USA > Iowa > Page County > Biographical history of Page 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 of Page County, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families; and a concise history of the county, the cities, and the townships > Part 35
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The board met and organized by electing E. J. Hartshorn, President; L. B. Raymond, Secretary ; Lew E. Darrow, of Corning, Treas- urer. As resident officers they elected: Dr. P. W. Lewellen, Superintendent; J. M. Aikin, M. D., Assistant Physician ; M. T. Butterfield, Steward; Mrs. Alice W. Lewellen, Matron. There has been no change in officers to this
day, January 1, 1890, except by Miss Annie E Creswell, of Ottuinwa, succeeding Mrs. Le- wellen as Matron, July 1, 1889, and Dr. P. G. Ibach, as Assistant Physician in place of Dr. Aikin, resigned, December, 1889.
In a work of this character it can hardly be expected that much detail regarding a State institution can be given; but for gen- eral purposes it should be stated that this concern, thongh now having been in operation but a year, is second to none in the land, in point of management and final results. Dr. Lewellen, the Superintendent, is gifted by nature and aided by careful acquirements to fill the place he holds. He has given these matters special attention for long years, and believes that the day is near at hand when all insane hospitals will have attached to them large farms, gardens and nuincrous work- shops, wherein the greater portion of the un- fortunate inmates will be allowed to work, which thing he claims is their quickest cure. At the same time they will thus make the hospitals nearly, if not fully, self-sustaining. He desires to see broom factories, shoe shops, sewing rooms, brush factories, novelty shops, etc., all coupled to the hospital; and he af- firms that ninety per cent. of his present in- mates need such work and can do it to the betterment of themselves and thus pay their own way.
According to secretary Raymond's report to Governor Larrabee, it is found that this hospital cost the State, as it now stands, $385,000. It was designed by architects Foster & Libbe, of Des Moines, Iowa. It is of solid brick masonry, and is perfectly fire- proof throughout. It stands about a mile to the north of the heart of Clarinda, in a com- manding position. The institution is lighted throughout with our modern light,-elec- tricity. Seven hundred incandescent lamps are now in use. It is heated by steam, and
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
each ward is a model home of comfort and cleanliness by itself.
The farm upon which the hospital is lo- cated contains 519 acres of land. As soon as the State improves this tract, it will produce most of the staples used by the hospital.
It was completed and ready to receive in- mates December 15, 1888. Upon January 1, 1889, the number of inmates was 241. At present the wards contain about 300 per- sons.
The district from which patients are re- ceived here includes twenty-six western Iowa counties.
One hundred and ten newspapers are given free to the hospital, so that every patient may each week read the local news from his home.
The clergy from the various churches of Clarinda, take turns in preaching to those who care to hear them, in the chapel each Sunday.
A better diet cannot be found in any pub-
lic institution in our land; invalids have a special care in this respect, and they seem to duly appreciate this too.
The building is now only one-half the size designed in the plan. Another wing will be added soon. When this is brought about women will be taken, whereas now all are male patients.
Too much cannot well be said in praise of the present officers in charge. Dr. Lewellen seems to have perfect control of even his worst patients; he treats all with a kindness and true sympathy scarcely ever found in public institutions. And no better man can be found for an assistant physician than Dr. Ibach, who has been connected with like con- cerns most of his life.
The responsible position of steward is ably filled by M. T. Butterfield, who held a similar place in the State Prison at Fort Madison for six years.
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
NEBRASKA TOWNSHIP.
CHAPTER XIX.
HIS subdivision of Page County is situated in the eastern tier of town- ships and is in congressional township No. 69, and is part of range 36, being the smallest township of the county. It was among the first townships organized into a civil municipality. It presents an excellent diverse surface, due to the Nodaway streams -one of which flows southwest, throughont tlie entire extent of the township. It is a rich, highly cultivated and thickly populated township and contains the oldest village in Page County-Hawleyville.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The honor of making the first settlement in this township belongs to Joseph Bucking- ham, who together with Jolin Buckingham, John Daily and Aaron Vise came in about 1845. Joseph Buckingham died in the vi- cinity of Hawleyville, in 1872.
In 1849 Elisha Thomas built the first mill at the present site of the Hawleyville Mills. It was here where Sylvester Thomas, the first county treasurer and recorder, lived.
In 1848 A. B. Quimby settled on the farm now owned by Charles Hakes. This was the
most northern settlement in Page County at that time.
John Rose and John Ross both came in during 1847-'48. Men named Gregg and Henry Martin settled in 1849 in the north part of the township.
In 1850 George Baker purchased the claim afterward constituting the farm of John Mc- Dowell, on section 3.
Edward Hollis made a settlement at the same time in Valley Township.
In 1850 A. B. Quimby and James Foster went to St. Joe, Missouri, to mill, the high water having washed out the mill in Page County.
Henry McAlpin came in and settled near Hawleyville, in 1851; also Claiborne Mc- Bee and William Robbins. The last named was the second sheriff of Page County.
McCagy Thomas, son of Elisha Thomas, committed the first suicide in Page County. He shot himself with a gun in the mouth, ont in a secluded brush patch, in 1849.
Rev. Carl Means, afterward a member of the Iowa Legislature, lived on the road to Clarinda and kept a few articles of merchan- dise for sale at his residence: these were
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
truly the first goods sold in Nebraska Town- ship.
From 1850 to 1860 a majority of the fol- lowing made settlement in Nebraska Town- ship-all named came prior to 1860 and a few, perhaps, even prior to 1850:
Daniel McAlpin, settled at Hawleyville.
Robert McAlpin, settled at Hawleyville, in 1854.
Thomas McAlpin settled a half mile south of Hawleyville, in 1854.
C. G. Hinman started a wagon and black- smith shop at Hawleyville about 1855.
John Whitcomb settled at Hawleyville and opened the pioneer hotel, and his brother Joel Whitcomb was among the early black- smiths there, coming in 1854-'55.
D. Q. Kent located a short distance up the Nodaway from Hawleyville. He is now de- ceased.
Warren Hulbert, now of Clarinda, was among the early comers.
Nat Shurtliff operated a steam saw-mill during that decade.
J. M. Hawley (from whom Hawleyville was named) came from Missouri, in 1853, and opened the first regular store in Page County.
E. M. Gilchrist, Stephen E. McAlpin, D. A. Thompson, Dr. A. H. East and his brother, T. H. East, were connected with the milling interests at Hawleyville. They are now both dead.
Luke Rawlings, Waslı. Rawlings and Thomas Schooley all came during the above named period; also B. R. Tanner, David Morgan and J. M. McFarland.
SCHOOLS.
The pioneer school of Nebraska Township was tanght in a log building erected for school and church purposes, at Hawleyville, in 1854. The contrast between that day and this, in educational matters, has been great.
In 1889 the township contained three sub- districts and as many excellent school-houses. The number of pupils at this date is 104. It should be remembered that Nebraska is only about one-half the size of the average town- ship in Page County.
VILLAGE OF HAWLEYVILLE.
This is the oldest village in Page County. It is situated on the northwest quarter of section 13, township 69, range 36 west of the 5th P. M., and is in the civil township known as Nebraska. · It is a quaint, old- fashioned place with the waters of the East Nodaway River flowing upon its western limits. It is upon ground sufficiently elevated to prevent overflow from high waters. It is seven niiles to the northeast of Clarinda, the county seat.
The first attempt at business at this point was in 1853 and during the month of January, when James M. Hawley, who had been in trade in Andrews County, Missouri (and sold out on account of having a two years' siege of fever and ague), came to this section with a few hundred dollars' worth of goods, loaded upon a wagon and drawn by a fine team. He came into the county for the purpose of trad- ing his goods for venison, furs, game, etc., with which the country then abounded. But upon arriving where Hawleyville now stands he concluded it a good point at which to open a general store, which he did. His first goods were sold from an improvised counter made by placing a slab or plank across the heads of two barrels. For some time Mr. Hawley was the only dealer in general mer- chandise in four counties, viz. : Adams, Taylor, Montgomery and Page. He did a large and paying business, laying the founda- tion for the good fortune he afterward possessed. He had his goods, which consisted of everything from a cambric needle to a cook
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
stove, cradle or bedstead, freighted by team fron St. Louis, St. Joseph, Missouri, or Ottumwa, Iowa. He frequently paid $5 a barrel to liave salt brought from one of these three points. He sold the same salt at $9 per barrel. His stock consisted of enough fabrics of one sort and another to keep his few customers clothed, and he also made out to supply them with sugar, tea, coffee, "lasses" and tobacco, with a small supply of patent medicines, of the Jaynes and Ayers variety.
Theabove formed the beginning of a village, which was platted in 1853 by Henry Mc- Alpin and named in honor of Mr. Hawley, the pioneer merchant of the county, who still is one of its honored residents, living at Clarinda. No record appears of a platting until May 17, 1855, when James M. Hawley and Mr. McAlpin owned the plat. Hawley's store was about all there was to give the spot a village-like look for a few years.
In 1856 John Whitcomb bought a log- house, which Elisha Thomas built in 1848, and converted it into a hotel, in which he cared for the weary travelers wlio chanced that way.
POSTOFFICE.
A postoffice was established at this point in 1854 or 1855, and James M. Hawley was appointed postmaster. The mail was at first brought from Quincy, Adams County, Iowa, by a carrier who walked and carried the mail in a hand-satchel. John Whitcomb succeeded Mr. Hawley, and since that day the following have served as postmasters: George Ma- comber, D. A. Thompson, Ruth Bros., Alvin Guild and the present incumbent, E. O). Guild.
FIRST EVENTS.
The first merchant at Hawleyville was James M. Hawley, in 1853.
The first blacksmith was Thomas Good-
man, who came in 1853. He removed to California years later and there died.
The pioneer wagon-maker was C. G. Hin- inan who, came into Hawleyville in 1854.
The second and present school building was erected in 1861 by Thomas Goodman. It is a two-story brick building and will be replaced by a new one in 1890.
THE MILLS.
The first mill in this part of Page County was a sawmill erected about 1849, by Elisha Thomas, on the northi bank of the East Nod- away River, which at this point gives a lead of nine feet. In 1851 Henry McAlpine and A. M. Collier purchased the site and added rude grinding machinery, including a run of bnhrs and a home-made bolt, which was run by hand. In 1854 the mill was sold to Dr. A. H. and Thomas H. East, and from their hands went, after several changes, to Truman Curtis and Thomas East, who, in 1859, erected a new flouring mill from which they took flour by wagons to St. Joseph, Missouri, and sold it there at $1.50 per hundred.
In 1866 A. M. Collier purchased the whole mill, and is still operating the same. In 1889 he added steam power and put in the " roller system," with a daily capacity of fifty barrels. The engine is a 30-horse power, which, with the Leffell turbine water-wheel, affords a sufficient power to run at all times of the year. The old sawmill attachment still stands, bnt is not employed now.
RELIGIOUS
The first preacher to proclaim Gospel truth in these parts was Rev. Samnel Farlow: some claim Carl Means. Farlow was a Methodist and succeeded in formning a class at a very early date. Rev. James (" Uncle Jimmy " ) Stockton, a Cumberland Presbyte- rian clergyman, living in Taylor County, also
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
preached to the people at Hawleyville. There was one laughable scene at the old log church away back in the " fifties:" After forenoon services all ate dinner, and within the pioneer assembly might have been found a dozen rollicking girls, of marriageable age, who planted their robust forms outside the log " meeting-house," and all .provided with clay pipes, took their usual after-meal smoke!
The Methodist people held meetings in the log church school-house until 1870, when a frame chapel was reared, in which services are conducted still.
The Seventh-Day Adventists organized at Clarinda and here in the fall of 1889 the meeting commenced in tents, conducted by Elder Washburn and C. B. Gardner, and from these meetings the two societies were formed. Service is held every Saturday: this, being the seventh day, is considered the only proper one to keep. This being a branch church, there is but one church building and that located at Clarinda (see Clarinda history).
The present officers are: J. H. Beach, College Springs, Iowa., Elder; Thomas Henry, College Springs, Iowa, Deacon; W. Wood
Bute, Bingham, Clerk; R. M. Rawlings, Samuel Westopher and F. M. Cooper, Clar- inda, Trustees.
HAWLEYVILLE IN 1890.
Owing to the fact that other towns have sprung up all around Hawleyville, and it has been missed by all the lines of railway so far, the place has gone back to a great extent, and what was Page County's brisk pioneer trading point has now come to be a dull, prosy hamlet, which is made up of a couple of hundred people and the following in- terests:
General Store -- G. W. Dudley.
Grocery and Hardware-E. O. Guild.
Hawleyville Mills-A. M. Collier, pro- prietor.
Wagon Shop-David Morgan.
Blacksmith Shop-Joseph Thomas.
Shoe Shop-A. F. Frank. Restaurant-Mr. Matsell.
Postoffice-E. O. Guild, postmaster. Methodist Episcopal Church.
Adventists' Church.
Public Schools.
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
DOUGLAS TOWNSHIP.
CHAPTER XX.
OUGLAS, one of the best townships in Page County, is on the north line and the second tier from the east side. It comprises congressional township 70, range 37 west, and is boundcd on the north by Montgomery County; on the east by Valley Township; south by Nodaway Township, and west by Fremont Township. It is the only township in the county but what has a line of railroad touching some part of its domain, or a village. This part of the county is the divide between the Nodaway and Tarkio rivers. It is noted for its most excellent farins and thrifty foreign farmers, who are among the best citizens in the county. Nearly all came here poor, and are to-day wealthy. This single six-mile-square town- ship contains more actual wealth than many whole counties in some States. See township organization chapter for organic information.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The first to locate in Douglas Township was
Levi Reeves and Henry Otte, in 1856. The latter came to the township in the fall of 1855 and took up land, to which he moved the following year. He located on section 34, where he still lives, one of Page County's best farmers. Reeves settled on section 12
in the spring of 1856. James Black also came in 1856.
Henry Sundermann settled on section 27 in 1855. He made his home at Henry Otte's seven years, during which time he improved his farm.
Hiram Ward located on section 9 in 1855. Mrs. Ward died the following August, and this was the first death in the township.
George Newsom came in the autumn of 1857, and is still a resident of the southeast of section 12.
David Margeum located on the east half of the southeast quarter of section 2. He died in February, 1889.
Alexander Mains came in the fall of 1856, and settled on section 2. He sold some years later and removed to Kansas, and finally died.
Thomas McNeal settled in 1862 on the southwest quarter of section 11.
John Strickland settled in 1862 on sec- tion 11.
Other pioneers in this township were Major Cramer, from Indiana; a family named Dirum, N. C. Winter, George Rob- inson and James McIntosh. About 1870 the Swedes commenced coming in very rapidly, and now are very numerous.
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
FIRST EVENTS.
The first settlers were Henry Otte and Levi Reeves in 1855-'56.
The first death was Mrs. Hiram Ward, in August, 1856.
The first male child born was Willian, son of Mr. and Mrs. Levi Reeves, October, 1857.
The first feinale child was Lucinda Otte, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Otte, born in 1856.
The first marriage in Douglas Township was Cyrus Dinwiddie to Miss Hannah Ward, in 1859.
The pioneer sermon was preaclied by Rev. Doughit, a United Presbyterian minister. It was in a log house, built on the present site of James Black's farm house, on sec- tion 2.
The first school was taught by Miss Hester Sayers. This was about the close of the Re- bellion, perhaps 1864.
The first regular school-house was of logs, and put up by volunteer work upon the part of the pioneers. It stood on section 12, and was used for both school and church pur- poses.
The only three fatal accidents now recalled by the early settlers are these: In 1872 John Swanson, who at the time was caught in a fearful storin near Laporte saw-mill, and while taking refuge beneath a large tree, was killed by a falling limb. He left a family to mourn his loss.
The other cases were a Swede boy who was drowned in the Nodaway River at the close of the war, and a man who was killed while loading a huge rock upon a wagon.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
The United Presbyterian Church was organized in 1872, by the following member- ship: James Black and wife, James Pollock and wife, C. C. Moore and wife, William Wolf
and wife, Clara Wolf and Isaac Schofield. They met at the residence of Mr. Pollock on section 1. The name of this branch of the church is styled " North Page." Rev. D. C. Wilson was the organizer, and the first elders were James Pollock and William Wolf. The first services were held at the school-house in District No. 1. A frame church was erected in 1874 on the south half of the southwest quarter of section 1, township 70, range 37. It is 28 x 36 feet, and cost about $1,200. John Brown was the builder. It was dedi- cated by Rev. D. C. Wilson, of Clarinda. At the time this church was built, the society numbered forty. Its present membership is about 100, some of whom reside in Mont- gomery County. The present officers are James Williams, James Milford, Abner Briggs, James Pollock and A. L. Brownlee. At first the society was supplied with ininis- ters from various points, but about 1878, Rev. David Dodds came from Pennsylvania, and was made pastor both of the Hepburn missions and this church. He is still pastor. A Sabbath-school with ninety members is now kept up. James Williams is the present su- perintendent.
The Methodist Episcopal Church dates from 1868, when a class was formed at the Cramer school-house on section 5. The first members were George W. and Saralı Hogan, Major J. Cramer and wife, J. H. Cramer, D. W. Cramer and J. Lytle.
In 1882 a Methodist church was erected on the northwest of section 9. It is a frame building 28 x 60 feet. It seats about 300 people and cost $2,400. The present clureli membership is abont sixty, while the average of Sunday-school attendance is forty-five. Levi Dirum is superintendent. The class- leader is now George King. Among the pastors who liave served this charge-tlie " Cramer Appointment,"-are Revs. Reed,
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
Prince, Newman, Delong, Smith, Lynn and Johnson; inany others have served, however. Rev. Johnson, the present pastor, resides at Yorktown, attending to numerous appoint- ments.
The Christian Church was formed in 1886, at the school-house in district No. 2, by thirty-eight members. Rev. Mr. Hardman, of Glenwood, organized the church, and now preaches for them once a month. A Sunday- school is kept up, with Holmes Taylor as superintendent.
The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized in December, 1870, with seven families. In 1877 a frame church was built, at a cost of $4,000, inclusive of the parsonage. The church was dedicated December 31, 1877, by Rev. B. M. Halland. In 1880 the church had a membership of 184, and is now much
larger. This society has been the means of much good among the Swedish population, who pay liberally and are devoted to their faith to a high degree. The influence of the church upon the masses is indeed wonderful.
SCHOOLS.
Educational matters have always held a high place in the minds of the population of Douglas Township. The first school-build- ing, built by a subscription of work, among the first few settlers, was a log structure " raised" on section 12. As soon as the set- tlement increased and taxes could be levied, school-buildings went up all over the town- ship, as the necessity demanded. To-day there are nine excellent school-buildings, and 140, pupils.
28
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
FREMONT TOWNSHIP.
CHAPTER XXI.
REMONT comprises congressional town- ship 70, range 38 west, and belongs to the northern tier of civil subdivisions of Page County. It is bounded north by Montgomery County, east by Douglas Town- ship, south by Tarkio Township, and west by Pierce Township. Topographically speaking Fremont is gently rolling, well watered and extremely fertile. Section 10 of this town- ship reaches the highest altitude, from sea level, of any portion of the county. Its popu- lation are very largely foreigners, and the greater portion of this element is of the Scan- dinavian order.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The first white man to invade the prairie wilds of this goodly section of Page County, was a man named John Pelham, who came from tlie South and located on section 18, in 1850. He sold his claim four years later to John Rodman, and removed to Arkansas. The same year, 1850, John Hadden effected a settlement. John Stafford located about that date at what is known as "Stafford's Grove." Pelham operated a horse-mill, and thus supplied the few pioneer families.
Another early comer was Mr. Martindale, who improved a small farm near " Hadden's Grove." Henry Binns came from Pennsyl- vania in 1854, and entered the east- half of the northwest quarter of section 3. It was soon after that Aaron Stafford moved in from Montgomery County, and claimed land on sec- tion 6. In 1855 came Jonathan and George Binns, John Hall and Benjamin Davis.
It should be remembered that at this time Fremont Township was on the wild frontier and infested with wild beasts, against which the early settlers waged a successful warfare. In the single winter of 1855-'56, William D. Chamberlain alone killed forty-six deer. The winter was a very severe one, the thermome- ter registering from twenty to thirty degrees below zero for fully six weeks.
The suffering among early settlers was in- deed great; clothing was scarce, the nearest store a long ways distant; the mill equally far, roads bad and consequently the store of provisions grew low. For many weeks the few pioneers had nothing upon which to sub- sist save the corn which was ground in coffee- mills. Men who could survive through such a trying ordeal are not the men who fail;
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
what wonder then that the broad expanse of beautiful prairie lands have come to be so well developed and cultivated?
From 1870 the growth of the township was gradual bnt sure. It was during that year a new factor marked another era in this section of Page County-the advent of the Swedes. Aside from a small settlement in the south part, of the county, there were no Swedes here. Among the first to settle in Fremont were: P. J. Peterson, Isaac M. Johnson, C. J. Eckeroth, N. P. Larson, J. P. Nelson, John Anderson and C. A. Falk.
But now a new movement was set rolling. In the spring of 1871, at the house of P. Heglund, near New Windsor, Henry County, Illinois, a meeting of the Swedish settlers there was held and it was then determined to come to southwestern Iowa. A committee of C. A. Johnson, P. Heglund and C. J. Bjorkgren was appointed to obtain rates for transportation. As a result of their labor thirty-three cars were chartered, in which 300 persons, with their effects, were placed, when all embarked for the "Kingdom of Page." They nearly all became settlers of Fremont Township. In 1880 there were over 900 Swedes in the township. With but a few exceptions they were all poor people, but by their hard work and saving qualities most of tliem liave come to be wealthy and all possess good comfortable homes, which are free of any mortgaged indebtedness.
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