The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-07-20
Historical Sketch
OF THE
Early Days in lama County,
READ ON July 9TH, 1876,
BY MAI. THOS S. FREE.
TAMA COUNTY

TAMA COUNTY
the home of SO many of us, bears tradi-
tional name, it being said, that what now
constitutes our County was named after
a beautiful Indian Maiden, the daughter
of one of the Chiefs of the Sac and Fox
tribe, who resided here when the hardy
pioneer sought his future home and
brought with him the civilization of the
East.
Tradition has it that the Maiden was
beautiful and if by this, it was meant to
bcstow the name of beauty upon our
County, the effort was not lost, for no.
where within the limit of the State can it
be surpassed for its beautiful scenery,
groves, praries, wandering streams, and
carpets of flowers and verdure.
TAMA
is the fifth County West from the Missis-
sippi river; the fifth North from the South
line, and the fifth South from the North
line of the State, occupying central po-
sition, containing an area of 72O square
miles and 100000 acres of land. With
its soi1, its timber and beautiful scenery,
it possesses many attractions of which
we may Justly feel proud; and has many
"reminiscences of the past to which we
can refer with feelings of great pleasure;
for all of these things are part of the
daily life of many of US, and of many
who have gone before; History affords
no worthier example of greatness than
the lives of adventurous pioneers, who,
for the sake of Independence weathered
the storms aof adversely and baflied the
cold winds of perilous life in order to
provide comfort and homes for their
families.
To the pioneers of Tama County, be-
longs q share of this praise, for they
worked nobly and long, and fought man
fully until civilization reached them
through time and immigration and the
natural resources of the County.
The first TO appear upon the pages OF
our history was Isaac Asher, who passed
near the present site of 1ndiantown on
the 18th day of May 1917, and settled
near that place temporarily when in the
spring of 1919 he moved permanently in
to Tama County with his wife and eight
children and was the first white settler
in the County. He broke the first sod
and planted the first crop of corn.
Mr.. Asher has gone to his long home,
but his wife still survives and is the
oldest white female resident of the coun-
ty, being the first white woman here.
When the family of Ashers approach
ed their present home, near Indiantowu,
they were met by the indians, wko lived
near and were painted and dressed for
war aud they demanded "that the family
return and not attempt to 60 on" but
after long council on both sides, they
we're permitted TO pass on and went peace
fully on their way into Marshall County.
The next white families that settled in
Tama County, were those of Anthony,
Robert and Wm. Wilkinson, who came
from Coshocton County, Ohio, and settled
permanently in Richland township, (now
Salt Creek township,) on the 18th day of
October 1S49. They were accompanied
by their mother and three sisters.
Anthony and William had been soldiers
in the Mexican war and had just received
their Land Warrants, and in due time
located the same. Their brother Robert
purchased land near them in the same
township
The Ashers and Wilkinsons were the
only settlers in 1910.
1850.
In June, 1850, Alexander Fowler and
Isaac Smith, with their families, and
Tobias Van Dorm Ga single MANI settled
in York township, near where Yount's
mill now stands, and commenced i'm
provements on their lands. W. L. Bran
nan inow residing in lama City, and
family, Rein A. Redman, Samuel ].
Murphy and James Jmbargcr came into
the county October 30th, 1850, and set
tied near Tama City, and suffered very
much from the hardships and cold of that
winter.
1851.
In the summer of 1851. Anthony Brick
Y, John DAILY and families settled west