Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-12-30
WHEN H|RS WERE CU|N
Pioneer of Iowa Recalls Days
When Trapping Was a
Necessity
TRADED SKINS FOR NECESSITIES
Trophies Of the Traps Saved Many
Settlers From Actual Starvation-A
Common Medium of Exchange Be-
tween Settlers, Traders and Indians
Skins Brought Good Prices.
Special to Tlmes-Republlcan.

LeMars, Dec. 3O.-Willam NJ Clagg
of LeMars, recalls the early days when
furs were common medium of eX
change and trapping was q big industry
in Iowa. Mr. Clagg has the distinction
of being the first buyer of furs who SCI
cured them direct from the Indians in
Iowa and Minnesota and shipped them
direct to New York city. With from
$4,000 to $4,000 tucked away in leath-
err belt securely fastened beneath his
clothing. he travelled over the unbroken
prairies, from cabin to cabin. gather
ing the furs secured by the early set
tiers and Indians. This was long before
the advent of railroads and when the
country was but sparsely settled.
Following the close of the civil war
Hundred and Seventh Illinois infantry,
he moved to Lake Minnetonka. in Min
nesota, where he erected a log cabin in
the forest on the shores of the lake and
hoped that the change would be bene-
fetal to his health. He engaged in buy
ing furs from the settlers and Indians
in that region until 1867 he moved to
Fort Dodge and opened up fur and
hide house Fort Dodge was then Il
supply station for much of the north
western part of the state and many of
the settlers came in to exchange what
ever they had of marketable value for
supplies.
Indeed if 1t had not been for the fur
market at Fort Dodge many of the set
tiers would have starved, for about
all the money they could secure came
from the furs they sold, as what they
raised they consumed themselves or
provided for their stock. 1t was their
trapping along the creeks and Des
Moines river that provided them with
spending money Mr.. Claggs modest
store was often filled with swarthy
Indians and bewhiskered white Settlers
who came in with a pack of furs on
their backs. Otter skins were worth SIS
to $25, and beaver pelts from SO to IS
per pound. Minks. IS to IS. Deer skins
% cents pound, wildcats So to So,
20 cents each, raccoons $3.50
to 81. timber wolves 81 to So, northern
gray fox $3.50. northern red fox IS.
Altho st. Paul was the regular fur
market of the great northwest Mr.. |
Clagg always shipped his direct tol
New York. Strange as 1t may seem
furs We're shipped by express then and
are today. In the pioneer days it was
not an unusual thing to have an entire |
car Of furs shipped out of Fort Dodge
and on such occasions the railway |
company would have to put on an ex-
ira car
Frequently furs were given in ex-
change for clothing and dry goods as
well as provisions. One of the pioneer
of this city used to ex-
change clothing for furs. 1t was a
common practice for settler to ex-
change so many muskrat skins for so
many pounds of meal. Muskrats had
an established value of 20 cents each
The big bitches and the tile drains
have reclaimed much of the low land
which harbored the rats in the winter
time, and while not any where near as
many are to be secured the past few
years as formerly, yet the price has
not changed much.