New Book: Images of America - Appanoose County

  The Appanoose County Historical Society has published a new collection of historical photographs of Appanoose County in the Arcadia Publishing series Images of America.  It joins Enfys McMurry's recently published Centerville: A Mid-America Saga by The History Press, the digitization of the historical newspapers of Centerville by the Appanoose County Historical Society and the digitization of the historical newspapers of Seymour by The Jerome Journal to provide rich resources for persons interested in the history of Appanoose County, plus the collections and archives of the Appanoose County Historical & Coal Mining Museum in Centerville.

  The new book can be purchased at the Museum in Centerville or on Amazon.com.  I think you will find it a jewel of a resource!

New Book: Centerville: A Mid-American Saga

  A new history of Centerville and Appanoose County has been published: Enfys McMurry's Centerville: A Mid-American Saga [The History Press, 2013].

  From the moment that the surveyor set down his tools in 1846 to the instant that the Flying Farmers crossed the sky at the centennial celebration, the history of Centerville, Iowa, has gifted us with a unique insight into the mid-American experience. Though the population never exceeded 8,600, immigrants from more than forty different countries created a community that was both melting pot and crucible—just like the nation at large.

  The town forged an identity through the Underground Railroad, the Civil War, race relations, education debates and World Wars I and II. In a definitive history, Enfys McMurry captures both the particular feelings of Centerville’s citizens and how they reflected and participated in the larger American story. Read to learn how  Centerville experienced the dark history of Prohibition, crime, the Ku Klux Klan, the Mafia and the Depression.

  Read more about Enfys McMurry and Centerville: A Mid-American Saga on The History Press Blog, The Des Moines Register website, and the Daily Iowegian website,  You can purchase the book through Amazon or at the Appanoose County Historical and Coal Mining Museum in Centerville

AP-PA-NOOSE

The Red Men in Iowa by A. R. Fulton

[Des Moines, Iowa: Mills & Company, Publishers, 1882]

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  The name of this chief signifies "a chief when a child," indicating that he inherited his office. He presided over a band of the Sacs. He was a man of a sedate and quiet disposition, and was much beloved by his people. We know but little of his early life. During the Black Hawk War he favored the peace policy of Keokuk, having always entertained a friendly feeling toward the whites. After the removal of the Sacs and Foxes from Iowa River to the Des Moines he established his village near the site of the present city of Ottumwa, where his people cultivated a portion of the ground now within the limits of that city. The grounds occupied by the round-house and other buildings of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad were once a part of the corn-fields of Appanoose and his people.  
  Appanoose was one of the delegation who, in 1837, with Keokuk and other head men, accompanied General Street to Washington, at which time he visited with them the city of Boston. He was present with them in the meeting at Faneuil Hall, and also in the State-house, where Governor Everett, and other State officials of Massachusetts, tendered them a reception. It was on that occasion that he brought himself prominently into notice by making the most animated speech, both in manner and matter, that was delivered by the chiefs. Keokuk having, in reply to Governor Everett first spoken, Appanoose arose, and said:

  "Brothers: You have heard just now what my chief has to say. All our chiefs and warriors are very much gratified by our visit to this town. Last Saturday they were invited to a great house (Faneuil Hall), and now they are in the great council-house. They are very much pleased with so much attention. This we cannot reward you for now, but shall not forget it, and hope the Great Spirit will reward you for it. This is the place which our forefathers once inhabited. I have often heard my father and grandfather say they lived near the sea-coast where the white men first came. I am glad to hear all this from you. I suppose it is put in a book, where you learn all these things. As far as I can understand the language of the white people, it appears to me that the Americans have attained a very high rank among white people. It is the same with us, though I say it myself. Where we live beyond the Mississippi, I am respected by all people, and they consider me the tallest among them. I am happy that two great men meet and shake hands with each other."

  Appanoose, at the conclusion of his speech, suited the action to the word by extending his hand to Governor Everett, while the audience shouted its applause at the self- complacency of the orator. He immediately became one of the heroes of that memorable occasion, and returned to his Western home with a number of valuable presents.

  According to statements of pioneers, Appanoose had four wives. Being of a quiet and peaceful disposition, he was not much known beyond his own village, whose interests, it is said, he watched over with great prudence and care. The date of his death we have not been able to ascertain, but it must have occurred after the removal of his people to that part of the Des Moines valley above Red Rock, for he is incidentally mentioned as being among them after that time. In an old memorandum of pioneer days in Iowa we have seen mention of the death of a Sac chief whose name was given as Op-pe-noose, as occurring at the mouth of Clear Creek, believed to be the small stream of that name in Keokuk county. Like his cotemporary (though senior in years), Wapello, he had probably returned on a visit to his former haunts, when the messenger came that was to summon him to his final hunting-grounds in the land of the Great Spirit. 

Appanoose County News - 31 May 1894

Daily Iowegian - 31 May 1894

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  --The Centerville contingent of the striking miners that are besieging Muchakinock are getting a good deal of blame by the daily papers for being drunken and unruly. There is a mistake somewhere. There are only three Centerville miners in the crowd the Appanoose contingent going from the mines along the Milwaukee. Centerville miners are peaceable and quiet men.

  --A Herald reporter had the pleasure of attending a piano recital by the wonderful child musician, Minta Lee Rice. She played a number of difficult selections with such accuracy and delicacy of touch that it was difficult to believe that she was not a highly educated musician, instead of a little girl who could not even read print. -- St. Joseph Herald.

  Russell's Hall, June 5th. Tickets at Ogle's.

  --Memorial Day services passed off in good order, there being a large crowd present. The published programme was carried out as nearly as possible. The meeting was called to order about one o'clock and the ritualistic service of the Grand Army was gone through with. The procession headed by the Military band, Company E, children with flowers, Grand Army, citizens on foot and in carriages proceeded to the cemetery and decorated the mound and graves, then marched back and completed the service in the Park. There was music and addresses by L.  C. Mechem and Maj C. A. Stanton. Col. E. C. Haynes was marshal of the day and maintained good discipline. By actual count of A. Efaw there were 2,785 people left the cemetery and not half of the crowd marched down. At night there was a camp fire in the Opera house presided over by Mrs. Dr. Replogle, opened by Mr. Inman in behalf of the Sons of Veterans. Addresses were made by Commander A. J. McCoy, Capt. W. F. Vermilion, Maj. C. A. Stanton, Mrs. S. C. James, interspersed with music and recitations. Memorial services were a success both day and night.

  --The Engine and Hook & Ladder company made a good display in the procession yesterday.

  --The miners are yet all out in the Appanoose mines but a number of mines in Wapello and Mahaska counties are at work. At Muchakinock are several hundred colored miners at work. They live near the mouth of the mines and are reported as well armed and disciplined and say they will defend their job. For the past week a large number of the striking miners have been camped around them but are not allowed to hold intercourse with the men. The number encamped on the outside have been largely increased and they announce that they will give the working miners till to-day to come out and after that they intend to use force. The way these men are situated, force is a thing that both sides can play at and the chances are that some one will be hurt if such an attempt is made.

The Last Pony Mine

Iowa State University produced the documentary The Last Pony Mine which received a CINE Golden Eagle Award.  The description provided  on the Chip Taylor Communications website reads:

Coal was the main source of primary energy for industry and transportation from the 18th century to the 1950s in the United States; coal resources and coal mining played important roles in many state's social and economic history.  Prior to engines being used by coal miners, little Belgian or Shetland ponies, known as Pit Ponies, were used to pull carts loaded with coal through the low-roofed mines. The last pony mine in American was the New Gladstone Coal Mine in Appanoose County, Iowa, which shut down its operations in 1971, ending an era of pony mining.  This classic, award-winning documentary recounts the story of the mine, the miners and their four-legged partners, who worked the same shifts as the men and were an important part of the haulage crew, hauling empty coal cars to the miners for filling or hauling loaded cars out of the mine.  Produced by Iowa State University.

The documentary may be viewed on YouTube in three segments:  Part 1; Part 2; and Part 3.

The Gladstone Mine was located just north of Jerome on the Milwaukee Railroad.

Appanoose County History Books & Articles

Several books and articles provide an overview of the history of Appanoose County and biographical sketches of some of its citizens and families.  Some of these books have indexes posted on the Internet and some can be downloaded free from the Internet. 

[1] The History of Appanoose County, Iowa, containing a History of the County, its Cities, Towns, &c., A Biographical Directory of Citizens, War Record of its Volunteers in the late Rebellion, General and Locat Statistics, Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men, History of the Northwest, History of Iowa, Map of Appanoose County, Constitution of the United States, Miscellaneous Matters, &c. [Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1878].  An index of townships and biographical sketches by Dick Barton and 292 biographies transcribed by Alice Wayne Daniels are included in the Iowa Biographies Project.  Download a free full-view copy from the Google Book Project.

[2] Biographical and Historical Record of Wayne and Appanoose Counties, Iowa, containing a condensed history of the state of Iowa; portraits and biographies of the governors of the territory and state; engravings of promjinent citizens in Wayne and Appanoose counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families, and a concise history of Wayne and Appanoose counties. [Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Company, 1886].  An index and transcribed biographies are included in the Iowa Biographies Project.  Download a free full-view searchable copy from the Internet Archive. 

[3] Biographical and Genealogical History of Appanoose and Monroe Counties, Iowa. [New York & Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1903].  An index and transcribed biographies are included in the Iowa Biographies Project.  Download a free full-view searchable copy from the Internet Archive. 

[4] Taylor, L. L., Editor.  Past and Present of Appanoose County Iowa - A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement.  Two Volumes. [Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1913]. An index and transcribed biographies are included in the Iowa Biographies Project.  Download free full-view searchable copies of both volumes from the Internet Archive.  

[5] Appanoose County Historical Society.  The History of Appanoose County, Iowa - 1986.  [Dallas TX: Taylor Publishing Company, 1986]  An index to its biographies transcribed by Alice Wayne Daniels is on the IAGenWeb Project. The Appanoose County Genealogical Society published an all-name index, 1986 Appanoose County History Book Index [Centerville IA: Appanoose County Genealogical Society, 1990] 

[6] Arnold, John, Editor.  A Pictorial History of Appanoose County, Iowa.  [Marceline MO: D-Books Publishing, 1996] 

[7] Heusinkveld, Bill and O. R. Parks. A Pictorial History of the Towns of Appanoose County.   [2003]

[8] Heusinkveld, Bill.  101 Historical Sketches of Pioneer Days in Appanoose County.  Written for the Centerville Iowegian from July 2002 to July 2004. [Centerville IA: Bill Heusinkveld, 2004] 

[9] Fitzpatrick, T. J.  "The Place-Names of Appanoose County, Iowa" published in American Speech, Volume 3, Number 1 (October, 1927), pp. 39-66, published by the Duke University Press.  Digitized by JSTOR which can be accessed through a participating library or institution. 

[10] Publications of the Appanoose County Genealogical Society, P.O Box 684, Centerville, Iowa 52544-0684:  Place Names of Appanoose County (Indexed), 30 pages; Pioneer Honor Roll - 1843-1882 (Indexed), 13 pages; Early Pioneer Stories (Indexed), 169 pages; 1986 Appanoose County History Book Index, 183 pages. ACGS's email: acgs2005@hotmail.com.