The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-05-27
oTTUMWA,'I IOWA.
Descriptive Sketch of WapellO
COunty-Railroad Matters--M Man.
ufacturing Interests and Business
of OttumWa-PO POlitical-PersOn.
al, Etc. ,1tsE


ufacturing Interests and Bushes
Of Observation-Disclosures
al, Etc. ,1ts
Special Correspondence of The Evenin
Journal.
| OrTUMwA, Iowa, May IA, 1869.
| DESCRIPTIVE.
Wapello county, of which Ottum
wa is the county seat, is one of th
richest and best timbered in the State
The Des Moines and Big Cedar river
run through it in southeastwardly
direction, dividing the county int
three parts. The former enters th,
county near the northwestern cor
ner, and passes out near the south
eastern corner; while the latter runs
parallel with the Des Moines, abou,
half way from it and the northeast
corner of the county. Both of these
rivers are fed by smaller streams
coursing from various petitions of the
county, Along these rivers and
streams, nearly all kinds Of timber is
distributed in heavy growths, thus
affording abundance of growing ma.
terial for building and fencing pur.
poses. It is estimated that about
one-half of the county is tim bercd.-
The prairie portion Of the county is
rolling, but not disadvantageously
broken, except, perhaps, along the
streams and ravincs.
Wapello is one of the best fruit
counties in the State. Situated, as it
is, IN the second tier from the south
line of the State, its latitude docs not
vary .mIch from that Of the excellent
fruit regions of North Missouri
Even peaches are grown to some ex-
tent in this section ofthe State, be-
sides all kinds of small fruit, and es-
,pecially apples, are about as certain a
crop as corn or potatoes.
Wheat, oats, wool and pork are the
products of the county most exten-
sively grown for expectation. The
soil is excellent fol all the products
usually grownin in Iowa. There is not
a great extent of wild land in the
county, but what there is ranges from
So to S25 per acre. Improved farms
range from SO to $50 per acre, ac-
cording to location and Improvement.
Wapello county was named in hon
or of the celebrated Indian Chief,
whose remains are buried some seven
or eight miles eastward from Ottum-
wa, near Agency City, in this county,
and at or near the old Government
Agency House. Near Agency City
was "Wapello's' last home--was
where he died, and,where his remains
now rest. A stone monument will,
biographical inscription marks his
grave. This county is somewhat
noted for Indian towns and traditions.
One Of the most honorable and noted
chiefs who figured in the early Indian
affairs of Iowa, was Keokuk. For
several years his village and home
were about half a mile south of OF
tumwa. His ola grounds are still
known as ''Keokuk prairie" Furth-
er down the Des Moinos river, in the
northwestern part of Van Buren,
county, is "Iowaville," the last home
Of that celebrated old Indian chief
and warrior, Black Hawk.
The only towns ofany Importance,
aside from Ottumwa, are Eddyyille,
on the line of the Des Moines Valley
Railroad, in the northwestern part,
and Agency City, on tho line of the
Burlington and Missouri River Rail-
road, in the southeastern part of the
county. Wapello county is traversed
by two important railroad lines-the
Burlington and Missouri River, and
the Des Moines Valley roads. The
former passes through very near the
middle of it from east to west, and
the latter through it from southeast
to northwest up the Valley of the
Des Moincs river. Along the line Of
each are frequent stations convenient
for the shipment Of the products OF
the county.
The population of Wapello county
is not far from 10000, and was first
settled Immediately after the second
purchase from the Indians by the
United States, about 1o45.
OttumMa, the county seat of Wap.
clio county, contains q population o.
about $500. 1t was first located and
laid out as u town about the yeal
1916, by what was then knownas the
Appanoose Rapids Company. 1t lies
on the north bank ofthe Des Moincs
riy er-the business portion occupy
ing tho river valley or bottom, anc
the residences the bluffs skirtinc
along on the north, atfording pleas
ant view of the surrounding country
There are many fine residences herl
which indicate that money and tastt
have gone hand in hand in thoir oon
struction and surroundings. Too
the business houses, many of them
are excellent brick editices, ereditabl,
to any town Of moderate pretensions
1t contains seven excellent churcl
edifices OF the various leading donom
nations, besides largo and commo
dious brick school edltice, brick cour
house, etc.
| RAILROAD MATTERS.
Ottumwa has great expectation
and "burning hopes" of becoming Al
Important railroad center at da,
snigh unto the present generation.
The: Burlington and Missouri Rivel
and the Des Moines Valley road
cross each other here already. /
addition to these there are two othe
projected lines to connect here--th
St. Louis and Cedar Rapids now rur
ming from the terminus OF the Mort
Missouri at the south line ofthe Stat
to Bloomfield, the county seat c
Davis county, Iowa, and is well III
der way to this place, thence to Coda
Rapids by way Of Sigourney, keoku
county. Hon. III. G. Angle, of tn
town, is the moving spirit in this cr
terprise. The other project is to e,
tend what is called the Washingto
branch of the Chicago, Rock Islam
and Pacific Road to this place, thcnC
southN estward to connect with I'll
Leavenworth and Cameron Road
Missouri. There is not much doul
but that the st. Louis and Cod;
Rapids Road will bo built as far
here, but that the latter project "
bo consumated is as yet in the ''my
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