York and Pennsylvania to Missouri and Iowa. The committee on location, who were not all present at this meeting, conferred by letter, and were to meet and start on their journey for selection the latter part of June, 1852. A part of the committee got as far as St. Joseph, Mo., in August, 1852, but one was sick, and land was so high priced there, they reported they would be compelled to go farther north.

The Solemn Assembly again met at Thompson's house in St. Louis, August 29, 1852, with greatly increased numbers, and all during this year their teachers were active and had organized schools and churches in many states, and Thompson's paper was given an increased circulation. His organization seemed to be gathering in the Mormons who had been scattered by the breaking up of the Nauvoo colony, or who refused allegiance to the new Brigham Young faction which preached polygamy, or had not gone with the Rigdonites to Pittsburg, or with the Strangites to an island in Lake Michigan.

September l, 1852, Wm. Marks and Harry Childs, of the location committee, reported by letter from Kanesville, Iowa, (Council Bluffs) that they had selected the region around Kanesville in Pottawatamie county, Iowa as the place for their colony, that many land claims were vacant there because of the Brigham Young colony migration west, that the country north was mostly vacant, but no specific spot was selected.

Thompson duly published this in his paper, the "Harbinger and Organ" for October, 1852, and advised those that could to go that fall, and when there to appoint a committee to select lands for those who might write to them, and Thompson also asked for contributions to move himself and his paper to Kanesville that fall. Owing to lack of funds Thompson was unable to move that year, but notified his followers in his paper that Kanesville was the place where the Church, meaning the old organization of Mormons went to pieces, and that it was exceedingly proper that there "Jehovah's Presbytery of Zion" should take its place. A branch Solemn Assembly of Thompson's followers was held at the house of Job V. Barnum, near Kanesville, December 27, 1852, at which about twenty-five persons were present.

The committee on location had bought a house and lot at Kanesville, but no funds were coming to Thompson to enable him to move there, and in the February, 1853, number of his paper, he took his followers to task for their neglect, in a long article, and did what before and after that was characteristic of him, when not supported when he wished; laid down the law of special revelation and commandment and for the first time published such revelation in detail, though he assumed it had actually been given months and years before. In this case he published the recorded command given to this committee to be: "To search out a location and to let them make provision for Chas. B. Thompson and his family that he may be speedily located in a proper place to qualify my servants in their great and last mission, etc. That the time set by revelation for the opening of the second department of the School of Works was December 23, 1853, and that Thompson must be there by that time, or the curse would rest on them."

In the March, 1853, number of his paper, Thompson published a revelation made by Baneemy the previous January 28, 1852, as to their assemblies and feasts, and saving, "I appoint Chas. B. Thompson Chief Steward of my house * * * and to receive, hold and manage and direct all the sacred Treasures of my house, the obligation gifts, tythings and sacrifices of my people, that he and his family shall dwell in my house, eat at my table, and be clothed in my raiment."

At their Solemn Assembly held at St. Louis, April 15, 1853, they voted to "recommend to their committee on location, selected by revelation, to re-consider their action and select a more suitable place than Kanesville, but near there, and to make the selection quickly," and they appointed a sub-committee of three to act with them.

Finally Thompson and his family on September 9, 1853, with a new printing press, left St. Louis on the steamer E1 Paso and arrived at Council Bluffs, as he then names it, on the 16th. The brethren had to raise part of the money to pay the freight. A location had in the meantime been selected at a place they named Preparation, near the south line of Monona county, Iowa, near the stream called the "Soldier." A house for Thompson was in course of construction and he moved to this November 4, 1853, and set up his printing press there, and November 26th published the September number of his paper there, and his colony was fairly started.

The town was laid out into acre lots and all the timber within six miles was pre-empted by members of the colony under United States laws, and at first this timber and the town were all that was contemplated to be held by the Church, or Presbytery. Thompson held the claim to the town plat. The form of the town organization was much the same that had been formerly adopted by the Mormons in their settlements, especially at Nauvoo: to give each settler a block or lot of one acre for a home, and the farming to be carried on outside by those living in the town. By the time of the important Solemn Assembly, December 27, 1853, the colony had its settlement established at Preparation, and at this meeting upwards of one hundred persons were present, though not all members of the colony, and a religious service was held and a feast given on each of the three days and the rea1 business and organization of Jehovah's Presbytery of Zion began.

Thompson claimed to be commissioned by Baneemy as Chief Teacher in the Schools of Preparation; and there were also to be Schools of Faith and Schools of Works, several degrees of each, but up to this time there have been but three degrees in the Schools of Faith and only two degrees established in the Schools of Works. There were long formal covenants to be entered into by the members of each, and officers and teachers were elected to the subordinate positions in these schools.

There was also a travelling department in the Schools of Faith, the members of which acted as missionaries, and these were divided into quorums or groups of fifteen men, who were assigned to different sections of the country.

So the School of Works had its quorum or groups of men to whom duties were assigned in the nature of the civil government or business management of the colony, and one of the early things attended to was to enclose about 1,500 acres of tillable land in the vicinity of the town for the next year's cultivation in which portions would be set off for each one according to their needs or ability to farm, as each member was then working financially for himself. The law of tything was established, by which each gave to the Presbytery one-tenth of all he or she possessed, money, clothing, cattle and all, and also one-tenth of their annual income, and one-tenth of their labor besides so giving one- tenth of their time, and one-tenth of the products of the other nine- tenths.

Thompson's paper, "The Harbinger and Organ," continually warned his followers of the necessity of being; faithful to the covenants if they expected to progress in these Schools of Faiths and Works, and be ready for the third degree in the school of works, which was to be opened at the Solemn Assembly in August, 1856. He warned them to observe the law of tything and also the law of gift obligations which had been in force for some time. This seemed to be the making of donations by the brethren in other districts, towards the common cause, as well as by the members of the colony. Books of account had been opened and the several gifts and tythings were set down in detail.

Thompson seems to have had prepared at St. Louis a blank book in which had been written in a good legible hand some of his revelations and covenants, and in the back part if this he entered the names and contributions under the various tythings, gifts and sacrifices, and many of the members subscribed their names to some of the covenants written there, and this book, which I have examined, was regarded by them as the chief record of the Presbytery. The book commences with a title page and the three following leaves were written in a fine copy hand setting out the revelations of April 15, 1850, and one or two covenants, and the rest is mostly in Thompson's writing. The revelation of April 15, 1850, while good enough for the purposes of that period was hardly explicit enough to sustain Thompson's authority at later periods when he was managing his colony at Preparation, and one significant interlineation in Thompson's poor hand writing, as it stands beside that other fine penmanship is characteristic of his whole career. It had been written originally as follows:

"And now behold I send unto you my servant Baneemy in the spirit and name of Elias to write in your heart my law," etc.

Thompson interlined and corrected it so as to read:

"And now behold I send unto you my servant Charles B. Thompson in whom is reqenerated my dear son Ephraim my first born with the voice of Baneemy in the name and spirit of Elias," etc.

Baneemy was evidently in his spiritual authority not quite potent enough to control a frontier settlement, and Thompson found it necessary to have a direct revelation as to his own personal authority.

One of the early acts of the quorum of Works, which acted as a sort of town council, was to forbid hogs from running at large under penalty of forfeiture at the pleasure of the Chief Steward, Chas. B. Thompson. He was impatient for the success of his town, and published the following invitation:

"Let all those who desire to be instructed in the things pertaining to their salvation and deliverance with Israel come on speedily with their tythes, gift obligations, and sin offerings to the House of God that they may be justified from sin and receive an inheritance, * * * *"

In the early spring of 1854 Thompson seems to have conceived the possibility of a great enlargement of his spiritual and temporal organization, and through his paper outlined his plans for gathering in the followers; and his system of organization for his quorum of travelling teachers in his schools of faith were as elaborate in its detail of organization and names of officers as a large army. At the Solemn Assembly in April this year and in the subsequent issue of his paper, he explained the financial arrangements under the law of tything, gift oblations and conducting the colony; as now that the work was actually begun, those who joined, wanted to know how it was to be carried on, and just what the plan was. When a convert joined the colony, the practical question arose, what amount of tything he had to pay down, and what he should do with his family, and on what land he should labor, and what he should get for it.

A record had been kept of the gift oblations, chiefly in small sums, but when they became members of Jehovah's Presbytery of Zion at Preparation, an inventory of all their worldly possessions was taken, and one-tenth of this was paid into the Lord's treasury, that is, to Chas. B. Thompson, generally in kind even to their clothing, and in the first year each one who could work was expected to labor one day in ten for the Presbytery (Thompson).

Most of those who joined had very little property beyond tools, stock and furniture, only seven, as shown by the tything record, had over one thousand dollars worth of property each, though it cropped out later that some who had money, discreetly gave it to their children, and so were enabled to honestly take the oaths and covenants, and so had a little money for emergencies.

Thompson's explanation as to the disposition that would be made of the tythings was, "that it ought to be sufficient to know that it would be used as directed by the Lord. He had appointed as agent (Thompson) to receive it and manage it, and this ought to be a sufficient guaranty." That but one person was ever appointed by revelation to receive and manage the tything." "If the Word of God is not sufficient assurance to any man that his tything will be prudently managed and used where most needed if payed into the hands of the Lord's Steward, he had better not pay it." "That it was to be used, first, to create a capita for the establishment of the House of the Lord, etc.; second, to create a capital to be expended in establishing schools among the Indian tribes; third, to create a fund to purchase Mount Zion."

Thompson was profuse in his promises as to the great results that were to come from this organization. By the spring of 1854, twenty families were already established at Preparation, and at the April Solemn Assembly one hundred and twenty partook of the feast, and they were all from the vicinity. Monona county, Iowa, was organized in April of that year and Thompson was elected to the chief office, that of County Judge, and a majority of the county officers, and all the township officers for that township were members of the Presbytery. There was only one other township. So for the time the civil government of the township and county was in their hands, and soon after, when the postoffice was established, Thompson was appointed postmaster.

Thompson seems also to have carried on a mercantile business as he advertises that "Flour, meal, pork and butter were for sale at the Lord's storehouse in Preparation," and under the head of "Wanted, at the Lord's storehouse, on tything and gift oblations, all kinds of country produce, money, dry goods and groceries, young stock, cows, horses, oxen, harness, wagons and farming tools." He also republished in his paper some of the early proclamations or revelations that came to him in 1848. He also had a new revelation in June, 1854, which begins as follows:

"The word of the Lord by the voice of Baneemy, came unto Chas. B. Thompson, Chief Steward of the Lord's House, in June 1854, saying: 'Behold I say unto you, my son, I have beheld the works which thou hast done in Preparation, and am well pleased," etc.

Then followed a review of what had preceded, and a scathing rebuke on some who had evidently held back, who had been expected to join the settlement, and had not paid their tything, and of these he says, "Wo unto them, for their reward lurketh from beneath and not from above, for they have lied unto me," etc. During this summer Thompson went to St. Louis to buy more printing material and a mill, going by team to southeastern Iowa, and the rest of the way by boat, stopping at Nauvoo to moralize over the sins that had caused the downfall of that settlement; he returned by the same route.

Affairs at Preparation were not at all harmonious. The first year a new settlement is hard at best, and add to this a sort of surrender of independence and an acknowledgement of Thompson's authority and the paying in of one-tenth of all one's earthly possessions and services, required the spirit of a saint; and those that had paid in would criticise those who had not, and some who had been prominent in organizing the colony seceded, and in the Kanesville paper denounced Thompson as an impostor and tyrant, and that none but fools would allow themselves to be controlled by him.

An unexpected difficulty had presented itself in the matter of the land; when they first came to Preparation the land there had been surveyed by the United States authorities, but was not all subject to private entry and could only be taken by actual settlers under pre-emption laws, and they intended to claim two congressional townships and had filed preemptions on the pieces that were timbered, but the General Land Office had ordered the land thrown into market and it would be publicly offered for sale in September, 1854, when speculators would enter the land. At that time, this was sure to be the case, especially as bounty land warrants for soldiers in the Mexican and other wars, had been issued by the United States and were bought up for this purpose by capitalists who located on such lands, and the land would have to be taken in some valid form to hold it, for this colony.

So Thompson announced that while it had not been originally intended to open up the third degree in the school of work until the August Solemn Assembly of 1856, yet he now advised all to anticipate that period and to enter a new order of sacrifice, which, while not strictly obligatory, and would not exclude from the Presbytery those who did not join it, yet would sanctify those who entered it. The order of sacrifice was that each one should surrender to Thompson, the Chief Steward, all their property and enter into bond to work for him two years, and he to furnish them with board, lodging and clothing not exceeding in value a specific sum per year, and written bonds from the husband and wife of each family were entered into in August, 1854, by thirty families, nearly every family that remained faithful.

They were organized into a quorum, as it was called, and the work of the colony was apportioned among specified ones to do the sowing, reaping, grist and saw-mill work, logging, and a head cook was appointed, and thereafter, until August, 1855, they were all fed as one community. An inventory of this property thus put into the Chief Steward's hands, exclusive of the saw and grist mills, printing establishment, agricultural and mechanical tools and household goods, was as follows: 27 horses, 800 cattle, 61 hogs, 80 sheep.

At the Solemn Assembly in August, 1854, several were expelled for apostacy, heresy, misrepresentation and lying to immigrants on their way to Preparation, and calumniating the chief teacher, Chas. B. Thompson. For some cause the order for public sale of the lands by the government was not carried out, and they were not obliged to buy all the land or prove up on the pre-emption, but Thompson bought some, including the townsite. There can be no doubt that these members who thus sacrificed their property to the common cause were sincere and devout and of more than ordinary self-denial.

In September, 1854, Thompson started a weekly newspaper called "The Preparation News," after the plan of an ordinary country weekly religious and family newspaper. His former monthly "Zion's Harbinger and Baneemy's Organ" had been irregularly published and at times was not issued till three or four months after it's ostensible date. The December, 1854, number of this magazine contained news under the date of May, 1855. In the spring of 1855 this magazine was consolidated with the Preparation News which later paper was called Preparation News and Ephriam's Messenger. His "Organ and Harbinger" he was to publish thereafter three times a year immediately after each Solemn Assembly, which was to be the grand channel of promulgating the Ecclesiastical Laws of Jehovah through Baneemy to Ephriam and to make known the decrees of Heaven unto men.

After the trials and tribulations encountered in managing the small colony already there, Thompson seems to have lost interest in the great hopes he had entertained of making it an organization of all the Mormons to take the place of what was expected of the Nauvoo settlement; and he decided not to send out missionaries, and that proselyting was all wrong and that it was the cause of Joseph Smith's downfall.

After the colony had thus gone into the order of sacrifice for two years, Thompson became a sort of dictator in a communistic settlement and the utmost economy of living was observed. They were instructed in the healthfulness of a vegetable diet. Rich foods were an abomination and for their spiritual welfare and physical health plain food was required; meat was forbidden. At one time butter was regarded as a useless and unknown luxury, and though an extensive dairy of 40 cows was carried on, the butter and cheese were all sold at Council Bluffs. Some pork and beef fattened for meat was killed and sold with the butter to increase the fund to buy the land for an inheritance.

It was claimed by the irreverent that the Chief Teacher, Thompson, did not share in all this self-denial. He taught that this abstemiousness was not to be perpetual, but was essential in those two years to sacrifice themselves for the common good of themselves and others who might join so that in the end after purification they would all come again into their inheritance in the spiritual and good things in store for them.

Some became discontented and left without settling with Thompson and left their sacrifices, tythings and oblations with him. Others would make a settlement, and get some of their property back and exchange receipts, for Thompson was getting to be careful in putting his dealings in writing, and only by a show of fairness to those who had left, was he able to hold those who remained; but he grew more cautious and sought to get renewed binding contracts according to accepted business forms at every possible opportunity. At and after the Solemn Assembly of August, 1855, Thompson prepared to put his business on a legal basis. He organized two corporations, one called the "Sacred Treasury of Jehovah's Presbytery of Zion," and the other the "House of Ephriam."

The first was a corporation of a single individual, Chas. B. Thompson; as he expressed it in the article "incorporating that portion of my individual prosperity which has been obtained by my labors and by the voluntary gifts, tythings and sacrifices of the members of Jehovah's Presbytery of Zion for that purpose." Its object was, "To establish schools of preparation for the intellectual, moral and physical culture of the members of his colony, to publish books and papers, to buy land and improve it for the future inheritanace of the saints who shall be found worthy; and to erect the necessary edifices for schools, colleges and temples." The capital was to be $10,000.00 to be increased indefinitely.

The funds of the corporation were to be the individual property of Chas. B. Thompson and he to be the manager and director of the business. Any person who wanted, whether a member of Jehovah's Presbytery or not, could contribute to the funds by gift oblations, tythings or sacrifices; but such donations can never return to donors nor were they to be entitled to any pecuniary remuneration therefor, but must abide the final issue of the work of Jehovah's Presbytery of Zion for their reward."

The other corporation, the "House of Ephriam," was composed of members of Jehovah's Presbytery of Zion; its capital stock was $6,000.00 in shares of $5.00 each, which might be indefinitely increased, and certificates of stock were to be issued. Its purpose was to carry on farming, milling and mechanical business. Its affairs were to be managed by Chas. B. Thompson, and from one to seven patriarchs appointed by him, and Thompson for his compensation was to receive one-tenth of the annual increase of its capital stock. Dividends of the annual increase could only be drawn by the shareholders in case of their actual need thereof for the necessaries of life.

All persons, whether Jew, Gentile or Ephriamites, who should pay into his other corporation, "The Sacred Treasury of Jehovah's Presbytery of Zion," one-fifth of all their worldly possessions should be eligible to take stock in this House of Ephriam to the amount of all their remaining surplus property.

Thompson had blank bills of sale printed with blank spaces for the enumeration of horses, cattle, sheep, swine, grain, tools, vehicles, furniture, clothing and credits, and he had each one of the colony make one or more bills of sale to him personally enumerating the specific property, which included the houses in which they lived, and their wearing apparel, and from the price the houses were very simple affairs, as for instance one enumerates a "cave" of the value of ten dollars.

For the Sacred Treasury he had formerly taken a tything of one-tenth, but the change to one-fifth at this time was, as he told them, that in order to make it equal to cash, he took another tenth. The remaining four-fifths of their property was conveyed to him for stock in the House of Ephriam. He also had title before this to much of the common property, as the mills, printing press, and the gifts and their proceeds. So now Thompson had title to everything they had, even to the clothes on their backs. For some balances of property Thompson gave them a due bill or certificate for a small specified amount in goods or grain out of the House of Ephriam and took from each a receipt in full for the certificates.

In the spring of 1856 Thompson proposed to buy their stock in the House of Ephriam and pay for it in script to be given by him in the House of Ephriam, which script they should exchange in turn for such property as he might sell them from that owned by this corporation, which proposition, being compulsory, was accepted, and they all assigned their stock to Thompson and took his script for it and gave a receipt for the script, and published notice that they had all sold out, but the business of the corporation would be carried on as usual by Thompson. These corporations were a sort of legal myth to cover the personal transactions of Thompson, as under these forms he got all the stock in both corporations.

Their land had not come into the market in the fall of 1854 as expected, but did so come in the spring of 1856, and they would be compelled to enter it from the United States, or take pre-emptions upon it which would need to be proved up on and paid for within a year, and a great strain was put upon the financial resources of the colony, for if they did not get the land, the object of all their labor and sacrifices would be lost. As many as legally could took pre-emptions; and as in law it would be necessary for each one to take these pre-emptions in their own name, and build houses and reside on them, there was danger that when they got full title it might be hard to control them.

So the most solemn rites and ceremonies were gone through at the August Solemn Assembly in 1856; a full and complete sacrifice was called for. It was argued by him that as every one had for the past two years been in the "order of sacrifice" and hence were incapable of taking or holding title to anything, that everything acquired during that period went under the law of sacrifice into the Chief Teacher's, Thompson's, control, to be laid up for their future inheritance. So each again gave Thompson a bill of sale of everything for the House of Ephriam, including growing crops, clothing, and a list of these things were written on a piece of paper, and they came into a darkened room and Thompson poured alcohol on this paper and burned it over the fire in token of their complete sacrifice of all they had and they all, men and women, were required to go through the ceremony of a sacrifice and consecration of their bodies to the Lord.

The two chiefs, right and left supporters of Thompson, Guy C. Barnum and Rowland Cobb, came into the room stripped naked and surrendered their clothing in token of complete surrender and sacrifice of their bodies, and they were then given a single coarse cotton garment or frock, coming below the knees like a nightshirt, such as used to be worn in early days as an over garment by New England farmers, called a smock frock. This Thompson named the "Garment of Holiness." Barnum and Cobb then seated themselves on either side of Thompson, and the rest of the members, men and women in turn, came into their presence and went through a like ceremony. This garment was worn for a little time but was not retained as a permanent fashion, but they retained only such clothing as was barely necessary, in fact, this had been the case for some time, but practically all their clothing and jewelry was given into the custody of Thompson, and he had large quantities stored in chests and boxes in his house. In consideration of the actual necessary clothing given back to them, which he nominally valued at ten dollars for each family, and five dollars for single persons, he again took a receipt and release from each, discharging Thompson and his two corporations from all demands to date; and from many who had had money for any purpose, and especially from those heads of families who were again living by themselves on pre- emptions, for the value of the very property sacrificed, such as furniture, teams, and tools needed to farm, which he then re-sold to them, or let them use, on that date he took their notes or bonds payable seven years thereafter, with interest at ten per cent. per annum, and thus had the title to the property, and their note for its value besides. The inventoried value of the whole property sacrificed at this time as recorded in his official record book by families, was the sum of $11,174.26 from forty-four persons.

In August, 1856, Thompson and Butts commenced publication of another paper called the "Western Nucleus and Democratic Echo," which supported James Buchanan's claim to the presidency, though many of Thompson's religious writings were against slavery.

In the spring of 1857 it became necessary to pay up for the land and the winter had been very severe and 100 head of cattle died worth about $2,000.00, which had been an expected source of getting money to pay for the land, and some were unable to prove up. Directions were given to prove up the best claims and to some extent individuals were allowed to use such property as could be converted into money for that purpose. But as entries of the land were made, Thompson demanded that each one should convey the land to him, for the reasons given before that it was all taken while they were on the sacrifice and hence belonged to the Sacred Treasury. In some cases the money to enter was borrowed of money lenders to whom the land was conveyed for security and a time bond taken back and later paid for, and deeded to Thompson. Much dispute afterwards arose over just what was agreed on at this time when the deeds were given.

The people afterward claimed it was all to be deeded back to them when they were out of the sacrifice, the period of which Thompson had prolonged beyond the time at first set of two years from August, 1854, giving the principal reason therefor that it was necessary to include the time for the entry of the land, and that divine commands were authority therefor. At any rate Thompson got deeds for most of the land; in some instances giving back bonds for deeds at largely increased prices, in which time of payment was made the essence of the contract, and with conditions of forfeiture if not paid for, and then in some instances getting the bond surrendered. Thompson also entered in his own name from the United States considerable more land with the money that came into his hands from the proceeds of sales of stock and produce, also borrowing some on short time.

It was not always harmonious in the colony and the management by Thompson of so many persons was difficult and some were not very energetic to labor and took life easy. February 17,1857, Thompson had another opportune proclamation or revelation by the voice of Baneemy, concerning the treasures of the Kingdom of Zion which ordered in substance, "That the funds were to be expended under the direction of the Steward in purchasing land for the future inheritance of the Saints who shall be found worthy." No one could receive their inheritance until there was sufficient land owned by the Chief Steward to furnish an inheritance for each family entitled thereto. "That the title should be vested in Chas. B. Thompson in whom Ephriam the first born of Israel is regenerated." This revelation was a very full and long creed minute in details of church government indicating a return to missionary work.

After Thompson had secured title to the land early in 1857 he planned a reorganization of the colony for the purpose of either keeping their minds employed with new thoughts or the better to confirm his title to the property and to prepare for a winding up of his connection with it.

April 15, 1857, what he called the "Congregation of the Jehovah's Presbytery of Zion," was organized of which Guy C. Barnum was appointed Bishop and Chief Scribe. This seems to have been intended as a sort of return to a mere church organization. The unmarried ones seemed to have stayed in Thompson's household and to have worked in common, as did all in 1854. But the married heads of families had gone out onto their preemptions, and paid to Thompson one-third the crop as rent.

At the Solemn Assembly in August, 1857, Thompson declared the schools of Preparation, Faith and Works, closed and called on all to settle up the affairs of the schools preparatory to the organization of what was called the "Travelling Ministry of the Congregation of Jehovah's Presbytery of Zion." This was organized at this Solemn Assembly, but only four settled up at that time, and three only were ordained Travelling Presbyters and started on missions to the Eastern States.

This settling consisted in giving Thompson a new bill of sale of property to which each might possibly have a claim, followed in a day or so by a written release by each to Thompson for all demands, and then a turning back to each head of family some of the property named in the bill of sale, such as furniture to enable them to carry on the farms under family stewardship which he then organized, under which they paid rent for such land as they cultivated. They did not all settle till in February, 1858, but in August, 1857, Thompson made a change in the temporal management evidently intended to allay the growing dissatisfaction. He appointed a number of the most reliable men as stewards and gave them each farms to manage. Stewardship was a great honor and each one of these gave his personal bond in the sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars, conditioned to perform the duties of family assistant steward of the Ecclesiastical Kingdom of Jehovah's Presbytery of Zion, and account to Chas. B. Thompson, Chief Steward, for all property that came into their hands. And later, when he settled with them, as above stated, Thompson delivered to them household goods and clothing with which to carry on this stewardship, and he took their receipts for it as held under their bond. It is noticeable that this receipt and bond say nothing of the two corporations which nominally held title to all the property; but as before stated just before giving them such property under their stewardship he took the precaution to take from each this new release to Thompson and to both of his corporations for all demands for a sum named equal to the stock they had before had in the House of Ephriam.

Thompson in 1857 published a book of about 210 pages entitled "The Law and Covenants," which contained all the proclamations, revelations and covenants, including those for his new congregation. It was divided into chapters and sections, the latter numbered up to 746. It had an index. It was pocket size, its pages about 21 inches by 4 inches. This book is a veritable medley, a combination of the writings of the Bible, the Book of Mormon, church government, orders and decrees, and is hopelessly entangled, and judiciously interlarded with commands as to the authority of Chas. B. Thompson in things spiritual and temporal.

After he made his settlement under the old order of schools of Preparation, his new plan was to be in force. Hitherto it had only been preparation; now his disciples were fully educated in these schools and were graduates in the ministry, and were fully ordained in the order of the "Travelling Ministry of the Congregation of Jehovah's Presbytery of Zion," and each were "Travelling Presbyters" ready to go out on missions, chiefly to organize new congregations of Jehovah's Presbyteries of Zion, the people at Preparation forming the first of such congregations. Then on paper Thompson had got the title to and possession of all the personal property except household goods and such tools and teams as were in the hands of the family stewards and they were paying rent for the land to all of which he had title.

Most of the parties after proving up on their claims had moved back into Preparation, preferring to live in town, so the religious congregation composed of his tenants could go on, but they still clung to his oral promises that after these sacrifices of the fast they should come into their inheritanace and something had to be done to divert their minds.

Thompson still found it hard to control them all, from what he said in confidence to some, as appeared from their testimony later in the suits, it seems probable that he thought it advisable to send the leaders out on their missions to different parts of the country, while he managed affairs at home getting ready for departure. It is said these commands to go on these missions were sent suddenly to each by a messenger telling them they were commanded to go instantly, just as they were, to the places named to them and to take no money.

Take two instances, as related by two of the parties afterward. Rowland Cobb, about 70 years old, one of the chief stewards, was coming home from towards the Missouri river with a load of lumber, and was met by a messenger from Thompson, telling him he was commanded by the Lord to start without an instant's delay, without money or change of clothing, and go to Virginia I think it was, to the Legislature in session there, and pronounce the vengeance of the Lord upon them if they did not free the slaves. Cobb at once gave his team to Thompson's messenger to take home, and started across the country on his mission and actually went to Virginia, and delivered his message to the state officers. They treated him decently, and from his dress and the strangeness of his mission evidently thought him insane, or what we would now call a crank, and most likely from his relation of it afterwards he had himself lost faith in the likelihood of his mission being successful.

He then wrote Thompson for permission to visit his old home at Elliottville, N. Y., where he had been once a leading business man. He got such permission in due time, and made the visit, and while there received a letter from J. J. Perrin, one of the leading stewards of Preparation, which indicated that all was not harmonious there, and Cobb at once hastened home.

Another chief man, Thomas Lewis, a well educated and intelligent man, originally from Kentucky and very devout, who was ploughing in the field, had taken off his boots and stockings, coat and vest, and left them at one end of the field, was met by a messenger from Thompson with the same command for Kentucky that Cobb had for Virginia, and he at once started instantly in his straw hat, shirt and pants, without crossing back to get his other clothes, and without money, went to the Kentucky Legislature. His advent seems to have been regarded as a huge joke, and the members of the Legislature and state officers treated him with mock distinction. He was allowed to address the Legislature either in or out official session. They got up a supper for him; raised quite a purse with which they got him new clothes, and money for expenses, but there is no record in their proceedings that they acceded to the demand of a message from so potential an individual even as Charles B. Thompson.

Thompson had started another newspaper in Onawa, which town had become the county seat. This he called the "Onawa Advocate," and in 1858 Thompson moved to Onawa, and his head man, Guy C. Barnum, was with him there more or less.

Thompson corresponded with his missionaries, but somehow or other the people had become suspicious. He had deeded some property in the summer to his wife and Barnum. These leaders sent out to preach, seemed by contact again with the world to have recovered their mental balance, and took a different view of matters than they had when under the immediate influence of Thompson, and some of them came back sooner in 1858 than was anticipated, and disconcerted Thompson's plans for getting his property disposed of, if he had formed any. It was afterwards asserted that Thompson had said that by his numerous bills of sale, bonds, receipts, corporations and other papers, he had got them all so tied up they could do nothing in law, and that he would sell the personal property and deed the land to some one else and go away. That Guy C. Barnum advised the better course would be to settle with the dissatisfied ones on some cheap basis, give the others, faithful ones, some land, and keep the rest for Thompson and Barnum. Thompson, however, stood upon his rights, and when a few leaders made trouble, he refused to settle, and turned them out of his Presbytery, especially Rowland Cobb, Charles C. Perrin and George Rarisk.

But this only started the trouble as it provoked discussion among the rest; and others, who had left before, came back to Preparation, and most of the people met and canvassed the situation, and expecting Thompson to come from Onawa on a certain day in October, 1858, were there intending to demand of him to settle with the people. The crowd had assembled in anticipation of his coming, and had posted sentinels on the bluffs who saw him coming with Guy C. Barnum in the distance over the Missouri bottom lands, but one, Melinda Butts, a daughter of one of the colonists, who lived in Thompson's family, was probably sent by Mrs. Thompson along the road to warn him of the possible danger, and she met Thompson and Barnum, and told them of the crowd assembled, and they immediately turned the1r team around and started at full speed to Onawa.

News of this return soon came to Preparation and several men at once started on horseback to follow them, and did so closely that Thompson and Barnum unhitched their team and fled on horseback, and the two did pursue them to Onawa. It was getting towards night when they started. Thompson sought protection among the citizens of Onawa, and that night fled to Sioux City, staying a week; negotiations were had seeking a settlement, but Thompson made only promises, and worked for delay. The men returned to Preparation the next day and went to Thompson's house and took possession of the household goods and clothing that had been put into the sacrifice, and in Mrs. Thompson's presence, opened up the trunks and boxes in which they were stored, and returned the articles to the original owners of them who were there to identify them. No property was destroyed except a collection of Thompson's printed books, tracts and papers, and some pork and mutton killed for food. The sheriff of the county, and Judge Whiting came over from Onawa to keep the peace, and witnessed much of this last day's proceedings. Mrs. Thompson, with much of her furniture and goods was moved that day to Onawa. Suits were begun in replevin to get possession of the farming tools and other property. Thompson had conveyed away all but 40 acres of land, that being his homestead; about 1,000 acres to his wife, who afterwards deeded it to his brother, D. S. Thompson in St. Louis, and 1,360 acres in trust to Guy C. Barnum, this part for settlement with those who had remained faithful, in case anything might be due them, and to allay the excitement, as Thompson said, and 320 acres to Barnum personally, and later 320 acres to Thompson's brother, so Thompson held about 3,000 acres.

The report of the mob had reached Thompson, who kept himself in hiding for several days in the attic of Judge Addison Oliver's house in Onawa; the judge was then acting as his attorney. Mrs. Thompson stopped there also, and it was said she had a small bag of jewelry, presumably that which had been given up in the sacrifice by the women. She seemed to set great value on this collection, much beyond its real worth. When Thompson took a drive up to Sioux City and Sergeant Bluffs, Woodbury county, Iowa, at all times he seemed to be in great fear of personal violence, and would start at every sound.

This ended the unity of the colony and the religious organization. A suit was brought in behalf of the colonists against Thompson and those to whom he had conveyed the property in the nature of a bill in equity, to declare the colony a partnership, and Thompson a trustee, holding the title in trust for the members, and to set aside the conveyance from him to his wife, brother and Barnum.

Thompson's defense was that so far as the people had put any property in his hands it was in payment for his services as chief teacher and that this was expressly understood between them and that the written contracts he made with them established these facts.

The case went to the Supreme Court of Iowa, and the people won, and there was an order for an accounting between the members as to what they had put in, and a division of the property was had. Addison Dimmock and Isaac Parrish, of Onawa, and Pat Robb and Wm. L. Joy, of Sioux City, represented the people, and in different stages Addison Oliver, B. D. Holbrook, of Onawa; Wakely & Test, Polk & Hubbell, and Thos. F. Withrow, of Des Moines, appeared for the defendants.

J. C. C. Hoskins was appointed under the order for apportionment, (Mr. Hoskins being from Sioux City), as referee to take the evidence as to what each one had contributed, and report the facts, and finally a distribution was made among the numerous persons entitled to it. Though the litigation began in 1859 it did not end until about 1867. The decision of the Supreme Court of Iowa is found in 21 Iowa Supreme Court Reports, page 599, Scott vs. Thompson.

In the trial of this cause the records, the newspapers, publications, contracts, bonds, notes, bills of sale, during the continuance of the colony with much oral testimony were offered in evidence and were thus preserved, and it is from these that the definite detail of this Mormon settlement at Preparation has been obtained.

With the meeting of the people at Preparation when they forcibly divided the clothing and personal property in sight in October, 1858, the colony or organization of Jehovah's Presbytery of Zion under its many names, ended. Many remained in that vicinity until they got their lands by suit, and they and their descendants are living in Northwestern Iowa, many scattered like any western people. Only three or four finally remained faithful to Thompson; many of them, though denouncing him as a false prophet, remained believers in the general Mormon religion.

In all, about one hundred and fifty persons were connected with the colony, men, women and children; it endured for five years. Thompson, in that time, had, with the pre-emptions taken by the settlers, and his own entries, got title to over three thousand acres of land, at a cost primarily of $1.25 an acre, but with the expenses of the sums borrowed at high rates to enter part of it, it must have cost over $4,500.00 in money, besides the improvements. The gifts, tythings and sacrifices nominally inventoried amounted to about $15,000.00, but considerable of this in clothing, tools and teams was practically kept by the people, while most of the money raised went into the buildings, mills, printing material and living expenses, but on the other hand, the increase of the cattle and the sale of the crops provided quite an income.

It was said that their flock of sheep increased rapidly and that under Guy C. Barnum's direction these had been taken across the river into Nebraska, on the representation that they would not be so much annoyed by other settlers, and that they were driven farther away, and finally converted by Barnum, and this same man Barnum seems to have been the chief leader and business manager for Chas. B. Thompson. He was much shrewder and had more directness in business matters, and less sanctimoniousness. He went to Columbus, Neb., became a member of the state senate, and later for a time went insane. I am yet unable to trace Thompson's later career; he resided in St. Louis for several years.

It was said that only one of the people failed to convey his land to Thompson, and that was Andrew G. Jackson, an erratic crank, who was chief editor after 1854 of the various papers published. He brought no money to the colony, and he absolutely refused to deed his land. He made no hostile demonstrations. It was one of Jackson's theories that we all are affected by the food we eat, and he aspired to be a long distance jumper among the younger athletes, and so went through a training course on a diet of grasshoppers, but in the outcome was badly beaten. He afterwards went insane.

The most of these colonists were sincere, honest, upright, devout citizens, with strong religious convictions, and lived up to their beliefs and hoped and expected much from their long season of sacrifice and self denial, having accepted the divine authority of Thompson, felt compelled to yield obedience to it, and were more easily deluded by his plausible promises.

It is hard to measure Thompson's motives. From the beginning he was undoubtedly a combination of a fanatic and knave. So long as they yielded obedience to his commands and leadership, he was apparently working to build up his Presbytery, and knew that so long as he held ownership to the property he could better control them, but when any of them became dissatisfied, he was revengeful and wished to get rid of them as cheaply as possible. He had been poor all his life, and the possession, even as the Lord's Steward, of the little property that came into his hands at first, seems to have excited his cupidity, and he was, as time progressed, more and more reluctant to part with it, and convinced himself that it should all belong to him.

He was a man of very ordinary ability, and the times and circumstances were not calculated to insure such a man success. He could only control for a time such a 1imited number of persons as were pure minded and faithful; had he had the ability of Brigham Young and contented himself with a less avaricious financial policy, he might have filled Northwestern Iowa, which was then entirely unoccupied by settlers, with the so-called followers of Mormonism, who were opposed to polygamy.

The times were then ripe for it, but he was not the man, and his colony scarcely made an impression on the large number of them that were even then in Southwestern Iowa. His followers remained chiefly those whom he had attracted by the publication of his paper at St. Louis. He never really had any clear idea of what his belief and mission was, and could not make plain to others that which was a fog on his own mind, and he concealed his thought in a great mass of words, prophecies, revelations, proclamations, orders, decrees and systems which were ever being changed.

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Read before the Sioux City Scientific Association, January 11, 1898.

GEORGE W. WAKEFIELD

BY C. R. MARKS

George Washington Wakefield, who was an active member of the Academy since its first organization as the Scientific Association down to his death, deserves mention in these pages.

He was descended from sturdy New England stock. His first American Wakefield ancestor was John Wakefield, a shipwright and boatman, who came to Boston, Mass., before 1640. The family for many generations resided in Massachusetts and Eastern New York. One of them, Joseph Wakefield, was a soldier in the Revolutionary Army, and was in the battle of Bunker Hill.

Orin Wakefield, father of our member, migrated to DeWitt, DeWitt Co., Ill., where he died in l885, at a good old age. His principal occupation was farming. George W. Wakefield was born at DeWitt, Ill., Nov. 22, 1839, and he spent his youth upon his father's large farm, pursuing the usual routine of such a life and attending the public schools for his early education.

He must have been in these years a close observer of nature, as throughout his life he was always testing the accuracy of his conclusions upon subjects of study by what he himself had observed. When eighteen years old he commenced attending school at the preparatory department of Lombard University, Galesburg, Ill., remaining there several terms and returning again at intervals thereafter.

On July 27, 1861, he enlisted in Co. 17., 41st Illinois Infantry, and was mustered into the United States service as corporal. He was taken down with fever and went to the hospital the same fall, and was not able to rejoin his regiment until the latter part of Feb., 1862. He thereafter served with the regiment until mustered out, August 20, 1864, with the rank of first sergeant. He actively participated in the campaigns of the Western Army and was in many engagements. Among these, the battle of Shiloh, the sieges of Corinth, Vicksburg and Jackson. He was wounded in the charge of Lauman's brigade at Jackson, Miss.

He was never boastful of his military achievements, but when talking with his comrades of some war time engagement they had participated in, his eyes would brighten and his voice take on a shade more emphasis as he would give some precise detail of what part his regiment had taken in some march or battle, nothing had escaped his keen observation.

After he was mustered out of the army he attended Lombard University, taught school and studied law. He pursued his legal studies mostly at home, going to the county seat twice a month to recite and review his studies with his preceptor, Hon. Henry S. Green. After two years of legal study, he was admitted to the bar by the supreme court of Illinois in January, 1868.

He soon after started for Iowa, and reached Sioux City March 6, 1868. The first railroad had just been completed to Sioux City, and it was then looked upon as a place likely to make a thriving city. He was really the first new lawyer to arrive in the town since 1858, coming soon after the revival which followed the advent of the railroad. He entered the office of Hon. Isaac Pendleton, who had been in Sioux City ten years and who was the last arrival of the older set of lawyers. The principal attorneys in 1868 were Wm. L. Joy, John Currier and Isaac Pendleton, although O. C. Tredway and Samuel T. Davis practiced to some extent, but had too much other business of their own to devote much time to practicing law.

With the opening of the railroad large numbers of settlers came into Northwestern Iowa to take up homesteads on the large tracts of vacant lands. And the United States land office was located in Sioux City, so there was really more practice for a lawyer in contested entries before the land officers than in the courts and conflicts with the numerous railroad land grants and swamp land grants opened up an extensive field of legal controversy. The young lawyer, Wakefield, was soon deeply engaged in these matters, and there laid the foundation of his knowledge of the public land laws of the United States, which were the foundation of all land titles here. He was without doubt the best informed lawyer in Northwestern Iowa upon matters pertaining to public lands.

The office of County Auditor had been created by the Iowa Legislature in 1868, and Mr. Wakefield was the first person elected to fill this office in Woodbury County, Iowa, in the fall of 1869. He held this office two terms, and then continued the practice of law from 1874 to 1884, a portion of the time with S. M. Marsh, who was District Attorney for the Fourth Judicial District.

He had been married October 29, 1873, to Kate Pendleton, sister of Hon. Isaac Pendleton. In 1884 he was elected Judge of the Circuit Court of the Second Circuit of the Fourth Judicial District of Iowa and upon the abolition of that Court in 1886, he was elected District Judge of the Fourth Judicial District of Iowa, which office he held by repeated elections up to the time of his death in March, 1905. He left two children surviving him, a son, Albert O. Wakefield, an attorney at Sioux City, and a daughter, Bertha Wakefield. His wife died many years before he did.

Judge Wakefield was a man of wide culture, and all his life he was investigating science, history, literature and religion. The knowledge thus gained was not a mere accumulation of facts, but material from which he was continually evolving fresh conclusions.

He was never, as an attorney, very much interested in the trial of jury cases, his was not a belligerent nature and wordy controversies were not to his taste, though he was not deficient in that part of the practice. He studied his cases carefully and prepared his pleadings with great skill and clearness, and in this, as in all his literary work, he was exceptionally talented in his written compositions. He aimed to state any proposition clearly with all the fine shades and distinctions of meaning, and was equally successful in scientific and humorous writings.

In equity cases, both as a lawyer .and judge, he was at his best. He was clear and logical, and in all matters pertaining to real estate and corporation law was especially strong; and while not aggressive in his nature, he was stubborn and tenacious in holding to his views, and his wide knowledge of other subjects aided him in his judicial work. In the preparation of his instruction to juries he was careful and availed himself of his past experience until he had collected a private book of instructions upon all classes of cases and phases of different subjects that had stood the test of the higher courts, which are and will be models for his associates and successors.

He was uniformly courteous, patient and kindly to all and freely gave his time and advice to any who sought him. he took pride in helping the young man to make his start in life, and the young lawyer especially found in him a friend and a judge who would grant him a patient and attentive hearing. His anxiety was not so much concerning the law as that justice should be done.

He was an early member of the original Scientific Association and was president of this Academy at the time of his death. He contributed many papers upon a wide range of subjects, scientific, historical, religious and literary. He was always interested in geology and botany, and every rock, tree, hill or valley attracted his attention and was absorbed, as it were, into his storehouse of knowledge.

He had quite a gift in poetry and composed some very choice poems. He published, in pamphlet form, some of his literary productions. He prepared papers which he read before the State Bar Association. One of these has been regarded as a masterpiece of pure elegant English writing.

In social life he was a most genial companion, quiet, unobtrusive, yet glittering with quick suggestion and apt repartee. His eye was peculiarly bright and observing and he might sit a long time quiet, while others were absorbing the conversation, but nothing escaped his vigilant eye.

As years advanced his industry increased and his judicial labors were very onerous, and he failed to take the needed relaxation from these duties in social intercourse and out-of-door exercise. Having been bred on a farm, he was strong physically, but the mental spur of literary work unfinished, kept busy with his private studies and writings, the hours that should have been devoted to leisure, his health failed and death claimed him.

To his friends and associates, he has left the memory of a life well lived, a character unsullied, a heart filled with kindness toward all and a soul that ever led the way to the higher life.