Recollections of Colfax and Jasper County

SLAUGHTER, STEELE

Posted By: JCGS Volunteer
Date: 7/5/2022 at 15:22:30

The following is a short excerpt from a handwritten account found at the State Historical Library in Des Moines, Iowa.
“Recollections of Colfax and Jasper County, Iowa” by Myrtle B. Steele, 1966
Jasper Early Days
In retrospect, I envision mental murals of many hallowed spots in the land where the tall corn, in my estimation, grows tallest, Jasper County, Iowa.
I am the oldest living descendent of the first settlers of Jasper County, Iowa, Joseph and Belinda Slaughter, who upon the “Old Oregon Trail” between Iowa City and Fort Des Moines, in May 1846 built a log cabin and opened up a claim, and in after years saw Colfax come into existence, which at one time was a famous spa, named by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and afterwards, Vice President of the United States, Schuyler Colfax.

(The entire document is probably about 20 pages, all hand-written. Myrtle was born about 1882.)