USA > Iowa > Story County > A history of Story county, Iowa: Carefully compiled, from the earliest settlement to the present, March 1, 1887. > Part 20
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44
Under the head of "Directories" can be found the names of the business men of Ontario and Gilbert.
Franklin Township is a township of much good land and is being settled and improved rapidly. At one time it had, and may have yet, more native timber in it than any other township in the county. It contains several streams of water along which timber in earlier times was quite abundant. Skunk river enters the town- ship in the southeast quarter of section 12, passing southwesterly through section 13, and leaves 13 near the southwest corner; then passes through the northeast quarter of section 23, then southwest- erly through 23 to the section line between sections 22 and 23, the line between the southwest quarter of 23 and the southeast quarter of section 22, crossing and recrossing said line about four times before leaving it in section 27; passing a little west of the center of section 26. It then enters section 35 near the north quarter sec- tion corner, passing south and southeasterly into and through the southeast quarter of section 35, then into the southwest quar- ter of section 36, then crossing the south line of said quarter into section one of Washington Township. Squaw Fork of Skunk enters the county at the west quarter section corner of section 7, town- ship 84, range 24, passing southeasterly through sections 7, 18, 29 and 33, leaving the township eighty or one hundred rods east of the southwest corner of section 34, cutting off, in its passage, a lit- tle of section 19, and through southwest quarter of section 20 and a little off of the southwest quarter of section 34. Onion Creek enters the township in the southwest quarter of section 30, passing through the south half of south side of section and passing through the north west and northeast quarter of section 32, and connects with Squaw near the center of the northwest quarter of section 33. Squaw enters the county at or very near the Squaw Creek Coal Banks. The small branch that passes the "big rock" and empties into Squaw Creek just above the west quarter corner of section 7, that branch forms a valley of coal and of most excellent quality. These banks are in Boone County but a short distance. Here quite a trading point has grown up, and Zenorville is the town. On Skunk and Squaw there are some stone quarries of fair quality.
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HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
Stone quarries are found on sections 23, 25 and 26, and on the east half of section 32, and the west half of 33. A good one is on the west side of Skunk river, and on the southwest quarter of south west quarter of section 13, township 84, range 24. The rock is of good qual- ity. Luther branch of Squaw Creek (now called, by some, Clear Creek,) enters Franklin Township on the west line of section 31, but crosses the south line of 31 east of the southwest corner and passes to a point near the south quarter section corner of 31; then it passes southeasterly through section 6, and easterly through sec- tion 5, and northeasterly through the northwest quarter of section 4 township 83, range 24, and empties into Squaw forty or fifty rods north of the south quarter section corner of section 33, town- ship 84, range 24.
Luther Branch is the original name of this creek, and the grove through which it passes was called "Luther Grove." All this grove is in Washington Township; and so is nearly all of Luther Creek. There is a Clear Creek in the southeastern part of the county which will be noticed in Collins Township.
Bible Creek got its name from the circumstance of a book ped- lar having left his buggy, loaded with books and Bibles, in a snow drift which proved, when the snow melted, to be in this stream. It was called Bible Creek from that occurrence. This creek emp- ties into Skunk river near the center of the southwest quarter of section 23, township ,84, range 24, passing through sections 10, 15 and 14.
The school houses are not all in their territorial limits, caused mainly by the interference of Skunk River. There are five church buildings in Franklin Township, viz: At Gilbert, two churches,- one a Cumberland Presbyterian, the other a Congregationalist, the latter has thirty members. The buildings look very well.
Ontario has two churches-one a Christian Church, the other a Methodist Episcopal Church, a brick building. Bloomington has a Methodist Episcopal Church building but no organization just now.
There are several cemeteries in Franklin Township. One is in the northeast corner of the southeast quarter of section 4; and one in the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 1; and one in the southeast corner of the northwest quarter of section 13, and one in the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of sec- tion 36, township 84, range 24. (See "Cemeteries1 Index.)
First settlers of Franklin Township were among the following, viz: John H. Keigley, A. Hipsher, I. Cotton, Wm. McMichael, Adam Grove, Joshua B. Grove, Robt. M. Hunter, Frank C. Hunter, Henry Barnes, Sam J. Hiestand, T. F. Jones, W. J. Freed, Henry Clay Cameron, Fred Eckard, James Briley, Ira Briley, Elisha Briley, E. G. Evans, W. D. Evans, Otho French, Frank Thomp- son, Eli H. French, John Zenor, P. R. Craig, John Miller, Rev.
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HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
Job Garberson, Elias Pocock, Mr. - Riddle, Joshua Foster, Wm. Arrasmith, Peter McNerney, Dr. Favre, S. P. O'Brien, Dr. Phipps.
The first postmaster of Ontario was Hiram Scott, who had been the postmaster of New Philadelphia. When office was changed to Ontario, the office was called "Ontario Postoffice," and Mr. Scott continued as the pastmaster. Something like years ago Frank M. Coffett succeeded Mr. Scott. Mr. Coffett is still the post- master for Ontario. There is a fair warehouse at the depot. The depot building is a good and substantial building but not large. Ed. Allen is the Ticket or Station Agent at Ontario.
Gilbert has J. B. Grinnell for the present postmaster, and Wm. L. Marshall for Ticket Agent.
The two Church buildings, heretofore named are nice comfort- able houses.
There are twenty members of the Frank Bently Post No. 89, of G. A. R. A. J. McFarland, Commander.
Gilbert Brothers have a good brick building for their business house. They also have a fine looking elevator.
The building in which Mr. A. U. Stewart has his stock of goods is a brick building. The Directory will show the business men.
There were during the year up to September 1, 1886, 112 cars of stock shipped, and seventy-two cars of grain, from Gilbert; and in May and June, 1886, four cars of stock, and in June, July, August and September, twenty-four cars of grain were shipped from Ontario.
There are many valuable improvements made and making in Franklin Township. The iron bridge, near and above Soper's mill is a good institution, but is in Milford Township. In passing through section 6 of Milford Township we find on a nice elevation a very fine residence owned and occupied by James Dodds. This has the outward appearance of one of our finest dwellings in the township.
Henry Clay Cameron, on section 19, on the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter, has one of the most substantial brick dwell- ings in Story County. The brick appeared to be all hard, regular in size, smooth and square corners. This is more than can be said of the brick of many of our brick buildings. The house is a two story house. The main building and ell are two stories. It is a plain building with but little, if any, fine style finish outside. A. J. Hunter, on the east half of the northeast quarter of section 20, has now a very fine dwelling, one and a half stories high. His barn is also a fair barn. Mr. Hunter died since writing the above. Mr. Ward, on the northwest quarter of section 29, has a fine look- ing one and a half story building. In passing is to be noticed a
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HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
newly finished one and a half story building on the southeast quar- ter of section 32, by I. N. Briley. It seems to be a well finished house. Mr. G. Ferguson, on the southeast quarter of section 15, and near a fine brick school house, has a fine residence. The house, grove and out fixtures on "Bible Creek" show well. Mr. J. B. Grove's fine house, on the hill-top, makes a fine appearance. He has a good one. Mr. Grove's house is on the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 23. Mr. Wm. Arrasmith has not so fine a house and barn as some others, but he has a lovely situa- tion. His native grove, for protection, is surely nice and valuable. He resides on the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 23, and is one of the first settlers of Story County. He is a good one. Yes, nearly all the old settlers are good ones.
In passing by Bloomington a short distance to reach the ceme- tery, several nice improvements were noticed. At the cemetery I found the very worthy name of a very worthy man on a nice mon- ument, situated near the center of the cemetery. This name was "John Miller," with whom I had been acquainted for many years. I think, as an honest, a noble man, he had but few to excell him. In getting the names and ages of the dead in the cemetery for my history, I had then about 2,600 of the dead listed when I ap- proached the monument of "John Miller." There have been but few of that number that brought to my mind so much of the past and present. He was, as my cemetery list shows, near eighty-four and a half years old.
Passing a short distance below Bloomington a good frame build- ing in the southwest corner of section 30, township 84, range 23, just in Milford Township. This residence belongs to M. J. Craig. Still a little south is a fine two story brick building owned by J. E. Davis. This is in the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 36, township 84, range 24. While he has one of the excel- lent dwellings of the county, he has also a very fine barn and out- fixtures. His front yard is ornamented with evergreens-an ever- green fence or hedge, nicely trimmed so as to be about four feet high, makes a fine appearance. Why should Mr. Davis not beau- tify his premises since "Prairie City is just across the street east of his brick, and since he owns the entire city. It once had a house on it, and one John Vest had some goods and groceries for sale. Go in, Mr. Davis! The town was laid off January, 1854.
There are many valuable improvements, I did not get to see, in the township, for which reason I cannot give them. The bridge across Skunk River, on the south line of the township is a good one. The iron bridge across Skunk at Hannum's mill probably is one of the best in the county. A very good bridge is placed across Squaw Creek on the middle line of section 20 running east and west.
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HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
MILFORD TOWNSHIP.
A HISTORY OF MILFORD TOWNSHIP FROM ITS EARLY SETTLEMENT, ITS ORGANIZATION, ETC., TO MARCH, 1887 .- CONTAINING, ALSO, A NOTICE OF MANY OF ITS CITIZENS.
POPULATION 753.
It probably received its name, "Milford," as a kind of favorite name. It was organized in 1858, comprising now only township eighty-four north, range twenty-three west.
The brief items were partly culled from our county papers.
Our schools are all progressing very nicely, except the one in No. Three, which has been closed for a while on account of the serious sickness of the teacher, Miss Frazier. Miss Baughman is teaching again in number Five with her usual good success, and is trying to make her school the most interesting in the township .- ( Pleasant Grove, Dec. 27, 1882.)
Much credit should be given Mr. R. McClure for the erection of a number of good horse sheds at the Methodist church here for the protection of his and his neighbor's teams .- (Pleasant Grove, Dec. 27, 1882.)
We hear that Mrs. Ella Minkler has bought another one-hundred and twenty acre farm. This purchase plainly shows what ten years of good management coupled with energy like hers will do. It was only a few years ago that her eighty-acre farm was taken, almost in its native state; and now with this new accession, and her hus- band one of the successful stock buyers and shippers, may we not reasonably expect a greatly increased prosperity .- (Dec. 27, 1882.)
Our neighbor Brown's house was burned last Thursday evening. There was some insurance in the Cedar Rapids Company, but his loss on the contents was considerable for one in limited circum- stances to bear .- (Pleasant Grove, Jan. 3, 1883.)
Everything quiet. That old reliable merchants mill of T. R. Soper has closed for the present; cause, no water .- (Milford, April 24, 1883.)
Omitted Milford improvements are as follows: L. J. Raymond, a new house; James Smith, G. E. Gilmore, I. Olson and F. T. Mc- Lain, new barns .- (Milford, April 24, 1883.)
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HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
Waldo Stultz, while leading a horse to water, was severely kicked in the face, but under the excellent skill of Dr. Stitzell no serious results are anticipated .- (Milford, Jan. 3, 1883.)
F. T. McLain is drawing stone preparatory to the erection of a fine brick dwelling house. Turner is one of our most successful farmers, and we hope the rumor of his moving to town is without foundation .- (Milford, Jan. 3, 1883.)
R. McClure has the barn for the M. E. church completed, an im- provement needed at all country churches .- (Milford, Jan. 3, 1883.)
Christmas and New Years both were observed with big turkey dinners and other good cheer by some of the citizens of this township .- (Milford, Jan. 3, 1883.)
That energetic stock buyer and shipper C. M. Minkler has engaged the services of Uncle George Sowers the veteran buyer who used to make things hum for himself in years past .- (Milford, Jan. 3, 1883.)
J. W. Sowers' barn should be added to Milford improvements of last year .- Jan. 31, 1883.)
The decision of the supreme court in the amendment case casts a gloom over the hearts of our temperance people .- (Jan. 31, 1883.)
Hamilton Wakefield has lost about $200 worth of Chester White hogs lately from cholera. Charley Shultz estimates his loss from the same disease at over $300 .- (Jan. 28, 1886.)
Dakota parties are in the north part of the county buying horses. Animals weighing from twelve to sixteen hundred pounds pre- ferred. Object, able to keep in the furrow when the Dakota zephyr is frisking about .- (Jan. 28, 1886.)
Milford Township once had a town containing one house. This building, if yet standing, may be now on a good farm. "Prairie .. City" is the name of the town referred to, and was laid out on the south half of the northwest quarter of section thirty-one, and recorded in . book A, page twenty. Laid out in January, 1854. This township has some very good land, one of the best in Story County. It is improving rapidly. Good farms and good buildings dot its prairies all over. School houses have found their regular places-nine of them.
There are two church buildings in Milford. One is a Campbell- ite or Christian church, in the northwest corner of section eighteen, and a Methodist Episcopal church near the northeast corner of section seven, having forty members. A nice brick school house stands near the Methodist Episcopal church, a few rods east and immediately in the northeast corner of section seven. The Pleasant Grove cemetery joins on the north of the Methodist
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HISTORY OF STORT COUNTY, IOWA.
Episcopal church. This church has conveniences not often found at churches, shelter and stabling for teams. With all it is a good church building. Meetings. weekly. There is a Sabbath school regularly held every Sabbath at this church.
The school house is a substantial brick building on heavy stone foundation.
There is a flouring mill in this township, the Soper Mill, near the north quarter section, corner of section seven. It is a water- power mill and was at first a saw-mill (see " Mills" in index). The Skunk is a beautiful stream of water at this mill, for the ford or crossing is rocky and gravelly. Such crossings below on Skunk in this county are "few and far between." Very good rock for building purposes in quantities is at and near this mill; a good quarry.
There are several streams of water in the township. The main stream is Skunk river. It passes through sections six and seven, crossing the west line of section seven a little above the southwest corner of section seven. Keigley's Fork enters section six near its northwest corner, then flows southerly through the western part of section six, and then enters section seven near the north west corner of the east half of the northwest quarter of section seven, and passes into Skunk river some distance below Soper's mill. Bear creek enters the township at or very near the north quarter section corner of section five and passes into Skunk some sixty or eighty rods north of Soper's mill. The main stream of the West Indian enters one branch in section two and the branch in section three. The main creek runs through sections fourteen and twen- ty-three and sections twenty-five and thirty-six, leaving section thirty-six at its south quarter section corner. There is a branch passing through the County Poor Farm and enters into the main creek at the south quarter section corner of section thirty-six.
The County Infirmary is in Milford, and is situated on the north half of section thirty-five, containing 320 acres of pretty good soil. The county has built a good house on it. (See preceding pages for valuations).
The Soper mill stands idle and much dilapidated. It is said this mill once cost or sold for $10,000 or $12,000. Good stone quarries are also found a short distance northwesterly from the Pleasant Grove church.
There are two cemeteries in the township. The Pleasant Grove cemetery grounds are adjoining to the Methodist Episcopal church building on the north, and is on a nice elevation for the purpose, and seems to be kept in nice order. The church is in front or south of the cemetery, but is adjoining to it. The other cemetery is on the Poor Farm for the use of paupers.
This township has some native timber in the northwest part of it but much of it has been taken off. It is dotted over with many valuable artificial or cultivated groves, such as have been raised by cultivation. Cottonwood, soft maple, box elder, ash, elm and wil-
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HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
low and black walnut do well. Evergreens, the different kinds of pines and cedars, do well here.
Among the early settlers may be named, for Milford Township, Joseph Brouhard, Wesley Arrasmith, G. W. Sowers, John Rich, J. E. Hoover, Sol. Young, W. Randeau.
Mr. Brouhard settled some fifty rods from the northwest corner of the northeast quarter of section 5, township 84, range 23, in Spring Grove, a small patch of timber on Bear creek. Mr. Brou- hard has been gone from the county for many years.
Mr. Arrasmith settled next south of Mr. Brouhard, but built his house on the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section five, and is still living there.
The following names are some of the shippers of live stock, stock raisers, farmers, etc., men of energy and stir are included: Geo. W. Sowers, J. W. Sowers, Frank Curtiss, Chas. M. Minkler, F. T. McClain, Lafayette McKim, Geo. Stultz, Isaac Craig, James Smith, G. H. Alfreds, And. Scott, George Gilmore, Edward McNicholson, John Eagleberger, R. Kimball, B. Confare, J. Weidner, John Harndon, Samuel Rich, T. B. Howland, W. Rondeau, G. B. Kooser, R. McClure, John Rich, Charles Campbell, A. O. Hall, H. Rasmus- sen, N. H. Rasmussen, A. Jargenson, Robert Kelley, Kirkendall, F. M. Confare, B. Confare, Oliver Thompson, O. Christian, Wesley Arrasmith.
SOME HOGS .- One day last week Geo. Gilmore, of Milford Town- ship, sold to Duea & Mickelson, of Roland, eighty-three Chester White hogs, the average weight of which was 372} pounds, and the amount received was $1,097.50, being at the rate of $3.55 per hundred. The weight of the lot was 30,915 pounds. The best part of it is that they were all of the raising of Mr. Gilmore. There are very few such lots of hogs in any county in the state, and we congratulate Mr. G. on his success .- (Nevada Watchman, Dec. 10, 1886.)
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.
A HISTORY OF RICHLAND TOWNSHIP FROM ITS ORGANIZATION TO MARCH, 1887 .-- CONTAINING, ALSO, A NOTICE OF MANY OF ITS CITIZENS.
POPULATION 558.
It is believed it received its name, " Richland," from its beautiful rich land of which it shares largely. It was organized in 1872, comprising all of township 84 north, range 22 west.
The brief items were partly culled from our county papers.
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HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
JOHNSON'S GROVE MUTUAL PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION.
On the 23d inst. the citizens of Johnson's Grove and vicinity met and elected officers for the ensuing year for an organization known as the Johnson's Grove Mutual Protective Association. The preliminary arrangements having before been made and the object set forth, rules and regulations adopted, etc.
To show that we mean business, we quote from the principles set forth:
WHEREAS, our section of the country being infested with tramps and vagabonds and horse thieves, and the same having become an intolerable nuisance, we, the citizens of Johnson's Grove and vicinity, deem it necessary for the better protection of our fam- ilies and property, to organize an association for that purpose; therefore, be it
Resolved, that while we are ever ready and willing to assist in cases of misfortune and distress, we are fully determined to enforce the law and bring to justice all offenders found among us, and to protect ourselves and property at all hazards.
If this fails to show that " Hannah is ailing," by calling on the association a second chapter will be gratuitously furnished, which, if taken according to directions, is warranted to cure or the money will be refunded and no questions asked. By order of Association.
Johnson's Grove, Iowa, May 27, 1878.
Last Saturday evening was a time of much rejoicing in the household of Freeman Elliott of Johnson's Grove. The occasion was the eighteenth birthday of the elder daughter of the house. A goodly company of relatives and neighbors surprised the young lady who nevertheless was a model hostess. After a bountiful sup- per, consisting in part of "ye festive oyster," she was presented with many useful and beautiful presents, not the least among which was the deed of a farm, making her quite an extensive land owner. The donor of the last mentioned gift is the young lady's grandfather. Just where she is to pay taxes we are unable to state. As the clock reached the " hour of night's arch, the keystone," the company dispersed feeling that they had fully enjoyed them- selves .- (Dec. 9, 1885.)
Richland township we would suppose from its name, "Rich Land," as being the most beautiful township of land in the sister- hood of townships; but it is not, and yet it is over an average. Richland has no town or post-office in it. A number of years ago Mr. W. M. Kelley was post-master of an office at his own house where he now resides. It was called " Johnson Grove Post-office." His duties as post-master seemed to be well performed as I had some reason to know. But a short time before the C. R. & M. River railroad reached the county the office was discontinued.
There were of the early settlers the following, and perhaps others:
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HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
J. P. Pool, W. M. Kelley, Micah French, Henry C. French, Hague, C. P. Page, W. C. Murphy, H. F. Murphy, Philo Nickerbocker, Wm. Handsacker, Geo. Hyden, C. Bryant, Samuel S. Hague, A. Snelling, John Snelling.
Those who raise cattle, hogs or horses and grain I will name also; and all farmers of energy and stir, and active men in any other legitimate business are cheerfully named; and yet even with care some may be forgotten not purposely: I. H. Mathews, James C. Lovell, W. R. Woodward, Cornelius Tway, W. M. Kelley, Wm. Pool, Watt C. Murphy, Absolem Smay, David Smay, C. P. Page, G. N. Kuhn, E. Kuhn, Wm. Handsacker, Geo. Hyden, E. M. Pad- elford, Freman Elliot, Ed. Elliott, J. Newhouse, J. W. Cook, W. C. Harris, E. Furnas, J. Sowers, J. Q. Adams, Henry Miller, N. R. Pool, Pat Ryan, S. M. McCall, G. Moore, J. Connahan, R. Siddall, J. Coon.
There are many who own land in Richland but are not residents of the township. Among them who are large landholders are E. J. Cessna, H. E. J. Boardman, J. D. Lahman, T. C. McCall, Jas. Dillon, H. Staley, J. H. Sinclair, H. E. J. Boardman, of Marshall- town owns near 1,400 acres, being the largest landholder in the township. T. C. McCall, of Nevada, is next, owning about 1,000 acres in the township; Jas. Dillon, 960 acres; E. Furnas, 740 acres; J. H. Sinclair, 705 acres; J. D. Lahman, 590 acres.
There are several streams passing through the township. Most of them are small. The main East Indian creek passes through it from near the north quarter section corner of section three, and leaving the township some fifty rods east of the south quarter sec- tion, corner of section thirty-five. This creek drains sections three, two, twelve, thirteen, twenty-four, twenty-six and thirty-five, touching a little on sections eleven, twenty-three and thirty-six. This creek enters the north end of Johnson's Grove at or near the interior center of section twelve. This grove of native timber is more fully described under "Groves" in the index. The main creek timber begins at the north line of the northeast quarter sec- tion twenty-six and follows the creek southerly through the town- ship. The timber belt is not wide, but did have in early times pretty good timber. There are smaller branches, but will notice only one. It commences in section six, then passes southeasterly through sections eight, nine, sixteen, fifteen, twenty-three, and empties into the main creek near the north quarter section corner of section twenty-six.
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