The Oskaloosa herald., 1904-09-29
IOWA
PIONEERS
NJ. HEDGE.
w. A. DeIashmut.


since his boyhood days, coming from
Middleburn, West Virginia. Taking
the steamboat at Wheeling, following
the Ohio river until it empties into the
Mississippi, then up that peerless
stream to Burlington, where the fam
lily of seven landed June 22, 1887
Van B, Delashmut. the father, took q
certificate of entry on 100 acres a
short distance from Burlington.
In the fall of that year ne ran a
ferry boat, carrying newcomers across
the river to the promised land
Among those desiring his services as
ferryman was a DIR. Barritt, OF
Springfield, H., who confded to Mr.
Delashmut the important fact that he
had in MS possession the sum of two
hundred thousand dollars which he
wanted landed with himself safely on
the western shore of the Mississippi
What kind of guarantee could he
give of safe transit, and what would
he charge? Mr.. D. told MIN he would
charge him twenty-five dollars and
guarantee himself and his treasures
safe landing provided his boat and its
resolute pilot had the same good for
tune in skillfully steering between the
floating cakes of ice in the river. The
doctor said that he and his friends
had gathered together this goodly
sum and wanted to get on the ground
as early as possible in order that he
might assist the deserving new set
tiers with friendly loan of some
ready cash. Mr.. Delashmut told him
that he was in need of a small loan
himself and asked what rate of inter
est he would expect The doctor
quantity remarked that his contracts
would be similar to the village tanner
who always tanned their hides on the
halves.
DR.. Barrett was safely landed CT
the Burlington side and opened a loar
office next morning. Mr. Delashmut
was his first customer, securing 6
loan from him of two hundred dollars
at fifty per cent interest. Three days
after he had secured the title to his
homestead he was visited by friend
Next morning the visitor said to his
host: Mr.. Deashmut, is this place
of yours for sale? If so, what is il
worth" About fifteen hundred, ;
was the reply. Il can't see quite that
much in this farm" replied the Wis
itor, "but I'll tell you what l will do
have looked over the place some and
like it. If you want thousand dol
lars to turn this new home over tt
me will count out the cash 70 ycr
this morning, That is the best car
do" After some hesitation Mr.. De
lashmut did just what every wise mar
will do when an important deal is tt
be contaminated. He said Let me
speak to my wife" She said at once;
''The place is worth a thousand, bu
if we can make eight hundred dollars
by this deal that will place us out o.
debt and enable us to buy another
home with comfortable surroundings
further west" The offer was accept
ed. When Mr.Delashmut came to set
tie with DR.. Barrett for his three days
loan the doctor only charged hin
twenty-five yer cent instead of fifty
which the note called for
Be it said to the credit of the early
settlers that there were not man.
men of that type in the new settle
ments.
After selling at Burlington the fam
| lily settled near Mount Pleasant and il
April, 1S43, they located in Mahask;
county, before the Indians mad lef
and before settlers were allowed tt
| take possession of the land. Mr.. w
A. Delashmut was the first assessor
| of Mahaska county. He says tina
when at that work he went on horse
back, swimming rivers and Otter
camping where night found MIN. TIL,
county in that early day was yer!
| sparsely settled and the settlers cab
ms were often very difficult to find
AS the counties north and west o
Mahaska were not yet organized MI
Delashmut's territory ranged over !
wide district of country over in Mar
ion county and up the Des, Nome
river to Red Rock. 1t was the rulini
of the territory at that time that TO
legalpurposes all the inhabitants ives
Of the last western county organizes
was under its jurisdiction and con
troll for legal purposes. Mr.. Delash
NUT acted as deputy sheriff in TIL
early days and has been a man of &C
tive and resolute life, having won
generous competency of the comfort
Of life which he is now enjoying il
his advanced years. He is located il
the southwest part of oskaloosa, an
his beautiful home more than fill
the measure of the fondest dream Q
his pioneer days
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