USA > Iowa > Shelby County > Biographical history of Shelby and Audubon counties, Iowa. Containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Harrison, with accompanying biographies of each; portraits and biographies of the governors of the state; engravings of prominent citizens in Shelby and Audubon counties, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families. A concise history of the counties, and the cities and townships > Part 28
USA > Iowa > Audubon County > Biographical history of Shelby and Audubon counties, Iowa. Containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Harrison, with accompanying biographies of each; portraits and biographies of the governors of the state; engravings of prominent citizens in Shelby and Audubon counties, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families. A concise history of the counties, and the cities and townships > Part 28
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY.
The third priest was Rev. F. W. Pape. These were all of other charges and supplied this place occasionally. The first resident priest was Rev. Joseph Knepple, who came from Sioux City, Iowa, Jannary 7, 1875. He was succeeded by Rev. Peter Maly, who came April 20, 1877. Following him caine Rev. J. A. Weber, of Dubuque, Iowa. He was a man of unusnal success and held the confi- dence of his entire congregation. IIe went to Germany and remained some months on account of his ill health, during which period Rev. Jolin Cook supplied his place. Rev. Weber returned, served the church awhile, and in 1886 went to Germany, where he still resides. He was succeeded by the present priest, Rev. Peter Brommenschenkel, whose biographical sketch appears elsewhere in this volume.
In 1873 the congregation consisted of five persons; in 1874, twenty-four; in 1875, 225; in 1876 it had 396, all living within sixty-eight honses. In 1880 the congrega- tion had reached 603 persons, or 112 families. At this time (1888) the settlement consists of 185 families, numbering about 800 persons. Up to March 15, 1876, there had been sold 11,320 acres of land. In the spring of 1881 Emil Flusche went to Westphalia, Anderson County, Kansas, and with his brother founded a similar settlement, the object of which, in both cases, was to provide a good liome and make good citizens of all Germans of the Roman Catholic faith who might be induced to settle at this place. Upon leaving for Kansas, Emil Flusche gave the sale of lands in Westphalia Township over to his brother, William Flusche.
June 11, 1881, an architect by the name of Herr, of Dubuque, Iowa, came on and marked out the foundation lines for a new church, and the work of construction commenced June 13, the same year. The building committee
was composed of Rev. J. A. Weber, President; Emil Flusche, Joseph Rueschenberg, Frank HIesse, Nicholas Muhl, Joseph Schmitt and Michael Wilwerding. The structure is of brick and stone, and is of a most beautiful and per- fect design, and is a monument to the good judgment and taste of the gentlemen who had charge of the work. The building, exclusive of furniture, cost $16,000, and seats abont 500 people. The total value of church, furniture, lots, etc., is placed at ยง30,000. Of this amount $4,000 was received from the sale of lands, the remainder provided by the people. The first service was held in the new church Oc- tober 22, 1882, and November 15, of the same year, the church was dedicated by Right Rev. Bishop John McMullen, of Davenport, Iowa. In 1884 Father Weber built the first parisli school-house, and also the Sister's house, which is still in use, though under- going repairs from time to time.
The settlers of this so-called colony are all Germans, formerly living in that country, in varions provinces, including Austria, Poland, Bohemia and Switzerland. At present they support six district schools, in which both German and English are taught. To show the industry and frugal management of this people, it need only be said that no township in Shelby County has so few farms mortgaged and less delinquent taxes than Westphalia. The land is already taken up by actual settlers, and ranges from 835 to $50 per acre-higher by far than in most parts of the county. The farmers are well-to-do, and make their money principally froin corn and live-stock. A con- gregation of a few families at Harlan belong to this charge also, and are cared for by the priest at Westphalia.
The local history of this settlement speaks of the obstacles which the pioneers had to encounter and overcoine, among which items it is record that the winter of 1874-'75 was
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY.
exceedingly severe, and many cattle were frozen to death; also the grasshopper raid of August, 1876, which destroyed some of the growing crops. Another hard winter was 1880-'81; snow fell in the month of October, and did not melt away until the following April. It is related that when the first house of worship was being built, the country was so new, there were so few houses, roads or other land-marks, that a piece of 2x4 scant- ling was erected on the site where the church was to be built, in order to guide those who were hauling their first load of [lumber, stone or other material for the building. See sketch of the present pastor elsewhere in this work.
KIRKMAN.
Kirkman is a village, platted in Novem- ber, 1880, situated on section 22, township 80, range 38, in Jefferson Township. It is seven miles northeast of Harlan, the county seat, and is the present terminus of the Kirk- man branch of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway. It is situated on the Nishnabotna River, which is the crookedest stream in all Iowa.
The history of this village dates back to 1880-'81, when the railroad was constructed. The first house built was the " Kirkman House," erected by Moses Woods, and now managed by James Robins, who purchased it in 1888.
The first dealer was J. B. Stutsman, a pio- neer merchant of Council Bluffs, who located at Kirkman in the fall of 1881. He soon became a member of the firm of Kull, Much- ler & Stutsman. Another early firm in gen- eral merchandise was Howland & MeEwen, who failed in business. "
Graham Bros. sold the first hardware in the spring of 1883. The firm is now Gra- ham & Ottawa, doing a general merchandising
trade. D. Jessup embarked in the grocery trade in 1884, and finally failed.
The first to sell drugs was James French (the present county anditor), who was also the first postmaster. He lost his stock of goods by fire. The present drug dealers are Dr. Palmer and Dr. Guthrie.
The first blacksmith of Kirkland was Hans Sanber, who, with Will Sharp, came in 1888; they are the present workmen in that line.
Harmon Peacock has followed wagon-mak- ing from the earliest date of the village.
A man named Needles bonght grain at first. The business then fell to Burk & Gra- ham. An elevator was built by Mr. Fergu- son, who died in 1888, the property passing into the hands of John Schroggs, who still controls it. When the place was first started it had lumber yards. In 1888 the Green Bay Lumber Company absorbed the two yards remaining at that time.
THE POST-OFFICE
was established in 1881, with James W. French as the postmaster. Following him came David Carter, who succeeded him Janu- ary 1, 1888. It was made a money-order office July, 1884. The first two orders do not appear on the records of the office, but the third one was issued to B. F. Lancaster, for the amount of $20. Up to November 14, 1888, there had been just an even 2,000 money-orders issued from the Kirkland office.
The only religious society of the village is that of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which was organized in 1881, with a membership of thirty persons. They now double that num- ber. A good church was built in 1883, at a cost of $1,500. They now have service only once in two weeks, Rev. Fansett dividing his time between Kirkman and Irwin.
An excellent school building was erected in 1883, at an expense of $2,200; it is a two-
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY.
story frame structure, divided at present into two departments, each having a teacher.
THE PRESENT BUSINESS.
The following were the active dealers op- erating at Kirkman in November, 1888:
John Doran & Co., general stock.
J. O. Closter, general stock and farm im- plements.
Graham & Ottawa, general stock.
Dr. Palmer, drugs.
Dr. Guthrie, drugs.
Green Bay Lumber Comp'y, lumber dealers. John Scroggs, grain elevator.
Burks & Graham, grain elevator.
James Robinson, proprietor hotel.
Mrs. Closter, millinery goods.
F. P. Oldfield, barber shop.
David Carter, postmaster.
David Rodman, harness-maker.
Hans Sanber, blacksmith.
Will Sharp, blacksmith.
Harmon Peacock, wagon-maker.
Robert Steen, liveryman.
David Coster, meat market.
CORLEY.
This is a small village, situated on section 9, township 78, range 39, in the civil town- ship of Fairview. It is the only station on the Harlan branch of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad between Harlan and Avoca, being about six miles south from the former named place. It is surrounded by one of the finest agricultural portions of Shelby County. Its early history is as fol- lows: Thomas McDonald, who afterward served two terms as county treasurer of Shelby County, was a soldier during the civil war, and in 1868 he, together with comrades named James Casey, D. E. Corley, Oen Curren and another gentleman, purchased six hundred acres of land in this vicinity, all in one tract. Later, through various deals, the
whole became the property of Mr. McDonald. He was a man of much influence and great public spirit, being one of the prime movers in inducing the Rock Island Railroad Com- pany to construct their Harlan branch, which was completed December 1, 1878. Mr. McDonald purchased and cultivated 250 acres of his land, commencing in 1868; yet he resided in Harrison County until 1873, when he moved his family to the homestead which they still occupy. He opened the first general store in January, 1881. He was also the first postmaster, having obtained an office as early as 1878. Unfortunately for his family and the people of his county and town, Mr. McDonald was suddenly called from earth, dying at the noontide of manhood, aged thirty-eight years. After his death his wife was appointed postmistress until 1884, when she resigned in favor of Mr. Albers, the present incumbent. Mrs. McDonald had twenty-two acres of her husband's landed estate platted in June, 1883, the same being now known as Corley on the plat books. The general store opened by Mr. McDonald, and later controlled by his widow, was finally sold to Albers & Thompson, which after awhile passed into the hands of Mr. Albers, who continued until 1886 and then closed out and opened another general store on the opposite side of the railroad track, where he is still engaged and keeps the post-office. Charles Vogt opened a general store in Feb- ruary, 1888.
The first to deal in grain at Corley was Willard Noble, who was manager for a Mr. Somes, of Amboy, Illinois. The business then went into the hands of Noble Brothers, who finally sold to Hodson & Hancock. An- other elevator firm who came when the place was new is Weise & Severs. They built an elevator in April, 1888.
F. M. Gillispie sold the first lumber in the
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY.
fall of 1882. It is now handled by the Green Bay Lumber Company, who took the business in 1886.
D. Rickson erected a boarding house and saloon in 1883, and still conducts the board- ing house, the saloon business going with the advent of the prohibitory law!
As a shipping point there are but few towns in Shelby County, if any, that handle more grain and live-stock than does Corley. It being quite near to the county seat (Har- lan) the place has never grown much, farmi- ers depending on it only for staple articles.
BOTNA.
According to the county plat book this place was platted by the Western Town Lot Company, August 21, 1884, and was called " Rochdale," but the post-office name, as well as railroad station, is known as Botna. It is simply a flag station on the Kirkman branch of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. There is a post-office and one general store; the proprietor, S. B. Fritz, also buys grain and stock. Its geographical location is the east quarter of the southeast quarter of sec- tion 3, township 81, range 37.
.
6.J. Hyland
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
JON. C. J. WYLAND .- We all have a part to performn in the drama of life. The race is made, the ontcome de- termined, our destinies decided, just in pro- portion to our opportunities, endurance and ability. These are the marks that distinguish the snecessful man from the man that fails and falls. Let us take a glance backward to the year 1851, and picture a train of emi- grant wagons slowly coursing their way through swollen streams and undefined path- ways, destined for Shelby County, Iowa, the land of promise. In this way our subject, together with his brother William and his estimable wife, his three younger brothers and his youngest sister, made their journey from Elkhart County, Indiana, the father having previously visited Iowa, entering large tracts of land, a portion we mention as being the southeast quarter of section 36, township 80, range 38, near Bowman's Grove. Having leased this land, C. J. Wy- land settled here. In this wild, new country he songht to provide a home for the younger members of his father's family, until they should be old enough to care for themselves. That this plan was well carried out, those younger children, all living bnt one, can 24
truly testify. The family chain was broken by the death of Jasper N., who died at Du- val's Bluff, Arkansas, in 1864, while a soldier in the Union army. At the date of Mr. Wyland's coming to Shelby County, the nearest railroad point was Marengo, Iowa Connty, to which point he made several trips for supplies. That was the most western point on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific line. On these long, tedious trips he camped out, as there were very few hotels; and had there been many, money was too scarce to be thus expended. Notwithstanding these trips were often in bad weather, and over trails where there are now well-improved highways, and over swollen streams long since spanned by iron bridges, yet the remembrance of them still has a pleasing charm, mingled with toil and beautiful romance. While those early days were hard ones, they were not without their joys, for there has ever been something attractive abont a new country, and Mr. Wy- land is of that type of manhood which sel- dom broods over toil or even misfortunes, but always sees the bright side on the darkest day. On April 11, 1864, he was united in marriage to Miss Amanda H. Dunnington, a native of Kentucky. Soon after his marriage
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY.
he built a house on land adjoining that of his brother William, and removed to it. The lumber used in the construction of this honse was hauled by him from Boonesborongh, Boone County, a distance of 100 miles, some of it costing 8100 per 1,000 feet. It would alinost go without the saying that he smoked few cigars at that time, however well he seems to enjoy one now. He did chew, how- ever, and it is related of him that as a means of economy he used to chew the weed until most of the virtue had been extracted, and then laid it away in some seeret place to dry, after which he would smoke it in a cob pipe, unless some one of the other boys had appro- priated it to his own use. In speaking of these early days, Mr. Wyland says, in his jolly, good-natured way, "Well, we used to have good times even though we did have it a little tough. Everything in the way of provisions seemed common stock in the neigh- borhood, and by general consent was divided among all. When flour was ont at one neighbor's, another volunteered a supply; in other words, when one neighbor went to mill the whole settlement was sure of flour. But occasionally all would get out at the same time, and then they would change their diet to middlings, which was middling good until pure flour could be obtained." Among the curious customs of pioneer milling was that of the customer entting and carrying with him a small load of wood to grind his own wheat; and not infrequently he was cheated ont of his turn by some other fellow shipping a quarter of a dollar into the hand of the honest (?) miller, which would result in the first man having to hanl a second jag of wood before he could get his grinding done. In 1867 Mr. Wyland moved to the saw-mill at Bowman's Grove, and operated it for a year; then he moved back to his farm. In 1871 he was nominated for county treasurer
on the Democratic ticket, for this has always been his party, and was elected. He then moved to Harlan and took possession of the office January, 1872. He was a faithful officer, accounting for every farthing entrusted to his care. He was re-elected in 1873, again making the county an efficient officer. During his first term of office there was no bank nearer than Council Bluffs. As the county provided no way to keep the money safe from the hands of thieves and robbers, except the official bond required of the treasurer, it often became a vexed question how to keep the funds safe from maranders. It was the duty of the treasurer to have the various funds for roads, schools, etc., on hand the first of April, when a greater portion of the taxes were col- leeted. So it not infrequently happened that he was compelled to bring from $15,000 to $20,000 from Council Bluffs; then much of this large amount had to be kept in readiness for the different townships for two or three months, during which time the money was stored away in a seeret place, not exactly a vault, but a place Mr. Wyland will not men- tion now, for fear of making some of the early settlers feel badly because they did not know it at the time. In the spring of 1872 Mr. Wyland, in company with his brother, 1). M. Wyland, who came back from Council Bluff's, where he had been engaged in a bank- ing house for some time, formed a partner- ship in the land-office business, as C. J. & D. M. Wyland. They bought the business of Adams & Sharp, who were then located in the building now occupied by Miss Dnn- nington as a millinery store. D. M. had the management of the office, while C. J. looked after outside matters. They soon outgrew their quarters, and moved a building, 14 x 16 feet, to the lot upon which their present fine bank building stands. From real-estate busi- ness they gradually advanced to loaning, and
.
297
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
finally to banking, when their extensive busi- ness again demanded more spacious rooms. In 1880 they erected their present building; the bank is a private concern, known as the Bank of Ilarlan. To mark the popularity of C. J. Wyland in the county where he has undergone so much privation and lived to see such marked improvement, it only need be said that his services as county treasurer for two terms, his election to the Iowa Legislat- ure in 1883, and his re-election in 1885, have proven him a man of ability and un- tarnished reputation. No man has been more active than Mr. Wyland in encouraging ad- vancement in public improvements. It was he, together with other leading spirits, who organized the company which finally induced the Harlan branch of the Rock Island Rail- road Company to build a line into the county. Every commercial interest has felt his force as an organizer. Mr. Wyland was born on the old Wyland homestead, known as Wy- land Mills, in Elkhart County, Indiana, June 22, 1836, where he grew to manhood, having the usual school advantages and experiences of most country lads. In those days the school-house was built of logs, with the flat side of a slab for a seat, while the teacher occasionally touched the pupil up with a strap simply to remind him of the routine of a conntry school. From the age of ten to sixteen he worked on his father's farm, and for the next five years was a hand, first on the farm, then at the mill, wherever his serv- ices were of most value. From 1855 to 1860 he was engaged in superintending a mill of his father's. The following year he came to Shelby County, as before noted, where he has been an important factor in the settlement and development of his adopted land. Whatever his success may have been, his admirable wife is not without her share of eredit, for her part was bravely borne in
times when privations were common and the foundation was being laid for better days. She was the daughter of Alexander and Lovisa (Sellers) Dunnington. To Mr. and Mrs. Wyland were born six children-Arthur Perry (deceased). Stella, Jay, Jessie, Grace and Roy. Mr. Wyland is a member of Mt. Zion Commandery, No. 49, K. T .; Olivet Chapter, No. 107, R. A. M., and Parian Lodge, No. 321, A. F. & A. M. He is a quiet, unassuming gentleman, possessing the secret of winning friends and keeping them. In politics he is firm and immovable. In business circles he takes rank with the most substantial men in the State. And so closes the remarkable and unsullied career of one of Shelby County's leading men.
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UDGE JONAS W. CHATBURN, pro- prietor of the Harlan Mills, has been prominently identified with the interests of western Iowa since 1850. He is a native of England, born in Lancashire, March 11, 1821, and a son of Thomas and Margaret (Ingham) Chatburn, natives of the same place. At the age of fourteen years he was apprenticed to a machinist, and served an ap- prenticeship of three years, after which he served an apprenticeship of seven years in ealico printing. Judge Chatburn was united in marriage, December 25, 1843, to Miss Mary Burton, a native of Lancashire, Eng- land, and a daughter of George and Jane (Fos- ter) Burton. In the spring of 1845 they emigrated to America, sailing May 12, in the vessel Genesee of Bath, and arrived in New York, July 2, 1845. They went to Frankfort, Pennsylvania, five miles from Philadelphia, where our subject engaged in the printing business at the Tackawanna print works, where he remained one year. He then
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY.
went to New Jersey, to the pine woods on the Rancocus River, and repaired a steam' saw-mill, which he run for six months, having his wife and two children in the green woods. He then returned to Frankfort, and the fol- lowing summer run the engine in a woolen factory at Grubtown, Pennsylvania. He re- mained here about a year and then went to Philadelphia, and run ont the insurance on a large steam engine, for Sutton & Smith; here he remained a year and a half, and in April, 1850, came west, starting with a company of abont 100 people, with the intention of going to Salt Lake City. They went by the Penn- sylvania Canal to Pittsburg, thenee down the Ohio River to the Mississippi, thence up the Mississippi to St. Louis by steamboat, and from there to a trading post on the Mis- souri River, about seven miles below the present site of Council Bluffs. On the trip up the Missouri River, the boiler of the en- gine burst; there were 300 passengers on board, and an immense amount of freight; the engineer was unable to repair the boiler, and things were being prepared to float the boat back to St. Louis, when the captain called Mr. Chatburn to him, and requested him to examine the boiler; he did so, re- paired it, and in less than twenty-four hours the boat was on her way. Mrs. Chatburn is a member of the Latter Day Saints church, and when she learned that polygamy was in vogne in Utah, she refused to proceed further; so they settled in lowa. Mr. Chatburn pur- chased a claim near Council Bluffs from a man who was going to Utah, and located there; he worked at various things until he went to Mills County, and entered a saw-mill, where his early training as a machinist served him a good turn. In 1853 he went into Har- rison County, and entered 160 acres of land, near the place where Magnolia now stands; he was the first person to drive a wagon
across the place where Magnolia now is. He began to improve the land, and in 1854 bnilt the first mill in Harrison County. It was an np-and-down saw-mill, on Willow Creek, near Magnolia. Not being pleased with the idea of going forty miles to get corn ground, Mr. Chatburn conceived the idea of taking two small stones from the prairie, commonly called boulders, and dressing them down for burrs; then the question arose, where the belt was to be procured. He had a dried cowhide which he soaked and ent in strips to make a belt; the mill was put in running order, and the first night the wolves came and devonred the belt. Mr. Chatburn then sawed a walnnt log and hanled his lumber to Kainsville and traded it for harness leather, of which he made another belt for his mill, and to this rude mill people came from points as far distant as the place where Sioux City now stands, and would remain a week to get their grinding done. In the manufacture of the first flour in Ilarrison County Mrs. Chat- burn's veil was used as a bolting cloth. In 1862. in company with Thomas Davis, Mr. Chatburn ereeted a large mill near Woodbine, which he managed in connection with his farming pursuits, until he came to Shelby County, in August, 1866; he settled in IJar- lan, and lived in the school-house until he could ereet a residence. In 1867 he built the first mill in Shelby County, which he con- tinnes to manage; he also built a mill in Shelby, and controlled the two for about three years. While in Harrison County Mr. Chat- burn served as judge and justice of the peace; he was also a member of the board of super- visors from its organization, and was presi- dent of the board when he left the county. He has served as supervisor in Shelby County, and has held the office of coroner for many years. Ile is an elder in the church of the Latter Day Saints, and is now presiding
299
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
elder of the Harlan branch. Judge and Mrs. Chatburn are the parents of seven children, six of whom survive-Thomas, of Independ- ence, Missouri; Jane, the wife of John Bur- cham, of Shelby County; Mary Ellen, the wife of Wallace W. Wood, of Harrison County; Margaret Ann, the wife of John Chatburn, of Idaho; Cisley J., the wife of A. D. Tinsley, of Iowa; George R., principal of the Portsmouth, Nebraska, schools, and a gradnate of Ames College; and one child wlio died in infaney. Judge Chatburn is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Harlan Lodge, No. 321; Olivet Chapter, No. 107, and Mt. Zion Com- mandery, No. 49. Politically, he was formerly an old-line Whig, casting his first vote for Jolin C. Fremont, and was one of the organizers of the Republican party. The first corn Judge Chatburn plauted in Harrison County he carried from Kainsville on his back; as tlie waters were very high in the streams he could not take his team, so he started on foot after seed eorn, a trip of seventy-five miles. He bought one-half bushel, paying $1.50 for it, and carried it on his baek thirty-seven miles. Ile waded water for miles south of where Missouri Valley is located, and the water was half-leg deep where the city of Missouri Val- ley is now located.
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