...Nathaniel Wilcox was born between 1816 and 1819.
….Mary Angelina Wilcox was born about 1820. She married Thomas Isreal in 1836 in Illinois and had her daughter, Ellen Louise, was born in 1838 in Canton, Fulton Co., Illinois. They appear to have divorced in September, 1939 in Illinois. Mary Wilcox would marry William O'Rear at Wilcox settlement in Fayette County.

….According to the "History of Fayette County, Iowa," Elias, Franklin and his wife and small daughter, and brother Nathaniel came from Eads' Grove, Delaware Co., Iowa to Fayette County and were some of the first settlers in the area after Fort Atkinson was established.

….Elias , the father, was a blacksmith and settled between the Mission and Fort Atkinson. Franklin built a cabin 30-40 rods north of the north line of Township 92-8. Nathaniel made a claim east of his brother's place. Mary Wilcox is also mentioned. The Wilcox's came with a man named Robert Gamble, who returned to Eads' Grove shortly after. Elias apparently went to Oregon around 1848 with his son Nathaniel. See Bancroft's "History of Oregon," Vol. I, page 752.

...There was a 'tradition' that some Wilcox built a cabin south of the Volga about 1835, ten years after the Black Hawk purchase. This would place the family in Fayette County between 1835-1840. However, another source remembers the family in Eads' Grove in 1840 when the family moved up on the Volga. This is reinforced by the fact that Mary Angelina Wilcox Isreal (O'Rear) had her daughter Ellen Louise Isreal in November, 1838 or 1840 in Canton, Fulton Co., Illinois, and Harriet had her daughter in New York in June, 1835. It is not known if they traveled together or separately and reunited in Fayette County.

Franklin Wilcox died in Nevada City, California in 1851. Harriet Van Dorn, Franklin's wife, died in San Francisco in 1871. Mary & William O'Rear eventually moved to Missouri, probably before 1850 but they are not in the 1850 census in either Fayette County, Iowa or Nodaway County, Missouri. They had two children, Elias Dudley and Laura who may have been born in Iowa. Mary and William may have died in Maryville, Nodaway Co., in the early 1900s.

ABOVE: 1875 map; 1990's aerial below.  Andrew Hensley would start out on the Nathan Wilcox claim, but when the Indians were completely forced from the land and the area above the Mission Trail opened to the whites, Andrew Hensley would acquire farm and mill land about 1850 around 'Lightville' (Lima) and live his life farming and milling in the Lima, Albany, Frog Hollow valley of the Volga River, three miles immediately north of his first small fields in Bear Grove.

ABOVE: Many of the first settlers into Fayette County would utilize the Wilcox double cabin  and 'settlement' before establishing their own claim to land.  Franklin Wilcox would move to near the Fort in Winneshiek County about 1842, leaving the cabin to others to own and use, as was the case with his brother Nathan's claim in Bear Grove, which he would 'sell' to Andrew Hensley.

Joseph HEWETT, an Indian trader, who was well known to the early settlers, and somewhat connected with the history of Fayette county, established his trading post northwest of Strawberry Point, very near the east line of Fayette, in Clayton County, in 1840. He visited the region in 1839, and when the mission was established he thought the place he selected would be a good place for a trading post.  All of the early settlers interacted with each other along the Mission Trail and this was a time of little to no county structure.

George CULVER built a double log cabin on the north bank of the Volga, on Section 26 (about a mile east of Wadena), Twp 93 (Illyria), Range 7. Previous to 1839 he had been the Teller of the Ypsilanti Bank, Michigan. When Mr. HEWETT established a trading post near the Fayette CO line in 1840, Mr. Culver became his partner and moved thither. . . Mr. Culver entered, by land warrant, Sections 26 and 27, Twp 93, Range 7, January 25, 1849, very soon after the township was surveyed.

Samuel Baldwin Olmstead was involved with the Culver trading post and was the administrator for Fort Atkinson in the late 1830's into the 1840s. The Hewitt-Olmstead trading post was run by David Olmsted. However, Samuel Baldwin Olmsted was the "administrator" of this post, and David's brother. The name was spelled variously Olmsted and Olmstead. Their father was Timothy Olmsted "descended from some of the earliest Puritan colonists of Connecticut"

Robert GAMBLE came with the Wilcox's from Eads Grove. It is said that Gamble selected a location on the Reserve near a large spring, which afterward proved to be on Section 13, Township 93, Range 9, and the grove now known as "DUNHAM'S," north of the spring, was, in consequence, called "Gamble's Grove," and was known by that name in 1850, when the post office of "Gamble's Grove" was established, with Thomas WOODLE for Postmaster. Gamble's Grove was about four miles north northwest of Wilcox's cabin. Mr. Gamble did not remain long, however, as he was taken sick, was carried back to Eads' Grove in the Fall of 1840, and never returned to Fayette County.

There is a tradition that Wilcox built a cabin south of the Volga, about 1835, ten years after the Black Hawk Purchase, and spent some time here at that period hunting and trapping. This is purely tradition, however, as there is nothing to corroborate it. It is possible that he may have been here to "spy out the land" prior to removing his family hither in 1840, but this is more than doubtful. Mrs. Joel BAILEY, the daughter of Judge Clement COFFIN, of Coffin's Grove, Delaware, states that she was at Eads' Grove in 1840, when Wilcox and his family moved up on the Volga, and that he had not built a cabin there previous to that time. It is possible that the Wilcox cabin might have been a little further north of the spot indicated, but it could not have been very far.

About two hundred yards below (downstream on the creek or actually north toward the Volga River, bz) Wilcox's is a smooth bit of level ground, shaded by trees, which was in "ye olden time" a favorite camping ground for immigrants, and was, in consequence, dubbed "Uncle Sam's Tavern," or "The Continental House." As seen June 4, 1878, the terrific storm of the preceding Saturday night, June 1, must have flooded the site of "Uncle Sam's Tavern" eight or ten feet, and the water crept to within a few feet of the spot where, without doubt, Wilcox dwelt, the pioneer settler of Fayette County, thirty-eight years ago.

ABOVE: View north through sec 5 of Smithfield Twp, to the Wilcox settlement were many of the families would 'hold over' in the 1840's until they had acquired land and/or built cabins on their claims.  Today's village of Fayette would be 2 miles away, through the notch in the tree line in the middle of the picture.  It is a cold day with the temperature below zero, overcast with light blowing snow.  Winter weather in Fayette county can be very rugged from late November into late spring to about the end of March, depending on the year.  One can see the 'denuded' hill in the left background.  The tree-line was the actual 'break' between the wooded unglaciated hills to the NE of the Mission Trail across Fayette County, and the tall/wet grass rolling prairie hills and sloughs to the SW of the trail.  The white rapidly 'denuded' much of the forested areas and plowed small plot fields.  Plus wood was the total energy source except of several mills on the  Volga and Turkey rivers.   Franklin Wilcox built his cabin at the tree-line groove in the middle of the picture with Beatty and Orrear's cabin and dairy farm just to the south of Wilcox.  Teagarden and Atwood had their 'Indian' trading post along the trail about at the far left of this picture.  Andrew Hensley would move his family back to the Wilcox cabin from the Bear Grove area 4+ miles to the east after his wife had an encounter, at the Brown cabin where they were living, with three local Indians that scared her.  The family would remain at the Wilcox settlement until the next year when Andrew built his own cabin on the claim he has purchased in late 1842 from Nathaniel Wilcox, brother of Franklin.  It should be noted that these claimed lands were just that, marked and claimed by a pioneer and generally honored for later purchase when the land legally opened for ownership.  (A personal note: my fathers family grew up on a farm of my ggrandfather Jessie Zbornik, on the SE corner section 6 of Smithfield at the end of the road the picture was taken from, overlooking the Teagarden massacre site 3/4 miles to the north.  My father trapped the 'Alexander' creek for several miles running along the prairie edge, just over the hill to the right of the picture, through the Wilcox settlement site, all the way to the Volga, a mile north of the Wilcox site.  I also trapped this exact same stream, coming from the village of Fayette, to do so.   My ggrandfather, Valentine Strayer, farmed the old farm of Col. Aaron Brown, located at the left tree-line, and adjacent to the Teagarden massacre site to the south.  My ggrandfather Walter Eugene Hunt farmed the land immediately to the north of the Wilcox cabin site. bz/2003)

Next, and soon after Wilcox, probably the next year, two young men, James BEATTY and William ORREAR, or O'REAR, located and built a log cabin a few rods west of the creek, on the northwest quarter of northeast quarter of Section 5, Township 92, Range 8. Their cabin was located near a beautiful spring of clear water that still bubbles from the base of the hill. Mr. HENSLEY (A.J.) states that it was about forty rods south or southwest of Wilcox's place, just south of the old Mission Road, which at this point crossed the creek very nearly on the line between Townships 92 and 93, Range 8. (A.J. being ten when he arrived in Fayette County was privilege to know and remember all of the first settlers and travelers along the Mission Trail to the Fort.  He would have been young but working right along with the men building a frontier life, thus he was a storehouse of living history for later times). Judge BAILEY, of Delaware, who spent some days here in January, 1843, says that Wilcox's cabin was a little way below, in the timber. There appears to be some difference as to the orthography of O'Rear's name. In his marriage certificate it is spelled "Orrear," and as this is presumably the way he spelled his name, it is adopted in this history. It is impossible now to fix the precise date of Beatty and Orrear's settlement, but in the Fall of 1842, their cabin was the stopping place for a few travelers on the old Mission road, and they had been there long enough to have made some improvements (small fields and out-buildings), and to have built some fences (split rail and brush). Both were unmarried then, and appear to have been industrious and hardworking farmers.

In 1841 or 1842 two Indian traders built a small log cabin for a trading post on the Old Mission Road. One of these was Mr. ATWOOD, and the other Henry or Moses TEGARDEN, or TEGARDNER (probably T. Garden).  These two were somehow engaged together in whisky trade with the Indians. Both were murdered by some Winnebagos in March 1843. At least one child of Tegarden's was also murdered at the same time. One version of the story is that two other children of Tegarden's were badly wounded but escaped. Their mother was not at home that night. Two sons were William and Daniel. Mrs. Valzick Tegarden married Zophar PERKINS August 5, 1846 and "Bill" married Perkin's eldest daughter, Absenath, August 6, 1847.

In 1841 or 1842, probably the latter, although it might have been earlier, a couple of roving Indian Traders, a Mr. Atwood and a Henry or Moses Tea-garden (Teagardner) built a small log cabin for a trading post, on the Old Mission Road as near the Neutral Line and the northernmost limits of the surveyed lands in Fayette County as an eligible site could be found. The records of the Dubuque Parish indicated a man named Henry T. Garden or T. Garden was on the record and lived in Dubuque County in 1837-1838. This man was an Indian trader, and afterwards removed to Fayette, where he was said to have been murdered by the Indians. The records of Clayton County, of later date, mention the names of the Tegarden or Tegardner family. Whether Henry and Moses were identical or were brothers cannot now be determined. Whether it was Garden or Tegarden is not material, but the latter is most familiar to Fayette people.

Whether Tegarden or Atwood, or both, built the cabin above mentioned, cannot now be determined. It was built on the NE ¼ of NE ¼ of the NW ¼ of Sec, 6, T. 92, R. 8, Smithfield Twp., very near a large spring about ½ or ¾ of a mile SW of Col. Aaron Brown’s present residence, and about twenty rods south of the township line. Circumstances indicate that whisky trade, as they were both murdered by some Winnebago Indians, in 1843, an account of which will be given hereafter. It is not known if both Atwood and Teagarden built the Trading Post, about 1 ¼ mi to the WxSW of the Wilcox Site, 3 miles SW of what is today’s Main Street Fayette, on the NE ¼, Sec 6, T92, R8, very near a large spring about ½ or ¾ mi SW of Colonel Brown’s residence in the late 1800’s. In 2000, you would take the first gravel road south of Fayette off Why 150. Go west to the first intersection, and look to the W/SW for about ¾ miles, and this would be the area of Teagarden’s Trading Post in 1842. The Wilcox Cabin, in 1842, is still back to the east about 1 ¼ miles. Teagarden’s would have been about 20 rods south of the township line and just to the south of Mission Road, which opened in 1840.  Records in Clayton County, a little later, mention the Teagarden or Tegardner family. It is not known if Henry and Moses were the same person or brothers. The name Teagarden was the one which would become familiar in Fayette County History

William Van Dorn, Mrs. Frank Wilcox's brother, came in 1843, and M. C. SPERRY located a claim near Mumford's about that time. A Mr. OATMAN, an elderly man, who had been a hotel keeper at La Harpe, Ill., located on the prairie near the little stream called Brush Creek. He began the construction of what was to be a hotel but decided there was no future for a hotel there and soon left the county.  (This unoccupied structure was used by people moving along the Mission Trail in the 1840's as temporary shelter. Andrew's wife would stop here on her way down the Trial after being 'scared' out of their 'Brown' cabin on the 'claim' at the head of Grannis Creek in 1844.) His son, Lorenzo, was killed by the Apaches while on the way to California in 1850. Another son and two daughters escaped. One of the daughters wrote a book about her experiences while a captive. James TAPPER was in Fayette CO in 1843 when he was appointed Supervisor of the road from Lowry's farm to the military road.

A Mr. MESSENGER settled about 40 rods east of the Tegarden spring, probably in 1844. John MOYNE located a claim near Bear Grove in 1844 but did not enter land or settle permanently until 1847. Madison BROWN built a rude cabin north of Bear Grove and located there with his family in 1844. In July 1845, D. J. FINNEY settled in Township 92, Range 7. Isaac WEBSTER had a claim on the Volga bottom a short distance east of Beatty's, lived with Beatty, and during the season of 1844, raised a crop of oats on part of the ground now covered by the village of Fayette (this is said to be the first crop raised in Fayette County).During the winter of 1845, Lorenzo MULLIKEN lived with Beatty (at Fayette).

In 1842 Andrew HENSLEY came from Wisconsin (Grant County, Prairie du Chien area) to Fayette County, and purchased the claim of Nathaniel WILCOX on or near Sec. 1, T. 92, Range 8, about five miles east of Beatty and Orrear's. Mr. Hensley went back to Wisconsin (Grant County, Priaire du Chien area??/bz) , intending to return in the same fall but sickness prevented his return. In September 1843, he returned as far as Eads' Grove, Delaware County, with his family, consisting of a wife and four children, among whom was Andrew Jackson HENSLEY when a lad of ten years. Here he spent the Winter (of 1843-1844). In the spring of 1844, he rented Joe Hewett's place, northwest of Strawberry Point, just in the edge of Clayton County, and moved his family into a little cabin about one and a half miles west of Hewett's, in the edge of Fayette County, owned by Moses, son of Joe Hewitt by his first wife. Here, November 27, 1844, Daniel P. HENSLEY was born, the first white child born in Fayette County, unless Mr. Mumford's baby, born in the brush near Yankee Settlement, is to be credited to Fayette.

Major Mumford’s date of settlement in Fayette County has been obscure. His given name is forgotten, but he was known among the pioneers as Major. He was living near Brush Creek in the Fall of 1842, and certainly settled there early in that year, or very possibly in the Fall of 1841. His cabin was in the timber a mile or two north of the present village of Brush Creek, in Twp. 92, R. 7, Fairfield, probably on or near Section 16, or the north side of Section 21. He had a little field on the edge of the prairie south of his house, but was not much of a farmer.

Within a year or two upon arrival the pioneer families began to intermarry.  William ORREAR and Mary A. WILCOX, both of Fayette County, were married on Feb 25, 1844, which appears to be the first marriage of Fayette settlers. On August 6, 1847, George CULVER and Margaret E. CASTALL were married by Rev. Simeon CLARK, the pioneer preacher of Delaware, and March 27, 1848, Charles GLIDDEN and Mary LOWE were married by Andrew HENSLEY J.P. Mr. (A.J.) Hensley states that William VanDorn and Miss MESSENGER were married in 1845, but the marriage is not recorded.

 

The Mission Road ran from Dubuque, Iowa, the major Mississippi River river port, northeast across Dubuque, Clayton, Fayette Counties and into Winnesheik County to Fr. Atkinson, a military fort erected under the guise of "protecting" the Winnebago Indians of the area from the Sioux, but in reality would function as a trail to lead supplies and white settlers into the area in the 1840’s.

When the United States government first began to service the Neutral Lands, in the late 1830’s, Dubuque was the seat of supervision, and a trail (the Mission Trail) was established between Dubuque and Fort Atkinson. Later, in 1841, an official "Territorial Road" was plotted following the old trail. Because the majority of early settlers in northeastern Iowa came in over this trail, it has significant historical value. Many of the early pioneers would travel the early trails/roads multiple time’s searching/probing for land to claim. Early settlers often were not sure which land was the best, what was available in another place, if they wanted to put forth the significant effort to make a farm go in an area, or if they really wanted to make an area their permanent home. There was a lot of wondering, claiming, and moving in the early years. The early roads and trails often followed the time proven trails of the Native Americans and game trails. The early roads were just worn paths in the timber or through 6-12 ft tall prairie grass, or broad areas of travel where ox-teams were guided along ridges to avoid wet grass prairie, sloughs, stream crossings. Level paths were always at a premium so loads did not have to be split and hauled up the big hills. Generally reach individual settler/teamster had to use his own judgment as to the course of travel. As more travel occurred, the best route became more worn and more travels, thus was the establishment of many of the early roads in Fayette County that would be traveled well into the 1900’s.

From the Edgewood area of Clayton County, the trail followed a range of hills to the future town of Strawberry Point, which was built along the old trail, with the long east-west main street being called Mission Street. About three miles west and three miles north of the Point, half way to Brush Creek (Arlington), an Indian trader, Joseph Hewitt, who had a trading post utilized by both Indians and white men in 1840. His trading post was often a resting-place for early settlers whiles they ventured out looking for ground to settle on. The ox-trains hauling supplies and produce to the military post at Fort Atkinson stopped at Hewitt’s on a regular basis.

From Hewitt’s trading post, the Mission Road continued northwesterly for about four miles to the future town of Brush Creek (Arlington), just south of the creek which would also be known as Brush Creek. Here in later days the town’s Main Street, which runs diagonally to the NW, was built along Mission Road. About three miles NW of the Brush Creek crossing, a Major Mumford settled on a claim and built a cabin in 1842 (exact timeline has not been verified). The Mumford’s may have been the parents of the first white child born in the area (This statement conflicts with that of Daniel P. Hensley being the first white child born in Fayette Co, 1844.)

The new Mission road continued NW over the "Corn Hill" country. Culver soon bought out Hewitt and moved the post to a point about a mile east of Wadena, next to the hill on the N side of the Volga River, as it was nearer the Indians in the Neutral Lands just to the north of Wadena and the Elgin Valley which was always a major settlement for the Indians on the Turkey River. This time frame was probably 1841-1842. About this time, Nathaniel Wilcox took a claim just west of the big spring in the Grannis Canyon, which at that time was to the north of Bear Grove which included the timber areas of the present day Brush Creek Park, to the north of Arlington.  (Note: If this info is correct, then the statement in the 1878 History of Fayette Co, that Nathaniel settled a claim in Bear Grove, Sec 1 of Fairfield Twp, is not correct.  The big spring in Grannis Canyon is located on the east-central side of Sec 36, of Westfield Twp. bz/2003. . Andrew Hensley bought the Nathaniel Wilcox claim in late 1842, thus would have initially settled at the head of the Grannis Hollow or Canyon.  And the first crop of wheat in Fayette County would probably have been up the valley west of the spring where the creek bottom is fairly steep but still flattened out enough for typical small pioneer fields.  This information conflicts with the 1878 History of Fayette Co.  bz/2003)

From the Corn Hill area the Mission Road turned to the W and continued to a point a couple of miles SW of present day Fayette. Two miles south of Fayette and about a half mile west, off present day Hwy 150, Franklin Wilcox, in 1840, erected the first permanent log cabin in Fayette County (there is a granite marker on the site today, just to the west of the bridge crossing the little stream, and to the north of the road). It has been written Wilcox broke up a small area close to the cabin and planted it to garden and oats. If so, this would justify as the first land broken in Fayette County. Just north of the Wilcox cabin, around the bend of the creek and below a cove in the hillside was a favorite camping spot known as " Uncle Sam’s Tavern," by the early settlers. The area offered a flat, protected, secluded area with fresh water nearby.

At this time the Wilcox cabin was in the south edge of Sec. 32 of Westfield Twp., in un-surveyed land. The four SE townships of Fayette County, Fairfield, Smithfield, Scott and Putnam, had their boundary lines surveyed in 1836 and sup-divisions were made in 1837. The north line of Fairfield and Smithfield was not surveyed until 1848. It is not known if Wilcox knew this or not at the time.

In 1842 or 1843 about a year after the Wilcox cabin went up, a pair of unmarried young men, James Beatty and William Orrear, settled about 600 feet south of the Wilcox cabin and erected a cabin in the north edge of Sec 5 of Smithfield Twp., near a spring. They were reported to be very industrious, and broke land and erected split rail fences. In February of 1844, Orrear married Mary Wilcox, daughter of the elder Franklin Wilcox, who by that time had moved on up the trail to a point near what would be called Dunham’s Grove. This was reported as the first marriage in Fayette County. In 1847, the Orrears sold their holdings to Horace Bemis who entered the NW ¼ of Sec 5, of Smithfield Twp., which was the first official entry of land in Fayette County. In the meantime Beatty squatted on land near the western edge of the future town of Westfield/Fayette.

The Mission Road beyond the Orrear claim followed a line of low hills about a quarter mile south of the Westfield Twp. Line, to a point near the intersection of Smithfield, Harlan, Center and Westfield Twps., where it turned north. There it crossed the southern boundary of the Neutral Lands just north of the Volga River crossing and on the boundary line of Center and Westfield Townships. Along the Road between Orrears and the township corners were several squatters cabins, including that of Henry Teagarten, who had a trading post for the supply of whisky, black power long guns, power, ball and flint, and other supplies for the Indians and early settlers. Teagarten’s cabin was located about a mile east and a quarter mile south of the four-township corner, near a large spring. This would be the site of the "Teagarten massacre" references elsewhere in the history of Fayette County.

The Mission Road continued into the Neutral Land across the eastern edge of Center Twp. Continuing in a NW direction across Windsor Twp., into Windsor Twp., into Auburn Twp., crossing the Little Turkey river and proceeding in a N direction just east of the present day St. Lucas and into Winneshiek Co., Washington Twp., to Ft. Atkinson.

THE FIRST TERRITORIAL ROAD IN FAYETTE COUNTY
A commission as assigned in 1841 to locate a 'first road' in the county. 
It would follow the randomly wide Mission Trail.
from "The History of Fayette County Iowa 1878

An Act to establish a territorial road from the town of Dubuque on the Mississippi River to Fort Atkinson was approved January 31, 1841. (Up to this time an informal route the Mission Trail was used, however the new 'Territorial Road' would follow the Mission Trial route.) Calvert Roberts, Samuel L. Clifton and Joseph Hewitt were appointed to locate the road. The Dubuque County part of the road seem to be the main focus of the Act and since the Act dealt with Fayette County it was repealed in February 16, 1842, and much of the location declared vacated. The repealing act; itself was repealed June 11, 1845. Peter D. Sharp, David Moreland and William J. Anderson were appointed by the Legislature to re-locate the road through Dubuque County, to Colony and Ead’s Grove (Manchester) and then northward into Fayette County and on to Fort Atkinson.

The road as located in 1841, followed very nearly the old trail, entering Fayette County near the SE corner of T92, R7, of Fairfield Twp., passing Joe Hewitt’s Trading Post (near Brush Creek), then to the NW , south of Bear Grove, through Twp 92, R7, and Smithfield, Twp92, R8, passing a little north of the cabin of Beatty and Orrear, near where it intersected the road from Quasqueton and Marion. Then by a circular route, running 15 or 20 rods south of the Teagarden Spring, sweeping the to the north running near the west lane of Sec 31, T93, R8, Westfield, until it passed the quarterpost. Then the road changed its course to the NE crossing the Volga River very near the township line between Smithfield and Westfield, about a quarter of a mile east of the west line of those entering the east side of Sec 36, Twp 93, R9, Center Twp., but running for a short distance in Sec 30, Twp 93, R 8, Westfield, and then continuing in to general northwesterly direction to the north line to Twp 94, R9, Windsor Twp., which it crossed very near the northwest corner of Sec 3, Twp 95, R 9.

The following order of the County Commissioners of Clayton County appears of record August 26, 1841: Ordered, That the report of Calvert, Roberts, Samuel S. Clifton and Joseph Hewitt, Commissioners, appointed by the Legislature of Iowa to locate a road from Dubuque to Fort Atkinson, be received, and they be allowed the sum of forty dollars and fifty cents, each, for services in running said road through Fayette and Clayton Counties, and Alfred L. Brown be allowed the sum of forty dollars and fifty cents as surveyor of said road, and also the sum of eight dollars for drafting plat, being extra services. Also. Allen Wilson and Moses Hewitt, chairmen, be allowed the sum of twenty-seven dollars each, and also George Culver, as marker, be allowed the sum of twenty-seven dollars, and Franklin S. Wilcox, as stake driver, be allowed the sum of sixteen dollars, and that Joseph Hewitt be allowed the sum of twenty dollars and twenty-five cents for services of team.

On the same day, having an eye on business, the Commissioners divided the expense and charged Fayette with her full share, as follows:

Wereas, The Territorial road from Dubuque to Fort Atkinson having run twenty miles and a quarter in this county, and twenty-nine miles and three-quarters in the county of Fayette, at an expanse of two hundred and eight-seven dollars and twenty-five cents, and the county of Clayton having liquidated the whole amount, therefore be it

Ordered, That two-thirds of the above sum, together with interest until paid, be charged to the county of Fayette.

The First Crop of Wheat in Fayette Co, Iowa, was grown by Andrew Hensley, 1844-45
and the trip to the mill by his young boys, A.J. and Jacob
from the 1878 History of Fayette Co, Iowa.
 

During the Summer of 1844, Andrew Hensley employed Daniel B. Noble, of Yankee Settlement, to break some prairie on his claim, north of Bear Grove. During the Winter of 1844-5, he moved his family into the cabin built by Madison Brown (probably in Grannis Canyon), and, in the Spring (of 1845) made a quantity of maple sugar.

In the fall of 1845, Mr. (Andrew) Hensley, who had sown winter wheat on the land he had broken the previous Fall, raised a bountiful crop. This was the first wheat known to be grown in Fayette County. In the Autumn, as soon as he could get some of it threshed and dry enough to grind, he sent his two boys, Andrew J. (12 years old)  and Jacob G. (9 years old) with twelve bushels loaded on an ox wagon to Cascade in Dubuque County to mill. (Note:  Today, 2003, this is 75 miles to the SE of Fayette by modern highway.)  It was not an easy task" to go to mill" in those days, and the boys were gone eight days. They had reached Hewett's (on the Clayton/Fayette County line) on their way home with the first flour made from Fayette County wheat, but during the night their oxen strayed away and the next morning, not finding their team (several hitches of oxen) they started for home (about ten miles on foot). They were barefooted, and were in constant dread of rattlesnakes as well as Indians. Arriving in sight of home (either just north of Bear Grove or in upper Grannis Canyon)  the boys were terrified, that they could discover no signs of life about the premises, and fearing that the rest of the family had been captured and carried away by the Indians. They approached their home very cautious, with heavy hearts but were much relieved and rejoiced when they found their father and mother at the other side of the cabin, digging potatoes. Mr. (Andrew) Hensley went to Hewitt's, found the stray oxen and brought the flour home in safety. The boys dreaded the Indians, and the family appears to have had good cause for hating their un-comfortable and "insolent" neighbors.

…In 1845, says A. J. Hensley, William Van Dorn and Miss Messenger were married, although the marriage is not recorded in Clayton County (then the governmental seat for what would be Fayette County) and when Mr. (Andrew) Hensley moved out of the (Franklin) Wilcox cabin, the newly married couple moved into it. (Note:  It seems that the Hensley's like many of the first families into Fayette County along the Mission Trail made temporary residence in the double cabin just south of present day Fayette, built by Franklin Wilcox in 1840. In this case Mrs. Hensley would not go back to the 'Brown' cabin (probably at the upper end of Grannis Canyon), where they were living in at the time she had a run-in with three Winnebago Indians in 1844, before building on their own claim at the northwest edge of Bear Grove on Bear Creek.  bz/2003) This was probably the first marriage in Fayette, County, if, as is to be presumed, the wedding was at Mr. Messenger's house, and Orrear's wedding was at the elder Wilcox's house at the Mission (Franklin Wilcox had moved up to the Mission area near Ft. Atkinson in Winneshiek County about 1842.). It may be well to add that the double cabin of (Franklin) Wilcox was standing late as 1851.

…In the Spring or Summer of 1845, Webster sold his claim on the Volga (at what is presently the field area at the south end of today's Fayette) to Lorenzo Mulliken, and returned to Dubuque. Mulliken immediately commenced the construction of a stone fence at the edge of the bluff surrounding the south part of his claim (in today's south Fayette). Andrew J. Hensley (age 12) worked with Mulliken and Horace Bemis, who bought the Orrear improvements the next year, aided him in completing it. Mulliken died in 1847, and was one of the first settlers at Yankee Settlement (Colesburg), Delaware County, and his father, Samuel Mulliken, was one of the County Commissioners of Delaware County in 1847-8. (Note: A.J. Hensley would spend much of his later life in the village of Fayette, the same place was helping Mulliken and Bemis farm and built a stone fence in 1845, ten years before Fayette would be platted.  Thus perhaps his early years in the Fayette valley, 5 miles from his Lima area home, would be a memory that attracted him back.  He was well known and respected in Fayette, knowing almost every early first pioneer of the Volga River Valley in Fayette County.  He is buried at Fayette in Grandview Cemetery.)

Location of Andrew Hensley from 1844 to 1849
The Bear Grove and Grannis Hollow areas along the Corn Hills.
He was along the Mission Trail at the very edge of the hill and prairie country in Fayette County, Iowa.

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ABOVE:  The view is east across sec 1 of Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa.  In 1842 Andrew Hensley bought the claim of Nathaniel Wilcox.  Nathanial had 'marked' a claim to land in about 1840, the same time his older brother Franklin Wilcox has claimed land 4+ miles to one's back when viewing this picture of west.  The claim was on the northwest side of Bear Grove near Bear Creek, the remnants which can be seen at the left of this picture.  What was to become known as the 'Corn Hills' is the rolling hill line in this picture.  The corn hills run from near Arlington to near Fayette and represent the break between the unglaciated area to the left, NE, of the picture and the glaciated prairie to the right, SW, of the picture.  The deep prairie roots were extremely difficult to 'break open' or nearly impossible to plow with the early pioneer soft iron or wooden plow boards or shares.

ABOVE: To the left of the pictures, a mile+ away is Grannis Creek and a claim of Madison Brown just upstream or west of the big spring in Grannis Canyon (Hollow).  Andrew would acquire this claim in 1844 and live at least some of the fall/winter time in the primitive cabin Brown had built.  It might be here the Mrs. Hensley had her 'upsetting' encounter with three Indian braves.  This same late fall of 1844, Andrew hired Daniel Nobel, apparently from Yankee Settlement (Colesberg in Clayton County) to bring his oxen yokes to this Bear Grove claim and open a small field, which would have been in or near the trees showing in the above picture., where Andrew planted the winter wheat, and would the next spring harvest the first wheat crop in Fayette County.  Franklin Wilcox apparently broke a small field area open near his cabin and harvested the first 'crop' in Fayette County, a small oat crop in 1841,  just after he built the cabin in 1840.  Throughout the 1840's there were very, very few plowed fields in Fayette county.  Most were in open stream bottoms, with some in patches cleared of brush and timber.  The deep prairies were basically untouchable until the late 1850's. By the early 1860's the prairies W and SW of the Mission Road were rapidly 'broken' by 'sod busters,' men who had learned to make and use very large, heavy single bottom plows pulled by 6-9 yoke of oxen (a yoke is a team or two oxen).  PERSONAL NOTE:  My Thompson clan  at Brush Creek (Arlington) were among the first 'sod busters' in the area, thus they rapidly acquired much of the prime land to the immediately to the west of Arlington, or opened new farms for their relatives and neighbors.  Some of the next generation took the 'sod busting' knowledge and ability westward to Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma to the short grass prairies, after the Indians were 'run off' the land.

ABOVE:  The natural vegetation on the Corn Hills was a variety of prairie grasses interspersed with shrugs and trees. About a mile over the ridge to the NE of the trees was the Madison Brown claim that Andrew Hensley would acquire sometime around the spring of 1844.

ABOVE:  The view is to the SW from the head of Grannis Creek that leads down Grannis Hollow. The same tree line is the same as the second picture above with Bear Grove off to the left, SE, of the picture.  His claim and the Madison Brown cabin would have been about a half mile down Grannis Creek, to ones back when viewing the above picture. After the 'Indian scare' in the winter of 1844/45, in the Brown cabin near Grannis Spring, Mrs. Hensley would not return to the cabin.  The family apparently spent some of that winter in a rented cabin from Hewitt on the Fayette, Clayton county line, but by the spring of 1845, were living in the Franklin Wilcox cabin.  This was a double sided cabin which apparently housed more than one family in transition.  By the fall of 1845, Andrew and young sons would have completed there own cabin at the Bear Grove site, probably near or in the tree line below.

…During the Summer of 1844, Andrew Hensley employed Daniel B. Noble, of Yankee Settlement, to break (first plowing) some prairie on his claim, north of Bear Grove (in Sec 1, of Smithfield Twp.  During the Winter of 1844-45. Andrew moved his family into the cabin built by Madison Brown (probably at the head of Grannis Canyon, just to the north of the 'claimed' land north of Bear Creek that he bought from Nathaniel Wilcox)  and, in the Spring of 1845 and made a quantity of maple sugar.
...One day that spring (1845), Mr. Hensley had occasion to go to Hewett's cabin with whom he had some business. His son, Andrew J. (Jackson), or "Jack," as he is familiarly called, accompanied him. They expected to return home the same night, but Mr. Hewett was away, and they waited for him. .
...Mrs. Hensley with the four younger children, were left alone. During the afternoon, three Indians approached the house, and one of them entered. He was insolent, and by signs, not to be misunderstood, endeavored to drive Mrs. Hensley and her children away. She was not to be driven, however, and endeavored to induce the Indian to leave, but he was as stubborn as she. She had informed him that she was expecting her husband every minute, and went out to see if he was coming. She was becoming frightened. …The Indian followed her out, and rudely grasped her by the shoulder. She was a strong, muscular woman, however, and proved more than a match for her tawny assailant. She shook him off and nearly threw him down. In the melee, he struck her a severe blow across the breast with his musket. As soon as she recovered her breath, she went back into the cabin, fastened the door, and watched. There were two loaded muskets in the house and she determined to shoot her insolent foe if he dared to attempt to enter again. He cautiously approached and peered over the door, but, discovering her determined attitude, he did not attempt to enter.
…After nightfall Mrs. Hensley, becoming satisfied that her husband and son were not coming home that night and thoroughly alarmed, concluded that the only safety for herself and little ones was in flight. Accordingly. after making a few hasty preparations, she took her baby, Daniel P.,  about 6 months old and her next youngest child 1+ year, Richard (would die in the Civil War) in her arms, and with the others (two children, Elizabeth 5, and Reuben L. 4) , quietly stole out of the cabin and started for Hewett's cabin ten miles away.
…Arriving at "Oatman's" light house" (abandoned cabin on the north edge of Brush Creek, today's Arlington about seven miles away) she left the older children (Elizabeth 5 and Reuben L. 4)  there alone, bidding them keep quite until she returned and pushed on through the darkness, arriving late at night at Moses Hewett's, about a mile west of Joe Hewett's trading post (near the Fayette/Clayton County line, another 5 miles).

This exciting adventure with her Winnebago neighbors rendered Mrs. Hensley nervous and worried. She refused to go back to the Brown cabin to live and Mr. (Andrew) Hensley moved into the (Franklin) Wilcox cabin, at (Wilcox 'settlement') near Beatty's where his family lived until he built a house on his own Claim, into which he moved early in the Fall 1845 (This would have been the Franklin Wilcox double cabin in sec 31 of Westfield Twp, the 'safe heaven' for a number of settlers moving into the area).

It is said that one afternoon, during the following Summer (1846), Mr. (Andrew) Hensley detected an Indian stealthily following him, when he concealed himself behind the upturned roots of a fallen tree and determined to shoot if the native approached nearer than a stump that stood about twenty yards away. The Indian came to the designated point and concluded to go no farther in that direction. Another account states that there was "a deal of dodging about for two or three hours."
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The Mission trail to Fort Atkinson from the settlements in Dubuque, Delaware, and Clayton counties was cut through the timber for freight wagons to pass. It has to be assumed there was an attempt to stay on a relatively well drained grade away from sloughs and steep hills. Probably in many cases using well established animal routes. Even many of the major Indian trails followed animal movement routes, as whether elk, buffalo or man dry, level routes were naturally followed. The exact location of the trail is not known, but roughly stated it entered the southeastern corner of the county about two miles east and one mile south of present Arlington. The trail ran northwesterly to a point a mile and a half south of Fayette, wound around perhaps on the south side of the Volga River, just to the east of Randalia, passing through Donnan, running just east of Hawkeye, and crossing the Little Turkey about four miles north of Hawkeye, running northeasterly to leave Fayette county near the Old Mission Mill. Much of this trail would be used when the Clayton county commissioners sometime around late 1841, made an effort to establish the first road in the county by paying men to make a road as close as possible to where they supposed the south boundary of the Neutral Ground to be for the first settlers to come into the county.

In 1840, the Government established a military post north of Fayette County, in Winnesheik, called Fort Atkinson, and three or four miles south established a Mission school for the Winnebago's. This naturally attracted the attention of the pioneers of that day, and in the Spring or early Summer of 1840, Franklin Wilcox, with his wife and little daughter, and his brother Nathaniel, came from Illinois to Fayette County and made a settlement. Franklin Wilcox built a cabin thirty or forty rods north of the north line of Township 92-8, on un-surveyed land, six or eight rods west of a little creek that runs northerly through the southeast quarter of Section 32. This was about 1 ½ miles south and a little west of what would become the village of Westfield/Fayette in the Volga River Valley.

About three miles west and three miles north of the Point, half way to Brush Creek (Arlington), an Indian trader, Joseph Hewitt, who had a trading post utilized by both Indians and white men in 1840. His trading post was often a resting-place for early settlers while they ventured out looking for ground to settle on. The ox-trains hauling supplies and produce to the military post at Fort Atkinson stopped at Hewitt’s on a regular basis.

Wilcox may have actually spent some time in the area as early as 1835 hunting and trapping, and perhaps "spying out the land" before moving his family and building a cabin. This area was just south of the Neutral Ground and therefore available for "legal" settlement. 

Wilcox's cabin sheltered other settlers as they moved into the area and erected their own cabins. Shortly a second cabin was erected just to the west. The third cabin in the county was just north of Arlington near Brush Creek. Other cabins apparently went up west of Wilcox's place.

A point a couple of miles SW of the NE corner of Smithfield township Hewitt and a man named Culver set up another trading post. Culver soon bought out Hewitt and moved the post to a point about a mile east of Wadena, next to the hill on the N side of the Volga River, as it was nearer the Indians in the Neutral Lands just to the north of Wadena and the Elgin Valley which was always a major settlement for the Indians on the Turkey River. This time frame was probably 1841-1842.

About 1840, Nathaniel Wilcox took a claim just west of the big spring in the Grannis Canyon, which at that time was to the north of Bear Grove which included the timber areas of the present day Brush Creek Park, to the north of Arlington. Nathaniel Wilcox had built cabin, in Sec 1, T92, R8, Smithfield Twp, four miles to the east of his brother Franklin Wilcox. This cabin would have been 3mi E and 2mi S of present Main Street Fayette; 2000z.

Two single men had put up a cabin on the creek to the south of Franklin's. About a half mile to the east of Wadena in the north bank of the Volga River valley, a banker, Culiver, who had moved to Clayton County from Michigan in 1838, built a trading post, 1841, which was also one of the first buildings in the county and probably the first commercial establishment.

Andrew Hensley bought the Nathaniel Wilcox claim in section one of Smithfield township. Unlike many of the early pioneer families who would constantly move to newer frontiers, the Hensley's stayed in the county. On November 27, 1844 after the arrival of his wife from Wisconsin in 1843, the couple gave birth to Daniel P. Hensley, the first white child to be born in Fayette County. Like many of the very early settlers, the Hensley's post office address from 1844 to 1849 was Dubuque, seventy miles away. And for several years Dubuque was his trading point, where he bartered honey for merchandise. The honey was obtained by exploiting the wild bee trees, and one account is of it being obtained by the barrelful. 

About two miles to the west of Franklin Wilcox's cabin, and about three miles southwest of present Fayette, a couple of men, one with his family, came to the area and set up a trading post near a large spring. This area would be on or near the trail to Fort Atkinson. They apparently began selling whiskey to the Indians. In March of 1843, after a misunderstanding with a Winnebago over a gun and whiskey trade the two white men and two Indians began drinking together. Mrs. Tegarden saw trouble coming and left for the Orrear cabin south of the Wilcox's and about two miles away. She left the children behind as her husband refused to allow them to to along. The story goes that when Tegarden and Atwood had sunk into a drunken sleep the Indians killed them and the tree year old boy. Also hacked with tomahawks were the thirteen year old boy and the eleven year old girl. The Indians left the cabin temporarily to get the horse and sled in order to carry away what they wanted. The girl aroused here brother, and sustaining him by her own strength and courage started to flee for safety. The children, wounded, and weak from loss of blood, poorly clothed, made their way over the prairie in a bitterly cold night through snow over a foot deep, to the Orrear cabin, which they reached at 5am and obtained aid. Meanwhile the Indians returned to rob the cabin and then burn it down with the corpses. The girl lost her toes from frostbite and carried throughout here life a tomahawk mark on her face, so the story goes.

About three miles NW of the Brush Creek crossing, a Major Mumford settled on a claim and built a cabin in 1842 (exact timeline has not been verified). The Mumford’s may have been the parents of the first white child born in the area.

In about 1843, a pair of unmarried young men, James Beatty and William Orrear, settled about 600 feet south of the Wilcox cabin and erected a cabin in the north edge of Sec 5 of Smithfield Twp., near a spring. They were reported to be very industrious, and broke land and erected split rail fences

Orrear in the fall of 1843 or winter of 1844 purchased Beatty's interest in the their mutual farm. Beatty then moved north and into the Valley of what would be Westfield/Fayette and built a log cabin on the Volga. This would have been on the river near new Hwy 150 bridge, 2000/z, or in Sec 19, T93, R8. In 1844, Isaac Webster had a claim a short distance east of Beatty on the Volga River bottom, which would have been the flats on the east side of present Fayette.

Isaac Webster raised a crop of oats, probably the first in the county and stacked them where the UIU campus now is, before thrashing the stacks that winter by tramping them out with oxen.

In February of 1844, Orrear married Mary Wilcox, daughter of the elder Franklin Wilcox, who by that time had moved on up the trail to a point near what would be called Dunham’s Grove. This was reported as the first marriage in Fayette County.

Mr. Messenger, 1844, settled about 40 rods east of the Teagarden Spring, on the NW 1/4, Sec 6, Twp92, R8 . This would be in the NW corner of Smithfield Twp., just to the south of the Mission Road, 3mi S and 2mi W of present Main Street Fayette.

Madison Brown, 1844, built a rude cabin with a roof of basewood bark north of Bear Grove, but within the year sold out to Andrew Hensely and removed to the bank of the Volga, 2mi E/SE of Fayette and "commenced" to the farm. (there is no Volga in this direction, so the description is probably in the Big Rock/Langerman's Ford area 2mi east. The area north of Mission Road which included all of the Eagles' Point, Westfield, Fayette, Big Rock Valley, was still in the Neutral Ground and not legally open to whites until the late 1840's. However, scouting, squatting, trading, trapping, and other activities were going on from the early 1840's. Indian traders really did not like the settlers in the area as the Indians retreated from them. Good traders were making very nice profits for the day. Trading in furs and skins was still very lucrative. Lorenzo Mulliken and Berne's were farming on the south rim of the Fayette Valley (College Hill area), but also trading with the Winnebago's. It was said they conspired with several braves to have Brown driven out of the Big Rock area. Brown reported an occasional bullet whizzing by his ear and one of his oxen was wounded. He had said several Indians killed one of this steers near the Volga, tumbled it over the bank into a canoe and floated down the stream to their camp on the Volga below the Big Rocks. The year was 1845. Brown apparently held on, "in spite of his jealous neighbors," and in 1846 with more settlers coming in, was molested no longer.

The first cabin was built north of the future village of Brush Creek in "Bear Woods." By Major Mumford.

During the winter of 1845, Lorenzo Mulliken lived with Beatty in his cabin on the Volga on the Westfield/Fayette river bottom (just to the west of the present Hwy 150 bridge, 2000/z). A.J. Hensely (age 12+) was there part of the winter helping Webster thresh his oats, which were then hauled to Ft. Atkinson and sold.  

Lorenzo Mulliken built a stone fence to mark the south boundary of his squatter's claim at the top hill on the south rim of the Fayette/Westfield valley that would become known as College Hill. This is the same settler that was reported involved with "harassing" neighbor Brown in 1844/45.  (A.J. Hensley (age 12+) helped in building the stone fench.)

On December 28, 1846, Iowa became a state. In 1846, by treaty, the Winnebago Indians gave up rights to the Neutral Ground where they had resided since 1833; and by 1848 all had been moved to their reservation in Minnesota. In shape,

M. C. Sperry Came in 1846---Writing about the early settlement of Illyria township (Wadena area) Sperry refers to Hewitt and Culver trading post in the spring of 1846 on the Volga river one half mile east of Wadena. "In fall of same year Milton Sperry and Nathan Culver moved in and built a house on the Volga about three miles west of Wadena. The following winter they got out timber intending to erect a saw mill, but finally abandoned the undertaking." Mortimer C. Sperry would enter Fayette County and be the first to plow land in the Taylorville area

Orrear who had been farming and running a dairy several miles SW of Fayette along the Mission Road, would sell to Horace Bemis, 1846. Bemis in 1847 would enter (legally register/buy) land the next year, the first entry in Fayette County. Apparently Orrear moved to the Mission until sometime in 1848, when it was reported he removed to Missouri, his wife dying on the journey.

The area was seeing more and more movement by early pioneers.

Horace Bern's, Jan 17, 1847, entered the NW 1/4, Sec 5, Twp92, R8, which was the first entry (legal claim/buy) of land in Fayette County. This is in the NW corner of Smithfield Twp., 3mi south, 1/1/2mi west of present Main Street Fayette. This is about one mile west of the Wilcox cabin marker and on the south side of the road. The area around Wilcox cabin was the prime location of the first settlers in the area as it was on the Mission Road, just to the south of Neutral Ground.  

A log schoolhouse was constructed at Taylorsville (2 miles NxNE of Bruch Creek or Arlington).

The first school was held in Brush Creek.

Beatty who was still living in his cabin on the Fayette Volga flats, apparently was a roving character disliking to remain very long in a place, which was a characteristic of the earliest pioneers that led the way for others to follow. In 1848, he was reported going to Minnesota, where he would go on to become a member of the legislature. Minnesota territory was starting to open up for a similar migration pattern as Fayette County had experienced. Beatty was really of the explorer/trader/trapper type.

The three other borders of Westfield township were surveyed in 1848. The land was 3/5th tall and wet grass prairie, 2/5th hills covered with a variety of hardwoods. The glaciers had cut across Fayette County diagonally just to the southwest of present day Fayette and Arlington. Thus the prairie to the south and west, and the hills in the north and east.

A village was about to be established in the Fayette/Westfield Valley. Robert Alexander in 1848, entered a claim for land just to SE of the present Klock's Island area, and Westfield would be platted in the summer of 1851. Today (2000) this is the area from the new Hwy 150 bridge to the west, and south of the Volga River, all the way to the south side of the park area. It is all of the area over the hill and to the west of Fayette along Water Street or Hwy 93. No original structures survive today, nor do any of the older homes. Westfield is a lost village, like Albany and Lima to the east.

In November, 1848, snow fell to the depth of eighteen inches, and remained until April, 1849. It was a cold, hard winter for the settlers of Fayette as well as other sections of the state. In 1848-49, before the surveys were completed, and before the lands were in market, the settlers organized a Claim Society for the purpose of mutual protection against claim jumpers.

To the north of the Fayette valley, in the present West Union area,  Roger and LyBrand bought 60 acres from Williams Wells, went back to Wisconsin for their families and returned in September, bringing a stock of goods with which they opened up in the Wells' house what could be considered the first store in Fayette county. Meanwhile a celebration was held July 4, 1849, about a hundred yards to the south of the present court house, under some shade trees and near a spring. This was Knob Prairie, and Wells at the celebration got the idea to found a town here. The hill or knob on which the court house now sits, was the prairie on the knob. Wells, Rogers and LyBrand  lay out a town plat in Sept. of 1849, Wells naming it West Union. The first house was moved into by Rogers on Xmas day. A second building, a store was erected by Daniel Cook by 1850 and a hotel by Cook by 1851. The hotel was immediately sold to a Dr. Stafford, who put in the first drug stock in the county, the first shoe shop and the first sailor shop in West Union. 

The Conner and Diamond sawmill at Elgin, built in August, 1849, may have been the first mill of any kind in the county. The county had a lot of timber, especially to the northeast, and saw mills would be the first in the area. Saw mills often were flimsy affairs compared to the grist mills.

 1850's

1848 to 1875 +/-
the successful farming culture develops
in fayette county, iowa.

....The water driven old burrs were later moved north away from the river close to where Rufus Warner's Black Smith Ship was later located, and run by gas engine, as was the saw mill southeast, across the Volga.

Farming around Fayette in the late 1840's/early 1850's---

The history of the Fayette County communities as a permanent settlement, like that of most local histories, begins not with a town but with farmers and farming, and perhaps a mill, (and the merchants/tradesman that follow and support the farming endeavor). What kind of farming is generally left to the imagination. In the old 1850 census report Mr. Price listed eight Fayette county farmers and statistics relating to their land, machinery, live stock, crops, etc.

What Eight Farmers Owned and Produced, 1850 census---These eight farmers owned property as follows: 1569 (average of 196 acres each) acres of land, of which 585 (average of 73 acres each,) acres were improved (improved land was land that had been cleared of timber and brush, was either capable of being plowed or utilized for grass pasturing), and all valued at $9080 (1135 each,). Farm implements and machinery valued at $864 (108 each). Live stock valued at $2205 (275 each), consisting of 18 horses ( about two each), no asses or mules, 19 milch cows (about two each), 25 working oxen (three each), 32 cattle (4 each), 60 sheep (12 each), and 190 swine (14 each, pigs were often allowed to run in the open lots and timber and easy to raise as 'wild hogs').

Total Production---These eight farmers in total, during 1849, produced crops estimated as: wheat-485 bu, rye-0 bu, Indian corn-5000 bu, oats-484bu, tobacco-300bu, wool-198lb, peas and beans-8bu, potatoes-222bu, buckwheat-115bu, butter-1510lb, hay-183tons, grass seed-2bu, maple sugar-1950lbs, molasses-39gal, beeswax and honey-1238, home manufactures valued at $48, slaughtered animals-$241.

The eight 1849 Fayette County Farmers showing in Mr. Price's 1850 Census---They were the farming ancestors that "led all the rest."

Jerod Tailor (or Taylor) Farm (three miles northeast of Arlington,z)---On March 31, 1849, Taylor entered (claimed) 120 acres of land in Fairfield township, 40 being in Section 14, 40 in Section 15, and 40 in Section 23,92-7 (This land is exactly two mile north and one mile east of present Arlington, or one mile north of the Talyorsville Cemetery, z). Seventy if his acres were listed as improved land (capable of cultivation or pasturing,z), machinery-$100, 1 horse, 2 milch cows, 2 working oxen, 5 other cattle, 6 sheep, 22 swine, total value of livestock-$219. Produced: 60bu wheat, 200bu oats, 25lbs wool, 1bu peas and beans, 15bu potatoes, 100lbs butter, 30 tons hay, 2 bu grass seed, 1200lbs maple sugar, 30gals molasses, 50lbs beeswax and honey, slaughtered animals-$15. Tailor's name was not on the 1855 Fayette County tax record (apparently he had moved on, which was often the case with pioneer families, settle for a few years and move west hoping for better conditions,z).

Chaunsey Brooks Farm (three miles south of Fayette,z)---60 acres of improved land, farm machinery-$50, 3 horses, 3 milch cows, 5 other cattle, 8 sheep, 25 swine, livestock value of $266. Produced: 80bu wheat, 200bu corn, 50 bu oats, 100lbs butter, 15ton hay, 50lbs maple sugar, 60lbs beeswax and honey, $50 in slaughtered animals. On May 24, Chauncey Brooks entered 160 acres of land in Section 12-92-8, now Smithfield township (This farm would have been 2 1/2 miles south of Grandview Cemetery at Fayette or 1 1/2 miles north of the Maynard corner, along the west side of present Hwy. 150 on the creek that is visible from the highway,z). That neighborhood is still called (in 1940) by old timers, The Brooks neighborhood.

Solon Barnes Farm (five miles southeast of Fayette in the Korn Hill area)---35 acres of improved land, $5 machinery, 1 milch cow, two working oxen-$40. Produced: 300bu corn, 30bu oats, 200lbs tobacco, 50lbs butter, 4 tons hay, 310lbs beeswax and honey, $10 animals slaughtered. Barnes was not found among entrymen prior to 1850. In 1855 tax record indicated assessed on 80 acres in Sec. 1-97-7, now Fairfield township (This farm was five miles southeast of Fayette on the actual Korn Hill area, or five miles northwest of Arlington. Korn Hill itself about 3 1/2 miles east of Fayette and one mile south off the present blacktop road called Korn Hill Road,z).

John Brooks Farm (Korn Hill area)---40 acres improved land, $75 farm machinery, 2 horses, 3 milch cows, 4 working oxen, 9 other cattle, 3 sheep, 10 swine, total value of $345. Farm products: 80bu wheat, 200bu corn, 30bu potatoes, 300lbs, butter, 20tons hay, 100lbs maple sugar, 3gals molasses, $30 slaughtered animals. John Brooks on My 24, 1848, entered 160 acres in Section 7-92-7, which is nor Fairfield township. This was in the same area of Korn Hill that Solon Barnes hand entered.|

William Fetch Farm---40 acres improved land, $100 farm machinery, 1 horse, 3 milch cows, 4 working oxen, 8 other cattle, 5 swine, total value $246. Farm products: 10bu peas and beans, 150bu potatoes, 100lbs butter, 30tons hay, 300lbs maple sugar, 1gal molasses, animals slaughtered $21. Fetch was not found among the entrymen records prior to 1850, and his name was not on the 1855 tax records. The location of his farm is thus unknown, z.|

George L. Whitley Farm (three plus miles south of Fayette on Hwy 150)---100 acres of improved land, $50 in farm machinery, 5 horses, 2 milch cows, 2 other cattle, 13 sheep, 12 swine, total value $649. Farm products: 75bu wheat, 3000bu corn, 190bu oats, 47lbs wool, 60lbs butter, 7tons hay, home made manufactures $30, slaughtered animals $30. No record was found of any entry by Whitely of government land prior to 1859. This was probably "Lemon"(George Lehman) Whitely who in the 1855 tax book was assessed on 240 acres in Section 26-93-8, now Westfield township. I wonder if some of the Whitely (or Whitley) descendants still plow corn where their ancestor raised that bumper crop of 3000 bushels. This George L. would be great-great-grandfather to Harold Whitely's children, I think.|

William Wells Farm (the northern part of present West Union)---200acres of improved land, machinery $400, 4 horses, 4 milch cows, 13 working oxen, 3 other cattle, 30 sheep, 25 swine, total value $697. Farm products: 200bu corn, 70lbs wool, 14bu potatoes, 60bu buckwheat, 500lbs, butter, 70tons hay, 300lbs maple sugar, 5gal molasses, 818lbs beeswax and hone, slaughtered animals $35. William Wells on December 5, 1849, entered 160 acres of land in Section 17-94-8, now Union township. William Wells started the town of West Union.

Remembrance Lippencott Farm (on the northeastern outskirts of present West Union)---40 acres improved land, $75 farm machinery, 2 horses, 1 cow, 10 swine, value $177. Farm products: 40bu wheat, 700bu corn, 15bu oats, 100lbs tobacco, 56lbs wool, 3bu peas and beans, 13bu potatoes, 55bu buckwheat, 300lbs butter, 7 tons hay, value of home manufactures $18, animals slaughtered $50. I do not find any original entry of land by Lippencott prior to 1850. In 1855 he was taxed on 280 acres in Sections 9, 10, 15 of township 94-8, now Union Township, are the three section around the northeastern outskirts of present West Union).

Why Were Only Eight Farmers Listed in the 1850 Census of Price?--- Why Barns, Fetch, Whitely, and Lippencott appear on this list of farm operators and do not appear yet to have entered any government land; and why data is given for none of the other 146 households found in the summer of 1850 by Mr. Price., in which homes all but a few of the men were listed as farmers, is something some to wonder about.. 

Comments About the Eight Farmers---For the eight farmers for whom the 1850 census gave property and products data these facts appear: Tailor let in oats, maple sugar, molasses and diversity in stock and products. Cash value his farm $1000. C. Brooks though high in cattle did not lead in any one respect. Value farm $1000. Solon Barnes let in wheat and tobacco. Value farm $180. J. Brooks let in cattle (except working oxen). Value farm $800. Fetch let in potatoes. Value farm $300. Whitely let in horses. Value farm $2500. Wells led in total live stock, wool, hay, beeswax and honey. Value farm $3000. Lippencott probably made the best showing of diversified farming for improved acres. Value of farm $1300. Most of the residents enumerated in 1850 probably had come too late to raise a crop in 1849, (and that is why they did not show on the farm census). Some of the older residents were probably "settlers" on government land which they expected to acquire but for which they had not yet secured a legal title. 

Robert LeRoy Newton was born in a log cabin in Fairfield Twp. The Newton family was the 6th white family to occupy Fairfield Twp. (Thus is can be seen that the total number of pioneer families in Fayette County is still very limited.)

Robert Alexander began the erection of a saw-mill on the Volga River (at Westfield) in 1850 (remember he took up land here in mid-1849) in the area that sits on the southeast side of what is now Klock's Island Park, on the southeast corner of the park, just as the south fork of the Turkey River (Volga) just as the river leaves the edge of the bluff in the Westfield Valley, thus the starting of the first settlement in the valley at the site which would become the little settlement of Westfield and lasted for several years until the area around the main street of present Fayette began to grow more rapidly in the late 1850's. A few years into the future the area of Alexander's sawmill would be on the bank of a mill race which would supply the Westfield woolen mill which would be to a short distance to the north of the dry run bridge which sits just to the east of the present (2000) Klock's Island entrance. This dry run is actually the lower part of the old mill race where the water was constricted down and gained speed just before it ran across the wheel of the Westfield woolen mill. 

Robert Alexander would claim and buy up several thousand  acres along the Volga River flowage in the townships around Westfield and become a major land speculator in the process becoming very wealthy for the times and area.  His son-in-law, James Robertson would own much of the land in the 'to be' Fayette valley.

Erastus Light (and his brother) built a sawmill, 1850, at Lightville (to be Lima).

A log school house was erected in Brush Creek, and also used for regular church services.

Early 'Census' Information for Fayette County

Between 1840 and 1850 there were people who lived in Fayette county, for a while at least, whose names did not appear in the census list recently printed in the column for 1858. Most of those folks had moved away by 1850.

PETERMAN'S FIRST PIONEER LIST OF THE 1840'S--- ? Atwood, ? Baker, W.H. Bailey, James Beatty, Horace Bemis, ? Bonham, Samuel Barazelton, Benjamin Brooks, Henry Brooks, Hiram Brooks, Jessie Brooks, Nelson Brooks, (their father) Brooks, ? Chlson, Samuel Connor, George Cook, James (Jimmie) Crawford, Sam Crane, George Culver, Amos Cummings, Goodson Cummings, Lewis Delzene, Joseph Dickinson, ? Downs, Lorenzo Dutton, Robert Gamble, John Giles, Charles Glidden, ? Hadley, Andrew Hensley, Joe Hewitt, Moses Hewitt, ? Hyde, Charles Jones, Henry Jones, E.A. Light, ? Lucklow, Hyler Lyons, ? Messenger, ? Mullign, Major ? Mumford, John Nagle, Earl Newton, Royce Oatman, William Orrear, Jacob Ourey, John Paddleford, William Paddleford, Willima Palmer, Reuben Perkins, Zopher Perkins, ?2 Pettit, ? Piper, John Randall, ? Rausdell, Ben Reeves, David Ring, William Ring, J. W. Rogers, William M. Rosier, ? Ryan, ? Sackett, Moses C. Sperry and father, ? Spofford, James Stevenson, T.R. Talbot, ? Teagardner, ? Tombs, William Van Dorn, Kitten Voshell, Isaac Webster, Franklin Wilcox, Nathan Wilcox, Sanford Wilcox. NOTE: Many of these surnames keep showing up in county history and in the cemeteries.

Total for Earliest Familes--- The Peterman list, and the 1850 census list contain a total of about 290 names as possible heads of first families in Fayette County. There are about 215 different family names (surnames) found in the two lists.

1850 Industrial Census for Fayette County listed:
13 tradesman; 5 millers sawing lumber, 4 millers working grist or floor mills, a cooper, wheelwright, carpenter, and brickmaker. As stated earlier farmers led the settling of an area, but millers had to follow immediately, with a few craftsman as listed plus blacksmiths, harness makers. Less essential craftsman would not be far behind, thus the pioneer industry which supported the local farming operations developed and continued for decades until big agribusiness eclipsed the lifestyle.  

Village Plats
The first recorded deed (plat) in the county was on July 24, 1850, on a town lot in West Union. The early platted villages in Fayette county were: West Union-June 1850, Westfield-July 1851, Auburn-1851, Volga City (Lima)-Oct 1851, Taylorville-Feb 1852, West Auburn-Sept 1853, Centerville (adjoining Taylorville)-May 1854, Albany-July 1854, Elgin-Feb 1855, Fayette-June1855.

A 1850 Census Report---
Between September 26 and October 9, 1850, Eliphalet Price, living in Clayton county, made a census enumeration for Fayette County, which had that year been set off from Clayton County. He probably traveled on horseback to reach the one hundred fifty four families or houses which he found and listed for this entire county in 1850. The Census of 1850 is Stimulating to the Imagination---As one studies the old fashioned handwriting of Mr. Price, and scans the names of the several hundred men, women and children he listed, it is easy to let the imagination go and try to take in fancy that trip with the enumerator over the unbroken hills and prairies and through the original forests of Fayette County---the prairies with their tall waving native grass and flowers, and the forests with only an occasional log cabin sheltering some pioneer family.

Heads, or other Representative of Families Found Listed in Fayette County, Iowa, Census of 1850---The census taker started in the southeast corner of the county and worked back and forth toward the north. Thus the number by each name indicate the approximate location in the county from south to north, with the lower numbers being in the south part of the county. Likewise, consecutively or close numbers were from the same "neighborhood." When a number is in parenthesis another person has been listed as apparent head of the house. Where one family name applies to two or more persons only the name of the apparent husband, or of the oldest of the named group is given.

Heads of Familes, Fayette County, Iowa, 1850---
Robert Alexander 31 (Note, he was operating on a sawmill on the southern portion of Westfield in the Fayette valley, therefore numbers close to him are in the Fayette area, bz/1999) , Noah Alexander 34, William Anderson 9, Horace Andrus (?) 48, Wilcox Aquilla (?) 64, Peter Alsern (38), James Austin 147, Solon W. Barnes 6, (Note, Solon Barnes is farming just north of Taylorsville, so anyone near the 6 number is in the area of Brush Creek/Arlington or Centerville/Taylorsville, z)Henry H. Baker 15, William Bartlett 141, Charles Bell (96), Margaret Berk 61, Solomon Bishop 63, Joseph Bradshaw 11, Harvey S. Bronson 124, Chansey Brooks 5, David Brooks 5, John Brooks 25, Mattison Brown 52, Oliver Brown 126, Martin Burdick 151, Harrison Butler 32, Absolom Butler 128, Caleb D. Carlton 117, James Carrol 84, Washington L. Case, 107, William P. Cavenaugh 62, Lukins Clark (?) (129), Chester Clestern (?) 105, Margaret Connor (76), John Conner85, Matthew Connor 90, Samuel Connor (90), Joseph Crawford 129, Thomas Crooks (49), Thomas Crooks 49, Franklin Crosley 20, James Davis 154, Joseph Deford 78, Lewis Deloynie 152, Benjamine Dimond 87, Thomas Douglas (38), John Downey (114), David H. Downs 142, Morris Earl 137, Hiram Earl (137) (Note: the Earls were millers and with these high numbers were probably located on the Turker River above the Elgin area, Earl's would run the big Albany Mill in the 1860's, z) , James Earl 138, John Eddy 137, Rudolphus Eddy 144, Charles Ellis (129), Dempsey Elrod 64, Ely Elrod 129, Sarah Elrod (129), Isaac Enders 143, Knud Everson 82, Ambier Everson (92), William Fetch 67, Daniel I. Finney 9, Isaac Fitch 60, Thomas Follett 51, Elipholet Follett 112, Simon Follett (112), Edwin Follett (117), Rebecca Forbes (87), Simeon B. Forbes 88, Joseph Forbes 89, Joseph Foster 140, Robert Freeman 19, William Frasier 76, John Frasier 82, William Fussell 28, David E. Fussell 30, Oliver P. Gallaher 55, Ephrom Gardner (151), James Garrison (55), Helen Gear (47), David German 8, William Gibblin 53, Levi Gifford (136), Calvin Gitchell 150, Stephen Greenup 125, Nathaniel Hall (119), John Hannah (38), Elisha Hartsoff 132, Samuel Hatton 56, John Hendershott 108, Michal Henmon 42, Andrew Hensley 45, Abraham Holing 149, Jacob Hoover 131, Henry Hopkins 40, Lysander Hopkins (137), Elizabeth Hopkins (137), Lyman Hord 127, Oley Houson 94, Bent Houson (94), Sarah Huff (114), James Hughson 148, Sarah Hunt (15), Charles Hyler 95, Lemuel Iliff 118, Benjamine Iliff 122, Hiram Jackson 103, James Jennings 29, John Johnson (106), Henry Johnson 106, Jason Johnson 111, Elf Johnson (111), Anson Kellogue (3), John Kellogue (31), Thomas Kerr 119, John Kerr (119), Hannah Kirkpatrick 129, Chaunsey Leveritt 110, Jacob Librand 68, Crotus A. Light 46, Harry W. Light 43, Remembrance Lippencott 72, Hugh Lockard 7, Gabriel Long 102, Monroe Lott (87), Robert K. Lounsburg (13), David Lowe 18, Stephen H. Ludlow 47, William Lumsden 50, Alexander Lumsden (50), Clark Lukins (129), Joseph Lyon 104, Ermina Lyon (104), Dorcus McCameram (80), Daniel McDuffy 145, Joseph McGee 36, Thomas McKinley (26), William McKinney (13), George McKinney 14, Joseph McLaughlin 57, Andrew Martin 116, John Matthew 117, John Matthews 108, America Mattews (99), Avril Miller 23, George Miller (43), Wilson Miller 66, Eugene Moine 22, John P. Moine (22), Evleine Morkley (2), William Morris 49, George Morrison 123, Russell Moron (147), Alexander Mussleman 120, George W. Neff 33, Palmer Newton 21, William E. Newton (21), Jerod Nutting 100, Eren Oleyson (93), Jacob Orey 74, Mary Ottercreek (87), Betsey Ottercreek (90), Sirenius Packard 99, Francis Palmer 97, Albert Palmer (97), Asa G. Park 4, Woodman Perkins (1), Calvin Perkins 12, John Philips 105, Ebenezer Piper (137), Alonzo Randel 54, Stephen Reeve (88), Samuel Rice 73, Richard Richardson 26, Phroney A. Rickell 71, Jacob W. Rogers 65, Jacob Rosier 133, George Rosier (133), William Root 77, Ely Root 79, Emily Root 81, George Rowley 106, Nickolas Russell 58, Charles Sawyer 113, Allen Sawyer 114, James L. Sawyer 115, Thomas Scott 41, Sylvester Seward 3, Conwright Sheeley (31), Chansey S. Smith (23), Thomas J. Smith 39, Henry F. Smith 71, George Smith 83, David Smith 136, Charles Smith 139, Asa South 129, George Stansbury 75, James B. Stephenson 86, Samuel Stevens 98, Susan Stobough (57), Philip Stobough 59, Thomas B. Sturgis 38, David Tailor 1, Silas Tailor 10, Willima Thompson (69), Anthony Thompson 96, John Turner 130, Francis Vosial 16, Peter Vosial 17, Marrion Warner (117), Edwin C. Watters (or Wotters) 153, Levy W. Watrous 44, Lucy Welch (4), William Wells 68, Matthew Wells 69, Sarah Wells 69, David Wells 70 (Note, Wells is in the Knob Prairie/West Union area, z), Joshua Wells 80, George L. Whitley 24, Arson Wickham 146, Aquilla Wilcox (64), James Wilson 137, Thomas Wilson (146), Joseph Woddel 39, Thomas Woodel 37, Benjamine Woods 27, Jimerin Woodson 13.

Hensley surname information
reworked from the 1878 History of Fayette, Co, Iowa (bz/2003)

Page 317

…In 1842, Andrew Hensley came from Wisconsin to Fayette County (probably in the extreme SW corner of Grant Co, just across from Dubuque, Iowa, 60-70 miles from Fayette, and the start of the Mission Trail into Fayette County and to Fort Atkinson)  , and purchased the claim of Nathaniel Wilcox on or near Sec 1, Smithfield Twp. about five miles to the east of the ‘Wilcox Settlement,’ which was the first recorded cabin in Fayette Co, build by Nathaniel’s brother Franklin. The Wilcox Settlement was a ‘gathering’ point for the very few first settlers in the area on the Mission Trail or neutral grounds line.

…Andrew had come to Fayette County alone. He traveled back to (SW Grant County) Wisconsin, intending to return to his new Iowa home the same fall in 1842, but sickness prevented his return.

…In September of 1843, Andrew returned as far as Ead’s Grove in northern Delaware County (Manchester), with his family, consisting of a wife and four children, among whom was Andrew Jackson Hensley, then a lad of ten years. The family spent the winter of 1843/1844 in Ead’s Grove.

…In the Spring of 1844, Andrew rented Joe Hewett’s place, just northwest of Strawberry Point, just in the edge of Clayton County. Andrew at the same time, moved his family into a little cabin about 1 ½ miles west of Hewett’s, in the edge of Fayette County. A cabin owned by Moses Hewitt, son of Joe Hewitt by his first wife. It was in this cabin just across the Fayette County line that on November 27, 1944, Daniel P. Hensley was born, credited as the first white child born in Fayette County.

Page 558

…Andrew Hensley settled in April of 1844, in Sec 1 of Smithfield Township, Fayette Co, Iowa, near a woods called Bear Grove on the edge of rolling hills known as Korn Hill. He was one of the very first white settlers into Fayette County.

…He hired another man (Daniel B. Noble, of Yankee (Colesburg) Settlement) to break a new field with oxen and planted the first crop of winter wheat that fall (1844) and harvested in the late spring of 1845. He sold a part of that crop of winter wheat in Dubuque at $1.45 per bushel. (He would have been living on the Mission Trail route from Dubuque to Ft. Atkinson in Winneshiek Co, thus Dubuque or the Fort were basically the only places to sell any type of produce for a little cash.)

…Mr. Hensley purchased his groceries (supplies) for several years at Dubuque about 70 tough ox wagon miles away, on the Mississippi River. He often exchanged honey for commodities. Being one of the first white settlers into the region, experienced frontiersmen had early success in the exploitation of numerous honey trees.

…Prior to 1849, his post office of use was at Dubuque. The first convenient post office for Andrew Hensley was at Yankee Settlement (Colesburg), about 25 miles down the old Mission Trail.

P473

…In the winter of 1846-1847, the children of Andrew Hensley were sent to Ead’ s Grove (Manchester) to school. To visit their parents, in the lonely wilderness of along the Mission Trail east of Wilcox Settlement, they once or twice made their way on foot, through the snow in sight of Indian camps, and past Joe Hewitt’s trading post just inside the Clayton Co. line.

Page 312

…Andrew Jackson Hensley reports that when a lad of about 15 he often visited the Mission in 1845 (The old Mission village and school just below the northern border of Fayette Co, that served the Indians around Ft. Atkinson, just to the north. Today this is the village of St. Lucas.) He stated that the Indians would send their papooses to school only when they were short of provisions, that when their larders were well supplied with the fruits of the chase, they would neither work nor go to school. The school and fort were abandoned in June of 1848, when the Indians were pushed out, but from 1840 until 1849 or so, Fort Atkinson and the Mission School were important points and furnished a market for the few settlers in Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, and the area of Fayette Co just below or south of the Mission Trail.

Page 328

…Madison Brown built a rude cabin, with a roof made of basswood bark, north of Bear Grove and located there with his family in 1844, but he very soon sold his claim to Andrew Hensley, and removed to the bank of the Volga River, about two miles east or southeast of Fayette, where he commenced the farm now known as the "old Newcomb farm."  (Important Note on Andrew Hensley's movement in Fayette County:  I have to believe that this claim purchased by Andrew Hensley from Madison Brown was the one just to the west of the big spring at the head of the Grannis Canyon on Grannis creek.  Andrew, in 1842, had purchased the claim of Nathaniel Wilcox in Sec 1 of Smithfield Twp, which would have along Bear Creek probably just to the north of of the creek but still in the NW tip of Bear Grove and in the Corn Hill area.  He then returned to SW Wisconsin across from Dubuque intending to bring the family to Fayette County.  He became sick and remained in Wisconsin until the next year, 1843, when he brought the family to Ead's Grove (Manchester) for the winter of 1843/44.  Then in 1844 the family moved up to the Madison Brown cabin, I think at the head of Grannis Creek. The two claims purchased by Andrew would have been very close to each other, perhaps 1+ miles apart.  It would have been in this basic cabin of Madison Brown on Grannis Creek that Mrs. Hensley would have the encounter with some Indian braves in 1844 and become 'concerned' enough that she would not go back to living in this cabin.  Thus Andrew moved his family into the old Franklin Wilcox cabin at Wilcox settlement, 4+ miles back to the west, and stayed until 1845 when he built his own cabin on the first claim in Bear Grove.  Andrew apparently farmed this two claims near Grannis and Bear Creek in the later half of the 1840's.  He would have been doing a variety of activities to 'make a living,' to include clearing timber, farming small fields, raising a few livestock, collecting honey, hauling floor and other items to Fort Atkinson, etc.  Andrew would also have been 'probing' and 'exploring' for new land possibilities.  Remember these are just marked land claims and not official recorded ownership of land.  The area was still under the control of Clayton County, plus the area just to his north was still 'off-limits' to official white settlement as it was still part of the neutral grounds where the Winnebago natives could still hunt, fish, and make a living. Bear Creek and Grannis Creek feed into the Volga River flowage 3+ miles to the north.  The Volga river bottoms and hills were very prime land locations for anyone with Andrew's knowledge of farming, subsistent agriculture and apparently milling. It would be to the Volga river bottoms at Lightville (Lima) that Andrew Hensley would take up a nice parcel of farm, built a mill and become a very significant part of the successful development of the pioneer villages of Lima and Albany and the Frog Hollow valley.  He would live the rest of his life in the Lima, Albany area as would some of his descendants. bz/2003)

…On April 21, 1847, Fayette Co, became an attachment to Hewett Township in Clayton Co. The first election in August of 1847, elected Andrew Hensley and M.C. Sperry as Justices of the Peace.

…Andrew Hensley, J.P., married Charles Glidden and Mary Lowe, March 27, 1848 (Note: the Glidden and Hensley surnames were connected before Andrew's migration into Iowa.)

P333

…On October 13, 1849, Andrew Hensley entered section 19, in Illyria Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa. This is the along the Volga River just to the east of the "to be" village of Lima, and on the line between Westfield and Illyria Twp. This is one of the early entries of land in Fayette County above the neutral ground line. It is at this time all of the frontier settlers just to the south of the Mission Trial "jump" across to claim prime new farm locations along the Volga River Valley. All of these early area settlers had been living near the Mission Trail, including the settlers in the Lima area, along with the Light brothers.

P347

…In August of 1849, Rev. James Davis, a United Brethren preacher with his family came to Dover Twp, in northern Fayette Co. In the spring of 1850, he removed to Lightville (Lima), having rented the Harvey Light’s place, his son William (Davis) cutting out the road from West Union to Lightville. During the summer of 1850, Mr. (James) Davis built a log cabin about a mile below Light’s Mill (east) on the south side of the Volga, sec 19, Illyria Twp. The only other cabin in the vicinity was that of Andrew Hensley built summer/fall of 1849 (In section 19, Illyria, thus Andrew would live in this cabin for 2 years, until he purchased the Light mill site and land surrounding Lima in 1851, then finishing the mill and having it operating in 1852.)

P351

…At an October 8, 1850 meeting of Fayette Co. judges of election for Westfield Twp, east, were Michael Hinman, Stephen H. Ludlow and Andrew Hensley.

P466

…Enrolled in the Fayette County Pioneer Association in 1870:

…Andrew Hensley, Kentucky; age 68; moved to Edgar County, Illinois on the Indiana line ExSE of Springfield, with his fathers family in 1822; to Grant Co., Wis., east of Dubuque, Iowa, in September, 1839; to Fayette County and made his claim in 1842 on which he settled in 1844; farmer; married Susan Lewis in 1823; she died in 1837; married Sarah Lovell in 1839.
…Andrew Jackson Hensley, son of Andrew; born in Missouri (Apparently on an island in the Mississippi River below St. Louis, as reported in census data. At time the Mississippi River bottoms in the area were a 10-15 mile expanse of prime, natural wetland interspersed with a multitude of small waterways and sloughs.  It is likely Andrew was involved with farming and/or making a living gathering natural products on the biologically rich Mississippi bottoms lands of the time, thus the statement in the census records of A.J. being born on an "island' below St. Louis. bz/2003), age 38, came to Fayette County in 1844, married in 1858 to Loretta Smith who was born in Winnebago Co., Ill; age 30, who moved to this county in the Spring of 1846.

hensley genealogy

Descendants of Christley Hensley
Grandfather of Andrew Hensley, Fayette County, Iowa, pioneer.
William James Hensley, Andrew's father would take the family to Coles/Edgar County, Illinois, on the frontier, in 1822

Hensley Andrew 1805 January 03 1878 74y1m5d 74 3 67

Hensley Sarah 1820 May 31 1872 53y6m 53 3 Wife of Andrew

Hensley R.L. July 01 1841 August 03 1929 88 3 67

Hensley Doretha August 10 1841 July 01 1889 47 Not listed in records & no stones found. Burial?

Hensley Richard N. June 11 1843 July 09 1863 20 3 67 Co. G 38 IA Inf. Civil War, died Vicksburg, grave unknown.

Hensley Daniel P. November 27 1844 May 16 1926 Age? 3 Co. G 38 IA Inf. Civil War; dates from genealogy.

Hensley Sarah Jane Blakesly July 14 1852 October 14 1914 62 3 67 Wife of R.L.; maiden name from genealogy.

Hensley Cordelia Hulbert(plot) November 01 1853 November 15 1926 73 3 Wife Albert, dau of Andrew, this data from Hensley genealogy.

Hensley Ida Jones(plot) 1873 1966 93 3 Wife of Frank T., dau of Reuben L. Hensley, data from genealogy.

Hensley Andrew 1805 January 03 1878 74y1m5d 74 3 67

Hensley Sarah J. July 14 1852 October 14 1914 62 3 67 Wife of R.L.

Breckon Nettie (Hensley_,October 20 1881 February 22 1916 35 3, dau of Reuben L. Hensley

Jones Ida (Hensley). 1873 1966 93 3 Wife of Frank T.

1 Christley Hensley

- +Catherine Unknown

- 2 William James Hensley b: 1775 in Virginia Note 1: 1810 Census, Floyd Co, KY Note 2: 1822 Emigrated to Edgar Co, Illinois Note 3: 1790 In Tazewell Co, VA.

---- +Martha Lewis b: 1783 in Virginia

----- 3 Elizabeth Katherine Hensley b: in Kentucky

-------- +John Drake m: March 20, 1834 in Edgar County, Illinois

----- 3 Andrew Hensley b: November 18, 1803 in Floyd County, Kentucky d: January 08, 1878 in Lima, Sec 13, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa Burial: Lima Cemetery, Sec 13, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa Note 1: 1822 Moved to Edgar Co, Illinois, east edge, ExSE of Springfield. Note 2: September 1839 Moved to Grant Co, Wisconsin, east of Dubuque, Iowa.

-------- +Susan Lewis b: June 06, 1806 in Virginia d: 1837 in Edgar County, Illinois m: September 15, 1824 in Edgar County, Illinois Father: Elias Lewis Mother: Priscilla Unknown

-------- 4 Cynthia Ann Hensley b: September 25, 1825 in Edgar, Illinois d: 1830 in Illinois

-------- 4 Isaac L. Hensley b: January 29, 1827 in Edgar County, Illinois

-------- 4 Emmaline Hensley b: February 06, 1829 in Edgar, Illinois d: 1830 in Illinois

-------- 4 Malinda Hensley b: April 28, 1831 in Illinois d: 1835 in Illinois

-------- 4 Andrew Jackson Hensley b: December 03, 1833 in Mississippi River Island, below St. Louis, MO d: September 26, 1925 in Fayette, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa Burial: Fayette, Grandview Cem, Sec C, Lot 315, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa Occupation: Farmer, Sec 13, Lima, Westfield Twp. Note 1: Bet. 1866 - 1877 Postmaster, Lima, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa Religion: United Brethan Church Occupation: Farmer, Sec 13, Lima, Westfield Twp.

----------- +Katherine Cameron b: 1852 d: 1934 in Fayette, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa Burial: Fayette, Grandview Cem, Sec C, Lot 315, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa

-------- *2nd Wife of Andrew Jackson Hensley:

----------- +Loretta Smith b: August 10, 1841 in Winnabago Co, Illinois d: June 10, 1889 in Fayette, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa Burial: Fayette, Grandview Cem, Sec C, Lot 315, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa m: November 25, 1858 in Lima?, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa Note 1: 1856 Came to Fayette Co. Father: Unknown Smith Mother: Unknown

------------ 5 George W. Hensley b: September 18, 1859 in Lima, Wesfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: May 30, 1880 in Fayette, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa Burial: Fayette, Grandview Cem, Sec C, Lot 316, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa

------------ 5 Susie E. Hensley b: October 06, 1863 in Lima Cemetery, Sec 13, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa

--------------- +Unknown Potter

-------- 4 Jacob Goodwin Hensley b: January 14, 1836 in Illinois d: November 25, 1913 in Chico, Butte Co, CA Burial: Thompson Flat, Butte Co, CA

----------- +Rhonda Marie Noble b: May 18, 1843 in New York d: September 19, 1923 in Chico Butte Co, CA Burial: Thompson Flat, Butte Co, CA m: December 21, 1861 in Lima, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa

------------ 5 Mary Ellen Hensley b: November 27, 1861 in Albany, Lima area, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: 1943

--------------- +William Orlando Bearse m: in February 19, 1879

------------ 5 Sarah Ellen Hensley b: May 10, 1865 in Albany, Lima area, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: June 04, 1926

--------------- +Charles M. Kenyon m: in October 27, 1879

------------ 5 Thomas Jefferson Hensley b: January 02, 1871 in Albany, Lima area, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: February 1903

--------------- +Lenora Matilda Stewart m: May 14, 1892

------------ 5 Charles Hensley b: February 03, 1880 in Butte Co, CA

--------------- +Philomena Hopkins

------------ 5 James Birdie Hensley b: 1885 in Butte Co, CA

----- *2nd Wife of Andrew Hensley:

-------- +Sarah Lovell b: 1819 in Indiana d: May 31, 1872 in Lima, Sec 13, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa Burial: Lima Cemetery, sec 3, lot 67, Sec 13, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa m: May 19, 1838 in Edgar County, Illinois Father: Reuben Lovell Mother: Elizabeth Bradbury

-------- 4 Elizabeth Hensley b: May 03, 1840 in Coles Co, Illinois d: November 27, 1909 in Decorah, Winneshiek Co, Iowa

----------- +Thomas Russell m: 1857 in Lima, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa

-------- 4 Reuben L. Hensley b: July 01, 1841 in Coles Co, Illinois d: August 03, 1929 in Albany, Sec 14, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa Burial: Lima Cemetery, sec 3, lot 67, Sec 13, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa Occupation: Farmer, Sec 14, near Albany, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa. Occupation: Farmer, Sec 14, near Albany, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa.

----------- +Sarah J. Blakesly b: July 14, 1852 in Pennsylvania d: October 14, 1914 in Lima Cemetery, sec 3, lot 67, Sec 13, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa m: January 01, 1871 Note 2: From Auburn, Aurburn Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa. Father: Joseph P. Blakesly Mother: Jane Unknown

------------ 5 Ida Hensley b: March 23, 1873 in Lima Albany area, Wesfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: January 21, 1966 in Lima Albany, Wesfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa Burial: Lima Cemetery, sec 3, Sec 13, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa

--------------- +Frank Jones b: 1869 in Lima/Albany, Wesfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: 1942 in Lima/Albany, Wesfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa Burial: Lima Cemetery, sec 3, Sec 13, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa m: January 01, 1894 in Lima Community Church, Lima, Sec 13, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa

--------------- 6 Reuben Jones

--------------- 6 Herbert Jones

------------ 5 Nettie Hensley b: October 20, 1881 in Albany, Lima area, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: February 22, 1916

--------------- +Albert Brecken m: September 20, 1905

-------- *2nd Wife of Reuben L. Hensley:

----------- +Mary Stevens m: April 11, 1916 in Lima Community Church, Lima, Sec 13, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa Note 1: Mrs; widowed.

-------- 4 Richard N. Hensley b: June 11, 1843 in Grant Co, Wisconsin, east of Dubuque, Iowa. d: July 08, 1863 in Battle of Vicksburg, Warren Co, Mississippi; CSA, burial unknown. Burial: Lima Cemetery, sec 3, lot 67, Sec 13, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa Military service: 1863 Civil War, Co. G 38th Iowa Inf. GAR, enl. Aug. 11, 1862,

-------- 4 Daniel P. Hensley b: November 27, 1844 in Hewitt cabin, east edge of FairfieldTwp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: May 16, 1926 in Lima, Sec 13, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa Burial: Lima Cemetery, sec 3, lot 67, Sec 13, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa Note 1: November 27, 1844 Claimed the first white child born in Fayette Co, Iowa. Note 2: Was his second wife Hattie Durfey?? Note 3: 1880 Census, laborer in Fairfield Twp, Fayette Co, IA. Military service: 1862 Civil War, Co. G 38th Iowa Inf. enl. Aug 15, 1862, disc Aug 6, 1863, disabled.

----------- +n b: 1852 in New York d: in Utah m: May 23, 1873 in Lima, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa Father: Unknown White Mother: Unknown

------------ 5 Minna Hensley b: 1878 in Clayton Co, Iowa d: January 23, 1916 in Utah

------------ 5 Edwin Hensley b: May 05, 1881 in Clayton Co, Iowa

-------- *2nd Wife of Daniel P. Hensley:

----------- +Harriet A. Ward b: January 1856 in California m: 1875

------------ 5 Mary F. Hensley b: July 1876 in California

------------ 5 Unknown Hensley b: 1878 in California

------------ 5 Harry Hensley b: May 1880 in Oregon

------------ 5 Bertha Hensley b: July 1883 in Washington

------------ 5 Willie Hensley b: May 1885 in California

------------ 5 Albert Hensley b: October 1889 in California

------------ 5 Mervyn Hensley b: August 1894 in California

-------- 4 Sarah Jane Hensley b: May 21, 1848 in Cabin at Bear Grove, Sec 1, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: September 05, 1884 in Brush Creek (Arlington), Fairfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa Burial: Taylorsville Cem, Fairfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa

----------- +Ruben Perkins b: September 28, 1840 in Jackson Co, Iowa d: March 10, 1924 in Arlington, Fairfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa Burial: March 12, 1924 Taylorsville Cem, Fairfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa m: July 04, 1864 in West Union, Fayette Co, Iowa Note 2: Perkins burials in Taylorsville, 10. Father: Calvin Perkins Mother: Eda Scott

------------ 5 Carloine Amanda Perkins b: July 20, 1866 in Fairfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: February 26, 1940 in Eugene, OR Burial: Rest Haven Cemetery

--------------- +James Elmer Waltenbaugh m: September 13, 1883 in Clayton Co, Iowa

------------ 5 Emma Perkins b: May 21, 1868 in Fairfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: January 04, 1885 in Fairfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa Burial: Taylorsville Cem, Fairfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa

------------ 5 Andrew Barker Perkins b: January 23, 1870 in Fairfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: January 19, 1948 in Oregon City, OR Burial: Riverview Cemetery, Oregon City, OR

--------------- +Ethel Chapman

------------ *2nd Wife of Andrew Barker Perkins:

--------------- +Luella Greenly m: April 10, 1894

------------ 5 Warren Hensley Perkins b: January 09, 1872 in Fairfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: December 25, 1946 in Montrose, CO

--------------- +Annie Brooks m: December 25, 1897 in Fairfield Township, Fayette Co, Iowa

------------ 5 Clinton Eugene Perkins b: July 01, 1874 in Fairfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: December 03, 1954 in Oregon City, OR

--------------- +Mable Burns m: January 01, 1900 in Wadena, Illyria Township, Fayette Co, Iowa.

------------ 5 Elizabeth Sarah Perkins b: November 09, 1876 in Fairfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: July 14, 1973 in Fairfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa Burial: Taylorsville Cem, Fairfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa

--------------- +August Oldfather m: December 12, 1894 in Fairfield Township, Fayette Co, Iowa

------------ 5 Minnie May Perkins b: June 16, 1878 in Fairfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: August 22, 1954 in Fairfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa Burial: Taylorsville Cem, Fairfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa

--------------- +Amos Warner Brandenburg m: March 11, 1896 in Fairfield Township, Fayette Co, Iowa

------------ 5 Willie Perkins b: January 12, 1880 in Fairfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: January 12, 1880 in Fairfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa Burial: Taylorsville Cem, Fairfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa

------------ 5 Cordelia Evelyn Perkins b: March 23, 1881 in Lima, Wesfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: October 12, 1970 in Fairfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa Burial: Taylorsville Cem, Fairfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa

--------------- +Noble Heinrich Wilhelm Seedorf b: October 10, 1883 in Aurora, Fayette Co, Iowa d: December 17, 1970 Burial: Taylorsville Cem, Fairfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa m: June 10, 1903 in Oelwein, Jefferson Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa.

--------------- 6 Sara Dora Seedorf b: 1904

--------------- 6 Hazel Bell Seedorf b: June 04, 1906 in Arlington, Fairfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: July 08, 1983 in Grundy Center, Grundy Co, Iowa

------------------ +Vane Henry Oldfather

------------ 5 Ida Perkins b: February 01, 1883 in Fairfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: May 29, 1883 in Fairfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa Burial: Taylorsville Cem, Fairfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa

-------- 4 Cordelia S. Hensley b: November 01, 1853 in Lima, Sec 13, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: November 15, 1926 in Lima, Sec 13, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa Burial: Lima Cemetery, sec 3, Sec 13, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa Note 2: 1878 Living near Volga River, 3mi SW of Fayette.

----------- +Albert Hulbert b: May 12, 1850 in Oswego Co, NY d: 1926 in Lima, Sec 13, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa Burial: Lima Cemetery, Sec 13, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa m: February 22, 1873 in Lima, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa Occupation: 1878 Farmer, Sec 35, Center Twp, P.O. Fayette. Note 2: 1857 Came to Fayette Co. Religion: United Brethan Church Occupation: 1878 Farmer, Sec 35, Center Twp, P.O. Fayette.

------------ 5 Plimmon S. Hulbert b: May 16, 1874

------------ 5 Lorena A. Hulbert b: February 19, 1876

------------ 5 Loretta I. Hulbert b: February 19, 1876 in Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: March 01, 1878 in Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa

-------- 4 Caroline Amanda Hensley b: July 19, 1854 in Lima, Sec 13, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: May 12, 1911 in Eureka, Lincoln Co,Montana

----------- +Charles E. Borgoyne

-------- *2nd Husband of Caroline Amanda Hensley:

----------- +Joseph Luewellyn Adams m: July 04, 1873 in Brush Creek (Arlington), Fairfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa.

-------- 4 James Hensley b: 1856 in Farm north of Albany, Sec 14, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa

----- 3 Aaron Hensley b: 1806 in Logan Co, VA Note 1: 1830 Census, Clark Co, Illinois. Note 2: 1840 Census, Kanawha Co, WV.

-------- +Nancy King m: November 23, 1828 in Edgar County, Illinois

----- 3 Christopher Hensley b: 1807 in Clark, Illinois d: October 24, 1868 in Putnam Co, Missouri

-------- +Susanna Penrod b: Abt. 1810 in Ohio m: November 05, 1828 in Clark, Illinois Note 2: 1845 In Edgar Co, Illinois

-------- 4 Mary Rosanna Hensley b: November 29, 1829 in Edgar Co, Illinois d: July 14, 1914 in Putman Co, Missouri

----------- +Mathew Morris m: September 14, 1845 in Edgar Co, Illinois Father: Levi Morris Mother: Jemian Long

-------- 4 Rebecca Hensley b: May 19, 1832 in Clark, Illinois d: September 23, 1898 in Putman Co, Missouri

-------- 4 Isaac Hensley b: 1838 in Clark, Illinois

----------- +Mary Guffey b: October 21, 1838 in Wayne, KY d: October 18, 1886 in Putman Co, Missouri m: February 17, 1860 Father: Joseph Guffey Mother: Malinda Crabtree

------------ 5 Susan Hensley b: Abt. 1860 in Putman Co, Missouri d: September 04, 1895

--------------- +Marion S. Smith m: in Chariton, Missouri Father: Robert Smith Mother: Jane Belsher

--------------- 6 Odella Alice Smith

--------------- 6 Eva Mary Smith

--------------- 6 John Riley Smith

--------------- 6 Mary Caroline Smith b: August 11, 1883 in Putnam County, Missiouri d: August 22, 1962 in Near Triplett, Missiouri Note 1: Called 'Carrie'

------------------ +Charles William Carson m: June 02, 1901 in Chariton County, Missouri

--------------- 6 Joseph Andrew Franklin Smith

--------------- 6 Alexander Smith

------------ 5 Mary Hensley b: 1862 in Putman Co, Missouri

------------ 5 Isaac Andrew Hensley b: 1864 in Putman Co, Missouri

----- *2nd Wife of Christopher Hensley:

-------- +Catherine Tompkins b: 1816 in Seneca, New York m: Bef. 1850

-------- 4 William Hensley b: 1840 in Edgar Co, Illinois

-------- 4 Robert Hensley b: 1842 in Edgar Co, Illinois

-------- 4 Clark Hensley b: 1843 in Edgar Co, Illinois

-------- 4 Christopher Hensley b: 1846 in Edgar Co, Illinois

-------- 4 Nancy Hensley b: 1848 in Edgar Co, Illinois

-------- 4 Arnold Hensley b: 1849 in Edgar Co, Illinois

-------- 4 Catharine Hensley b: 1850 in Edgar Co, Illinois

----- *3rd Wife of Christopher Hensley:

-------- +Erminda Unknown b: 1832 in Springfield, Illinois d: May 21, 1910 m: Abt. 1850 in Springfield, Illinois

-------- 4 Metilda Hensley b: 1850 in Illinois

-------- 4 Emily Hensley b: 1851 in Illinois

-------- 4 Louisa Hensley b: 1853 in Illinois

-------- 4 Hulda Anna Hensley b: July 10, 1854 in Springfield, Illinois

----------- +Stothard Baugh m: March 17, 1876 in Unionville, Putnam Co, Missouri

-------- 4 Andrew Hensley b: 1859 in Illinois

----- *4th Wife of Christopher Hensley:

-------- +Arminda Coon b: 1830 in Ohio m: Abt. 1858

-------- 4 Luella Hensley b: 1859 in Putman Co, Missouri

-------- 4 Isabel Hensley b: 1861 in Putman Co, Missouri

----- 3 James Hensley b: 1809

-------- +Eliza Lewis m: September 14, 1824 in Edgar County, Illinois

----- 3 Jacob Gooden Hensley b: 1810 in Kentucky d: 1846 in Pulaskie Co, Missouri

-------- +Nancy Mary Driscoll m: February 25, 1836 in Coles Co, Illinois

-------- 4 James A. Hensley b: January 15, 1837 in Coles Co, Illinois d: July 09, 1914 in Tarrant Co, Texas

----------- +Agaendecca Kirtley

-------- 4 Mary Jane Hensley b: 1839 in Coles Co, Illinois d: 1889 in Tarrant Co, Texas

----------- +Asa Howard

-------- 4 Catherine Hensley b: December 25, 1841 in Coles Co, Illinois d: January 1906 in Pulaskie Co, Missouri

----------- +Jehugh J. Hillhouse

----- 3 Rebecca Hensley b: 1818 in Illinois

----- 3 Sarah Hensley b: 1820 in Kentucky

----- 3 Martina Hensley b: 1822 in Kentucky

Hensley "Land'

Hensley land in Pioneer Fayette County, Iowa: 
....In 1852 Andrew Hensley acquire the Nathaniel Wilcox claim in section 1 of Smithfield located near the red circle at the west end of Bear Grove near Bear Creek.  Andrew returned to Grant County, Wisconsin east of Dubuque, Iowa, for the family.  He became sick and over-wintered in Wisconsin.  Later in 1853 the removed the family through Dubuque, traveled the Mission Trail to Eads Grove (Manchester) where he over-wintered. 
.....In 1844 Andrew moved the family permanently into Fayette County and bought a second claim and rudimentary cabin from Madison Brown, probably on Grannis creek in section 36 of Westfield.  In the late summer or fall of 1844 he hired Mr. Noble from Yankee Settlement (Colesburg) to break open (plow) a small field of prairie grass probably in the whitish area on the above map, around the red circle in section 1, Smithfield.  Remember, it generally took multiple yoke of oxen and a big heavy single share plow to break any kind of prairie soil.  The bottom land field near bear creek would have been tall grass prairie with in this case grasses with medium deep roots  Andrew and his young sons hand sowed winter wheat in this field.  Winter wheat germinates in the fall, lies dormant under the snow, then grows rapidly to maturity in the late spring and is harvested by early summer.  The climate in northern Iowa was much harsher and colder than the Hensley's had been accustomed to while growing up in Floyd County, Kentucky and Edgar County, Illinois.  However, the Hensley's harvested the reported first crop of wheat in Fayette County from this field. 
....The winter of 1844-45, the Hensley family spent in the basic cabin bought from Madison Brown, apparently at the head of Grannis Hollow.  Mrs. Hensley would have a run in with some Indian braves at this cabin during 1845 and become 'scared' to return to the area.  Andrew would move the family into one side of the old Franklin Wilcox cabin at Wilcox settlement for the warm seasons of 1845, while Andrew built his own cabin, apparently at the Bear Grove claim. 
.....The Hensley family would live in the Bear Grove cabin from the winter of 1845 to spring of 1849 when Andrew would purchase land in section 19 of Illyria Township. This was about a mile and a half downstream from where the Light brothers were attempting to build a mill at what became known as Lightville, later to be named Lima.  The family would stay on the section 19 land in Illyria Township from 1849 until 1851, when Andrew would acquire the Lima mill site from the Lights and much of the land immediately adjacent to the village plat and within the platted town.  The Light brothers would move on at this time leaving Andrew in 'charge' of the area.  While Andrew is living in section 19, a mill was started by one of the Light brothers and Talbott at Talbott's ford across the Volga about at the red line on the map.  That mill was never finished and the timbers and materials moved upriver to the location where the Lima mill would be started by one of the Lights and a Piper.  They never finished, Andrew Hensley bought the property of the lights including the mill site.
.....By 1852 Andrew had finished a first generation saw and grist mill at the Lima location and have it operating while finishing living quarters at Lima and moving the family up from section 19.   The children were getting older and now becoming a significant part of the family work force.  Andrew would operate the Lima mill until 1855 when he sold it to Mr. Durfey, who would oversee the mill for several decades, along with other millers and workers.  Andrew retained most of the land surrounding and within Lima.
.....After selling the Lima mill, Andrew would buy the bottom land farm immediately adjacent to the northern end of the Lima plat and running up into the wooded hills to the west of the bottoms.  Andrew would farm this land with the help of his children until his death in 1878.  His son-in-law Reuben Perkins would then run the farm for a number of years before removing 8 miles SE to the Brush Creek (Arlington) area.  Andrew's son Reuben L. Hensley would take over the farm and even acquire more of the hills land to the west.  Reuben L. Hensley farm here until his death in 1929.
.....After Andrew moved to Lima farm, his son A.J. farmed the land around Lima, plus a farm 1+ miles up Frog Hollow to the north of Andrew's Albany farm.  After 1878 the mill property apparently reverted from the Durfey's back to the Hensley family and A.J. kept ownership of the mill for sometime but Mr. Durfey continued to run the mill.  Eventually A.J. would move into Fayette and the Lima land would revert to his sister Susie Hensley Potter, to include all the land the circumvented the village of Lima and much of the platted village land.

Andrew's Albany farm

The view is across Andrew's field from the bottom of the Albany hill at the northern edge of the Albany plat looking up Frog Hollow.

1868

1868

1879

1879

1912

1916

1919

1919

1919

All of these Lima, Albany area folks are related by marriage. 
The Hensley tree above lists some of them under Reuben's line.

Lima, Albany area men in 1907

Lima Letter in the Fayette Post Card, October 5, 1887

…Dan (Daniel P.) Hensley has returned here after quite a long absence looking for a good place to locate and has concluded to settle down at Lima.|
…Reuben L. Hensley and the Finch Brothers are making preparations to build new houses this fall.
…We understand a new time table is soon to go into effect on our railroad and that the freight and passenger will meet here at 10:45 am.
…The one great event this week was the moving of the post office. P.M. Hastings had moved into the new store, has everything new and convenient and handles the mail with the grace and ease of the old hand. F. T. Pilkington is duly installed as assistant and will look after Uncle Sam’s interest in the absence of the postmaster.
…Mr. E. E. Henry lost a valuable horse last Monday.
…Lima is gaining quite a reputation as a butter and egg market, the highest price in the county being paid. Let it boom; it needs it.
…Mrs. Bass and family will remove to West Union this week. We are sorry to see them go.
…W. F. Shepard and family have returned from California and will settle here at Lima, concluding this is the El Dorado.
…Mrs. C. Wilson is quite sick and requires the attendance of a doctor daily.
…Rumor says our boys will get into trouble if they do not quit playing ball on the Sabbath. A hint to the wise, &c.

Offspring in their later years of several original pioneer families of the Lima, Albany area.

HENSLEY, ANDREW J., farmer, Sec. 13; P. O. Lima; born in Missouri Dec. 3, 1837; came to this county with his father in 1843; his father (Andrew)  who died Jan. 3, 1878, was the oldest settler in Fayette Co. The son was married Nov. 25, 1858, to Loretta Smith; she was born in Winnebago, Co., III., Aug. 10, 1841; have two children ---George W., born Sept. 18, 1859, and Susie E. (would marry a Potter and take over the Hensley farm adjacent to Lima), Oct. 6, 1863. He (A.J.) was Postmaster here (Lima) from 1866 to1877, Township Trustee and School Director several years. He can remember when the country was full of Indians; his brother, Daniel now living in Fairfield Township, is claimed to be the first white child born in what is now Fayette Co. Family belonging to the United Brethren Church.

Hensley, R, (Reuben, younger brother of A.J.) farmer (on his father's farm just north of Albany), Sec. 14; P. O. West Albany.

Andrew Hensley (1803-1878) Timeline.
1803, Born in Kentucky (Floyd Co)
1822, age 19, came to eastern Illinois from Kentucky with father's family.  Removed  from (Floyd Co?) Kentucky to Edgar Co, Illinois, mid-eastern border area with his father William James Hensley and family.  The Edgar and Coles county area at the time was a total frontier, thus Andrew spent almost his entire life as a frontier pioneer.
1824, age 21, Married Susan Lewis (1806 Virginia-1837 Illinois) in Edgar Co, Illinois.
1825, Son Isaac L. Hensley born (1825-1830)
1829, Dau Emmaline Hensley born (1829-1830)
1831, Dau Malinda Hensley born (1831-1835)
1833, Son Andrew Jackson Hensley born (1833 island in Mississippi below St. L-1925 Fayette)
1836, Son Jacob Goodwin Hensley born (1836-1913)
1837, age 34,First wife Susan Lewis dies in Edgar Co, Illinois area.
1838, Married Sarah Lovell (1819 Indiana-1872 Lima) in Edgar Co, Illinois.
1839, Andrew was farming/gathering in Edgar Co, Illinois from 1822-1839, from age 19 to 26+.  He apparently was moving across Illinois into Missouri plus 'exploring' land possibilities in the north along the Illinois and Wisconsin border.
1839, age 36, Removed to SW Grant County, Wisconsin (across from Dubuque, Iowa)
1840, Dau Elizabeth Hensley .(1840 Coles Co, Ill?-1909 Decorah, Winneshiek Co, Iowa)
1840, The Wilcox settlement starts along the Mission Trail in Fayette Co, Iowa.  Andrew Hensley will shortly arrive to work and live with all of the first pioneers into the area.
1841, Son Reuben L. Hensley born (1841 Grant Co, Wisc- 1929, Albany, Fayette Co, Iowa)
1842, age 39, came to Fayette County for land.  Andrew would arrive in the area around the Wilcox settlement and buy the claim of Nathaniel Wilcox, four miles to the east in Bear Grove, Sec. 1, Smithfield Twp, Fayette County, Iowa, then returned to Grant Co, Wisconsin for the family.
1842/43, Became sick and remained in Grant Co, Wisconsin.
1843, Son Richard N. Hensley born (1843 Grant Co, Wisc. - 1863 Battle of Vicksburg)
1843/44, Brought the family as far as Ead's Grove (Manchester, Iowa) and over-wintered.
NOTE: There is some conflict of thought, mine, as to where the family was staying upon the move into to Fayette Co in the spring of 1844 after over-wintering at Ead's Grove.
1844, Bought the claim and moved into the primitive cabin of Madison Brown, Sec 36, Westfield Twp, at the head of Grannis Creek.
1844, In the spring of 1844,  Andrew rented Joe Hewett's place, northwest of Strawberry Point, just in the edge of Clayton County, and moved his family into a little cabin about one and a half miles west of Hewett's, in the edge of Fayette County, owned by Moses, son of Joe Hewitt.  Here, November 27, 1844, Daniel P. HENSLEY was born, claimed the first white child born in Fayette County.  (Andrew may have been using both the Brown and Hewitt cabin the winter of 1844/45, as there seems to be conflicting bits of info, bz/2003)
1844, Mrs. Hensley had a run-in at the 'Brown' cabin with three Indian braves, became concerned and would not return.
1844, Andrew moves the family into the old Franklin Wilcox cabin at Wilcox settlement 4+ miles to the west.
1845, Age 42, Living and farming in Fayette County begins in earnest on the Bear and Grannis Creek areas.  Andrew made a quantity of maple sugar, probably in Grannis Canyon.
1845, Andrew harvest the first crop of wheat grown in Fayette County.  His young boys, A.J. and Jacob would take a wagon load pulled by 3-4 yoke of oxen, 75 miles to the south to the mill at Cascade, in Delaware County.
1845, Andrew constructed his own log cabin on the first claim he purchased in 1842 from Nathaniel Wilcox on the north side of Bear Creek in Bear Grove in the Corn Hills area, and only a mile+ south of the 'Brown' cabin and claim. Andrew apparently farmed this two claims near Grannis and Bear Creek in the later half of the 1840's.  He would have been doing a variety of activities to 'make a living,' to include clearing timber, farming small fields, raising a few livestock, collecting honey, hauling floor and other items to Fort Atkinson, etc.  Andrew would also have been 'probing' and 'exploring' for new land possibilities across the neutral grounds line immediately to the north of his 'claims' in the Volga River flowage. The Volga river bottoms and hills were very prime land locations for anyone with Andrew's knowledge of farming, subsistent agriculture and apparently milling. It would be to the Volga river bottoms at Lightville (Lima) that Andrew Hensley would take up a nice parcel of farm, built a mill and become a very significant part of the successful development of the pioneer villages of Lima and Albany and the Frog Hollow valley.  He would live the rest of his life in the Lima, Albany area as would some of his descendants.
1845/46, Andrew Hensley, Madison Brown, Horace Bemis, James Beatty, Lorenzo Mulliken and Mr. Messenger hauled floor from the mill at Quasqueton to the Fort a journey about about 70 miles by snow sleds pulled by multiple yoke of oxen. Young A.J., about 13 years old was actively involved, working with the men.
1846/47, The Hensley children attended school at Ead's Grove (Manchester) 40 miles to the SW along the Mission Trail.
1847, Andrew was elected as one of three justice of the peace in Fayette County, which was attached to Hewitt Twp, of Clayton Co.
1848, Andrew Hensley, J.P., married Glidden and Lowe.
1848, Dau Sarah Jane Hensley born (1848 Bear Grove cabin - 1884 Brush Creek or Arlington, Iowa)
1848, From 1844-1848, Andrew, his young sons, and his few pioneer neighbors were subsistent farming and gathering, plus 'making wages' hauling commodities along the Mission Trial from Dubuque to the Fort.  They make numerous journeys to Fort Atkinson and the Mission.  There were long, slow trips by multiple yoke of oxen pulling freight wagons and in winter heavy snow sleds. Starting in about 1850, the family would move into the Volga River valley of today's Lima, Albany and become very successful farmers and millers.  Their life would start to rapidly change from log cabin dwelling subsistence frontier pioneers to stationary quite affluent farmers and millers during the next two decades.
1849, age 46, moved into the Volga valley where he would farm and live the remainder of his live. Andrew Hensley, October 19, 1849, entered section 19, in Illyria Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa. This is the along the Volga River just to the east of the "to be" village of Lima, and on the line between Westfield and Illyria Twp. This is one of the early entries of land in Fayette County above the neutral ground line.  Andrew would soon take over the mill site at Lightville (Lima) about a mile  upriver from this 1849 land entry.
1850, Up to this time Andrew used Dubuque 70+ miles away, as his post office and for necessary commodities and supplies.
1850, As Fayette County government is formed with local control, Andrew was elected at a meeting October 8, as one of the three judges for Westfield Twp.
1851, Andrew acquired the Lima mill site and most of the land immediately around the mill and Lima.  He would move the family upriver about one mile to Lima, from his 'entry' land in sec 19, Illyria Twp.
1852, age 49, Puts the Lima mill into operation. The Hensley mill at Lima, a first generation saw and grist mill became operational.
1853, Dau Cordelia S. Hensley born (1853 Lima - 1826 Lima)
1854, Dau Caroline Amanda Hensley born (1854 Lima - 1911 Eureka, Lincoln Co, Montana)
1855, age 52, Buys and enters the farm just north of Albany to live out his life.  Andrew sold the mill at Lima with the surrounding land to Mr. Durfey.  The Hensley's would get the mill and much of the farm land completely around Lima back in their ownership about 1865.  Andrew would stay at his Albany farm until his death in 1878.  At this time the mill property apparently returned into the hands of the Hensley family from the Durfey family who would continue to run the mill.   A.J., Andrew's son was about 22+ when his father moved to the Albany farm. A.J. retained the land around Lima when his father moved to the Albany farm, plus operated a farm a mile farther north up Frog Hollow of his father.  After re-acquiring the mill site, A. J. would control the mill and continue farm the fields adjacent and nearly completely around Lima. The Hensley offspring would marry into local families, to include the Jones, Potter, Perkins, Smith surnames, thus through time on the plat maps around Albany and Lima one will see farm area continue to be owned by the 'clans.' The Hensley offspring would also marry into Brush Creek (Arlington), Taylorsville (now gone) and Fayette families.
1856, age 53. Son James Hensley born (1856 Albany farm - ?), his second wife, Sarah Lovell (1819 Indiana-1872 Lima) is age 37 at the time.
1878, age 75, Andrew Hensley patriarch of the Fayette County Hensley clan dies at the Albany farm.
and on into the 1900's, Patriarch of the Hensley family at Lima, Albany, Frog Hollow, Andrew dies.  His farm would be in the hands of his Perkins in-laws, with son Reuben L. taking over the farm and acquiring nearly all of the bottom and and into the western hill side, farming the area in the early 1900's until his death.  A.J. remained on the Lima farm with his daughter Susie Hensley Potter taking over that land prior to A.J.'s death in 1925.  The Hensley clan would marry into several of the local Lima, Albany surnames of the Volga River and Frog Hollow valleys.  The area was never highly populated, with both villages remaining small in support of the a limited number of local farmers, with a store or two, some craftsmen, mills, country schools, a few local churches, a couple of local doctors, etc.
1900's, The Hensley surname, like most of the surnames of Westfield township becomes less obvious with the increasing population and its mobility to the larger cities due to rail and auto transportation. Lima and Albany remained a small farming area and disappeared into memory as the big business of the 1960's and beyond drastically change agriculture and culture.  The area never ended in the mega farms of the row crop prairies to the west of Fayette, but the farms did become bigger with few and few families in the area.  The conservation commission starting the 1960's acquired nearly all the land from Lima village to the west through Albany and Frog Hollow, plus all the way upriver to near Fayette.  Today the Hensley genes are gone from the exact land they pioneered, but do remain the area with a few related clan surnames.  Actually most of the area surnames are now gone, only memories, as are Lima, Albany, Frog Hollow.