Situated in the northwest corner of Worth County, north of Sheridan Missouri, is an old hunk of iron that has been the topic of discussion over the years in Worth County. It is referred to as the “iron marker”, because it was made from virgin cast iron that is free of any steel impurities. It has weathered over the years, but shows no rust at all.
In 1816, J. C. Sullivan had been employed by the United States government to survey and mark the boundaries of the Osage Indian lands in Missouri. When Missouri became a state in 1821, that part of the Sullivan line which extended due west from the Des Moines River to a point near the present northwestern corner of Missouri was regarded as the northern boundary of the northwest corner of Missouri and all land west of the marker, and east of the Missouri River was considered waste land and unfit for habitation.
No question was raised about the boundary until after settlers began to move into northeastern Missouri and southeastern Iowa in the late1830s. By this time the marks of the old Indian boundary or Sullivan line could scarcely be found, and the settlers in this region did not know whether they lived in Iowa or Missouri.
Sullivan’s line was a little off. His survey was supposed to be parallel with the rapids of the river Des Moines, but he made a mistake. He did not adjust his compass as he moved eastward from the Missouri River. This caused his boundary line to angle upward until it was four miles further north on the east side than on the west side. JC Brown was later hired to survey the line. The “Brown Line” was 9 miles north of Sullivan’s line.
When Missouri officers tried to collect taxes in the region that is now the southern part of Davis and Van Buren Counties in Iowa, the settlers refused to pay. Missouri sent agents into the area to settle the problem. This area contained rich farm land, and also several large bee trees. Both Honey and beeswax were prized on the frontier because they sugar was scarce, and they could make money selling the honey. The agents cut down several bee trees which the settlers valued because of the honey stored in the hollow trunks, for partial tax payment.
After several small disputes Missouri sent a 600 man Militia to go to battle with Iowa troops but there was no one there, as it took longer for the Iowa troops to form. By the time the 1200 Iowa troops loaded with pitch forks did get there the Militia had returned home. So that ended the war.
The Honey War was settled in the Supreme Court of the United States in 1849, when it was declared that the boundary line should be determined by the original survey make by John Sullivan. Large iron pillars were put at the corners, and at intervals all along the boundary line, where iron or wooden posts were placed to mark the line. It was at that time that our iron marker was placed.