THE 1880’S IMMIGRATION AND OUTLAWS

Clay township and Steamboat Rock’s earliest settlers were mostly of 106 American birth. Shortly thereafter German immigrants began toA arrive in small numbers at first. Through the 1860’s and 70’s and 80’s the German population began to swell to such great numbers that two churches were established in the German language. 

Martin Snider, a native of Germany, came to Hardin county in 1857, and resided in Steamboat Rock. It is possible that Martin may well have been one of the first, if not the first German immigrant to arrive. 

During the first half of the nineteenth century, America saw a great wave of immigration that brought thousands of poor and hungry to her shores. Fleeing from famine, war, political and religious persecution, millions landed in New York, Baltimore, Charleston, and Boston. Most of these first immigrants were from northern and western Europe. Between 1820 and 1860, some 1.5 million came from Germany alone. 

Beginning in the 1880’s, and lasting until 1914, a new tide of immigration dwarfed even the pre-Civil War numbers. Not only were the numbers astounding, but the nature of immigration had drastically altered. While still dominate, northern and western Europe were no longer the primary source of immigrants. They were also pouring in from southern and eastern Europe as well. Few spoke English, and few had marketable skills. 

The greatest number were the simple but hard working folks, with a willingness to work hard for what they wanted. They came here with one thing in common. The desire and determination to become successful. 

The immigrants from Germany for the most part wanted to become farmers. Until the railroad expanded its web across America, the German immigrant settled only as far as they could go on the existing lines. Coming from Germany they had little means of transportation other than the railroad to get to their destination. 

It is not known why the foreign immigrants were less willing than the American born pioneers to pick up and travel by wagon beyond the reaches of the railroad but only a small number from the throngs of immigrants did so. 

Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana farmland was quickly taken by those who arrived first. The Germans were by no means the only peoples seeking farmland. By the 1860’s many were as far west as Illinois, and were quickly taking up the farm land near the railroad spurs in that state. 

Now as the railroad was moving farther west and to the north. The German population that had been somewhat stranded in Illinois were, along with new immigrants, moving as far as the new lines would take them. In 1869, Hardin county, and Steamboat Rock, came within their reach, and they began to come. In the 1870’s, more and more began to arrive. 

In addition to the railroad, at the end of the 1860’s the Nation and the states began to make overtures to foreign immigrants. Iowa with a small budget accomplished this in a big way. 

In 1864 Iowa newspapers carried news that President Lincoln had signed a bill providing for the appointment of a Commissioner of Immigration. The purpose was to prepare reliable and attractive information to encourage Europeans to migrate to the United States. Five years later, in 1869, the General 107 Assembly of the State of Iowa created a Board of Immigration and implemented it with an appropriation of $5,000. 

Even back then $5000 was not a great deal of money to fund a project of reaching a large portion of the then United States and majority of Europe. 

The Board under the direction of Secretary, Alexandrer R. Fulton prepared a pamphlet entitled, “Iowa: the Home for Immigrants.” The booklet included all of the benefits of Iowa particularly those to the farmer. It was really quite extensive, and even included a map of Iowa. Sixty-five thousand of these were printed in English, German, Dutch, Swedish and Danish languages. They were widely circulated both in this country in the east, and in other countries. A copy was sent to every newspaper in the United States. The railroads that had land grants in the state cooperated in distribution, and the Hamburg Steamship line shipped the pamphlets overseas free of charge. 

The results were beyond expectation. And all of the credit goes to Fulton. There was probably not another man in the state who was as skilled a writer. The 96-page booklet that he prepared, that attracted so many immigrants to our state, is still in print, and well worth reading. 

The complexion of Iowa’s foreign population was well established prior to the Civil war. For that reason it was not surprising that the Board of Immigration concentrated their efforts on German, Dutch and Nordic extraction. The leading foreign groups up until the board was formed were in populace order: 

Germany -Sweden -Ireland -Scotland Norway -Holland -England -Switzerland 

Based on this the board sought Immigrants in the following order: 

German -Danish -Swedish Dutch -Norwegian -Czech 

Many of the Germans who were at the top of both lists, found their way to Steamboat Rock. Today there are many descendants of these German immigrant living in and around Steamboat Rock, Names like Snider (came in 1857), Harms (1861), Bear (1864), Jaspers (1865), Eertmoed (1865), Gellhorn (1869), Luiken (1876), Berands (1882), Potgeter (1882), Gast (1883), Folkerts (1884), Ruppelt (1886), Okken, Cramer (1897), Schuneman, Johnson, Eilers (1891), Janssen, Primus, and Veld to name just a few. 

It is safe to say that a great many of the earlier English speaking pioneers left with the influx of Germans.