Transcribed by Kate Connerth and submitted to
the IAGenWeb Project on October 8th, 1997.
Copyright © 1997 by Kate Connerth.
A CLAIM "JUMPER" DISCIPLINED
It was neither a safe, profitable nor honorable business to enter land on which another had laid a claim, in Benton County, in early times. In 1851, one Alfred Moore had settled near Fremont. He was anxious to obtain all the land he could, and entered it without regard to claims. He had thus "jumped" claims belonging to S.K. Parker, L.D. Bordwell, and Joseph Strawn. This was more than the pioneer sense of honor could endure, and it was determined that the erring member of the body politic should be "disciplined." Accordingly, on the night of August 8, 1851, a bright moonlight night, two men called at Mr. Moore's house, representing that they had lost their way and wished him to show them the right road. Unsuspicious of danger, Mr. Moore fell into the trap and started to show the strangers the way. While passing through a corn field, he was suddenly seized and taken to a neighboring tree to which he was securely tied, after being stripped. The leader, Capt. Hollenbeck, asked him some questions, but he was not disposed to comply readily, when Dan. Richie and Ed. Johnson endeavored to induce him to answer by the vigorous application of hickory to his bare back. After he had been punished sufficiently, his wounds were dressed with tar, over which a quantity of feathers were shaken to hasten the healing process. Mr. Bordwell, who was a witness to the occasion, says, "when they got through with him he was as pretty looking bird as you ever see." Doubtless he was, although not quite so joyous as some. After this surgical operation was completed, he was untied, the pan which contained the tar was put on his head and he was given three days in which to produce the entry papers and assign them to their proper owners. Moore very wisely complied within the time specified, but entered complain against his persecutors; a warrant was issued, and John Hollenbeck, Daniel Richie and Orson Bogle were arrested on a charge of assault and battery, and brought to Fremont for trial. Bogle, who was not present at the whipping, was put on trial first, and was acquitted. This discouraged the prosecutor, who abandoned his charges against the others who were there, and made the best time he could out of town, doubtless fearing if he remained too long that he might be compelled to "hug another tree."