Books of Historical Interest-History of Western Iowa-1882-Discovery and Occupation

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HISTORY OF IOWA.


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CHEROKEE COUNTY

If there is any once class of men who deserve more than another to have their names perpetuated in history, it is, perhaps, the hardy pioneers who left their homes of comfort and luxury in the old Eastern States, and, voluntarily abandoning all the comforts of home and civilized life, plunged boldly into the unknown and limitless prairies that spread out beyond the great Father of Waters, to explore the mysteries of this might region, and to open up new fields of industry for themselves and their posterity. To the historian, no more delightful task presents itself, than to recount their deeds of daring, to chronicle their persistent self-sacrificing efforts, to recite their marvelous achievements, to tell of the indomitable pluck, energy and determination that characterized their movements, and then to make the wonderful transformation all this has effected in one of the grandest countries the sun ever shown down upon. To the individual who visits this section today, these recitals seem like fairy tales. He cannot comprehend, as he sits in his elegant palace coach, and is whirled from one city and village to another, almost with the speed of the wind, or skims along the iron track through waving fields of the richest grain, that a few short years ago this section was tenanted only by wild animals and the equally wild and savage red-man; and his wonder is still further increased, as he notes, on every hand, the commodious and even elegant farm buildings, and sees the innumerable herds of fine cattle grazing on the nutritious grasses. The transition has indeed been wonderful, but probably nowhere more marked than in Cherokee County, where, a trifle over thirty-six years ago, no sign of civilization could meet the eye throughout its entire length and breadth. But a country of such surpassing beauty and unequalled [equaled] richness could not always be given over to painted savages, albeit they alone had enjoyed its fair skies and beautiful scenery for so many years.

Cherokee County was formed in January, 1851, at which time most of her sister counties were located and their boundaries defined. In January, 1853, it was attached to the county of Wahkan—now Woodbury—for revenue, election and judicial purposes. At this time, however, it was a county in nothing but name; for its fertile prairies, beautiful rivers and clear, sparkling brooks had yet failed to attract the attention of the "vanguard of civilization." Finally, in the Spring of 1856, Robert Perry, a hardy pioneer from the eastern part of the State, visited this section and stopped for a short time near what is now known as the city of

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Cherokee. The solitude proved altogether too unattractive, and he soon took his departure for another and more thickly settled portion of the State.

In the early part of the same year, a number of hard-working, intelligent men in Milford, in the old commonwealth of Massachusetts, became fired with a desire to visit this wonderful Eldorado, about which they had heard so much, and if possible, to secure for themselves homes here. Under the leadership of Dr. Russell, a prominent citizen of Milford, a joint stock company, known as the "Milford Emigration Society," was formed, consisting of fifty-five members, twenty-four of whom were heads of families, the design being to find homes somewhere in Western Iowa. Just prior to the formation of this company, Carlton Corbett and Lemuel Parkhurst, both stalwart, daring young men, had been sent out by the citizens of Milford to explore this portion of the country, and select a suitable location for colonists. Twenty persons, under the auspices of the Milford Emigration Society, started on February 11th, 1856, for northwestern Iowa, intending to meet Corbett and Parkhurst at Sioux City, that being the objective point of the colony at that time.

On arriving at the mouth of the Big Sioux River, Messrs. Corbett and Parkhurst discovered, much to their disappointment, that others were in advance of them. Mr. Parkhurst remained here, but Mr. Corbett pushed on up the country for a distance of fifty miles above Sioux City. Not finding what he considered a desirable location, he again turned south with the determination of exploring Cherokee County, of which he had heard very favorable reports from Mr. Perry, who was then located at Sioux City. A thorough exploration of the county convinced Mr. Corbett that it was altogether the finest section of country he had yet visited. Hastening to Correctionville, he met the Milford colony, and had but little difficulty in inducing that part to locate here. They proceeded up the Little Sioux River, until they reached Cherokee County, where all were amazed at the magnificent panorama nature had spread out, seemingly for their benefit. The weary company arrived at a point on the Sioux, near the present site of Cherokee, on a beautiful May morning. The river danced and sparkled in the sunlight, as it dashed along its pebbly bed; the birds sang sweetly as they flitted from bough to bough, through the thick growth of timber that then skirted the high river banks at this point; the view on either hand was the most enchanting mortal eyes ever beheld, and to the weary wanderers, many hundred miles from home, and over one hundred miles from any settlement, it seemed that all nature was bidding them "welcome" to the peerless county of Cherokee.

On every side were moderately high bluffs, beyond which, stretching away for miles upon miles, was the rich rolling prairie-land, of which they had so long been in search. The entire company consisted of twenty persons, some of whom are still living in the county.

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The colonists, among whom were G.W. Lebourveau, Carlton Corbett, B.W. Sawtell, Lysander Sawtell, Robert Hammond, Albert Simonds, Asa Slayton, were undaunted by the fact that there was no friendly roof to afford them sheltoer, and believing that a bright and prosperous future awaited them if only the necessary pluck and muscle were exercised, they immediately commenced the construction of a log house, 17 by 18 feet, near the present site of Mill Creek Mill, and for some time this small building, the first ever erected in Cherokee County, afforded shelter and a home to the entire colony. The two teams belonging to the colony were immediately put to work, and 150 acres were broken for a crop, of which about thirty acres were planted with corn. they also raised 200 bushes of excellent potatoes and a large quantity of small vegetable. During the season four more houses were built, one by G.W. Lebourveau, one by the Sawtell brothers, one by L. Parkhurst and one by William Holden, the two latter and Albert Phipps having joined the settlers later in the season. The postoffice and the nearest trading point were sixty miles from the settlement, and nearly all merchandise had to be hauled from Council Bluffs, 130 miles distant.

During the Summer, a village was planned; 320 acres were surveyed into town lots, and all the land adjoining the village plat was made into twenty-acre lots, though a few contained as many as sixty. The lands selected were principally west of the Little Sioux River, and south of Mill Creek, and located near the center of the county. An unusually severe winter followed, the snow at one time lying three feet deep on the level prairie, and the colonists suffered not a little.

On the 18th day of June, 1856, another colony from Hardin county, Iowa, consisting of G.W. Banister, John Banister, John Moore, Charles Moore, Alfred Moore, Jacob Miller, T.Lane, Marvin Alison and Martin Burns, arrived at this place, and immediately started a settlement seven miles below the Milford colony. Enoch Taylor and three others met with poor success in attempting to start another settlement in the northern part of th county. Cold weather was now coming on, and Mr. Corbett and L. Sawtell made a trip to Council Bluffs, with ox teams, to procure winter provisions for the colony.

Thus far the Cherokee colony had been favored with uninterrupted prosperity, but an Indian out-break in February, 1857, threatened for a time to overthrow all the bright hopes of the settlers. In this month a party of Sioux Indians passed down the river, but as they appeared very friendly to the Cherokee settlers, no uneasiness was felt. At Smithland, the whites took arms away from the Indians, which so enraged the latter that they started back up the steam, vowing vengeance on all the whites they should meet. The entered every house on their way back,

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appropriating everything in the way of fire-arms they could lay their hands on. With the arms thus obtained they arrived at Cherokee, and scattered the settlers and captured their arms, provisions and other articles. Cattle were stolen, provisions seized, and the unfortunate settlers forced to cook them at the muzzle of a gun in the hands of an Indian who seemed more anxious to shoot than otherwise. The savages remained three days, during which there existed a regular reign of terror. On the night of the third day, Messrs. Lebourvearu and Parkhurst returned from a trip to Sac City, and the Indians, thinking they had come from Smithland, and that the armed citizens of tht place would follow, left the next morning in great haste. Hurrying to Spirit Lake, they massacred the entire colony, men, women and children.

When the horrible tale of the Spirit Lake massacre reached the Cherokee settlers, they became thoroughly alarmed, and by the advice of friends in other settlements, they abandoned their settlement entirely in the latter part of February, some going to Ashland, some to Smithland, and others to Onawa.

As no further outbreak took place, the fears of the settlers gradually subsided, and in the following May most of the settlers returned and put in their crops.

The first school was taught during the summer in the old log house called the Cherokee House, by Mrs. Parkhurst, the funds for its support being sent from Milford, Massachusetts. Among those who attended that school are, Clara, George and Thomas Brown; John, Frank and Addie Phipps, all of who were long residents of this county. Miss Phipps afterwards taught school herself in this county, and was considered one of the most successful teachers in the county.

Up to this time, Cherokee had remained attached to Woodbury County for judicial, election and revenue purposes. Sergeant's Bluffs was then the county seat of Woodbury County, and as all business for Cherokee County had to be transacted at that place, and as the distance was great, the inconvenience became so serious, that, in August, 1857, the county was completely organized, and its independent political life fully inaugurated by a special election. Twenty-three votes were cast, and the following officers elected: County Judge, A.P. Thayer; District Clerk, B.W. Sawtell; Prosecuting Attorney, C. Corbett; Recorder and Treasurer, G.W. Lebourveau; County Sheriff, S.W. Haynes; Coroner, G. W. Banister.

Early in 1858, the first tax was levied, amounting to twelve and a half mills on the dollar. The total valuation of property was $97,820. The first county warrant ever issued in Cherokee County was drawn October 2d, 1858, for $4.30, payable to D.M. Stoddard, on account of services as chainman on Road No. 1, to Plymouth County line, and is signed by A.P. Thayer, County Judge. The

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first bridge over the Sioux was built by Mr. Blair, he receiving therefor $1,600. To pay this, the people voted a seven-mill tax, fourteen votes being cast for the tax and one against.

In the fall of 1857, a number of the colonists left, carrying with them dismal stories of the rigorous winters and terrible Indians, and from the year 1858 to the year 1863, there was but little cheering in the history of Cherokee County.

Isolated from all the privileges, comforts and conveniences of old communities, Cherokee County became a little world of it's own, albeit a rather gloomy one. A land grant, made in 1856, had led the settlers to hope for an early completion of the Dubuque & Sioux City Railroad, but as time passed on without other prospects of the road being built, the hopes of the settlers were extinguished, and a general feeling of despondency took possession of all.

In the month of November, 1859, occurred the first marriage in the county, that of Carlton Corbett, and Miss Rosabella Cummings.

For three succeeding years but little occurred in the county worthy of record. In 1860, the population of the county was fifty-eight, but in 1863, this had decreased to fifteen. In 1862, the Indian outbreaks assumed such formidable proportions that the settlers were once more compelled to flee from their homes and seek safety at other and better protected places. Mr. Corbett returned in the fall, and he was followed by O.S. Wight, J.A. Brown and Robert Perry, all of whom were accompanied by their families.

During the civil war, Cherokee County furnished more soldiers in proportion to her population than any other county in the Union. Among those who enlisted from this county were G.W. Lebourveau, Silas Parkhurst, Joel Davenport, and Albert Phipps. Eight in all entered the army for th Union, leaving but five men in the entire county.

In 1863, a court house was built at the cost of $1,900, and this building is yet being used by the county. In 1865, the first saw mill was erected on the site now occupied by the Bliss mill. This year the population of the county was but sixty-four, and the census of 1865 returned nine residents, with a population of fifty-two, twenty-nine males and twenty-three females. There were twenty-one horses and ninety-eight cattle, and only eighteen acres of spring wheat were sown, twenty-three acres of oats, seven of barley, and thirty-eight of potatoes.

For some years, prior to 1866, the settlement had a monthly mail, which was carried between Cherokee and Sioux City. During the year 1860, a weekly mail was established, which was considered a wonderful step in advance, and then for the first time the settlers began to realize that they were really a part and parcel of the civilized world. Early in this year, G.W. Lebourveau, G.W. Banister and Silas Parkhurst, three of the original settlers, returned to Cherokee county. The developments of the county from

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this time until the year 1869, was very slow, and but little worthy of record transpired. In 1868, the population numbered 227. The general election ws held in the fall of this year, at which sixty-four votes were polled. Hon. Eli Johnson, of Cherokee, was elected to the State Legislature by a handsome majority. Mr. Johnson is at present a resident of Cherokee, where he is publishing a paper, the Cherokee Free Press. During this session of the Legislature, the preliminary survey for the Dubuque and Sioux City Railroad was run through Cherokee county, and the line established. The work of building the road was immediately commenced, and pushed forward with all possible vigor. In the Spring of 1869, immigration commenced to pour into the county, and it seemed, indeed, that an era of prosperity had at last been inaugurated. About this time as store was opened in the old village by a Mr. Foskett. He was soon followed by Mr. Van Eps. A saw mill was also erected in Pilot Township by Mr. Rodgers.

During the year work on the railroad progressed with great vigor, and in May, 1870, the road was completed, so as to admit of through trains, but as the road left the village of Cherokee abut a mile to the east, an effectual stop was put to its growth. As soon as it was known exactly where the road would run, it was decided to establish a new town site, and in March, of this year, Carlton Corbett and G.W. Lebourveau laid out the new town of Cherokee in the immediate vicinity of the site selected for the depot. The citizens of the old town immediately removed their buildings to the new site, where all was bustle, life and activity. The spring was one of remarkable activity; immigrants flocked in by the hundreds, and busy industry soon converted the bleak prairie into a thriving, prosperous village; and, by December, there were at least ninety new buildings in the town. In June, of this year, there were in the county 1,244 cattle, 444 horses, thirty-six mules, thirty-nine sheep, and seventy swine. The entire valuation of all personal property was $79,979.55.

At the opening of the year 1871, the prospects for Cherokee County were brighter than ever before in her history. The many struggles of fifteen years to obtain a foot-hold had at last brought forth their legitimate fruit, and from this time forward, unparalleled prosperity has been the portion of Cherokee County.

New villages sprang into existence as if by magic, and the rich prairie land was soon dotted over with well tilled farms and good farm buildings. In 1870 the foundations were laid for the first building in Hazard, and in 1871, the first house was erected in Marcus, and Aurelia was started in 1877.

We have thus sketched in brief the more important points in the history of Cherokee County; have seen it transferred from a wild, unbroken prairie into ne of the richest and most thickly settled countries in all the great Northwest; have noted the almost superhuman exertion necessary to accomplish this task; have

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chronicled the repeated failures, the renewed efforts and the final triumph. It is now proper to describe this, one of the most fertile and picturesque sections in all the great State of Iowa.

Cherokee County is situated in the third tier of counties south of the Minnesota line, and the second west of the Dakota line, lying between Plymouth and Buena Vista counties; is twenty-four miles square, and contains 368,640 acres of rich and fertile land. It is well watered by innumerable clear, sparkling brooks, springs and dashing rivers, the largest river, the Little Sioux, passing diagonally through the county, making its exit near the southwest corner. Every township in the county has a stream running through it, and all of these streams abound with fine fish. The Maple has its headwaters on the northeastern border of the county. Along the banks of the Little Sioux considerable timber is to be found. The general surface of the country is rolling; there are but few acres of the land too broken to be tilled, and Cherokee ranks among the best agricultural counties in the State. Its numerous valleys, formed by clear, running streams, have a soil especially adapted to the cultivation of cereals. For stock raising it is superior to most counties in the northwest, as its numerous running grasses, which grow so luxuriantly, afford an excellent pasturage, and stock can be kept in good condition the entire year with but little trouble and expense. The climate is very similar to that of other counties in Northwestern Iowa—healthy and invigorating; extremes of heat and cold are the exception, and not the rule, mild weather generally characterizing the entire year. The year is dry and bracing, and lung diseases are almost unknown. The soil is a drift deposit, covered with a deep, rich vegetable mould. Along the streams, it is alluvial, and every where capable of producing the most luxuriant vegetation. Cherokee County has 1,085 acres of natural timber, and 1,275 of artificial. The inhabitants embrace all nationalities, though the original stock from Massachusetts and other Eastern states is largely in the ascendancy.

In 1874, the population was estimated at 5,000, while in the same year 80,000 acres were under crop. In this year about 1,100 cars of wheat were shipped from the county, while the total assessable value of the property of the county footed up in round numbers to $1,600,000. In this year there were 1,200 farms in the county with an average cultivation of sixty-six acres, located in all the townships in the county. During the same year there were sixty-four schools in the county, the total value of the school house being $32,241. Though statistics are unquestionably rather dry reading, in this case, at least, they show conclusively the rapid strides Cherokee County is making towards supremacy.

If the figures given above afford occasion for congratulations, those for 1881 are still more satisfactory. The taxable real estate

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of this county this year amounts in round numbers to $1,800,000; personal property, $375,000, based as near as possible on one-third their actual values. The bonded indebtedness of the county is $48,300.

The educational interests, the criterion of a county's prosperity, are in a very flattering condition. There are ninety-two frame school house buildings in the county, valued at about $50,000, while the value of the school apparatus is in round numbers $3,000. One hundred and sixty-nine teachers are employed, and 3,200 children are enrolled, the averaged attendance being 2,110. Of the general funds on hand, the last report has the following: School house fund, $4,500; contingent fund, $5,500; teachers' fund, nearly $12,000.

The present officials of the county are: Hon. H.C. Lewis, District Judge; Hon. J.R. Zuver, of Sioux City, Circuit Judge; R.L. Robie, Auditor; Eli Eshleman, Treasurer; E. Miller, Recorder; W.C. Bundy, Clerk of Courts; R.J. Smythe, Sheriff; Miss Ella M. Slater, Superintendent of Public Schools, and J.H. Davenport, Surveyor.

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CHEROKEE

The county seat of Cherokee county, much of whose history necessarily appears in the above detailed county history, is in every respect a handsome, substantial and growing city. It is located nearly midway between Fort Dodge and Sioux City, in the midst of a prosperous and fertile county. As a writer in a former similar work expresses it, "Cherokee has a surprisingly beautiful site, skirted on all sides by gentle bluffs, that swell just enough to shield it from the blasts of winter, yet not to impair the beauty of the landscape. Through the vale and to the south of the village the Sioux River winds its devious way in search of the great Missouri, where her crystalline waters are swallowed up in the current of mud. The banks of the Sioux are lined with timber, the first of any consequence that greets the eye of the traveler after leaving Fort Dodge. This greatly adds to the picturesqueness of the scene, and preposseses the traveler in its favor.

Cherokee was located in August, 1870, a small number of buildings having been erected prior to that date, however, but of a character which admitted of their being moved to the future county seat. The facts as to the settlement upon the permanent location of the town appear elsewhere. The residence of E. Cowles is stated to be the first building moved from the "old town," in

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March, 1870, and was the first dwelling in the new village; but the farm residence of G.W. Lebourveau, adjoining the village, was erected prior to that date. The growth of Cherokee has been rapid and healthy, and to-day it is deservedly ranked among the most substantially prosperous of Iowa's many prosperous villages.

The following as to the natural features of Cherokee and vicinity will prove of interest:

"Cherokee county lies wholly in one large valley, the highest point on its eastern border being 908 feet, and on its western border 877 feet; the city of Cherokee being the center of the depression is only 565 feet. Through the center of this valley from northeast to southwest flows the Little Sioux. This peculiarity, nowhere else found in the west, gives the surface of the country a slightly rolling appearance, and with gentle slopes to the river bed underlying the prairie proper about 100 feet. The valleys formed by the river being particularly rich, are very desirable. The soil is very loose and mellow, and never 'bakes,' and is much easier cultivated than the soil of the eastern states. It is what is particularly known as the 'bluff deposit,' varying in depth from two to three feet. Being slightly tinctured with sand, it matures crops rapidly. Read what eminent geologists say of it. Prof. Owen, in his Geological Survey, says: 'It is a silicious marl closely resembling the 'loess' deposit in the valley of the Rhine, famous the world over for its richness.' As far as known this deposit covers an area of nearly two hundred miles drained by the Missouri. Prof. White, in his Geological Survey of the State, says: 'The fortunate admixture of soil materials gives a warmth and mellowness to the soil, which is so favorable to the growth of crops that they are usually matured as early as they are upon more clayey soils of the southern part of the state, although the latter are more than 200 miles to the southward.' Impassable roads are never known. A few hours of sunshine after the most severe storm, make a road dry and passable for loads. The drainage is so good that 'muddy' roads are impossible. The county has a most perfect water system. Through the center of the county flows the Little Sioux; on the west Rock Creek and Willow Creek; on the north Mill Creek and Gray Creek, and on the east the Maple, while on the south is Silver Creek. All of these having more or less tributaries, give a bountiful supplies of water for stock-raising and other purposes. In fact there is hardly a section of land but what there exists upon it flowing streams or living springs. Pure, healthy water is obtained everywhere at a depth of fifteen to thirty feet."

Not the least of the attractions which Cherokee affords, is her famous

MAGNETIC SPRINGS

one of the most remarkable curiosities in nature, the essential particulars concerning which are as follows:

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This spring was discovered in 1879, while prospecting for coal; when the depth of 200 feet was reached, a stream of crystalline water two inches in diameter flowed to the surface with a force that projected it several feet above the level of the ground.

The stream was so great that the prospector had to abandon his work. Unaware that he had tapped a spring superior in curative properties to any other in America, he felt disappointed and dispirited. Several weeks afterwards, in fastening an iron rod a quarter of an inch thick and ten feet long to a cord, with the intention of sinking the rod to the bottom in order to raise the sediment which had accumulated in the tube, to his astonishment the rod fastened itself to the iron piping, and so far from sinking it required considerable strength to detach it and bring it up.

This accidental discovery paved the way for future experiments, which resulted in demonstrating that the water of this spring was heavily charged with magnetism, so much so that by immersing a steel instrument in the waters it shortly becomes a perfect magnet, capable of suspending needles, nails, watch keys and iron substances of greater weight.

The sceptical at first said the magnetism was in the iron tubing, and that it had been charged artificially, but as the pipes were those purchased to conduct water by a hydraulic ram and re-purchased from a neighbor who knew nothing about the spring, the doubters had to give that theory up. It was next charged that any iron tube sunk in the earth to a great depth becomes charged with magnetism; that the magnetism was not in the water. This was disproven by scientific tests, viz: taking the water from the spring and immersing in it steel bars, tested by a galvanometer and pronounced free from electricity; after a short interval of time these were found charged with magnetism, capable of suspending other bodies of iron. The mechanical action of the water upon the iron, is too obvious to be denied, and so manifest that the most illiterate can readily see it. It requires no theoretic demonstration to convince the observer that it must have an effect upon living tissue which is well known to be an electrical conductor.

Invalids began drinking the water, and the results were at once of a highly favorable character. Dyspeptics were greatly benefited by their use, they afforded relief to every form of constipation, and their ærated qualities proved an antidote to acidity and distention of the stomach. A demand for bathing facilities was made on the proprietors, and the fame of these wonderful healing waters spread to every State of the Union. Letters of inquiry poured in, and the water became a standard article of export to hundreds of towns and cities.

Thus far the well had, by its inherent virtues, forced itself on the public, and the public in return, by their urgent demands, in a manner compelled the proprietors to fit up a bathing establishment,

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which they have added to from time to time, until it now has a sufficient capacity to meet all ordinary demands, while the surroundings have been improved and beautified so as to make it a really interesting spot.

Like most other institutions, it had to encounter opposition. This mainly sprang from the jealousy of the profession, since the many remarkable cures, and general improvement of chronic sufferers, wholly due to a continued use of these waters, seemed a rebuke to the ordinary methods of treatment, but opposition was silenced by the voices of the many who drank health from this magnetic fountain. Physicians found the waters had intrinsic, health-giving qualities, and soon learned to recognize them among the potent agencies in the cure of a long train of diseases.

For a considerable time the proprietors were reluctant to make a heavy outlay for the benefit of invalids and health-seekers, a course was entirely foreign to their original purpose—that of finding coal—but the representations of the public were so continued and earnest, that all objections on this score were waived, and the large investments made have been warmly seconded by an appreciative public, whose liberal patronage is the safest guarantee that the outlay has been wisely made.

The Bathing House is a commodious and well finished structure, one story and a half high, with waiting rooms and ladies' parlor. The bath rooms are neat and comfortable, and the baths are constructed on the most recent and approved plan, and heated by steam. The ladies' rooms are reserved exclusively for their use, and are in charge of polite and attentive female waiters. The ladies' and gentlemen's bathing departments are separated by a suite of rooms insuring the most perfect guarantee that nothing need offend the instincts of the most delicate.

The flow of water from the Spring is so great that an artificial lake of over six acres in extent has been made, the waters of which average four feet deep, and are almost transparent as the air above them. One side of this lake washes the southern porch of the bath house, and flocks of wild ducks have, for the past year, been continually about the lake in their season; they have become so tame that persons may approach them within a few feet.

The grounds surrounding the Spring comprise sixty acres, have been laid out by a skilled arborist and gardener, with a view to producing the best æsthetic effect, and have been planted with native and ornamental trees and shrubbery, the lake being skirted by choice varieties. Time alone is required to make this park one of the handsomest and most interesting in the western states.

Another, and not the least interesting feature, of this charming spot, is a one-half mile race course, sixty feet wide, and as level as a lake, one side bounded by the river bank, the other by the lake. A better race-course or a prettier is not easily found. The

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proprietors have spared no expense to improve and beautify the grounds, which have already earned the reputation of being the most inviting known at any western watering place. In addition to the new park, the proprietors have purchased an island in the Sioux river of about one hundred acres in extent, heavily wooded with timber of large and small growth. A little work could make this as romantic a retreat as river and forest can afford.

The waters of the Spring are so pure and free from inorganic matter that they keep perfectly sweet and pure for two or three weeks after being drawn. Those who have had them shipped for hundreds of miles have been astonished to find that even after being kept for a month, no sign of putrefaction was discernible, and that to the taste they were as pleasant as when drawn. This quality is of incalculable advantage for shipping purposes. Those who, from weakness, or any other cause, are unable to come to the Spring, can have the water shipped to them at reasonable rates, with the assurance that it will remain sweet and pure for a long time.

The boarding facilities at Cherokee are quite equal to those of any other city of sixteen hundred inhabitants. There are four good hotels, and several good boarding houses in the city. Fruits and every delicacy in its season may be had here abundantly. No one need have any hesitancy in coming to Cherokee on the ground of insufficient accommodation. The city has two excellent livery stables, with horses and vehicles in abundance, so that with driving, shooting and fishing the most pleasing and invigorating recreation may be had at all times and seasons. In fact the city of Cherokee is sufficiently metropolitan to afford an ample variety of sports, comforts and recreations.

There are in Cherokee Congregational, Presbyterian, Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Advent, Episcopalian and Universalist church organizations. The first six have houses of worship. The church property of the county is in valuation perhaps not less than $20,000. The officers of the Congregational church are: Pastor, J.B. Chase; Deacons, J.W. Coombs, J.P. Dickey, H.C. Kellogg; Clerk, W.C. Bundy; Treasurer, J.P. Dickey; Trustees, J.A. Risley, F.E. Whitmore, Richard Opie; Ushers, Ricard Opie, E.F. Coombs; Sexton, Fred Boddy.

The Presbyterian church society was organized in 1870. Rev. Alexander M. Darley was the first pastor. The Union Sabbath School of Cherokee has a flourishing membership of more than sixty members. The Children of Zion church organization was perfected in the summer of 1880 by Bishop D.D. Patterson, of Grand Rapids, and hold regular services, with a flourishing Sunday School. The Baptist society dates its organization from the autumn of 1870. Services were first held in the old brick school house. Rev. A. W. Hilton was the first pastor. The church building was erected in 1873, and is 30x40 feet in dimensions.

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