BAKER TOWNSHIP.

The chapters below are from the 1914 book, Past and Present of O'Brien and Osceola Counties of Iowa and contain histories of the towns and townships of the county.

A large amount of the best land in this township was taken by speculators before the homesteaders could get a chance to enter it. The Des Moines .Valley Railroad Company secured under an indemnity claim sections 4, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 23 and 24. David C. Shepard secured sections 12, 26 and 34 on college land scrip, John Lawler obtained on some kind of land scrip, sections 32 and 36. Thus homesteaders were deprived of about one-half of the land in this township that ought to have been left open to homestead entry. It was all very fine land and those who got it would have been very indignant if they had been charged with stealing it. However, the grasshopper scourge coming on soon after the land was secured and having to pay taxes on it so long before it was saleable, and then only at hard-time prices, these land speculators did not realize as much profit as might be thought.

Section 2. Hermon Runyan settled on this section and kept a few cows and managed to get through the grasshopper times with his large family. Afterwards he prospered and passed into easy circumstances, retiring to the village of Ocheyedan where he died a few years ago. Gideon Thompson also settled here, but sold and left the country without making much impression. Elmer R. Hazen was a carpenter by trade and depended on work to carry him through the hard times. He was a big strong man and a good workman, but a periodical drinker. He would complete a job and then get drunk. When tipsy it was his boast that he was Elmer R. Hazen, the noble and grand. He had a peculiar experience in Sibley along in the eighties. On completion of a school house in his township, he settled for his work and then came to Sibley to pay his lumber bill and get drunk. After settling his bill he had about one hundred and forty dollars left when he went to the saloon. W. T. Miller saw him go in the saloon and knew what it meant.

A few hours later Miller went to the saloon to look him up and found him in a maudlin condition. Miller said, "Hazen, give me your money," and he handed over his pocket book. About three days later Hazen called at Miller's office, pretty well sobered up, but crying. Upon inquiry as to the trouble he said some one had stolen his money. After berating him a while for getting drunk and having so much money with him, Miller turned to his safe and handed him the pocketbook and told him to count it and see if it was all there. It would be useless to attempt to portray the expression on Hazen's countenance upon finding his money. He had no recollection of having surrendered it. Samuel A. Colby, who settled on this section, made little impression.

Section 3. P. Boss came here in 1902 with a small amount of capital and now owns five hundred and forty acres in this township; He made it in general farming and stock raising, handling principally black cattle.

Section 6. Here was James Morrison and William R. Clement, neither of whom remained very long. William H. Lean remained long on his claim and became well to do. He served as a member of the board of supervisors several terms and was an influential man in his township. Wallace M. Moore was a one-armed old soldier and was elected county auditor to succeed Frank Robinson. The convention that nominated Moore was stampeded over the cry for "One-armed Moore." Many thought Frank Robinson, who had served efficiently and honestly, ought to have another term, but the convention ran wild for "One-Armed Moore." Mr. Moore made a faithful and capable-officer and was reelected several times. After retiring he moved to Mt. Vernon where he died.

Section 8. Here was Henry Babcock, who was an energetic fellow and, being from the state of New York, he knew the value of cows. Consequently a few cows and some young cattle carried him through the hard times. In later years he sold here and moved to a farm a few miles south of Sioux City where he died a few years ago.

Orvis Foster settled on this section. Mr. Foster was having quite a hard time to get along, so Henry Babcock, who was school director for that district, proposed that Mrs. Foster teach their school, which was made up of a few small children. Consequently Mrs. Foster presented herself before the county superintendent of schools for examination and failed. Finally it was arranged that if every one in that district, having children of school age, would sign a written request for Mrs. Foster to be allowed to teach the school, the superintendent would give her a permit. Such request was signed and a permit was then issued. She taught several terms and gave satisfaction. That was another way of bridging a family over the hard times and at that time was all right. William Shipley made little impression.

Frank Thayer clung to his claim as long as he was able to work. He was postmaster of Gopher postoffice a long time. When unable to work he sold and retired to Sibley where he and his wife died.

Section 9. A. Knox came in 1891 and bought one hundred and sixty acres on time and now has six hundred and forty acres in this township, all made by general farming.

Section 10. Lewis Klatt is getting along nicely on his three-hundred-and-twenty-acre farm.

Section 11. H. and J. Legate are prosperous and industrious farmers and in a few years will be wealthy.

Section 12. Clark Howard has prospered so well that he is already leading the retired life in Ocheyedan.

On section 13 is L. H. Holle, a thrifty farmer and stock raiser.

On section 15 is John G. Benz, who is getting rich and buying more land.

Sections 16 and 17. Five Frey brothers came from northern Illinois, and bought on sections 16 and 17 in this township and all prospered. Dirk Frey, who proved to be quite a leader in Baker township, settled on section 17 and prospered so well that a few years ago he retired with a nice competence. He now lives at his ease in Sibley, where for many years his son, Otto J. Frey, was clerk of district court. Dirk Frey was justice of the peace many years in Baker township.

Section 18. Jake Brandt donated ground for a co-operative store and, on account of the great distance from town, it prospered until the Gowrie branch was built through that part of the county. That store saved the farmers of the neighborhood much money and time as well as many miles travel. When that store was started they secured a postoffice and called it Melvin. The postoffice of Gopher was discontinued and all got their mail at Melvin. When the railroad was built, and a town established, it continued under the name of Melvin. Henry Klappine left quite early. Henry Simmons sold in 1873. Fred Frisbee filed on this section but lived principally in Sheldon where he and his brother engaged in the livery business for many years. In the meantime they handled real estate and became quite wealthy. Later they invested in bank stock extensively. Mr. Frisbee still owns his original homestead. Frank H. Quiggle also settled on section 18 and still owns and lives on his claim. Elmer Simmons sold and left early.

Section 20. Henry Dunkelmann was a sturdy German and very industrious. He hung on through all the hard times and at last won out. Of late years he has been leading a retired life on the old farm about one mile from Melvin. When Henry Dunkelmann located in this county in the spring of 1872, there came with him a young German of noble birth and filed on an eighty-acre claim on the same section with Mr. Dunkelmann, and although of gentle birth he took up the work of a pioneer with all the earnestness of a veteran. He broke prairie, planted and sowed the same as other settlers. Being a single man he lived in. the Dunkelmann family and they became great friends. The grasshoppers destroyed his crops in 1873 and again in 1874, and then this young German, Josef von Willemoes-Suhm by name, became discouraged, sold his eighty acres, with sixty-three acres of breaking, for two hundred and fifty dollars and left the country. However, this fine prairie made such a deep impression on this young man, that after about forty years' absence, this man, who had become a traveling salesman, returned to visit his old friend Dunkelmann. When he and Dunkelmann visited Sibley last fall he was as enthusiastic as a boy over the marvelous changes. He related with much pleasure and merriment how he and Dunkelmann started out on horseback one fine May morning in 1873 to visit Sibley and could not locate it. Finally a shower came up and they were obliged to seek shelter in a big house, and lo! they discovered they were in Sibley. By the way, this man has been successful in a business way, not only having saved a competence, but being retired' on a liberal pension by his firm for long and meritorious service. Don Josef considered it a huge joke on Don Henry that he, an old cavalryman in the Civil War, and a prairie rider generally, could not locate the county seat in his own county. Nathan D. Bowles was a stirring fellow, but did not remain many years. Valentine Quinnett's sta ywas of short duration. Hans Graves is still living on his claim, but sold and gave possession March 1, 1914. His life on the farm was a success.

Section 28. Fritz Ohm made a short stay here and moved to Monroe county in an early day. Jerry Graves still lives on his claim. He moved to Sanborn and, after trying town life one or two years.yielded to the call of the soil and returned to the farm. He thinks a man can enjoy his old age on the farm where -he spent all his working days as well and much happier than in town. Cyrus J. Dewey was a transient. Frank Graves died on his claim about fifteen years ago. Frank Graves has retired and lives in Ocheyedan. Peter Graves conducts a restaurant in Ocheyedan.

Section 29. E. Bentz is a successful farmer. Mr. Bentz secured part of the town site of the new town of Melvin.

Section 30. Fritz Rhode died several years ago. August Genz is hardly remembered. Martin S. Stanford and Sylvester Larabee were not stayers. W. A. Waldo, who entered a claim on this section, remained here several years and then sold out. He conducted a livery stable for a time in Sioux City, but eventually landed in California where he was living at last report. He was a well educated gentleman and taught school several terms while here to bridge over the hard times.

Section 31. A. Saeinga came here with the proceeds of the sale of a forty-acre farm in Illinois, settled on.section 31 and now has four hundred and eighty acres in this township, as well as property in Melvin. O. M. DeFries has made a comfortable competence here and now lives in Melvin.

Section 33. John Isly has made enough to retire and now lives in Hartley.

Section 34. Henry Schmoll is an intelligent and industrious farmer who is one of the county supervisors. He was supervisor during the time the new court house was under construction and has proved he is a painstaking and efficient officer.

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