Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1861-09-21
THE COUNTIES OF N. w. IOWA.


days ride through nine of the north west
ern counties oc Iowa" | proceed to give
my impressions of those minor republics,
aud rs our starting point was from Sioux
City in Woodbury. county, shall open
with that, Notwithstanding the direction of
our march soon took US out Of 1t After
leaving camp we went few miles up the
! Floyd river, which flows into the Missouri
| upon the eastern section of Sioux City,
and found that the Floyd bottom was rich
aud most Of it settled aud improved, and
where the ground was not cultivated the
grass was Of the tallest and finest charac.
ter, which continued to be observed all the
way over to Perry creek, which also enters
the Missouri river, almost in the heart of
Sioux City, upon the banks of which creek
we made our first nights camp.
The valley of Perry creek is not wide
or extensive, but its land is productive and
being most convenient to market adds
much to the seeking after it for occupa
ton.
Plymouth county, next north Of Wood
bury, is watered upon the west by the Big
Sioux river. and almost through its center
runs the Floyd river. aud as We rode up
| the former, and returned down the latter
stream, the impression upon our mind
was tina. the rich land aud water adyanta.
! ges made it most desirable county to
SCI in for (arming or stock raising pur
/ poses and the same remarks hold true Vi
Sioux county, which is still north of Ply
mouth
In Buncombe county, the northwestern
| one Of Iowa, we still had the Big Sioux
! river, with its fine timber and wide, rich
prairie bottom to pass through and over;
also the Rock river and its many branches,
and we pronounce it one of the best coun.
! ties in the State.
East of Buncombs comes Oceola coun-
| ty, aud as il has not an inhabtant, it is
not worth a notice. However, | would re.
mark that it was an insult to the brave
old Indian Chief to name il after him, and
were it not for the part it Performs in
holding the world together, it ought to be
dropped from the map. We gave il a 90
ing over upon our trip, and shall continue
| TO do so upon paper and otherwise, save
only in locomotion, for the term of our
natural life.
Mex, east of Oceola we passed through
/ the western part Of Dickinson county,
! which had little to recommend it, unit we
came in the neighborhood Of those beau,i-
full Lakes. around which is some most
| splendid land and charming country
East and West Okaboji and Spiri! Lakes
vii! 30 TO dwell upon. Spirit Lake City
is finely situated upon and in view Of two
! Of hem, out Of whose waters the best OF
fish are easily taken, and We found no
trouble in devouring them.
Passing south out Of Dickinson some
what in the course of the Little Sioux
! river, We rode from north to south
west direction through Clay county, in
, which there is some valuable land and
timber, and the town o. peterson seems to
be growing and pleasant place
| O'Brien county, which lies west of Clay
aud east of Sioux counties, it was not our
| good fortune to march through as we have
some pleasant friends dwelling there, and
| that fact alone assures us that it is good
| ly country to abide in.
! Our movement next was through Cher
| okee county, south of O Brteu. The bot
tom land upon The Li,te Sioux river,
which runs through the county from The
north east to the south west corner, is Of
a valuable quality. The town of Cherokee
has an inviting situation and is Just at a
point where the Dubuque & Sioux City
! Railroad is laid down to cross the Lrtle
! Sioux River
Before parting with Cherokee, it is fit.
ting, proper and pleasant, that We should
give testimony to the kind hearts and
ready hands of the citizens OF the town
and neighborhood for their promp; and
ready aid to our company in the Affections
| that the awful blow Of Sept. odd brought
'Fapon nsswhen they in person and proper
~ were more sufferers f.hau-we, gho had
only. camp furniture and garments for a
temporary stay with US. Our particular
notice and benefits were confined to the
dwellings of Messrs. Phipps and Parkhurst
both Of which gentlemen, aud wives, rem
dered Us every attention, Notwithstanding
the house OF one was without a cover, and
the water stood some three inches upon
2ae floor of the other, when we, almost
without garments, found our way to tnem
about o clock in the morning.
From Cherokee our course took us in n
westerly direction upon the line OF the pro.
posed Dubuque and Sioux City Railroad,
over forty mile prairie, uninhabited into
plymouth county, before mentioned, where