Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1871-05-26

Many of the earliest corners to Bu
chanan County, were dcspcradoes
and horse thieves, who sought this
then out-of-the-way place to escape
the clutches Of the law and to pros.
ecute their ncfarious calling. How.
ever, this class Of settlers moved on
farther west or left the country, as
soon as an honest population began
to settle here.
Dating back to 4 point of time an.
terror to the advent of white men,
Indian warriors had hunted noble
game on this very ground, had
fought fierce battles and won savage
victories. 1t was their garden, their
home, and where now palatial resi-
dences and brick blocks stand, un-
der the shade Of many an old oak
tree the young brave woed and won
his dark eyed mistress. Indeed
twas a noble heritage to the red
man, this fair county Of Buchanan,
but if noble to the savage in his un-
tutored ways, how grand should it
appear to the thousands who have
"entered in and possessed" it, bring
ing with them the arts and comforts
of civilization.
From such information as we can
gather it seems that Rufus B. Clark
was the first settler of what is now
Independence. He first went to
Quasqueton with DR.. Brewer, now
the oldest living inhabitant of Blu
chanan County,-and from there
prospecting the county in search of
an independent location for himself,
CHANGED upon the spot upon which
our city is built, liked it and squat
ted here. Clark was thorough pi-
oneer, hunter and a trapper, gen
erous and tree-hearted, brave, de-
lighting in adventure, but impatient
under the restraints of civilization.
His principal occupation was hunt
ing and trapping, but his practical
eye soon disccrned the advantage to
be derived from improving the cx.
ccllent water power here, and ac-
cordingly we soon hear from him on
his way to Jancsville, Wis, to get
help in building up a town here
Messrs. Stoughton and Mcclure
agreed to enter upon the project il
MIR. Stoughton upon visiting the
place should carry back favorable
report. Stoughton was satisfied
and returned to Janesvillc to ge1
Mcclure and others to come on
agreeing with Clark that he should
erect q log house, which should be
ready upon their arrival.
Clark moved up from Quasqucto1
and commenced his house Marcf
18th, lS47. In April Mr.. Stoughto1
returned with Samuel Sherwood ant
a Mr.. Denton, who were to built
the dam and mill, and bringing alst
DR.. Lovejoy who was to be the ply
sician of the place. A. II. Trask
Eli ID. Phelps and one Babbitt cam,
soon after, all boarding with Mr.
Clark. In June, lS47, came Thorn
as w. Close-yct resident of ou
city-and S. S. Mcclure with other
who afterward returned.
Mr.. Mcclure was the first propri
ctor of the present site of Indcpen
dence, he buying the quarter sec
tion extending on both sides of tn
river from where the Burr Hous
now is on the east to the Empir
House on the west side, and extend
ing north and south eighty rod
from Main street. This was in tn
spring of ls47, and the county sea
being located on the piece of Ian,
just east of it, settled at once tn
point of building a town here.
Mr.. Clark's residence was print
tive in its simplicity, being doubl
log cabin with a hall between, situa
ted in middle of what is now Mot
street, directly south of DR.. House
residence at the intersection .
Chatham street. Here Clark live,
with his family and dispensed Dor
der hospitality to all comers. Hi
domicil was for some time the head
quarters and rendezvous of the set
tlemcnt. Although the Commits
sioners to locate the county seat hav,
the credit of naming our city it il
nevertheless true that from wo
man, Mrs. Clark, came the sugges
tion of the name. When the matte
was under discussion by the Com
missioners at her house, she said t,
them, eve are all a pretty indepen
dent set here; why not call it Inde
pendence;" and Independence i
was. Many will remember Clarke
house; it was removed but few
years since.
The next house erected was alst
of logs, and occupied the presen,
location Of Mr.. Morse's barn. Thi.
was the first "store" in Indepen
dence. 1t was conducted by S. p
Stoughton. lie kept only those ar
ticles which the inhabitants wer,
forced to purchase. The ncares
market or trading point being Al
Dubuque, Mr.. Stoughton received Il
very good patronage.
The next house was erected b,
Elijah Beardsley. twas construct
ed of slabs. Previous to this, how,
ever, Mr.. Clark, in connection Will
others, had erected the ssw mill
where the Touring mill now stands
having constructed = dam. Tn,
first slabs sawed went into the con,
struction of Mr.. Bcardsley's house.
1t stood where Messrs. King &
kenyon's hardware store nov is
The next house was erected by DR.
Brewer. Those enumerated, with
several young men, We're the only
inhabitants Of independence prior
to lS4S.
Many others came to the place
during the year ls4s, and the close
Of it saw quite q village here. A
store was opened during that year
by William Brazzlcton. 1t was To-
Gated where Mr.. Closes grocery
establishment now stands. A little
church was built that year, under the
influence Of the Methodist denomi-
nation, and it was dedicated by the
holding in it of a session of the
District Court, this being the fourth
session. The first rauular saSsion