free schools were unknown at that date in this county. In the winter a somewhat notorious event had transpired in the same township. James Woodland, an early comer, had died at his house under suspicious circumstances, and been buried on the farm of Joseph Rawles; his death was never properly investigated, and while exciting suspicion could not be legally investigated, for at the time of which we are writing Mills county was still unorganized. Soon after his death his brother, William, married his widow, and both left for parts unknown; thus occurred the first mystery within the borders of the county, but it has had frequent like experiences since.

In Lyons township had located Michael Kerns and W. E. Dean, both coming from Missouri. In Indian Creek had located Peter Huntsman, from Maryland, on section twenty-seven; H. Abel from Canada on section twenty-one; and a Mr. Davis on the same section with the last named. In the same township, in the winter, John Simons, son of James and Sarah Simons, had been born, making his birth one of the earliest in this portion of the county. A like event, the very first of its kind, had taken place in Platteville township, being the birth of Albert, son of James and Rachel O'Neal. Only one settler was known to locate in Silver creek township, and he came in October. His name was R. L. Merritt. In Anderson township had located James Fry, John Holden and John McIntyre, all from Indiana. In the same township the first birth had occurred, being that of Fanny, daughter of Noah and Lucretia Cotton, on the twenty-fifth of September. Up to this year the residents of the county were without a mill. This is one of the most important features of a newly opened country, and indispensable to its people. Kanesville on the north, Oregon, Nebraska City and even St. Joseph on the south were the only points where flour and meal could be had. The enterprise of J. W. Coolidge intervened to supply this much needed adjunct of pioneer life. In the summer of 1849 he built a mill on Keg creek, which afterward became the site of Gordon's mill. The venture proved successful, trade commenced and grew, and he soon opened a store in connection with it, selling, probably, the first merchandise ever imported to the county. The site of the mill adjoined Glenwood, of which place

Mr. Coolidge became an early and valued settler.

The year 1850 added largely to the population of the county. The settlers sought houses in almost every part of its territory, and especially along the streams. Many of them came from thickly wooded and hilly countries, and these facts led them to seek the same kind of territory here. Few, if any, farms were being selected on the open prairie, for prairie farming was then an untried experiment in western Iowa. Along streams and in or near groves of wood were to be found the most desirable locations for farms and future homes, and these the settlers eagerly and rapidly

occupied. As usual, Rawles township contributed its full share to the events of the year, Among the newly arrived settlers were Lawrence Rains, in June, and William J. Rains, then a lad, who passed his time in school. Among the first or early births was that of a daughter of Joseph Rawles. In the early spring a daughter of Lena Aitney died, and was buried on section seven.

A commodious log school house was built, but two years afterward it burned to the ground, being the first conflagration of that kind in the county. George, a son of James L. and Nancy Berger was born, on September 4, thus entitling him to be placed among the historic worthies of the county's earlier days. The first cloth known to have been made in Rawles township was this year woven by his mother, Nancy Berger, in Silver creek township.

Mrs. Merritt has the honor of weaving the first cloth, which was also made in the winter of 1850. Julia Barnes and George Clark had both become residents of Plattville township, and Mrs. Hoyt had taught one of the first schools in the township of Lyons, at her own house, the pupils numbering ten, their tuition being paid by subscription. There are preserved remembrances of but two settlers in Lyons for that year, John and William L. Lambert, both coming from Kentucky. A like number are remembered as having settled in Anderson township, Augustus Richards, from Virginia, who located on section 10, and Samuel Badham, from England, location not known. The remaining settlers located in the older portions of the county, and their identity has been lost among the numerous names known to have come in that year.

The year following, 1851, witnessed the first marriage in Indian Creek township. The oldest daughter of Abel Carey, Melissa, was married to a Mr. Silket. In the same year occurred the first death in the township, that of Homer Hoyt, who was buried a little north of what is now known as the Carey burying ground. On section 21 was built a log schoolhouse, after the manner of the early settlers, by gratuitous labor, and if not the first, it was at least one of the earliest in the township. In Oak township, October 3, occurred the first birth, that of Thomas Gunsolly. William McPherson and William Kesterman, both located farms in Rawles township, as did also Luke Wiles, all three of whom afterward became largely and closely identified with the county's interests. Among the old residents who came in that year were J. H. Buckingham, from Missouri, to Lyons township, William Reed to the same locality, David M. Buckingham, also from Missouri, to Lyons, Simon Troth to Lyons, Geo. R. McKnight to Lyons and John Haynie to Plattville.

In this year 1851 the county was properly organized as a body politic in the commonwealth of Iowa. From this time on the matter of growth in both numbers and prosperity is very marked. It may be well to pause

here a moment and consider the character of the new-comers, for this may properly command attention at a most critical period in the county's history. Of adventurers there were few or none now being added to its population. Most of the incoming settlers had definite objects, and came to realize plans and hopes of long standing. They had come from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New York, the New England states, and a few from the south. Unlike these later comers had been the first settlers. They came unwillingly, and tarried with equal regret. Driven from pleasant homes and a prosperous city there was in their hearts a vague unrest— not unmixed with bitter and hostile feelings. The objective point of their weary and dangerous journey lay far to the westward, and thither their faith looked in the hope of rest and peace. Here there was no surety, there was the promise of plenty-here hostile, or at best indifferent, men might at any moment wrest from them that which they had, there their possessions would at least be secure.

So many of them had left for the far west the year following their advent here. In this year of 1851 many of them cast their first and last ballot and aided in organizing the county. While the events we have narrated were transpiring, the gentile population of the county had increased. Already, in the neighboring county of Fremont, strenuous endeavors were being made to wrest from the Mormon population of that county the strength and prestige which superior numbers insured. It remained now to accomplish the same object here, and to this the gentile population addressed all its energies. Opposition first found expression in denying the rights of suffrage; in disallowing the privilege to sit on juries; and in open hostility to the judge of the district court, as has elsewhere been shown. Hence, these causes led to the final removal of the immediate followers of Brigham Young to Utah. Many still remained, and becoming interested in the county's prosperity contributed largely to its material wealth, and made both excellent and exemplary citizens. As has been said, of a far different nature was the coming of the later settlers. A feature, however, that amounts to a peculiarity deserves especial mention. Many of the pioneer settlers of Mills had performed a like work in states to the east and south. They came to accomplish the task of reclaiming from a state of wildness these new and rich lands. This done, they again went onwards, in their pioneer work; ever in the van, and ever braving the dangers and trials of new or little known sections. Hence it is that the earliest settlers remained but a few years, and then moved from the county. With the year 1851 the arrivals were so numerous and the population became so scattered that it is a matter of excessive difficulty to trace their location and the subsequent changes made. Hitherto, there had been few settlements, or aggregations of settlers made. Glenwood had been founded as an

offshoot from Rushville, Bethlehem, afterward East Plattsmouth, had been started, and the now extinct Wahbonsie had a struggling existence in the southwest. In the east and south no permanent villages had been established, nor had any attempt in that direction been made. Some short time previously a town called California City had been started in Platteville township by Daniel Ambrose, and George and James Clark, the exact date of which is not known.

In 1852 the principal events of interest belonged to Platteville and Anderson townships. In the latter the first death of the year was that of Augustus Richards, on December 10, who was buried in Farm Creek graveyard. This year, in the same township, appeared the first physician, Dr. John Johnson, who came from Ohio, and afterwards moved to Missouri. The first services of the Methodist Episcopal church in Anderson, were conducted by Elder Peter Cooper, at the house of Widow Richards, and were the funeral services of her husband. The first school was also opened, taught by Miss Mary E. McClenahan, now the wife of D. Hougas. The students numbered nine, and the compensation was eight dollars per month. In Plattsville township was built a hewn log school-house, on section eight, the first building of that nature, so far as can be learned, in the township. No school was held in it until the fall. In the spring a school had been opened on section thirteen, by Miss Angelina Mayfield. E. Gilliland,* who still resides in the township, came from Missouri to Platteville. The settlement of this township was slow, and these were all known to have come, with certainty, in that year. In this year the first marriage in Rawles township, relative to which has been preserved the name of the officiating clergyman, was that of John Wolf to Julia Kesterson, by the Rev. Mr. Towner. On the 28th of August was born Alvira, daughter of William and Alvira Huntsman, in Indian Creek township, one of the first in that portion of the county. Of newcomers in this year the following names have been collected: Jesse Miller, who located on land now occupied by the poor farm; Henry Saar, from Missouri, to which state he had gone in 1842, and who settled in Oak township; T. M. Blair, in Rawles, from Missouri, Alfred B. McPherron, A. Williams, Urbin Williams, Richard Estes and W. Newell, all of whom located in Rawles township. To Lyons township came R. Shaw, Sarah Haynie, William Estes and George Foldeux. S. C. Pitzer and F. M. Britt, from Missouri, located in Center township, and made farms. In White Cloud settled James Hughes, one of the oldest residents in the township. Among these persons may have been some who were rough and uncouth, but beneath the rugged exterior beat true

*Short biographical sketches of many of the earlier settlers will be found in the closing part of this volume, grouped under the several townships in which they now reside. To them the reader is referred for all other facts he may wish to know.

and manly hearts. They were necessarily frugal in their habits, and this gave them courage to endure the severest trials, and withstand the harshest blows of fortune.

The facts of preceding years were repeated in 1853. In Rawles township the first marriage of the year was that of David Utterback to Rachel Allison, by Rev. Mr. Armstrong, of the Methodist Episcopal church. He had followed the pioneer Methodist preachers-Revs. Cannon and Witter-who came as missionaries of that faith. The Christian Church. of Wahbonsie, was this year organized, being the first church organization in the county. Elsewhere will be found a history of the church, together with the names of its original membership. In Anderson township was born Calvin A., son of John and Harriet Richards, in the month of December, and this is supposed to be the first male birth in the township. It is, at all events, one of the earliest. Among the settlers who came to Rawles in this year were Fred. Terraberry, Joseph Munsinger and Isaac Townshend. In Oak township settled J. M. Warren, E. H. Buffington, from Illinois, and J. H. Cotton, from Lafayette county, Missouri. Other old settlers are John Chambers and S. Barbee in Center township, M. J. Martin, in Glenwood village, Charles L. Epperson, in Lyons, and William Hoxie, in Plattsville township, who came hither from the state of Michigan.

In 1854 was built the first school-house in Anderson township, on section thirty-five. No money was expended, the material being logs and the labor furnished gratuitously. Mary A. Cotton died in this township December 9th, and lies buried in the Cotton graveyard on section thirtysix. The second female born in this township was Violet, daughter of Samuel and Mary Badham, in the month of November. In other portions of the county nothing usual or worthy of special mention occurred. New comers located in nearly every portion of the county. In Lyons were J. A. Tipton, John Gillens, Thomas Connor, John Jackson and James Hubbard. H. P. Fowler came from Lafayette county, Missouri, and located in Oak township, as did, also, John Hutchens, who came however, from Andrew county, Missouri. In White Cloud occurred its first marriage, that of Pleasant Silket to M. A. Hughes, October 5, the ceremony being conducted by Rev. E. A. Morris. The first female child born in this year, so far as relates to White Cloud, and was Sarah V., daughter of James and Caroline Hughes. J. J. Kenady died and was buried south of the old village of White Cloud. To Rawles township came John M. West, Daniel Terryberry and John A. Davis. In other portions of the county numerous farms and homes were commenced, by Joseph Foxworthy, Charles Kesterman, William H. Rodman, among many others.

It is impossible to follow further, thus minutely the settlement of the