THE 1880’S IMMIGRATION AND OUTLAWS THE RAINSBARGER STORY As written by: Mildred O. Janssen “Although many counties in the state of Iowa had the unsavory element among their citizens, Hardin County in the 1800’s received nationwide publicity because of the five Rainsbarger brothers, William, Finley, Nathan, Emanuel and Francis. They […]

THE 1880’S IMMIGRATION AND OUTLAWS FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE Once again quoting from Quick’s autobiography, One Man’s Life, he relates several direct experiences with a couple of the Rainsbarger brothers. Quick, it seems, draws little conclusion as to the actual guilt of the Rainsbargers. He may or may not have known if […]

THE 1880’S IMMIGRATION AND OUTLAWS MURDER The Rainsbarger’s, seemed to be highly intelligent and respected citizens. No member of the family had ever had even a minor scrape with the law until 1866, when Finley Rainsbarger was charged with murder. Herbert Quick describes, the incident in his book, One Man’s […]

THE 1880’S IMMIGRATION AND OUTLAWS THE RAINSBARGERS In the early days of Steamboat Rock, and Hardin county, there were some citizens of questionable character. Looking back on some of the incidences of the area’s first fifty years, and particularly the 1880’s we get the strange feeling that maybe the stories […]

THE 1880’S IMMIGRATION AND OUTLAWS GROWTH & DECLINE Steamboat Rock seemed to be a thriving community in 1880. The mayor was E.M. Campbell; the recorder E.W.Skerry; the assessor, R.C. Wright; and council members were A.A. Noyes, Jerome Seabury, D.W. Turner, W.D. Shattuck, Henry Luiken and D.G.Cunningham. As the decade of […]

TIMES ARE CHANGING BEE HUNTING PARTIES A great form of recreation for the early settlers, bee hunting, became an art to some of the pioneers. Those who excelled at the gathering of honey, would watch a bee as it gathered its nectar, and then took careful notice of the direction […]

TIMES ARE CHANGING SNAKES According to the History of Hardin County, “In pioneer times snakes were numerous, such as rattlesnakes, vipers, adder, blood snake, and many varieties of large blue and green snakes, milk snake, garter and water snakes, and others.” Reuben E. Wardwell, an early merchant, who we have […]

TIMES ARE CHANGING BELIEVE IT OR NOT There probably are within every communities history stories of characters or individuals that have done or attempted to do what is seemingly out of the ordinary. In this regard Steamboat Rock was no exception. In the fall of 1851, W.C. Rice came from […]

TIMES ARE CHANGING FIRST CREAMERY Thomas Neesen’s merchandise business proved to be profitable for him, but he had always dreamed of one daystarting a creamery, and in 1878 he decided to do so. He purchased the necessary machinery and equipment. In addition he bought two teams of horses, a team […]

TIMES ARE CHANGING A CALL FOR EXPANSION There was a call within the county for manufacturers, and woolen mills in 1878. In addition there was also a call for papermills and pork-packing establishments or factories of any kind. Cheese and butter factories were being erected. It was noted that twelve […]