The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1876-07-20


, was raised to such a pitch that
large meeting was called, at which
the coal smeler made glowing
speech. The S25 was raised, and h,
departed without trying TO find coal
, and no coal has been discovered t.
this day.
The fsvorite amusement of tht
large boys was to initiate newcomers
into the sniping business. They
would take the young man whom
they wished to instruct, down to
some slough, away from any inhabited
spot. After getting him few miles
away, they would furnish him with a
large sack and fix him in a position
to bag the game, charging him to
hold it while they went down
stream to drive the snipes up to the
trap. As soon as they could find a
good place they would slip off home
behind some projecting hill and leave
the victim to realize the cruel Joke.
This game was generally played in
the evening, frequently on Sunday
evening. More than one unluclSy
fellow has waited long and, then re-
al;zing his condition and attempting
TO find his way home, been lost, and
one at least, was out all night, so i;
is said.
The early settlers were great hum
ters, and this was always good
country to hunt in, but poor for
game. Two old settlers, Mr.. Keisler
and another gentleman had been out
on the hunt and on coming late in
the evening to Mr.. Cornwall said
they must stay all knight, and stay
they did, though the house was only
one room for a parlor, dining, and
sleeping room, and already large
family in it. In the morning they
started home, and in about an hour
came back with deer which they
had shot, and wanted to leave it un-
til they could come after it with a
team. This one room was the only
place for it but of course they could
not be refused; it was left, and near
lY week elapsed before they came;
it had thus been kept through under
crowded circumstances.
The inhabitants were in those ear
ly days often subject to great loss
and placed in Strengthened circum-
stances on account Of the prairie fires
which swept over the country, driven
by strong wind.
The first settlers of this township
were noted for being strong Abolish
ionists, and many fugitives from bond
age fleeing from Missouri made this a
point Of their way to freedom. John
Brown (Ossawatomie Brown as he
was known as connected with the
| Border Ruilian troubles in Kansas)
brought several lots of ncgroes-the
| first in Is 56. one of which remained
and the others, one lot consisting of
twelve persons, were taken to Canada;
this his last lot were followed by
blood-thirsty Pukes, who had be-
come enraged at the bold manner in
which Brown had taken from them
their property, having killed some of
of the shareholders. When they ar
rived at Springdale they used round
top tenant house on e. Rood's place
for fort. 1t was reported by some
one who had been to Iowa City that
the Missourians were on their track
and coming this way. The word
soon spread through the neighbor-
hood and every man who could mus
ter gun was marshalled, together
with Browns men and placed in bat
tie array on the premises near the
fort. Soon number Of covered wa
gons were seen coming in sight and
the conflict was supposed to be near
at hand, when Squire James says to
L. Rood, slct's go home." The wag-
ons proved to be those of movers who
were innocent of any intent to attack
Browns men. This is the only war
of which we have any account in this
Township, but 4 number of the
Springdalc boys (as they were al
ways calledD lost their lives in free
ing and running off negroes; among
whom were Barclay Coppoc, Ed. Nor
rison and Chas. Bal, who were kill ed
in Missouri, and Edwin Coppoc who
was hung at Harper's Ferry in Vir-
ginia. John Brown in the Winter Of
1859 trained his men near here in
Iowa Township previous to his mem
orable raid Oh Harper's Ferry.
Springdale Township in this Cen
tennial year possesses a population
OF l,50O, with four villages. SPRING
dale in the northeast, with popula-
tion Of about 400, has two churches
Friends and Methodist Episcopal
both fiourishing. 1t has the finest
school building in the Township, in
which the academy is held, which is
second to no country school in the
State, it having attained considera-
BILE reputation abroad. The carriage
manufactory of ID. Schooley is locat-
ed here; it has been in successful
operation about fourteen years and
does as fine work as can be found in
Iowa, with capacity Of about &c.,
900 per year. There are three stores
and several shops. The Cold Spring
Cheese Factory is located here which