USA > Iowa > Cherokee County > Biographical history of Cherokoe County, Iowa : Containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Harrison, with accompanying biographies of each ; a condensed history of Iowa, with portraits and biographies of the governors of the state ; engravings of prominent citizens in Cherokee County, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families. A concise history of the county, the cities, and townships > Part 30
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Before the month of May, 1869, not a plowshare had torn the virgin sod of Marcus Township; not a white man had called this wild domain home!
There must be some one enrolled as " first,- settler," as pioneer. By careful research the historian finds that this honor, for such it is, belongs to H. W. Bowman, who pre-empted land on section 36 and also homesteaded eighty acres on the same section. The date of his coming was early in May, 1869. He remained a few years, when his healthi failed, consumption having marked him as a victim,
and he went to California where he died. His remains were taken back to Vermont, his na tive State.
About eight days later, in the month of May, 1869, came W. E. Rose, from the east- ern part of Iowa; he also took a homestead of eighty acres on the southeast quarter of sec- tion 20. Mr. Rose is still living on this tract enjoying the fruits of his twenty years of toil. He is a native of New York. At the age of eigliteen he enlisted in the Union army, served two years and returned to his home, where, after a long litigation for his rights in his father's estate, he was defeated in securing any of the father's hard-earned money. Disappointed, but not discouraged, he shook from his feet the dust of his native home and camne West. He remained a year in Wisconsin and Eastern Iowa, and in May, 1869, landed in Marcus Township, with a full determination to plow out from the tough sod of a raw prairie a home for himself. Be- sides the homestead " eighty," he purchased an additional eighty, which quarter section comprises his present home. He has several acres of a fine grove, planted by his own hands, which with other improvements causes his farm to look like a farm in some more eastern country.
As the writer interviewed him beneath the cool shadow of the artificial grove surround- ing his house, he related much concerning the early settlement, the hardships endured and the march of development made.
At the time he came and effected a settle- ment there were many elk, deer and prairie wolves. The elk and deer were quite tame as they had been " monarchs of all they sur- veyed " from the time the Indians had forsaken this part of Iowa. IIe relates one instance where seven elk followed him, keep- ing a distance of about forty rods for four miles, with a half curious, half-affectionate
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look. Mr. Rose was walking to a neighbor's, and was carrying some carpenter's tools upon his back and shoulders. He says they looked, against the 4-o'clock-in-the-afternoon sun, as big as three-year-old steers and flourished im- mense horns. This pioneer also speaks of a remarkably cold Thanksgiving Day, that of November, 1874. It seems, from his state. inent, that that antuinn was a very fine one; the morning of Thanksgiving Day appeared warm and in all the golden beanty of our Iowa autumn time. He and his estimable wife had been invited to spend the day with Mr. Bowman's family, four miles to the east. Mrs. Rose insisted on her linsband putting on a "Jittle style," desiring him to wear his wed- ding suit, which he had not worn since the day he led her to the sacred marriage altar; so he finally consented to " fix up." To com- plete his wedding outfit there was a pair of fine boots, too fine for a farmer to wear! His feet having become somewhat enlarged, by contact. with the prairie sod and elements in general, the boots were a tight fit, but he wore them!
Before the Thanksgiving turkey had been devoured, the bright sun had been clouded over, the temperature had suddenly dropped, and the autumn wind was howling over the broad expanse of prairie, with an unchecked energy. Thinking of his stock at home, Mr. Rose at once hitched the oxen, his only team, to the big lumber wagon, and they started across the prairie. Mrs. Rose made herself as comfortable a place as possible in the bot- tom of the wagon box, while her husband walked by the side of " Buck " and " Bright," as pilot. When far ont on the prairie sea, Mr. Rose felt that his feet, caged in the tight boots, were freezing, so he pulled them off and continued to walk, driving his oxen. The prairie had been burned and the stubs and red root bunches were severe on his feet,
but the exercise restored circulation and saved them from freezing. Before reaching home his " wedding hat" was caught from his head by the wind, and while trying to capture that his oxen bethought themselves to have a little Thanksgiving race. They started out rapidly, throwing Mrs. Rose from one side of the wagon to the other in a very amusing, but not by any means pleasing, manner. Mr. Rose ran abont a half inile before capturing his run-a-way ox team. Upon arriving home, both he and his wife were thoroughly be- numbed and all but frozen. So chilled was the husband that he found it difficult to un- Jock the door, and finally, fearing his wife was freezing, he broke the door in and after some time succeeded in kindling a fire. His wife could not have endured a much longer trip; as it was her blood did not freely circulate until nearly midnight, with the best attention her devoted husband could give her. There they were alone on a bleak prairie homestead. As they now relate the incident of "Thanks- giving Day, 1874," they smile and remark: " All is well that ends well," but they do not care for more than one such experience in their lives; a romance so full of cold realities soon becomes void of its charms!
Another incident connected with Mr. Rose's early settlement finds a place in this connec- tion, as it relates to the character of some men who have cnrsed the frontiers of Iowa, as well as of nearly every other new State and Territory. Mr. Rose, having a little ready money, hired three men-two named Pews and the other Ray-to break fifteen acres of land for him. They needed the mouey he paid them to secure their homesteads. While the work was being done, Mr. Rose was away from the premises and he had nothing to mark his claim by save the stakes and a board shanty about a dozen feet square, provided with doors and windows. Upon returning
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
he found that the building had been removed. He at once commenced searching for it and was at one time at a neighbor's, who took great interest and offered his services to help hunt up the lost house. As it turned out, the very man who was thius zealous to assist was the thief ! And he was no other than one of the men who had been hired by Rose to do the breaking. At the time Rose was at his honse, the doors and windows of his own " claim shanty " were concealed beneath the neighbor's bed, while the lumber was hidden under a newly made hay stack!
These facts did not, however, come to light until the men had left this part of the State. As a rule there was always great honor among early pioneers, but this proved an exception and was no small loss, at that time, to Mr. Rose.
Concerning the grasshopper plague, which became a dire calamity to all Northwestern Iowa, in 1875 to 1877, inclusive, Mr. Rose says that the people of to-day will hardly be- lieve the facts connected with it.
He was greatly crippled, so much so that he had to leave the homestead and seek other employment at Cherokee, for two years. There were scores of homesteaders who lost all they possessed and were compelled to leave their lands, many of whom never re- turned. He describes a thirty-six acre field of corn, where the grasshoppers were so nul- merous that they clouded the very sun at noon-day. As they passed over the dark green field the contrast between the green and the gray was very marked. They mowed the large rank stalks down as if each had a keen-edged sickle with which to work.
OTHER EARLY SETTLERS.
Among the early settlers in Marcus Town- ship was a sixteen-year-old brother of the first settler, Bowman. This youth's name
was Thomas Bowman, and he came when the family did, from St. Johnsbury, Vermont, in 1869. He remained until called to attend upon his brother, H. W., who was then an invalid in California. He still resides in that State. When trying to make his way to his brother's homestead in 1869, and upon the day of the great total eclipse of the suu, he was lost. At about 4 p. M., when the sun was entirely overcast by the eclipse, he be- came bewildered and lost his bearings. It seemed like night and the prairie wolves howled savagely over the trackless waste.
Lewis Rose (brother of W. E. Rose, above mentioned,) took a homestead in 1869, over which a contest arose and he was finally de- feated and went back to his former home in Pennsylvania. This claim was made on the sontheast half of the northeast half of sec- tion 20.
About the same time came James Barnes from Pennsylvania and pre-empted lands on the southwest quarter of section 20. He afterward sold the land to J. P. Shelden.
Josepli F. Shelden came in 1870 and bought land of the railroad company, on sec- tion 29. He is still a resident of the prem- ises and has one of the best developed farms in the county.
In 1871 James Monier settled on section 27. He remained three years and sold to James Henderson, now of Cherokee.
The same year Prentice Foster located on section 35, where he still resides. He was formerly from Vermont.
Charles Smith-better known as " Whisky" Smith-came in 1871 and located in the northeast part of the township. He was an unusual character and finally fell heir to a $150,000 estate, which he is said to be squan- dering, somewhere in the South, "mit de poys!"
R. W. Heath, now a blacksmith in the
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
village of Marcus, settled on a farm about this date, but was driven off by the grass- hoppers.
"Charlie " Johnson settled on section 30, where he is still residing, a well-to-do farmer.
FIRST EVENTS.
The first land broken in the township was that on W. E. Rose's homestead, in 1869. HI. W. Bowman had land broken at about the same date.
The first house in the township was erected by W. E. Rose; the same was his claim slianty, which was stolen when he was away from home. The honse he now occupies was the second frame house, while H. W. Bow- man's sod honse ranked as house number one by some of the pioneers; it is certain that Mr. Rose's shanty was the first frame house in the township.
The first death in Marcus Township was lie who was known to early settlers as Grandpa Bird, who passed from earth in 1874.
The first birth was that of Elsa Bowman, born in 1875.
The first marriage was that of George Proctor to Miss Lina Shelden, in the fall of 1878.
The first school was taught in the winter of 1873-'74, by Miss Lina Shelden, now the wife of George Proctor. This school was taught in the house of I. M. Jackson.
ORGANIC.
The history of this civil township dates from September, 1874. At the first general election the following township officers were eelectd: For Township Clerk, W. E. Rose; for Assessor, W. H. Reed; for Trustees, J. F. Shelden, I. M. Jackson and Elias Printy.
SCHOOLS.
Marcus Township is fully up to the high standard of the connty in school matters. It
is found by consulting the county school records that this township had in 1888 eight good school buildings, and employed eleven thoroughily competent teachers to instruct a total enrollment of 333 pupils, the average cost for each pupil being for that year $2.01. In driving over this township one is greeted nearly every two miles by a handsome white school-house, which alone is a sufficient guar- antee to the stranger that it is inhabited by a happy, prosperous and intelligent people.
INSURANCE COMPANY.
The Western Cherokee Mutual Insurance Company is an organization principally made up of farmers living in the western part of Cherokee County as well as some in O'Brien County. They are incorporated under the laws regarding fire and lightning insurance companies with the State of Iowa, and are well looked upo.i and largely patronized. It is operated on the inntual assessment plan, and is much cheaper than the old-line com- panies. Only farm property is insured. At present they are carrying 8330,000 worth of risks, with a full membership of 350. This company was organized in May, 1885. The officers are: G. W. Hartley, President; J. Braley, Secretary. By this method of insur- ance farmers are well protected and at the same time pay only for actual losses, whereas in foreign companies large sums are sent to Eastern concerns, which are no local advan- tage to the policy holders.
INCORPORATE TOWN OF MARCUS.
Marcus is a thriving railroad town, sitn- ated on the south half of section 33, town- ship 93, range 42, on the south line of tlie township bearing the same name. It was legally platted by the Iowa Falls and Sioux City Town Lot Company November 27, 1871. It is one of the best shipping points, for both
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
grain and stock, along the line of the Illinois Central road. As early as 1883 it was classed as the second shipping place between Du- buque and Sioux City. The inhabitants in the surrounding country are principally in- dustrions, hard-working and prudent Ameri- cans and Germans, with some Scandinavians.
The first act toward establishing this town was upon the completion of the railroad in the summer of 1869, when the depot and warehouse were erected .*
To acquaint the reader with the beginning of the commercial interests of Marcus it may be well in this connection to review the
FIRST EVENTS.
The first building erected was a frame house built by I. M. Jackson in 1872. It was located on lot 18 of block 1, and was af- terward moved to section 10, Amherst Town- ship, and is owned by E. D. Willey.
The first goods sold were handled by pioneer J. Hyndman, who is still engaged in general merchandising at the old stand, near the depot. This store was opened for business in September, 1873.
The first family to locate in the town was A. H. Dwight's. He was the station agent for a long term of years. See his sketch else- where. His family came April 8, 1872. When he first came he says the general busi- ness on the plat was shooting prairie chickens and watching for an emigrant's wagon.
The first hotel was built by Wilmott & Roe in the spring of 1874, and has been moved to Main street, near the depot, remod- eled, enlarged, and is now known as the Commercial Hotel.
The first grain warehouse was erected and operated by Parkins Bros., in 1874.
The first to deal in hardware (exclusively) was L. Kloster, who embarked in 1876-'77.
The first furniture dealer was Fred Collier.
The first to deal in drugs and medicines was Dr. J. Failing.
The first attorney was B. II. Wilmott.
The first blacksmith shop was operated by William Orr.
The first wagon-maker of the place was Clarkson Barwick.
The first postmaster was William Campbell.
The pioneer in the livery business was J. P. Roe, who commenced in a small way, but in 1877 built a good barn in which D. W. Hines carries on the livery business.
The first exclusive boot and shoe business was conducted by John Ernster, beginning in 1876. He is still the leading dealer of his town.
The first to deal in agricultural implements was J. P. Hardy.
The pioneer lumber dealer was one of the present dealers-I. M. Jackson.
The first jeweler was Frank Hyde.
The first harness-maker was John Bawman.
The first Fourth of July celebration in Marcus occurred in 1874. Dinner was served to sixty. It is related by pioneers that this was the most interesting and satis- factory celebration ever conducted.
The first Christmas tree was planted in a public hall, Christmas Eve of 1876.
The town was incorporated under the laws of the State of Iowa, in June, 1882.
The pioneer banking-house is the Bank of Marcus, established by Gund & Hiltgen, in June, 1881.
The first to deal in and mannfacture milli - nery goods at Marcus were Mrs. Wilmott and Mrs. Ruming.
The earliest photographer was F. E. Dwight, in 1880.
The first school-honse erected on Marcus town plat was built in 1874.
* For a full description of the various additions to the original town plat, above named, the reader is re- ferred to a complete list of all recorded plats in the county. See index for " Recorded Plats."
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
The first grain marketed in the town was brought in by James McNailer, in September, 1873. The first car-load shipped was sent east the same month and year.
The first shipment of live-stock was made in the month of February, 1877.
The first religious denomination to erect a church edifice in the town was the Roman Catholics, who built in 1876.
POSTOFFICE HISTORY.
Soon after the railroad had established a depot at Marens, steps were taken by the few settlers in the vicinity to secure a post- office; the same was established in 1870.
The first postal money order was issued to 11. J. Brink, for the sum of $2, payable to George Canfield, of Waukon, Iowa, dated July 21, 1884. The full number of money orders (exelnsive of " postal notes") issued from the Marcus office, up to Jnly 15, 1889, was 2,858.
The following are the postmasters in the order in which they served: William Camp- bell, H. H. Dwight, A. Il. Dwight (who hield from September, 1872, until Jannary, 1886), George Enright, from January, 1886, to July 1, 1889. The present postmaster, appointed under President Benjamin Harrison, is S. W. Weaver.
SCHOOLS.
The first term of public schools tanght in Mareus town or township was that taught in the winter of 1873- 74, by Miss Lina Shelden, at the house of I. M. Jackson. Miss Shel- den is now the wife of George Proctor. A school building was erected in 1874. The present publie-school building is a two-story structure, built of wood. It is divided into four departments, each room being 20 x 30 feet. The cost of the building was $4,000. This school-honse, which is a pride to the citizens and patrons, is among the best in the
county. According to the superintendent's annual report to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, there were in 1888 four graded schools at Marcus, which employed one male and four females to instruct 201 pupils at an expense of $2.01 each.
CHURCHES.
The religions denominations represented at Marcus at the present time are the Meth- odist Episcopal, the Roman Catholic, the Christian and the Swedish Lutheran. The first to erect a church were the Roman Cath- olic people, who built a church, 20 x 40 feet, in 1876, and afterward sold the same to the Swedish Lutheran society, who still nse it.
In 1884 the Roman Catholics erected a good-sized brick structure, costing 83,625. On the same grounds they have a spacions parsonage, which was erected in the fall of 1885, at an expense of 83,000. It is con- sidered the best-inade residence in Marcus. This church has a congregation of upward of 250 sonls. Father J. H. Hennesy is the present priest. Many of his congregation are farmers in the surrounding townships.
The Methodist Episcopal society was formed about 1875, and was a part of a large circuit until 1882, when it was divided. In the summer of 1882 a frame church was built, costing 82,000. Three years later (1885), during a terrific tornado in the month of June, it was totally destroyed. The splintered hunber was sold at auction to the highest bidder, and the work of rebuild- ing was speedily commenced. The new structure was completed and dedicated the following November. Its cost was $3,000. It is heated by a furnace, and has a comfort- able seating capacity of about 300. The fol- lowing named have served as pastors of this charge in the order indicated: Rev. M. B. Keister, Rev. Sutton, Rev. Ira Wakefield,
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
Rev. Rigbee, Rev. I. B. Kilbourne, Rev. G. M. Pendell, Rev. J. Q. Swim, Rev. O. S. Bryant, Rev. L. C. Woodford, Rev. J. W. McCoy, Rev. A. J. Beebe, Rev. F. E. Day, present pastor in charge.
The Christian Church was organized in 1883. An edifice was built by the society in 1884, at a cost of $2,000. It is a neat, spacious, well-planned frame structure. The present membership of this denomination at Marcus is fifty-four. Rev. M. E. Harlan was the pastor when the society was organized, and was succeeded in two years by Rev. E. C. Sanderson.
The Swedish Lutheran Church is supplied by Rev. Renstrom, the pastor at Alta. The church here was formed in 1878, and now has a membership of sixty. In 1884 they purchased the first church built by the Ro- man Catholics, which still serves them. Ser- vices are now condneted every other Sunday. The majority of the membership of this church live in the country adjoining the town, and are among the best citizens of the connty.
CIVIC SOCIETIES.
All enlightened communities in this our free America find it to their advantage to belong to some one or more of the many good secret societies. While men, educated differently, do not all believe in the theory of secret organizations, yet a great majority do believe in their true worth. In Marcus there is an Odd Fellows' lodge. an Ancient Order of United Workmen lodge, a Masonic lodge and a Modern Woodmen lodge.
The Odd Fellows' Lodge, No. 359, was organized October. 8, 1877, by five charter members. S. W. Weaver, the present post- master, who came from a strong lodge of his chosen order at Moline, Illinois, was instru- mental in bringing about the organization of this lodge, which now has a membership of
forty-three. Mr. Weaver is high up in Odd- fellowship, having been a working member for over thirty-five years, and his knowledge is a strengthening factor in the Marcus Lodge. This lodge is in good financial cir- cumstances, having $400 out at interest. They control the only secret order hall in Marcus, and sub-rent to all the various or- ders. The present elective officers are: Rev. M. E. Harlan, N. G .; C. W. Cisne, V. G .; A. Margerson, Sec .; I. C. Thompson, Treas.
Modern Woodmen, Early Dawn Lodge, No. 964, was formed at Marcus, May 16, 1889, with a charter membership of twenty. The lodge now numbers twenty-two. Its officers are as follows: William Ross, Ven. Council; H. B. Leggett, Advisor; George Proctor, Banker; C. W. Cisne, Clerk; J. T. Dennis, Escort; C. D. Luther, Watchman; Dr. C. A. S. Prosser, Local Physician; A. H. Dwight, G. M. Barr, Q. M. Bosworth, Man- agers.
Ancient Order of United Workmen, Lodge No. 233, at Marcus, was instituted October 16, 1882, with a charter membership of thirty . one. At present they enjoy a membership of forty-seven. Their present (1889) officers are: J. H. Shelden, P. W. W .; William Ross, M. W .; E. E. Martin, Foreman; John Straw, O .; F. S. Barns, Rec .; H. D. Chat- terton, Financier; John Knox, R .; John P. Knox, Gnide; N. M. Loban, I. W .; F. P. Jenks, O. W.
Masonic Order, Sebu Lodge, No. 463, A. F. & A. M., was organized in the spring of 1884 and worked under dispensation a year, when a charter was granted them. At one time this lodge numbered forty-three, but at present has only thirty-five members. The following gives the present officers: E. L. Townsend, W. M .; M. R. Stewart, S. W .; I. C. Thompson, S .; L. E. Heaton, T.
They meet on Saturday night, of or before
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full moon, at their lodge room, which is leased, at present, from the Odd Fellows' fraternity. A large number of the members live at quite a distance in the conntry.
THE MARCUS NEWS
is a live local paper upon which the people of the northwestern portion of Cherokee County rely for the latest news items. This journal was first established in August, 1882, by J. A. Parks, as a seven-column folio, printed on a hand-press. It is said (by those best posted) that $190 was the cost valne of all the out- fit with which the first office was started. The paper has always been a Republican sheet- "no third party-inngwump-democrat " - as its present editor expresses it. Mr. Parks conducted the paper until April, 1883, when he died. B. Radcliffe then took the office and managed it for one year, when he sold to Frank Lewis, its present owner. Charles Button & Son condneted it, as owners and ed- itors, for a short time, but finally sold it to Frank Lewis again, who is now running one of the. briglitest local journals in Iowa. See " Press chapter " elsewhere.
THE CEMETERY.
The only cemetery within the border of Amherst and Marcus townships is the fifteen- acre plot, on the line between these two town- ships. It is located just sonth and east of the town plat of Marcus, on section 4 of Amherst Township It isina high and lovely spot, which has already been quite well improved by the cemetery association, by fencing, planting of trees, etc. A sexton's tool-house has been pro- vided and other improvements made. Ten acres of this cemetery are used by the Protes- tants and five acres by the Roman Catholics.
VILLAGE INCORPORATION.
Marcus became an incorporated place in June, 1882. The following is a complete
list of the mayors from that time to the pres- ent, inclusive: Louis Gund, 1882; John Metcalfe, 1883; J. H. Shelden, 1884 to 1887, inclusive; John Jungers, 1888; J. L. Cobb, 1889. The present Recorder, Benjamin Rad- cliffe, has served several terms. The Conn- cilmen for 1889 are: William Ross, Charles Wilson, P. J. Keogan, John Knox, Louis Gund and M. Christianson.
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