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unaccountable delay of our return from an errand which was not expected to require over two hours.

WEBSTER CITY'S FIRST QUARTER OF A CENTURY

I. DOANE,

Written for the Freeman, by S. B. Rosencrans-March, 1881

Twenty-five years ago today (March 29, 1881,) C. T. Fenton, my wife and I landed in what is now Webster City. We came with teams by way of Dubuque, being eight days on the road. There were then but one or two small bridges between that city and this place. We were the last parties that crossed the Mississippi on the ice at Dubuque that spring with a team. From the Iowa river to Webster City we passed but one house. We crossed the Iowa at Hardin City, at that time about the most important town in Hardin county. We forded the Boone below the water mill. The spring was about as advanced as this yearthe winter having been a hard one. S. Willson and J. M. Funk acted as pilots for us on our way out-we being on our way to Fort Dodge (the Mecca of those days for this part of the world). Webster City at that time consisted of five or six frame and as many log houses. We stopped at the "Moon House" kept by W. C. Willson and to us benighted travelers Mrs. Willson proved a model hostess. There was a log hotel kept on the east bank of Lake Daugherty, and Cyrus Smith kept a store in a log building on the southeast shore of said classic lake. (Lake Daugherty is just east of the Ja's Key and N. H. Hellen residences, and is now dry ground except in times of high water.) The Laughlin Brothers had a 12x16 store just west of where the old Potter House used to stand, on Bank street. B. S. Mason had a "house on the hill," a great way off as it seemed at that time-where Mr. Goit now lives.

Among those who were here when I came I might mention the Willson Brothers, the Funks, the Masons, the Laughlins, Tolman Wiltsey, Ja's Key. Morgan Everts, Cyrus Smith, M. Sweeney, A. Thompson, P. C. Babcock, W. W. Wells, the Sacketts, N. W. Browning, W. I. Worthington, H. B. Martin, A. C. Lockwood, H. C. Hillock, and some few others. The Beeches, W. Brewer. John Funk and Peter Lyon lived just out of town. Mr. Moon came the same day we did, and J. M. Jones a few days later. Within a few weeks W. S. Pray, Chas. Stoddard and John Rhodes came. Judge Maxwell moved into town that fall. J. J. Wadsworth, Dr. Baum and a few others came in that fall, while later Geo. Shipp, Dr. Burgess, Wm. Howell, Chas. Aldrich, David Eyer, Judge Chase, Wm. Johnson, the Leonards, L. L. Estes, K. Young, L. L. Treat and others dropped in.

The old frame schoolhouse, standing where Geo. Shipp now lives, was built that summer, and was used for church, school, lyceum, town meetings and all kindred purposes. The old Willson House (now Hamilton House) was opened on the 4th of July, with a grand dance, speeches, etc. The dinner was served in a bower in front of the hotel, where roast pig, etc. was served to everybody. John Hancock taught the school, Father Day, Methodist, Elder Skinner, Congregationalist, and a little later Elder Dodder, Presbyterian, did the preaching. H. B. Martin was postmaster.

Today Webster City is about to take rank as an important railroad town, having two of the great roads of the West-the Illinois Central and the NorthWestern and expecting to have the Milwaukee. With the best of a splendid courthouse (one of the best in the state), with hotels, banks, elevators and lumber yards of the first class, and one hundred business establishments of different kinds, with extensive coal deposits within easy access, with lime, stone and timber near at hand, with many handsome and pleasant homes, with an energetic and active population, there is no reason why Webster City should not progres: in the future with an increased rapidity that shall exceed the most sanguine expectations of its friends.

S. B. ROSENCRANS.

There are those of the early settlers who came somewhat later that I should like to speak of, but it does not come within the scope of this article.

R.

A ROMANTIC WEDDING TRIP

By Mrs. H. H. Kitts

(The following account of a romantic wedding trip describes the experience of Mr. and Mrs. A. D. Arthur. The article was written by Mrs. H. H. Kitts. a sister of Mrs. Arthur, and was published some years ago in the Lake Park News and later appeared in A. R. Smith's History of Dickinson County. The events described took place in northern Iowa in the eariy sixties, but the fact that Mr. and Mrs. Arthur were life long residents of Webster City gives local interest to the story.-Ed.)

"A single horse and cutter took them well on their way the first day. They stopped that night at the home of an acquaintance, starting out bright and early the next morning, anxious to reach the river at La Crosse before it broke up, if possible. Early in the forenoon, the sun clouded over and soon the snow began to fall again very thickly, and the track, which was not plain, owing to the frequent storms and little travel, was entirely obliterated, and they could only judge by the direction which way to go. The snow continued falling through the day, but towards sunset cleared away, and at dusk they found they were not on their road, but near a small grove, with no sight of any habitation. knew of no other way of doing but to get into the shelter of the grove and pass the night there, which they did, as they had plenty of robes and blankets and a bountiful lunch provided for them by their kind hostess of the previous night. The weather grew quite warm during the night and when the morning dawned bright and clear, they could see a large grove which should have been their stopping place for the night, had they not lost their way.

They

"The sun very soon commenced to soften the crust on the snow and their horse could not be prevailed upon to go but a few steps, as its legs were cut by the sharp crust, and being without its noonday, night and morning feed, made it stubborn, it either could not or would not go. After consulting together for

a time, the only thing to be done was for Mr. Arthur to go on foot to the grove, where he knew there were some settlers and procure help. Imagine, if

you can, the young wife watching her husband as far as she could see him, toiling along, breaking through crust and sinking in the snow over his boot tops at every step, and knowing that the best he could do, it must be several hours she would be left alone, no human being in sight, no living thing but the horse near her.

"The hours dragged wearily on, and at last the sun went down and no one in sight. The timid girl remembers yet the terrors of that day and night. Eye and ear were strained alike to catch some sight or sound of human aid until her senses were gone. When the hungry horse would look at her and give a pitiful neigh, then she would get out of the sleigh, go to its head and putting her arms around its neck, let her feelings find vent in tears, until getting too weak and chilled to stand, she would climb back into the sleigh, wrap herself in the robes and through exhaustion, lose herself in a few moments of unconscious sleep. At last, as the moon rose higher, making objects as visible as in the daylight, she thought she heard voices, and looked away off and saw outlined against the sky, the forms of three persons who seemed to her terrified sight to be clothed in blankets, and supposed them to be Indians who had perhaps murdered her husband and that she would soon share the same fate.

"She watched them as they drew near, and could distinguish voices, but they talked in an unknown tongue, which verified her fearful suspicions, and with a thought of the loved ones at home who would mourn her tragic death, she covered herself completely in the robes and waited for the final moment. Soon a hand was laid on her shoulder and a gruff but kindly voice said in broken speech, 'Hello! You asleep?' She threw aside the robes and looked into the faces of three white men, who could none of them, except one, speak a word of English. She was too weak and frightened to speak, but reached out her hand, which they took in kindly clasp, and the one who could speak so as to be understood, told her of her husband's arrival at his house late in the afternoon, nearly exhausted. He told them where and how he had left his wife and begged them to go back with him for her. They promised speedy assistance, but the first man was obliged to go to his nearest neighbor, about a mile away, for snowshoes, as that was their only way of getting over the deep snow. They persuaded him to remove his boots, which were full of snow, and take a cup of coffee while they were getting things ready, which he did, begging them to be as speedy as possible, as he feared his wife would die of fright.

"After taking off his boots his limbs began to swell at a rapid rate, and when at last the men returned with the neighbor who had proffered his assistance, Mr. Arthur found himself unable to move his limbs without great pain, and to put his boots on was simply an impossibility. The Norwegians assured him they could find his wife and bring her to the house much quicker than if he were with them. He bade them make haste, promising them a liberal reward when they had brought his wife safely to him. When they had found her and convinced her of her husband's safety, they drew the cutter farther into the shelter of the grove, built a huge fire and spread the robes on the snow around it, seated themselves near and ate a lunch, proffering her a share, which she was obliged to decline, as she was too weak and chilled to feel any desire for food. The reaction from the terrible strain proved too much for the slender frame and weak nerves, and a half hour of unconsciousness followed. When at last

her senses returned, she found herself lying on the robes close to the fire, with the kind and anxious faces of the three perplexed men around her, one clasping her hands, and another bathing her temples with water, and still another holding a cup of steaming coffee to her lips, which she was soon able to swallow.

"It revived her greatly and after a few moments she was able to sit up and thank them for their kindness. They waited for a time that she might get thoroughly warmed and rested, and then prepared to start for their home, knowing well the anxiety of the waiting ones there. Many efforts were made to induce the horse to lead, but he would not stir, and they found they must leave him. They placed Mrs. Arthur back in the sleigh, wrapping her warmly in the robes, and started back, two of them drawing the cutter by hand. At times, when it would break through the drifts, they would lift her carefully out and onto where the crust was harder, and then pull the sleigh through to solid crust again, then replace her and make another start.

"At 4 o'clock in the morning they struck their own traveled road and hurried along home. . . After two or three hours' sleep, they breakfasted and prepared to resume their journey, which they found they must do with a sled drawn by oxen, as that was the only mode of conveyance available. The horse was left on the prairie for ten days, the Norwegians taking out hay and grain each day until the snow had thawed enough so that he was willing to follow them home, where they kept him until called for.

"The remainder of the trip was made first in the ox sled, next in a sleigh drawn by a mule a peddler had been driving, which would persist in stopping at every house on the road for a short time. Then a team of horses was procured, which took them to the river just as it was on the point of breaking up, making it unsafe for travel. Mrs. Arthur was drawn over on a handsled and at that point, La Crosse, they took the train and were soon at the end of their journey; and, I venture to say, there are but few young couples living who have tried as many different modes of locomotion as they did on that never-to-beforgotten bridal trip."

CHAPTER XII

POLITICAL HISTORY

POLITICAL CONDITIONS IN 1880-CAMPAIGN OF 1881-KAMRAR AND ALDRICH-D. C. CHASE TAKES A SHOT AT ALDRICH-"RECK YOUR OWN READ"-"THE FUSILLADE”PROHIBITION-THE ARGUS IN POLITICS--PRAY FOR CLERK OF THE SUPREME COURT -CAMPAIGN OF 1883-GEO. w. BELL STARTS THE GRAPHIC-THE PROHIBITORY LAW-CAMPAIGN OF 1884-DEMOCRATS DIVIDE THE SPOILS CAMPAIGN OF 1885

-WESLEY MARTIN HONORED THE OFFENSIVE PARTISAN DOCTRINE REACTS

ALDRICH BOLTS—THE CAMPAign of 1887-THE CAMPAIGN of 1888-d. C. CHASE IN THE LEGISLATURE—THE CAMPAIGNS OF 1890, 1891 AND 1893-CHASE FOR

STATE SENATOR-PARTY REGULARITY-M. H. BRINTON AS A LEGISLATOR-CAM

PAIGN OF 1894-TWO DAILY PAPERS-THE JOURNAL FOUNDED—KAMRAR FOR GOVERNOR THE CAMPAIGN OF 1895-POLITICS IN '96-POLITICS IN 1897— EVENTS IN 1898-THE FREEMAN AND TRIBUNE CONSOLIDATE-TWO IMPORTANT

REFORMS.

POLITICAL CONDITIONS IN 1880

In continuing the political history of Hamilton county, it might be well to review the political conditions that existed in Hamilton county in 1880. The republican party was not only strongly entrenched in power, but it had a firm hold on the confidence as well as the prejudice of the people. The voters belonged to their political party in the same sense that they belonged to their church. Whatever their party did was believed to be right, and measures advanced by the opposing party were considered either wrong or advanced through ulterior motives.

The caucus system was in vogue with all its weaknesses and abuses and all its advantages to the politician; and through this system the "ring" usually controlled the nomination and policies of the party.

The "ring" was a name given to the coterie of men in control and usually consisted of five or six at the county seat and a judicious sprinkling of lieutenants scattered throughout the county. Membership in the "ring" was neither elective. or appointive. Men who took an active interest in politics and developed ability in directing and controlling the sentiment of the community in which they lived, naturally drifted into membership, because they were needed, while the member of the "ring" who failed to control (or appear to control) and direct the sentiment of his community naturally drifted out. The chief of the "ring" was the "boss." He usually controlled, or pretended to control and direct the "ring." He was usually a long-headed individual who had a faculty of discerning the real sentiment of the community a little in advance of his neighbors. He was usually

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