large springs, very characteristic of this valley, scarcely freezes in winter. The south bank is skirted by a belt of heavy forest, extending completely through and beyond the township lines, in width about one and a half to two miles. On the river bluffs pine was found in considerable quantities, though long since converted into early buildings. The belt of forest on the south of the river consists of the best varieties of oak, walnut, butternut, ash, hickory, maple, with basswood and poplar, and though more than thirty years have passed since the white man's ax began its destruction, the same forest still furnishes its regular supply of fire wood and building materials, and in much greater quantities as time passes, than at the first settlement of the country. The north bank of the river affords but little forest in this township; local groves of small timber and scattering oaks and hickory trees, with the heaviest portion on section 8, constituting the amount on the north side.

The soil on the north is a stiff yellow or light clay subsoil, with a top of thin-but very rich-black loam, which has produced the best specimens of spring wheat grown in the west. Considerable alluvial bottom lands lie along the river of excessive richness, producing the largest crops of all kinds raised in this latitude, including sweet potatoes.

One species of the old forestry seems nearly annihilated-the bee tree. In early days so frequently was this variety felled, that every settler, up to about 1853, of common enterprise had his barrel of honey as a part of his winter food supply, and as many as two hundred pounds were frequently taken from one tree in Yellow River woods. The sugar tree still yields its crop as of yore— in considerable quantities.

In these woods, bears, wolves, panthers and wild cats were numerous in the early days, and red deer fairly flocked on the prairies up to about 1857, when in that winter a deep snow and thick crust prevented them from traveling, and they fell easy victims to the hunter. This snow and crust prevailing over the entire northwest, deer were almost totally annihilated, as but very few have been seen since.

Bear hunting was a favorite pastime up to about 1854, when the last town hunt, in October, culminated in a law suit against some outsiders who happened to be "in at the death" of a wounded bear, and who had the bear skinned and the 400 pounds of meat divided and quietly taken away before the regular hunters arrived on the ground to dispatch him. The cause was tried before John Laughlin, J. P. Hon. John T. Clark, attorney, for plaintiffs (the regular hunters), and James & J. D. McKay for defendants. Carried to District Court, then to State Supreme Court, and finally decided adverse to plaintiffs.

The settlement of Post township, by permanent white people, was begun by Joel Post, a millwright from Caughnawauga, Cat

taraugus county, New York, who obtained permission to occupy the government "log shanty" or "half-way house," built by the United State troops half-way between Fort Crawford, Wisconsin, and Fort Atkinson, Iowa. The document has been preserved, and reads as follows:

"Joel Post is hereby granted the privilege of occupying the house and stable, belonging to the public, on the military road from Fort Crawford to Turkey River (I. T.) during the pleasure of Gen. Brooke, or the commanding officer at Fort Crawford.

"The said Joel Post has permision to make such additions to house and stable as he thinks proper, and the use of the buildings are to be always open, free of charge to the use of the public; a supply of wood for the use of one fire is also to be furnished free of charge. The said Post will also be required to take charge of and be responsible for all public property placed under his charge at that place.

"The privilege of cutting a sufficient supply of hay for the use of the public, at the nearest point at that place, is reserved; and the said Post has the privilege of cutting what wood and timber, for building and fuel, as he may find necessary for his own use and travelers. He has also the privilege of breaking ground and planting, and is always to be subject to the orders of the commanding officers at Fort Crawford.

"It is hereby further contracted by the said Post that he is not to keep spirituous liquors in his house, on any pretense whatever; neither is he to sell liquors, either directly or indirectly, to Indians or United States soldiers, under the penalty of being immediately removed; and, farther, that he is not to trade with the Indians, unless by permission from the Indian Agent. It is also stated that the said Post may build nearer to the spring, as being more convenient, but at the same time must be responsible for the public buildings now erected, and also all other public property placed under his charge.

"GEORGE M. BROOKE,

"Brev. Brig.-Gen. Com'g 1st Dept. W. Div. "FORT CRAWFORD, January 12th, 1841.

"I, Joel Post, do hereby bind myself to observe the above order, in all respects, under all the penalties prescribed.

FORT CRAWFORD, January 12th, 1841.

Witness: John Robertson, Thos. Buyber.

JOEL POST."

Note. The power reserved by the commanding officer of Fort Crawford, in the above instrument, is also to be held by the commanding officer at Turkey River, when a senior officer to that at Fort Crawford.

The document is not a model in grammar or punctuation, but is given above precisely as written and punctuated.

The "shanty" then consisted of a log house, 16x20 feet, and a log stable somewhat larger, and was located about sixty rods east from the one-fourth post, on north side of Section 33. The occupation of the family was a kind of hotel keeping, and the promise of good business in this line was the chief inducement for Mr. Post to risk himself so far from civilization. But the business grew, and proved both profitable and pleasant, and increased so fast that in the next winter Mr. Post and one Richard Only built a more commodious and hotel-like house, which on completion afforded comfortable quarters for Government and military officers, Government teamsters, etc., and proved quite remumerative for about two years, when these teamsters, who were mostly from Illinois, planed a scheme to cheat Mr. Post out of their unpaid bills; it being the custom for them to pay their bills on their return from Fort Atkinson, where they were paid for their services.

They did this by constructing a new road, or route, which could be traveled by unloaded teams, across the bend of the road; beginning near the southwest corner of Section 33, and keeping near the county line. They could thus pass by the "half way" unseen, avoiding the "north bend" and the hotel bill at once. This new "cut off" received the name of "Sucker Chute," these new developments led to a removal of the "Half Way House" to the west end of "Sucker Chute" by special permission of the commanding officer of the military department, then Major Edwin V. Sumner, in June, 1843. This house proved a nucleus, around which settlements were made, and travelers found a quiet home and resting place, and Postville, a local habitation, and a name. A number of the men who have since become famous in the civil and military history of the country, were accustomed to visit this house and partake of its cheer, among whom are the names of H. M. Rice of Minnesota; Dousman and Bisbois; of Wisconsin; the late John Haney, and son John, Jr., of Lansing, Iowa; Capt. Nathaniel Lyon E. V. Sumner, Patterson; Capts. Miller, Schuyler, Hamilton and Lieut. Alfred Pleasanton, all since Generals, high in command and fame in the military history of our country. A story is told by Mrs. Post of the first appearance of Lieutenant Pleasanton at her house in 1844 or 1845, She describes him as a very pleasant young man, of a keen sharp eye, restless when not employed, always driving his own business with great energy. Coming to the Half Way House in a horse and buggy, he said to the hostler, "give the horse his rations which you will find in the buggy." Quite a goodly number of people at dinner were surprised by the appearance of the son of Erin, of the barn, with: "If yes plaze, Misther Liftenant, will I bees after fading yer nag wid the banes, or the pork or thim square crackers first?"

The Commissary instead of Quartermaster had put up the Lieutenant's rations, and feed for man instead of horse. The Lieutenant explained and the company enjoyed a smile with him.

Settlements of a permanent nature began as soon as the lands were surveyed and the Indians removed, which took place in the fall of 1847. The first one was 'Squire Crossly, from Galena, Ill., who settled on section 32, half a mile west of Mr. Post's, in June; the next one. Josiah Reed, from Ohio, half a mile west of Crossly, in October; John Reed, on section 30; Thomas Newberry, northwest quarter of section 28, all in 1847. A number had also settled over the line in Clayton County, so that in the summer of 1848 a school was started with twenty scholars in one of the chamber rooms at Mr. Post's by a Mrs. Quinn.

The first religious services were also held at Mr. Post's, by Rev. Eldridge Howard, a M. E. preacher, in June, 1848, and later by one Stevens, a Presbyterian.

The principal settlers of 1848 were Henry Noble and Elias Topliff, both locating in October or November on section 30.

A school was taught at Mr. Post's in the winter of 1848 and '49 by a Mr. Bliss.

On New Year's day, 1849, was held the first social party in the new settlement, at the "Half Way House," by Mr. Post. Having spent eight years in frontier life with few neighbors, the time had come when all should meet and learn the names and ways of men and women, who were to build up the new community with him. It is related that every settler within eight miles was present, the most of them bringing their wives, and in not a few cases the whole family appeared at the New Years feast. Several uniforms were present, and the repast was spoken of as one of luxury and bountiful to excess. The festivities were kept up by the few youngsters to a late hour, and at that gathering an engagement was ma e which resulted in the first wedding ever celebrated in Allamakee County, viz: Elias J. Topliff and Anna Reed, married December 6th, 1849, by Grove A. Warner, Justice of the Peace.

A postoffice was established in the same month of January, called Postville, and Joel Post appointed postmaster. He, however, dying on the 24th of the same month, never knew of the appointment, as it did not arrive for some days after his decease.

Several settlers arrived in 1849 whose names and locations are as follows: James H. Penny, a soldier just discharged, on section 16; Reuben Smith, section 11; Thomas Newberry, on section 28; Constantine Hughes, section 12; William Callender, section 9; Hiram Jones, section 15; Moses Hostetler, also on section 15; Anderson Amos, section 14. In 1850 came David W. Lyons, a Presbyterian clergyman, to section 16; Alexander J. Breedlove and Thomas Saucer on section 25; John Minert to section 21; James Mather, section 16; Wm. Fewell and Charles Bowman, on section 23; Jeremiah Prescott and Truman Stoddard, on section 36; also S. P. Hicks, L. R. Herrick, John Clark, Anderson Fewell, on section 34; David Jemison on section 28; Wm. H. Carith

ers on section 10; P. F. Schwartz, on section 3; Jacob Lybrand, on section 10; In 1851 came P. P. Cady to section 36; Asa Chudle to section 10; John Laughlin to section 27; Sylvester Dennis bought M. Hostetler, on section 15. In 1852 came N. J. Beedy, to section 35; Samuel Dobson, section 22; and many others. Post Township was organized by the county board in 1851, according to the memory of the oldest settlers, but there are no records of officers elected that year. The election in April, 1852, was held in a blacksmith shop near the house of Chas. Bowman. Thirty-one votes were cast, and Reuben Smith, Chas. Bowman, and A. J. Breedlove were chosen trustees; Jas. C. Thompson, township clerk; John Laughlin, Justice of the Peace; Anderson Amos, constable.

The next record is that of November 4, 1856, when ninety-four votes were polled. The records from this election are perfect. P. P. Cady was township clerk, and procured a book at his own expense, hunting over all the papers of the several officers, in vain for complete records. Much that is valuable, is lost to the compiler from the absence of such important items, compelling us to rely upon the memory of the few early settlers left among us, and whose memory, at the lapse of thirty years, will disagree, thus rendering all attemps at exactness abortive.

At the November election, 1860, W. H. Carithers was chosen as first township supervisor on the county Board; Timothy Stiles, Township Clerk; P. P. Cady and Emery Higbey, Justices; James Patterson and Stephen Thibodo, Constables.

The year 1861 was eventful as changing the future prospects of so many families in our land, and was felt largely in Post Township, when, with a population entirely rural, it furnished more than forty men to the Union Army, distributed and named as follows:

Company K, 1st Iowa Cavalry-Charles T. Prescott 1st (enlistment in the township), Moses A. Bollman, Moses Early, Benton Bowman, Ed. Hanan, John S. Post, Stephen Harris, David M. Minert, Wm. H. Saucer.

Company I, 9th Iowa Infantry-John S. Mather, 'Squire Mather, Geo. S. Rice.

Company B, 12th Iowa Infantry-Wm. Maynard, Elias Repp, Chas. Russell, Stephen Thibodo.

Company B, 13th Iowa Infantry-Jesse P. Prescott, Elza Sanders, David Vickery, Julian D. Miller.

Company B, 21st Iowa Infantry-Wm. T. Hays.

Company A, 27th Iowa Infantry--Caleb I. Bishop, Daniel Cole, Warren Clough, Elisha Curry, Saul Dobson, Theodore Granger, C. C. Marston, Darius C. Mather, Meredith McGee, Calvin McMullen, Hiram Hawkins, Andrew J. Patterson, James Patterson, Warren R. Reed, Truman Stoddard, Geo. W. Topliff, John Pixler, A. L. Stiles, Alonzo Thornton.

Company, 38th Iowa Infantry-John L. Johnson.