where the coal ought to lie, and trunks of trees, buried in clay, have been found, indicating that the coal has, since its formation, been gashed and broken by some disturbing cause. This would seem to have been a local upheaval, for the reason that the limestone overlying the coal, lying west and south of Centerville, has a positive dip toward the southwest of perhaps fifteen degrees, which can be ascertained by visiting the mine owned by Mr. Kindig, and that worked by Mr. McClard. Further, the coal-bed itself dips at the same angle. The bed probably does not possess this dip for any great distance; for, as stated above, it appears near water-mark along Shoal Creek, and along the streams in the northwest part of the county. The line of disturbance or breakage then passes nearly north and south in the vicinity of Centerville.

The following is given as the order in which the rocks were found in sinking the shaft of Oliver, Phillips & Dargaval's Mine, in the eastern part of Centerville, about three years ago, after passing through the surface of soil and clay Hard lime-rock, 8 feet; soapstone; hard sand-rock, 2 feet; soapstone; limestone, nearly 4 feet; soapstone; limestone, 1 foot; soapstone; "black rock," or shale, 2 feet; coal. The sand-rock appears between two layers of lime-rock, in the ledge near Talbot's mill, on Cooper Creek, but the soapstone is wanting, having apparently thinned out or been dissolved away by the action of water. The rock near Talbot's is filled with fossils from top to bottom, all apparently of the same species.

The shaft of the Watson Coal Company, a short distance south of the Rock Island Depot, is stated to show the following stratifications: Soil, clay and gravel, 80 feet; hard lime-rock, lying in layers and broken by joints, 12 feet; shale and soapstone, 8 feet; fossil-bearing (mountain) limestone, 9 feet; black slate, 15 feet; lime-rock, 3 feet; shale, 16 feet; lime-rock, 3 feet; slate, 4 feet; lime-rock, 6 feet; coal, 3 feet. It may be noticed as a curious circumstance that the sand-bed in the Oliver Mine and at Talbot's Mill is wanting in the Watson Mine. However, as many layers are entirely wanting in the Iowa coal system which are noticed elsewhere, these local variations may be expected.

In some places in the western part of the county, a thin layer of coal or shale has been noticed, which goes to show that the Upper Carboniferous touches Appanoose on the west.

The group of rocks covering the coal belong to the "mountain limestone," as named by Dana and sanctioned by Lyell.

The present railway system of the county does not enable its people to utilize this vast supply of fuel as it should be done; still it is a very considerable industry already; and when an extension of the railway system is brought about, the coal mines of this county cannot fail to become an unfailing source of revenue to this community.

At the mine of the Appanoose Coal Company, the coal is mined in rooms, which are 40 feet wide and are run back to a distance of 250 feet, when a room worked from the opposite direction is reached. A body of coal sixteen feet in width is left between each room and is termed a pillar. Each room is operated by two men, who mine the coal, load it on the cars and deliver it at the bottom of the shaft, where it is received and hoisted, together with the car, by steam power, to the top of the shaft, and then emptied into railway cars waiting to receive it. The coal, which is about four feet in thickness, lies 120 feet below the surface. The car-tracks on the bottom of the mine are made of light-weight T rails. The price to miners at the Watson Mine is now 3 cents a bushel, which is the price paid at most of the mines. It is stated that miners can dig from fifty-five to eighty bushels a day.

STREAMS.

The

The Chariton River is the principal stream in Appanoose County. main stream takes its rise in Lucas County, and enters Appanoose near the northwest corner. The south fork of the same stream rises in Clark and Decatur Counties, and discharges into the main stream on Section 14, Independence. The union of the two forms a considerable stream, which takes a southeastern direction through the county, passing into the State of Missouri between Caldwell and Wells Townships. There are several mill-sites along the river, which have been made available for many years. Thirty years ago, the river was regarded as sufficiently formidable to require the establishment of ferries. This stream empties into the Missouri River.

South Fox and Middle Fox rise in Washington Township, and the north. fork of the same same stream rises in Udell. These flow eastward into Davis

County and thence to the Mississippi.

South Soap rises in Taylor, and North Soap in Union. ries of Fox River.

These are tributa

Big Walnut Creek rises in Wayne County, and flows in a direction north of east, through Johns, Bellair and Walnut, and discharges into the Charito n.

Cooper Creek drains the southern part of Lincoln, flows through Bellair, the northern part of Center, receiving the water of Hickory Creek north of Centerville, and emptying into the Chariton in Sharon.

Shoal Creek originates in Wayne County, passes through the northern part of Franklin and Pleasant, and in the latter takes a southeastern direction, into Caldwell, and flows thence into Missouri.

There are numerous other small streams, and but few sections in Appanoose are destitute of running streams.

Appanoose thus lies on the water-shed separating the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, the Chariton draining into the former great stream, and the Fox into the latter.

TIMBER.

This county enjoys, above most Iowa Counties, a very equal distribution of timbered and prairie land, almost every little stream being skirted with timber. Hence, the groves, which in other counties become distinctive features and landmarks to the pioneers, known by characteristic names, were not often so designated in Appanoose, and localities were designated by the streams or by the names of pioneer settlers. "Packard's Grove," east of Chariton, was, how

ever, and still remains a well-known landmark.

CIVIL DIVISIONS.

In tracing the early settlements of this county, it may be well to insert here for reference the civil township divisions as they exist at present (1878). It should be stated before naming the townships that the boundary line between Missouri and Iowa, as adjudicated in the Supreme Court of the United States, begins at the mouth of the Des Moines River, thence up that stream to a point two miles south of Farmington in Van Buren County; thence in a westerly direction to the Missouri River, the western terminus being three miles south of the initial point. Thus the boundary line divides Sections 19 to 24 in Wells, Caldwell, Pleasant and Franklin Townships. Wells Township includes the northern part of the Sections just referred to, lying on the boundary of the northern half of T. 67, R. 17, and the southern half of T. 68, R. 16; Cald

well is made up by the same description, except that it lies in R. 17; Pleasant the same, but in R. 18; Franklin includes the divided Sections on the boundary line, the northern half of T. 67, R. 19, and the southern third of T. 68, R. 19; Lincoln, the northern two-thirds of T. 68, R. 19; Bellair, Sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18 in T. 68, R. 18, and Sections 19, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, T. 69, R. 18; Center, Sections 1, 2, 11, 12, 13, 14, T. 68, R. 18; Sections 23, 24, 25, 26, 35, 36, T. 68, R. 18; Sections 19, 20, 29, 30, 31, 32, T. 69, R. 17; Sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18, T. 68, R. 17, and that part of T. 69, R. 17, lying west of Chariton River; Sharon, Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, T. 68, R. 17, and Sections 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 33, 34, 35, 36, T. 69, R. 17; Washington, the northern half of T. 68, R. 16, and the southern half of T. 69, R. 17; Udell, the northern half of T. 69, R. 16, and a strip one and a half miles wide off T. 70, R. 17; Douglas, the six southern Sections of T. 70, R. 17, and the northern half of T. 69, R. 17, except that part lying west of Chariton River; Walnut, the northern twothirds of T. 69, R. 18; Johns, T. 69, R. 19; Independence, T. 70, R. 18; Chariton, all of T. 70, R. 18, except the six southern Sections; Taylor, all of T. 70, R. 17, except the six southern Sections; Union, all of T. 70, R. 16, except a strip one and a half miles wide on the south.

SURVEYS.

The township and range lines of Appanoose County were run by William A. Burt, of Michigan, son of the inventor of "Burt's Solar Compass," in 1843. The four eastern townships of the county were subdivided by Lewis V. Davis, in November, 1844. Orson Lyon subdivided T. 67, R. 17, and T. 70, R. 17, in February, 1845; George L. Nightingale did the section work in T. 69, R. 17, and T. 68, R. 17 at the same time; John W. Ellis, T. 69, R. 19, in 1846; John G. Clark, T. 67, R. 18, in April, 1852, and T. 67, R. 19, in the following June. The rest of the subdivisional work was done by parties whose names are forgotten. Burt and Lyon were engaged in the public surveys in Iowa for many years, having begun work in the Territory in 1836.

ENTRIES.

The first entry of land made in Appanoose County was by Andrew Trussell, June 22, 1847, who located the northwestern quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 1, T. 70, R. 16, paying cash therefor, and receiving his patent February 1, 1848. Seven or eight other entries were made in this township during 1847, and a considerable amount during 1848 and 1849. But the range in which this lies was the only one in Appanoose County open for entry until 1850. Here the boundary question again interfered, and the rest of the county, although surveyed for two or three years, was withheld from entry until the vexed question was settled. Various entries were made in Ranges 17, 18 and 19, during 1848 and 1849, and the first entries in the remainder of the county were made during January and February, 1850. The last scattering tracts were taken in 1860.

The first deed recorded runs from Jesse Wood, George W. Perkins and Albird Thompson, composing the Board of Commissioners, to James H. Shields, and conveys Lots 9 and 6, Range 4, Block 1, Centerville, for the sum of $30. The deed is dated February 12, 1850. As a matter of comparison it may be stated that the west half of Lot 1 in the same block and range recently sold for $600.

FIRST FLOURING-MILLS.

The very first flouring mill constructed in the county was that contrived by J. F. Stratton, probably in 1845. The lower frame consisted of a bee-gum, in which was fitted a small bowlder as a bedstone. Another bowlder was dressed to fit above, and a spindle attached, on the top of which was fastened a crank. A small box above served as a hopper. This ingenious and simple contrivance enabled the family to grind their wheat, corn and buckwheat quite well, and as Mr. Stratton took much pains in cleaning his grain, his flour and meal were of as good (or better) quality as the grists ground at Bonaparte or in the Missouri settlements. Several of Mr. Stratton's neighbors made use of his little mill, which, everything considered, in spite of its diminutiveness and slowness, was about as convenient as going to other counties to mill. This little mill has by no means been cast aside as useless, for it was sold to the pottery at Sharon, and is still at work, grinding up the materials for glazing crockery.

Col. James Wells got his flouring-mill running in Wells Township, some time in 1845, which enabled the pioneers to have their grain ground almost at home and the perilous winter trip to mill over an almost uninhabited course was no longer to be dreaded, or the more comfortable expedition in other seasons, when cattle were liable to go astray. Perhaps streams would have to be forded at the imminent risk of drowning, and very likely, when the mill was reached, a dozen others would be already waiting, and the poor fellow who had three or four days' travel to get home, would have to wait a day or two for his grist.

A corn-mill was set going in the saw-mill east of Centerville, some time in the fall of 1850.

In this connection it may be well to add that the pioneers had no means of threshing and cleaning their wheat save by flailing or by tramping with horses or cattle. In the latter process, which was comparatively expeditious, the bundles of grain were laid in a circle on the ground with the heads inward. After being tramped awhile, the straw was stirred, and so the process was continued till the grain and chaff were freed from the straw, when the latter was removed, the grain shoveled into a pile, and fresh bundles laid down. The separation of the grain from the chaff was also a tedious process. This was either done by waving a sheet up and down to fan out the chaff as the grain was dropped before it, or by taking advantage of the strong winds in autumn, which were often brisk enough to blow off the chaff quite rapidly, and by frequently stirring the grain, a considerable quantity could be cleaned in a day.

Threshing machines and fanning-mills had been in general use several years in the States east of the Mississippi; but the people of Iowa were not yet "forehanded" enough to invest in any farm implements but breaking-plows

and hoes.

It is just as well to add that the first threshing machine ever operated in the county was the one owned by William Ware, now a resident of Centerville, who did some threshing with it in the southern part of the county, in 1849. This was a "chaff-piler," otherwise known, a few years later, as a "flint-lock." There are many readers of this page who never saw a thresher of this description. There was no separator attachment, and the grain fell, inclosed in the chaff, at the mouth of the cylinder, while the straw was blown by the current created by the motion of the cylinder a little beyond the grain, whence it was removed by rakes and forks. The fanning-mill was introduced about the same time, and the grain being passed through the hopper two or three times, it was

ready for grinding. These machines greatly abridged the processes mentioned above; but, in a few more years, the labor of threshing was reduced considerably by the combination of both processes.

While on this subject, the plows in use prior to 1846 may be mentioned. Both breaking and stirring plows were made by blacksmiths. The cutter-bar in the one, and the landside and point in both were made of steel, and the moldboard of wood. Several plows of this construction were brought to the county and used for several years. About 1844, the wooden moldboard was laid aside for one made of iron rods, which gave way, two or three years later, to a steel moldboard. Cast-iron plows were sometimes tried, but would not scour. The first harrows were made by the settlers themselves, and often had wooden teeth.

James Hibbs started a saw-mill near his present home in Franklin, in 1850, and various flouring-mills, his own included, were built prior to 1856.

It is scarcely out of place to mention here one or two of the expedients resorted to by housewives, thirty years ago and more, to give variety to their cookery. Pumpkin butter, which was quite a palatable article, was made thus: Several pumpkins would be allowed to freeze, and then thawed out, when the juice would be pressed out and boiled down. To this would be added other pumpkin cut into bits, and the whole cooked carefully, to avoid scorching, until it was about the consistency of apple butter. In the absence of sugar or molasses, preserves were made of wild plums, crab apples, and other fruits, with honey or maple sirup, which are said to have been excellent. If the men were ingenious in adapting themselves to their limited resources, this paragraph shows that their wives were equally so.

RELIGIOUS.

The date of the first religious meeting ever held in the county is stated to have been at the house of J. F. Stratton December 15, 1844. Two ministers of the Baptist faith, Elders Post and Thompson, conducted the services. The next meeting was held at the house of Mr. Camp, near where Unionville now stands, four weeks later, by one of the above preachers.

William S. Manson used to preach occasionally after he got settled on his claim. The first sermon ever preached at his house was by a Methodist minister, whose name is forgotten, in the spring or summer of 1845. The first circuit preacher was named Johnson A class was formed in 1847.

The first Sabbath school in the county was organized, it is stated, by C. H. Howel, at his store in Centerville, in 1847.

A Baptist society was formed a little distance west of Centerville, either in 1846, or the year following.

THE FIRST PHYSICIANS.

Appanoose County was exceptionally well provided, at a very early day, with those who professed a knowledge of the art of healing. William S. Manson had acquired some knowledge of medicine in Tennessee, and usually traveled with pill-bags behind his saddle. He was a man of good judgment, and, in ordinary ailments was of considerable help.

The others were Dr. Shafer, a German, Dr. Sales and Dr. Pewther. The first two made considerable pretense to erudition in their calling; the latter was a botanic practitioner. And here Mr. Stratton should not be forgotten, who had been familiar with malarial diseases and fevers for many years, and had been employed three months, in a hospital in the war of 1812. This gentlemen