The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1875-05-06
OLD TIMES.
Sketches OF the Early History of
Jackson County.
BY CAPT. w. A. WARREN
from the Jackson Sentinel.


From the Jackson Sentinel
"One-thumbed Thompson" was All
individual that was we'll known to
the early settlers Of jackson, Jones,
Linn and Cedar counties. lie was a
man about twenty eight years of age,
rather above the medium size, we'll
formed, good looking and of pleasing
address. So different in appearance
and manner from those of his asso-
ciates was he, that one could hardly
believe that he was one of the lead
ers of the banditti that then infested
these counties. His first appearance
in Bellevue was in the spring Of 1888.
under the assumed name of Burton.
| was introduced to him by Lyman
Wells, man of suspicious character,
and who in fact was known as one of
Browns gang. Burton represented
himself as being just from the State
of Michigan, hunting location in
the West, and would remain 4 few
day in Bellevue, seek comfortable
quarters for his wife, and then take a
trip farther west. Accompanying him
to Wells house | was there intro
duced to his lady, very stylish wo-
man about eighteen or twenty years
of age, with large blue eyes, blonde
hair and graceful carriage. After
spending an hour in conversation
with her, which by the way was very
enchanting, was requested by Mr.
Burton to call frequently in his alb
sence, and as he said, mot let his
wife get homesick.' This, of course
l promised to do. Burton spent sew
eral days in Bellevue, making him
self agreeable by spending his money
for whiskey and cigars, but never
drinking any himself. During the
few days he remained, he made a ia
vorable impression upon the better
class of citizens by avoiding Brown
and his associates. When Informed
of the suspicion that rested upon
Wells, he seemed to regret that such
suspicion should rest on him, and
said that in Michigan, where Wells
came from, ne stood fair, and was re-
specially connected. Wells being
as comfortably fixed as any family in
town, and Mrs Wells being a lady
respected in the community, Burton
concluded to leave his wife with
them until he returned.
Some two weeks after Burton left,
! received letter from Linn county
signed by Isreal Mitchell, Mr.. Scott and
others, requesting me to come aud
bring some of the citizens with me, and
meet them at Mitchell's, who resided
on the Cedar river some distance be-
low where Cedar Rapids now stands.
They represented that the country
was infested with band of outlaws,
and that their depredations had be-
come so frequent, and of SO serious
a character rs to demand some or
ganization to protect the citizens Of
the three counties of which / was
then sheriff. After referring the mat
ter to the citizens of Bellevue and
vicinity, it was thought best that
James K. Moss, Col. Thos. Cox and
S. Burleson should accompany me. 1t
being In the month of January, and
the sleighing being good, Dir. Moss
and myself rugged up \ two-horse
sleigh and started, Col. Cox having
agreed to meet us at Bridgeport.
Reaching Burlcson's after night, we
found to our regret, that he had gone
to Canton after lumber and would not
return until next morning, which
would be too late for him to accom-
pany us. Vosburgh, who was always
or hand to do the agreeable, cared
for our team-the Comforts Of a
horse first, then man." was always
Bills motto. The ride had chilled
us all through, and it took some time
to thaw us out. A good warm sup
per (which you could always obtain
at Buckhorn) revived the inner man,
and had tendency to loosen Col.
Coxs tongue. His store of anecdotes.
thrilling adventures of camp life and
hunting, had no bounds, and with
these the Col. entertained us until a
late hour. | saw that Vosburgh was
waiting anxiously for the Col. to come
to stop that he might put in and
give his experience as hunter
Vosburgh commenced by telling
the many fine hunts that Burlesou
and himself had had together-how
the deer stood; how the canoe wa,
rowed; the surprise and bounding o.
the deer when he received the death
shot, the hard words that were no,
skipped when Burleson occasionally
got ducked from the upsetting of ths
canoe, the encounter that John f
Goodenow and he had with wolves
all this he said was sport. And thus
the stories went on through the eve
ming.
In the morning, after regaling our.
selves upon Vosburg's venison, W.
took our departure. But in the mean
time We concluded to substitute Josh
ua Bear, for Burleson, a. . member
Of the party. Upon reaching the lat
ter's residence, we made known oul
mission, snd he readily consented t.
join us. A an evidence of his en-
tering into our enterprise heartily
he pulled out his pocket book ane
exhibited eight ten dollar counter
felt bills that One Thumbed Thomp
SEN had given him for horss-say
ing, At the same time, "You who liv,
in the settlement, know nothing o
what trials those Of us who live OF
the outskirts are subjected to. Thos,
desperadoes hardly ever travel singly