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 32
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The first wagon shop was operated by Peter Johnson.
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
The first harness-maker of Aurelia was C. R. Kleeberger.
The first boot, shoe and repair shop was conducted by Henry Bischel, who also carried a stock of goods in that line.
POSTOFFICE.
Aurelia postoffice was established in 1870. The first postmaster was George Simpson, succeeded as follows: Miss Maggie Quirk, who married M. M. Powell, when he became postmaster and was followed by J. W. Mc- Millen. The present postmaster, W. C. Marslı, took the office July 1, 1889. It is a money-order office, but on account of the fire, which destroyed many of the office books, no record of that part of the postoffice can be found. Up to July 25, 1889, there had been issued from the Aurelia office 3,369 money- orders and 6,583 postal-notes.
CITY SCALES."
Upon the request of many farmers in the county surrounding Aurelia, the incorporate town appropriated the sum of about $550 for the erection of city scales. A man known as city weiglimaster is paid $60 per month to attend to the scales, which gives universal satisfaction to the farmers and stock-men. :
INCORPORATION.
Aurelia became an incorporated place in 1880. The first officials were: W. C. Marsh, Mayor; W. P. Miller, Alex. Frazier, R. R. Whitney, George Enright and W. H. Rey- nolds, Trustees; J. W. McMillen, Recorder; George Wharton, Treasurer.
The following have served as Mayors: W. C. Marslı, 1880; John E. Davis, 1881; Alvah Potter, 1882-'4; F. R. Willis, 1885; S. W. Appleton, 1886; R. B. Rutherford, 1887; George M. Miller, 1888-'9.
WATER-WORKS.
In fighting the fire-fiend, Aurelia saw the need of some system of water-works, and so in 1887 the council determined to provide a supply of water for this purpose. A Chicago firm contracted to put in a system of works for $4,000. The pipes were all laid and a spacious tank and windmill erected on an elevated part of the town. Bnt from some defective work the pipes have always leaked, and the town refused to pay the contract price. It is still in a state of litigation, and the town left to the sport of the winds in case of fire. Already the place has lost a $4,000 school building since the water-works were put in, besides other property.
BIG FIRES.
Without water-works and being built mostly of lumber, Aurelia has suffered great losses from fire. The largest one occurred about 1 o'clock on the morning of April 21, 1883. It originated in the basement of a drug store, and swept many business houses on Main street. It is generally sup- posed (and not without reason) that the fire was one intentionally set, to secure the $7,000 insurance, which was being carried on a $3,000 stock of goods. The insurance com- panies settled with the party for $1,500, and lie left the county. The total loss by reason of this fire was 897,000, and the insurance companies paid $40,000 back to the property owners.
The following spring, in March, 1884, another fire originated in the basement of the Frisbie Building, at about the same time of the night the fire of 1883 occurred; this de- stroyed about $20,000 worth of business property and crippled the business men inter- ested for a short time.
SCHOOLS.
Fully up to the Cherokee County standard, the people of Aurelia commenced early to
331
HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
foster a good system of public schools. They erected a school-house in 1872, which served the purpose until 1878, when the increased population demanded a four-room, two-story frame building, which was erected that year at a cost of $1,000. The same was destroyed in the spring of 1889. At once the school board set about the erection of a frame school- house, which will, when finished, be an orna- ment to Aurelia. It is a three-story building, divided into four departments of eight rooms, including the four recitation rooms. The size of this house is 44 x 63 feet, and is being built after the most improved modern plans throughout. Finch, Coder & Co. are the con- tractors, who are doing excellent work. The total cost of the building, together with its furniture and heating plant, will cost $15,000. By official report, made October 31, 1888, there were four graded schools in the town, employing one male and three female teach- ers to instruct a total enrollment of 145 pu- pils, at a cost of $1.75 each.
CHURCHES.
The religious element predominates at Au- relia, as will be observed from the church societies. There are the Methodist Episco- pal, the German Lutheran, the Scandinavian Lutheran, and the Congregational societies.
The Methodist Episcopal Church at this point was organized in 1878, by a small membership. Its present membership is eighty. A neat church was built in 1881, which seated about 200 people. This station belongs to the Northwest Iowa Conference. The following Pastors have served this peo- ple: Rev. O. H. P. Faus, Rev. J. W. Spang- ler, Rev. H. Hay, Rev. T. E. Drake, Rev. William Porfit, Rev. James Treworthy, Rev. D. M. Beams, Rev. I. B. Hilburne, Rev. W. W. Cook, Rev. F. J. McCaffree. Revs. Col- lingham and Cooley preached at an early
day, in the old school-house, but just who conducted the first services is not now a clearly settled question. At present tlie church is filling its designed mission in an acceptable manner. A good Sunday-school is sustained, which ever strengthens any re- ligious body.
The Congregational Church was organized in 1883. They held the first services in the Lutheran Church. In the autumn of 1885 they built a neat, frame church, costing $1,- 760. The present membership is upward of forty. Their first pastors were simply sup- plies sent out to them, in the persons of two young men, who came ont of college. Their first regular Pastor was Rev. D. E. Skinner, then followed Rev. Clifton, Rev. Holyoke, Rev. J. W. Taylor. The latter went away in July, 1889, under a private difficulty, for which he was alone accountable and which his people greatly regretted.
The Scandinavian Lutheran Church was organized in 1876, holding their services at school-houses, etc., until 1880, when they built a comfortable chapel 24 x 50 feet, costing $800, to which they added a $500 improve- ment in 1888. Rev. Amon Johnson lias served this people since they organized the church in 1876. The church membership is about the same as when organized and num- bers twenty families, or about fifty persons.
The German Lutheran Church, the latest society of Aurelia, was formed in June, 1889. They had held services and belonged to the Afton Township church "for several years, however. Nine persons constitute this society, who now nse the Scandinavian Lu- theran Chapel for their services, which are hield every two weeks, usually.
The only secret society here represented is the Odd Fellows order, whose secretary failed to furnish the historian with proper data for the history of this lodge.
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
BANKS.
The Farmers and Merchants', which was established as a private banking concern in 1884, is a branch of a large bank at Galva, Illinois, of which L. M. Yoenm is president. (). E. Yocum is the efficient cashier of the Farmers and Merchants' Bank of Aurelia, and P. D. Wine is assistant cashier. They do business on a $15,000 capital, having for their, correspondents the Union National Bank, of Chicago, and the Second National Bank, of Dubuque, Iowa.
The "Bank of Aurelia " was established April 29, 1881, with L. M. Yocum as presi- dent, and J. R. Atwood as cashier. The "devouring element "-fire-consumed the building in 1883, but the valuables were preserved by good vanlts. The bank now occupies better quarters and is doing a good business, making collections, loans, and pay- ing taxes.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS -- 1889.
The following will show the various bnsi- ness branches represented in the month of July, 1889:
Grain dealers, R. R. Whitney, M. N. Day- ton, J. C. Green, Dickey & Co., and Farmer Stock Company; stock dealers, R. R. Whit- ney, J. C. Green, Alex. Frazier; lumber dealers, Wisconsin Lumber Company, J. P. Dickey & Co .; general dealers, D. G. Tonges, Hibble & Parker, II. H. Luehrs, J. P. Mal- lison; hardware, Henry Bolte, William Nat- trass, C. S. Phelps; agricultural implements, Felix O'Neal, J. H. Luelirs; grocers, George Wharton, William Dice; furniture, Codding- ham & Grew; hotel, "Hotel Green," Green & Woodcock, proprietors; drugs, B. R. Olds, Miller & Merrill; millinery, Mrs. McMillen & Miss Coddingham, also Ellis Sisters; har- ness shops, C. R. Kleeberger, Samuel St. John; boots and shoes, Henry Bischel, S. | years afterward.
Christiansen; wagon shops, D. J .. Stock berger, Andy Yeager; blacksmithing, Stockberger & -, Martin Colby, -- Connor; physicians, Dr. W. F. Myers, Dr. Milo Avery; attorneys, W. O. Striker; jewelry, G. W. Newcomb; meat markets, Herrick & Lindsay, John Mid- dleton; newspaper, the Aurelia Sentinel.
ROCK TOWNSHIP.
OCK originally belonged to the territory known as Tilden Township, but in June, 1876, it was detached and made a sepa- rate civil sub-division. It is bounded, east, by Pilot, south by Willow, west by Tilden and north by Sheridan townships, and now comprises congressional township 91, range 41. ~
Its name is derived from Rock Creek, which flows across the township. Pioneer Spinharney named it from the faet the stream is one the bed of which flows over rocks. Rock Creek courses its way from north to south through the domain comprising the township.
Willow Creek, a fine prairie streamlet, graces the territory of Rock Township by crossing it in the western part. This is a splendid farming section, the land being mostly tilled by a class of thrifty Germans who settled liere many years ago. The pres- ent population is not far from 700, witlı nearly as many foreigners as Americans.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
In 1868 the first settlement was made by Alexander Miller, who came from Eastern lowa and settled on section 18.
The sante season canie Richard Larkin, set- tling on section 18. He remained a few years and went to another part of Cherokee County.
Thomas Chapman settled on section 30, taking np a homestead, where lie died a few
333
HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
Another homesteader was Charles Durkee, who came in 1868, claiming a portion of sec- tion 34.
In the mouth of March, 1869, came Bla- sins Spinharney and family, from Wisconsin. They bought the north half of section 5.
Daniel Melter came with Mr. Spinharney and he located on the southeast quarter of section 3, where he still lives.
Among those who came in 1870 may be mentioned: Adam Corzillius, who settled on section 10; Fred Bower, on section 4; Jolin Specht, on section 3.
Other early settlers in Rock Township were: Frank Kolin, who came from Eastern Iowa and located on section 10, but now resides on section 11; Matthias and Jacob Fisch -the former settled on section 4 and the latter named on section 3. Matthias is dead and Jacob now lives in Sioux County, Iowa.
" Matt " Thiel and family settled on sec- tion 6. They came from Wisconsin; the old gentleman now lives in Sioux County, Iowa, and the remainder of the family still live in Rock Township.
John Braley came from Wisconsin and set- tled where lie now lives, on section 6.
Thomas Caswell came from Canada, set- tled on section 6, where he lived until 1876, and removed to another part of the county. He now resides at Cherokee.
Jacob Kirchner, of Wisconsin, settled in 1874 on section 2, where he now lives.
In 1875 came Dom Liffring from Wisconsin and settled where he now lives, on section 1.
The first settlers paid from 83 to $5 per acre for lands which now sell easily at $33 per acre.
FIRST EVENTS.
The first birth in Rock Township was Fred Melter, born in June, 1869.
The first death was that of the wife of pio- neer Richard Larkins, in 1870.
The first school was tanght by Lucy Spin- harney, at her father's house, in the fall of 1870. The following season a school-house was built on section 5.
The first religious services were held by the Roman Catholics, in 1871, on section 5.
The first marriages in the township were those of Thomas Chapman to Miss Smith, and Matt Schnh to Miss Carrie Spinharney.
The first and only cemetery was located in 1886, on section 14. John Thompson's child was the first buried there.
SCHOOLS.
The history of the public schools of Rock Township is identical with the history of the early settlement, the first term having been taught by Incy Spinharney in the autumn of 1870. By consulting the county records it is found that in October, 1888, Rock Town- ship had eight school-houses and employed five male and thirteen female teachers to in- struct 178 pupils enrolled. There are sixty- eight shade trees growing on the different school grounds of the township. Great care is taken to obtain the most superior teachers, who have an annual drill at the county Teach- ers' Normal Institute. Rock, in common with her sister townships, may well be proud of her educational advantages and her excellent school property.
SILVER TOWNSHIP.
IIIS township is on the south line of the county, the second tier of townships from the eastern border. As now con- stituted it embraces congressional township 90, range 40. It was organized by an act of the Board of Supervisors, September 5, 1870. It is bounded on the north by Pilot, on the east by Diamond, on the south by Ida Connty, and on the west by Willow Township.
This township is divided by the Little
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
Sioux and Maple valleys, and a chain of slight acclivities, forming a partition between these two valleys, renders some portions of the ter- ritory somewhat broken, but the greater part of it is fine, level bottom land, unequaled in Iowa for general agricultural purposes. In 1885 it liad a population of 677 Americans and sixty-seven foreigners, showing it to be a well settled township.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
" Doc" Simmons has the honor and en- dured the hardship of being the first settler to invade the wilds of Silver Township. His sketch appears elsewhere in this work. He came from Mendota, Illinois, in August, 1868, and claimed a homestead on section 6. He was " monarch of all he surveyed," and that was little else than raw prairie lands covered with fathomless drifts of snow the next winter after he came.
In the spring of 1869, the rich, wild lands charmed others within the limits of Silver Township, and we find that it was at that time E. B. Bailey, John Potter, Albert Lane, Anson Spencer and R. C. Hawn came in, took up land and at once commenced to build homes for themselves, in what has now come to be one of the finest sub-divisions of Chero- kee Connty.
Josepli Rankin came from Maine and took land on section 10. He died in 1880.
Joseph Rankin, Jr., eame at the same time and took land on section 10.
A son-in-law of Rankin also came from Maine, as did Ed Bickford; all took homesteads.
Elisha Gleason came from the vicinity of Clinton, Iowa, and took a homestead on sec- tion 31, where he died in 1889.
George Stephenson settled on section 8.
Thomas HI. Hardin, now of Chicago, settled on the sonthwest quarter of section 20, where he remained ten years.
FIRST EVENTS.
" Doc " Simmons constructed the first resi - dence in Silver Township; it was good then and carried himself and little family through the long and severe winter succeeding liis coming to the township, but nowadays would be considered not quite fine and stylishi enoughi. It was built of logs, and its roof was poles, hay and a coating of mud. It was by no means water, air, dust or snow proof, but it was " home " for the hardy pio- neer and his family, who have weathered the storms and are now seeing better days.
The first term of school was taught in 1870, by Miss Martha Rogers, at a school- honse on section 17; this building was erected by Willow Township before the division was effected.
The first child born within Silver Town- ship was the daughter of the present sheriff of Cherokee County-Mary A. Unger was her name. She is now the wife of Thomas Knight. She was born August 2, 1869.
The first to be united in marriage were Joseph Dile and Miss Mary Lathrop.
The first religious services were held by Dr. Levi Rogers, a Wesleyan Methodist, in 1873.
The first and only mill of Silver Township was the one moved by Henry Wise from Pilot Township to section 9. It is on Silver Creek, runs by water-power, and still operates.
FATALITIES.
The only cases of fatal accidents to be re- corded in Silver Township are the following: An old lady whose mind was affected wan- dered away from home in the fearful spring- time snow storm of 1870, and was frozen to death.
During the great wind storm of 1885 a Bohemian working on section 2 was killed by the falling of a building.
335
HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
CEMETERY.
A cemetery was provided for this township on section 17, in 1872; it consists of two acres of land.
SCHOOLS.
To weigh the character of any county or State it is but necessary to learn the regard paid to schools and churches. The thing that at first and continually attracts strangers at- tention in Cherokee County is the uniformity of the public-school system, the quality of its buildings, teachers employed and general attention paid to school matters.
No township has paid more attention to this feature of civilization than the one of which we now write. The first term of school was in 1870, soon after the first settlement had been effected. It was during that year that Miss Martha Rogers taught in a school- house built by Willow Township before the division. As the country has settled, from time to time the people have voted, with one accord, to build the necessary school-houses. In 1888 the county record shows that there were nine school buildings in this township. Eight male and fourteen female teachers were employed for the various schools of that year. There was then 251 pupils enrolled.
CHURCHES.
The only religions denominations repre- sented in Silver Township are two church so- cieties of the Methodist Episcopal, and the Baptist.
In 1881 the Methodist societies both erected neat frame church buildings, one known as the Silver Church, standing on the southwest quarter of section 28, and the Mt. Zion Church, on the northeast. quarter of section 6. They eachı cost $1,500. The present membership of the former is about seventy while the lat- ter has about thirty. Near the church, on
section 28, stands a good parsonage. The same clergyman serves both churches.
A Baptist organization has been perfeeted and a new chapel erected on section 1.
SPRING TOWNSHIP.
IIIS is the northeast corner township of Cherokee County, bounded on the north by O'Brien County, on the east by Buena Vista County, on the south by Afton Township, on the west by Cedar Town- ship. The same was organized in 1868 and formerly was attached to Cherokee Township. Its domain is now confined to congressional township 93, range 39.
Its surface is slightly more broken than the average township in Cherokee County, but nearly all can be profitably tilled. The Little Sioux River, together with its tribu- taries, give the domain a splendid supply of pure running water for stock purposes. The course taken by this beautiful prairie streamn is southwest through the township. These streams are all more or less fringed with fine natural groves, providing ample fuel. The center of this township is just sixteen miles froin the county seat, but has a good market at the new town of Larrabee in the township west-Cedar. In 1885, according to the State census, Spring Township had a population of 316, divided as follows: Na- tive born, 261; foreign born, fifty-five.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
Dr. Edward W. Parker, who came from the neighborhood of Madison, Wisconsin, in June, 1866, just after he returned from the army, after the great conflict known as the Civil War, has the honor of being the first man to settle in what is now known as Spring Township. He took up a homestead on the west half of the southwest quarter of section 30. He is still a respected resident. His per- sonal sketch appears elsewhere in this work.
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
It will be the aim of the writer of this township history to give below the names of those who came in and made actual settle- inent prior to 1870.
D. T. Gearhart, afterward elected as treas- urer of the county, came from Ohio and set- tled on section 20. He came in 1867. Dr. Parker was the only settler during the pre- vious year. Gearhart proved to be a de- faulter to the sum of several thousand dollars, and finally moved to O'Brien County.
W. M. and W. W. Morse, from Ohio, set- tled on section 30, in 1867, remained a few years and then sold out.
William Croaks, of Wisconsin, settled on the east half of the southwest quarter of sec- tion 30. He finally removed to Dickinson County, Iowa. He came to Cherokee County in 1866, but not to Spring Township until 1867, remaining until 1884.
Mr. Stevenson and his sous were also among the very early homesteaders.
W. M. Snell came to the township from Marshall County, Iowa, and settled on sec- tion 18, in 1869. He remained four years and then moved into Cherokee and is now the postmaster at that place.
From 1870 settlement was made with such progress that it is almost impossible to trace out the whereabouts of each.
FIRST EVENTS.
The first born in Spring Township was Bertha, danghter of Mr. and Mrs. Dr. Parker, born June 17, 1870.
Dr. Parker believes that there were no deaths in his township until as late as 1870. This was before Mr. Parker had become a physician; he says he " don't know whether that had anything to do with the first death business or not! "
The first term of school was held at Dr. Parker's residence in 1869, and Mrs. Parker,
his wife, was the teacher who sought to in- struct six pupils.
The first school building was erected on section 19, in 1871; it was a good frame structure and still serves the district.
The first residence in the township was the log house built by Dr. Parker, in 1866, on section 30. What little Inmber there was used in its construction was native and sawed at Cherokee.
The first religious services in thie township were held by the Methodist Episcopal people at the pioneer school-house, on section 30, in 1871. Before that date the services had been held occasionally at a school-house on section 1 of Cherokee Township.
The first cemetery was the one located on section 30. The other one, occasionally used, is on section 32.
The only fatal accident occurring in this township was the self-shooting of a young man, nineteen years of age, in the autumn of 1888. It was accidental; the unfortunate victim was Benjamin Myers, who had his arın amputated, and as a result, death followed in twelve hours.
The first raid of grasshoppers was in 1867; they came in the early fall, deposited eggs, and the following season worked sad destruc- tion to the few crops then growing. They came again in ten years from that time, doing greater damage.
SCHOOLS.
As before stated, Mrs. Dr. Parker taught the first school at her own house, having six pupils. The school-house was erected the following year, 1871, and from time to time others were provided. According to the re- port given by the Superintendent of Schools, October 31, 1888, there were nine school- houses. Fourteen lady teachers were em- ployed and there was a total enrollment of 134 pupils.
337
HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
RELIGIOUS.
Grace Baptist Church, of Spring and Af- ton townships, combined, was organized in June, 1887, by a membership of seven per- sons: Miss Caroline Steinhoff, Miss Etta Steinhoff, James Stanley, Mrs. Stanley, Mrs. Mary E. Baxter, Miss Hattie Whitney, Mrs. Adaline Hill. This society was formed by Rev. W. II. Breach. Its present member- ship is fourteen persons. A Sunday school is conducted in connection with this church. A. M. Dunn is the Superintendent. Present number of scholars. twenty-five.
SHERIDAN TOWNSHIP.
HIS sub-division of the county is located in the central portion of the territory and is bounded on its north by Liberty Township, on its east by Cherokee Town- ship, on its sonth by Rock Township, and west by Amherst Township. It was consti- tuted in June, 1870. It is all of congres- sional township 92, range 41.
This township is peculiarly valnable to its owners (700 of whom are American and about 200 of foreign birth), because of the fact that the little village of Meriden affords such a good shipping point.
The township is watered and drained by Willow Creek and its many small feeders. As a whole, this township can scarcely be excelled. if even equaled, in the whole nortli- western country.
SETTLEMENT.
To Henry Roddis belongs the honor of effecting the first settlement in what is now known as Sheridan Township. He came from Jasper County, Iowa, May 9, 1869, prior to the coming of the first railway to Cherokee County. He homesteaded eighty acres on section 28. He still resides there, having purchased other lands. He has been a pioneer of the genuine and true type. Dur-
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