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 unrestnot 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

various parts of the county. Arrivals occcurred almost daily, and the pioneer work was over. It might be remarked, however, of the county as a whole, that the homes of the early settlers were often hastily erected, and not intended for permanent occupation. Adverse fortune often led to their long habitation, but they began now to disappear and to be replaced by more substantial dwellings. To-day there stand on their sites many beautiful, and sometimes costly homes, made bright and cheerful with contentment, and refined by all the appliances of civilized art. Little more remains than to now list the names of such as had become prominent citizens of the county. Among the names will be seen many who have extended a powerful influence in directing the course of events in the county. They were men sterling and true, whose contact with other men and with circumstances made them self-reliant and energetic. Nothing so much as pioneer life serves to develop real manhood, nothing so much leads to independence, nothing is so effective for discipline. These men were, many of them poor, but pride entered not to disturb their homely joys. The strife and contentions incident to political contests and hopes of preferment, were reserved for a later day. Petty jealousies, it is true, sometimes occurred, but mutual dependence and kindred interests forbade their fostering.

1855, G. W. Patrick, W. S. Viola, from Ohio, A. Lewis, F. M. Wilson, H. C. Sheppard, D. O. Briggs, A. R. Wright, from Indiana, James Lambert, T. K. Hammond, who located in Lyons township. In Rawles township settled O. B. Russell, James Boyd, William E. Utterback and A. R. Graves. To White Cloud township came Stephen D. Davis, Jas. M. Summers, William Van Doren, H. W. Summers, and many others. 1856 and 1857 witnessed the coming of William Weaver, William G. Summers, Valentine Plumb, W. B. Wilson, J. W. Devore, Thomas R. Kayton, Frank Moore, John Graham, from Indiana, John Tinker from Wisconsin, Henry Kisby from Wisconsin, but originally from England, Henry Russell, M. W. Hurlburt, M. C. Pearse, John Butler, R. H. Hurlburt, Solomon Jones, H. A. Norton, John Byers and L. D. Prindle. These persons with numerous others located farms at divers places in the county. To follow them through all the subsequent changes made would be impossible and without interest. Enough has been said to indicate the rapid advances being made in the matter of population, and the character of the men now commencing their residence in the county.

Those coming later than 1857 could hardly be properly considered as early settlers. They came not to the wild prairies of an unorganized county, but to one rescued to civilization, recognized as a body politic, and with a population among the thousands. To them many of the older scenes were indeed familiar, but now the old things have passed away. To-day the residents of the county look back with pride and with amuse

ment, a peculiar mingling of emotions, to the things that were. The busy hum of newer industries and modern interests have served to detract attention from these old time events, but they have a value which the present should sieze and turn to its advantage.

THE COUNTY PRESS.

There is no power that deserves to take so prominent a position in a community or country as the press. It occupies a position far over that of any other, the clergy not excepted. This circumstance arises not from any deterioration of the clergy themselves, but chiefly from the general diffusion of knowledge among all classes. We do not look to the clergy for superiority of erudition; the scientists, the philologist, the historian all come in for a share of respect for their learning. Once the distinction between the clergy and the laity meant something; it means very little to-day. When only those who could read or write belonged to the church, each member was called a clerk, or clericus, or clergyman. But the clergy of to-day are not those who preach from the pulpit once a week, but those as well who preach from the editor's chair. As James Freeman Clarke, remarks, the editor has as much right to put "reverend" before his name as the preacher has. The editor wields a mightier weapon than any clergyman can. He influences the public mind for good or evil daily and the Sunday paper has snatched from the pulpit its ancient power, its traditional prerogative. Instead of dealing with questions, the very nature of which renders them unknowable, and therefore impracticable, the editor comes to our door with the live issues of to-day. The latest, the best, the most valuable of the thoughts and doings of men all over the globe reaches us every morning to sway our passions, enlist our sympathy, or arouse us to duty. Nor is this the sole prerogative of the city dailies, but that also of the country weekly newspaper. These latter come to homes of toil, homes where the busy cares of life absorb so great a portion of the time that all but the weekly visitant remains necessarily unread. The power of the type is felt in such hours, felt as no minister's sermons ever

are.

The newspaper is the poor man's library. It comes to him almost the sole exponent of national policy, and the source of his ideas of political economy. Moral lessons are conveyed, lessons which, if heeded, would lead the race of men to a higher moral life. Religion, the passing influence of an hour, has no claim on the press, which, if not directly by its records of disaster and death, point out the causes of evil as no purely mental or abstract theories of wrong ever can. Probably there is nothing