USA > Iowa > Guthrie County > Centennial history of Guthrie county, Iowa > Part 5
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In the morning, after a smoky evening, when the first fire was made, the smoke, being no respecter of persons came, in all its impudence, to the eyes, nostrils and throat of Mr. B. He stood it as long as was agreeable (?), and, being consid- erable of a philosopher, concluded to have some fun out of it. He sprang out of bed, yelling "fire, FIRE, FIRE"! Every- body in the house, including landlady and children, came to the rescue. The landlord rushed frantically into the room, inquiring, " Where's fire? Quick; where's there any fire?" "I don't know," cooly replied the judge. "What the d-I did ye yell fire for, then?" " Where there is smoke there is fire, and as there is so much smoke here, I sup-
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HISTORY OF GUTHRIE COUNTY.
posed there must be a little fire somewhere," was the philo. sophical reply. The landlord's chagrin can better be im- agined than written. As he hurried down stairs he relieved himself of this little speech-" sold," adding a few exple- tives by way of emphasis. Finally, they all had a good laugh over the little scene, and parted good friends.
The first school in Bear Grove township was a private school, taught by Mrs. S. R. Saxton, at her residence in the Grove, where she, with her family, still reside. This was in 1854. Miss Mary Cram taught the first public, or dis- trict school, in 1855, after the organization of the town- ship.
" Old Father Knott" preached the first sermon. The first Sabbath school (Union) was organized in 1858, by William Campbell.
There are now three church organizations, ten sub-dis- tricts, and nine schools.
The first white child born was Lillian Harrington, Dec. 5th, 1855, now deceased.
The first death was that of a soldier, who came home and died in 1864. The township had then been settled for nearly twelve years, and contained thirty-two families. The old settlers used to tell stage-coach passengers that Bear Grove was so healthy they were raising a subscription to send east for a poor, old man to come out and settle among them, so they could start a " grave yard." I presume they did not feel quite organized, or civilized, without a grave yard.
The above was the first burial, a death, by accident, hav - ing occurred in the winter of 1856-7. At the beginning of the terrible snow storm that caused so much suffering, and which will be remembered by many old settlers, a lad, a nephew of a Mrs. Sheeder, then residing in the neighbor- hood -- neighborhoods extended over considerable territory in those days -- went out to follow up a large herd of elk, tracks of which he had discovered leading up a ravine. When he left home, there were no signs of a storm, but, be- fore nightfall, occurred one of Iowa's proverbial sudden
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changes, and the worst storm of the season ensued. As the young man did not return, search was made the next day, and continued, at intervals, for some time, but without suc- cess. The next summer his bones and gun were found twelve miles north of home, where it is supposed he per- ished in that terrible storm.
The first marriage in the township was was that of Grant Parkhurst and Fanny Comstock, by Rev. R. C. Meek. Among the early marriages was that of a Mr. North, now living in Casey, to a Miss Betts. They were married by 'Squire Owens, who was left-handed. When the couple joined their right hands, the 'squire called out, "other hands, if you please; that's wrong." This, of course, caused a little hesitation, and, consequently, a little confusion, when he was heard to remark, in an aside, "Dog my cats, if I haven't used my left hand so long, I thought everybody was left handed."
The story of another "early marriage" is this: A Mr. Cooper and a Miss Fleak were both hired to work for a prominent farmer, near Lynn Grove. As Cupid lurks in the lower, as well as the higher, walks of life, the little rogue whispered pretty stories in their ears, and, as is usual in such cases, they agreed to tread life's rosy path together. In short, as soon as an opportunity presented itself, they would "get married." The opportunity came one day when C. was working on the prairie, in bucksin breeches and colored shirt, and Miss F. was kneading dough in the kitchen. 'Squire Owen was seen driving along the winding road over the prairie, and Miss Fleak called to him to come in. She then sent one of the farmer's little boys to bring the prospective bridegroom, while she returned to her kneading board. Pretty soon the groom came in, wiped the perspiration from his face with his shirt sleeve, while the soon-to-be bride sprinkled flour over her hands, rubbed the dough therefrom as well as she could, walked proudly into " the room," with her sleeves rolled above her elbows,
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and fragments of dough clinging to her finger nails, and took her place beside the happy groom.
They were married then and there without further ado, and spent their honey moon, she in the kitchen and he on the prairie, and were as happy as if they had taken "a trip."
In June, 1855, Perry Crooks and family-followed in a short time by his nephew, Capt. John McEwen-landed on Bear Creek (which romantic name was given it on account of several bears having been killed on its banks by a "band" of Government surveyors), where the first thing they did was to mow the grass from out a shed, the size of which was nine by fourteen feet, the shed having been moved up from Dalmanutha, a few weeks previous. This one shed, constituting the various apartments of the family, excepting the kitchen, which was out of doors, under the blue canopy, they commenced roughing it in earnest.
Though their house could not be called a mansion, yet the characteristic hospitality of the family discovered itself, even here, as a little incident will illustrate.
One night, after the family had retired, two men, who had lost their way, stumbled on this habitation, and asked for shelter. Of course, with the limited space at their com- mand, the spare bed was lacking. There were two or three, all filled with members of the family. Capt. McEwen's generous heart at once suggested a way to provide for the wanderers. He called out, " Aunt Mary, make me a bed under the bed, and they can have mine." And in the dis- pensation of true hospitality, the proud, noble-hearted man, who bowed only to his Maker, crept under the bed, that two fellow-mortals might have shelter and rest. Ever thus, the Crooks home, from the shanty to the good, substantial dwelling, continued to be a beacon light to weary travelers through the Grove.
During the summer of '55, Crooks and McEwen erected a saw-mill-the second one in the county-on Bear Creek. They also erected a log house, that they might be better-
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HISTORY OF GUTHRIE COUNTY.
protected from the storms, which. it seems, were more fre- frequent then than now.
Wolves, deer, elk, and wild turkeys, were abundant at this time. One evening, in the winter of '57, Harry Crooks, then a lad of twelve years, went to the barn to do the feed- ing (the men having gone to Panora), and in a few mo- ments he was heard loudly calling for the butcher knife. Maggie, a little girl of ten (now Mrs. Grubb), and the hired girl ran out with the knife. They found Harry astride of a large deer, and holding on by his antlers. He commanded the girls to " cut the deer's throat " while he held him. They commenced sawing away, and finally Harry came down and took turns with them, until the desired end was accom- plished, and the, trio marched triumphantly into the house, feeling, no doubt, much as a general might who had won a great battle. How did the boy catch the deer? There was a crust frozen over the top of the snow, hard enough to bear the children, but not hard enough to bear the heavier weight of the deer. The snow was very deep, and, in his struggles to escape, the deer would break through at every step, and, finally, through sheer exhaustion, he concluded to hold still and have his throat cut.
After a residence of fourteen years at the Grove, in '69, Mr. Crooks removed to Guthrie, where he died in 1874, mourned by all who knew him. The family still remain at Guthrie; and while they are living in anything but pioneer style, they still remember the old friends and the old days.
Captain McEwen is married, and living in Ohio.
W. R .Grow, who came, with his family, in the fall of 1855, built them a shanty in the Grove, and suffered the privations incident to pioneer life, died in March, 1875, at Casey, where his family now reside.
Among the substantial farmers and business men are, S. R. Saxton, R. R. Kirkwood, W. A. Reed, W. Sheeder, I. C. Hadlee, J. P. Coates, C. Pettit, and others, whose names I have not at hand.
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HISTORY OF GUTHRIE COUNTY.
Bear Grove contains more timber than any other town- ship in the county, except Cass and Jackson.
DODGE AND ORANGE TOWNSHIPS.
Dodge township was organized in April, 1855, the election being held at the residence of John Clark, the first settler in the township. It then embraced within its limits the terri- tory now known as Dodge, Highland and Orange townships. It is second from the east line of the county, in the north tier.
The general surface of Dodge is much the same as that of Highland -- in the northern part, low, or level; in the cen- tral and southern part, rolling, verging to roughness in some parts. Coal is found in this township also.
Some of the principal farmers are D. Chambers, W. S. Mount, D. Neal, H. Belding, and D. H. Crippin.
W. S. Mount is a son of Stevenson Mount, of Jackson township, and is an old settler, having come to this county, with his father in 1854. He is one of our present supervis- ors, a substantial and well-to-do farmer, an intelligent and upright man, and a much respected citizen.
Orange township was organized in 1857, and is the north- west township of the county. The first settlement was made in '53-4 by Benjamin and Joseph Tuttle, who came from Michigan; George and Lawson Mingus, who came from North Carolina; Wm. P. Hopson, of Illinois; and Joel B. Younker, of Ohio. Jacob Cretsinger came at an early day.
The first white child born in the township was a grand- daughter of Benjamin Tuttle. The first death was that of George Mingus.
The township was made a district, or school township, in 1858, with the following school board; Stephen Hammond, President; Joel B. Younker, Treasurer; and a Mr. Rude, Secretary. The first public school was taught by a Miss Heller, in a log cabin, with puncheon floor and clap-board
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HISTORY OF GUTHRIE COUNTY.
roof, which stood on the farm of Wm. P. Hopson. The number of pupils was seventeen.
The first school house was built in 1860. There are now in the township five school houses.
In 1873, the Wesleyan Methodists organized the first church, under the leadership of Rev .. E. Grinnell, followed in February, 1874, by an organization of the Christian de- nomination, by Elder McDaniel.
Orange township, situated as she is, in the fertile valleys of middle 'Coon, south 'Coon, and Brushy Fork, with her abundant supply of water, timber, coal, and stone; the pro- ductiveness of her soil; the beauty of her scenery, and the excellent class of people within her borders, will compare very favorably with any township in the county.
A story is told of an early settler, who was very much afraid of Indians-always on the alert for them. One day he heard a noise he did not understand, and thought, of course, it was Indians. (You know, we always see and hear just what we are looking for.) He crept up the chimney to hide, whispering between his chattering teeth to his wife to sit still; they wouldn't hurt a woman.
N. Wilson, J. F. Moore, and John Cretsinger, are among the prominent farmers.
BEAVER TOWNSHIP.
Beaver township was organized in April, 1857, by E. W. Moore. It was made a district or school township in May, 1858.
In 1862 Beaver bought a library of one hundred and sev- enty volumes, which was the first district library in the county.
The first settlement was made by Lemuel Coleman in the spring of 1852. Mr. Branson, Henry Maines, and Thomas Coleman came in November of the same year. Grain and provisions were scarce and mills almost inaccessable, so he went to Des Moines to winter, and returned in the spring, built a cabin, and commenced breaking and improving a
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HISTORY OF GUTHRIE COUNTY.
farm on a " pre-emption," not being able to enter or buy land. Bye and bye he sold one of his horses, the proceeds of which sale enabled him to enter forty acres of land. In 1854 he sold his wagon and entered forty-eight acres more. The next year he bought another forty acre lot. Thus little by little, he has gathered together a snug farm, with a nice orchard of bearing trees, and is surrounding himself with the comforts necessary, to pass the evening of his days in peace and serenity. With what fortitude they endured the hardships of pioneer life, I will let Mr. Coleman tell in his. own language, which I copy from a diary kept by him.
" The privations endured are known only to those who have tried a new home, in a new country in the far west, but by honest toil and God's blessing, we have always had something to live upon, and now my fondest expectations on leaving my native State are more than realized. When I look back, I see much for which we should be truly thank- ful to our Heavenly Father.
When first instated in a home of our own, it was in the wilds of the west, surrounded by nature, almost undis- turbed, with but five families within seven miles of us. To the west it was thirty miles to the first house, north and south we knew not how far. Many difficulties were before us, but with health and a firm reliance on God for aid, and determined minds, they have melted away like mist before the sun."
The first thing Mr. Coleman did after breaking the prai- rie, was to plant fruit trees. Many of them have been de- stroyed by hail storms, hard winters, etc., but as fast as one tree is destroyed he plants another.
The territory now embraced within the limits of Beaver township, was, prior to its organization, a part of Jackson township. In 1854 there was but one sub-district in Jack- son.
The members of the first school board were: Henry Maines, president; Thos. M. Coleman, Secretary. The Board ordered the erection of a log house, each settler
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HISTORY OF GUTHRIE COUNTY.
furnishing his share of logs, but before it was ready for oc- cupancy, they concluded to have a frame building, which was built in '5S.
Mr. Coleman taught the first school in 1857, in one room of Lemuel Coleman's dwelling. In this school, there were from one family, a father and two sons as pupils, the three learning their a, b, c, together. Mr. Coleman also taught the next two schools.
The first religious meetings were held in '53 by "The Church of God," or Winebrenarians; of this, more in an- other chapter.
In 1852 Henry Maines settled where he now resides. He was almost entirely alone with his family, there being but two or three other families near him, and they not very near. He went to Missouri to mill, swimming his oxen across the streams in his way, and to Des Moines or Kanes- ville for groceries. He has now a large farm and a com- . fortable home, the result of economy and industry.
When Mr. Maines came to the county he had two sons, mere lads, John and Jesse, who have now large, well cul- tivated and well stocked farms of their own. John owns the best barn in the county. It was built in 1875, at a cost of $7,000. Its size is 54x150 feet, 55 feet high. In the base- ment is a self-feeding crib, constructed something on the principle of an hour-glass, just so much corn escaping at a time, which is capable of feeding two hundred cattle at once. It is six feet wide, and runs through the centre, leav- ing space for a drive round it. A trough running the whole length of the crib, receives the corn, as it drops from it. There is also a drive in the first story above the basement, where the crib, which holds about fifteen thousand bushels is filled from the wagons, as the corn is gathered from the field. In the second story is a chute for running the hay through to the basement. In the yard is a never failing spring of pure water. The cattle go in and out at their leis- ure, " eat when they're hungry, and drink when they're
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HISTORY OF GUTHRIE COUNTY.
dry," as happy as if the other line of the old couplet had no reference to them.
In 1871 Wm. Hanaford, an Englishman, came to Stuart, with thirteen dollars in his pocket, a large family to sup- port, and only his hands to depend upon. He hired out by the month, to Kenworthy and Maxwell, worked for them two years, during which time he bought and paid for a house and lot. He now owns, in Beaver township, a farm of four hundred acres, all under cultivation, and nearly all paid for. He is no " old settler," but he, with others, among whom should be mentioned H. S. Brown, on section sixteen, is the kind of settler to improve a new country.
Among other large farmers I notice W. H. Curtis, C. Sayer, C. E. Genung, E. Genung, R. Mccullough, C. Thom- as, T. C. Galbraith, B. Wells, Mrs. Mary C. Crooks, Mr. Wornock, and J. S. Cummins.
Beaver township is one of the finest in the county. Bea- ver creek and Spring branch are the principal streams, along the former of which, there is a fair growth of timber. The surface along the streams is hilly, while toward the south and east it is beautifully undulating.
PENN TOWNSHIP.
Penn township was organized in 1857, with a population of 306. The present population is, exclusive of the town of Stuart, 1,531, that of Stuart, 1,674, making a total of 3,205.
It is bounded on the north by Jackson township, on the east, by Dallas county, on the south, by Adair county, and on the west, by Beaver township. The surface is princi- pally undulating; in some parts rough and hilly, though no portion but is, or may be made tillable.
Underlying the surface are beds of coal, mines of which have been opened, three or four miles north of Stuart, and furnish a partial supply for the demands of the township.
Stone, also is found, and considerable quantities have been quarried from the bluffs along Deer creek.
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HISTORY OF GUTHRIE COUNTY.
The first settlement in what is now Penn township-then a part of Jackson -- was made in 1850, by Addison and William Cave, who settled where they now reside, and oth- ers, who have been mentioned in connection with the first settlement of the county.
The first death in the township was also the first in the county, being that of Mr. MeCullough, in 1850, who died in a cabin, near the present site of Pearson's mill.
The next death was that of Julia Ann, daughter of Da- vid Bowles, who died in 1854, and was buried at Bear creek, in Dallas county.
The first grave made in the township (Mccullough was buried in Jackson) was for the reception of the remains of a lad by the name of Isadore Switzer, in the spring of 1856. As there was then no cemetery or burying ground, he was buried on the ridge between the residences of W. M. McCol- lum and Alex. Lamb.
Lizzie Griffith, daughter of John Griffith, was born in February, 1856.
Mary Catharine Bowles, daughter of David Bowles, was born the same winter, whether before or after Miss Griffith, I am not advised; but the first white child born in the town- ship, is one of the above ladies.
The first religious service was held at the Pioneer school house, under the auspices of the Methodist denomination in 1855.
The first Sabbath School was taught by the Friends, at the residence of Elias Hadley, in 1856.
The first school was that at the Pioneer school house, in the Thompson neighborhood.
The first church edifice erected in the township was the Summit Grove, or Quaker Meeting House, near Stuart, in 1856. In the winter of the same year a subscription school was kept in this meeting house by Darius Bowles, who is now living in Missouri.
The first postoffice was established in 1858, at the resi- dence of Rev. J. W. McPherson, near Dexter, and called
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HISTORY OF GUTHRIE COUNTY.
Macksville, which, upon the location of Stuart, was re- moved there, and the name changed to Stuart. Mr. McPherson was the postmaster at Macksville, and A. L. McPherson the first after the removal of the office.
In the spring of 1854 Cyrus and David Bowles came to the county, Cyrus settling where Mr. Fink now resides, and David on the McPherson place.
The only " house " within several miles of them was an indian wigwam. They all "camped out " for some time, sleeping in a tent, or a wagon, as the state of the weather seemed to indicate was best.
When finally they built a cabin, it was the only habita- tion on or near the Mormon trail (this branch of it) for a distance of ten miles, either east or west.
In the summer of '54 David went to Warren county to work in Pearson's mill, and Cyrus and his family were left alone, "strangers in a strange land." In this trying situa- tion only the implicit faith in a Guiding Power, so charac- teristic of the Friends, sustained them in their loneliness.
In the autumn of the same year, David returned to Guth- rie, and several more pioneers were added to their little set- tlement. Among these were Alex. Lamb, Reuben Griffith and a Mr. Switzer.
In 1855 came T. C. McCollum, Elias Hadley, Calvin Car- son, Mary Mills and family, Levi and William Kivett and John Pearson. The latter came to Warren county, from Vermillion county, Ill. He built several mills in Warren county.
The same year of his arrival here, he commenced the erection of his flouring mill, on South Raccoon river, which, however, was not in operation until 1857.
The first manufacturing establishment of any kind was the carding machine of the Cave Brothers, on South 'Coon, two miles below Pearson's mill. This was afterward con- verted into a sawmill, which was swept away by the floods of two or three years ago.
In the year of 1856, when the tide of immigration into
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HISTORY OF GUTHRIE COUNTY.
the State was at its highest, the Rev. Jos. W. McPherson, Hon. A. L. McPherson. D. Tomlinson, and many others came to the county.
CENTRE TOWNSHIP.
In 1858 Centre township was organized by E. B. Newton, and the first election held at Guthrie Centre. Jas. Ewing, Chas. Huxley, and E. B. Newton constituted the first town- ship board.
The first settlement was made by W. W. Newton, who came to the county in 1854, and entered the S. E. ¿ Sec. 18- 80-32. There were then but three families living on the South 'Coon-a lonely outlook for Mr. Newton. He was the first township clerk: established the first hardware store in Guthrie Centre, in 1870, at which time he also did busi- ness as a real estate agent. Mr. Newton served in the late war, enlisting on the 21st day of March, 1864. in Company L, Fifth Iowa Cavalry. He is now in Union township, at Walnut Grove.
Hon. Isaac Parrish came to the State in the spring of 1854, settling in Des Moines, where he remained one year, when he came to Guthrie county and settled on the west side of Brushy Fork, but made his first improvement on the Shaw place. He dealt largely in real estate, entering a great deal of land in Guthrie and other counties. He was the first resident attorney in the county; was District Attorney in 1855. In 1857 he removed to De Soto, Nebraska, but re- turned in a short time to Harrison county, Iowa, where he died in 1860.
In 1839-40 Mr. Parrish represented the Cambridge, Ohio, District in Congress, and in 1844-5 he represented the McConnellsville District, same State.
In November, 1855, Mr. Chas. Huxley, came to the county, and from the date of his arrival until the 14th of April, he, with his family-seven all told-existed in a shanty 12x12 in size, without a floor, and so low that the wolves, which which were then quite numerous, ran over the roof, making
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HISTORY OF GUTHRIE COUNTY.
anything but sweet music in the ears of the lady and wee ones. To Mr. H. it was equal, if not superior, to an or- gan (possibly of the hand variety). When Mr. Huxley built a chimney, which necessary appurtenance the hut lacked, his tools were, a horse shoe, which he used as ham- mer, and a clap-board for a trowel; for morter, he used clay that had been thrown from a well; instead of the ordinary sticks, he used stone; when he "pulled " from its native bed, a huge specimen of the latter, in order to release two smaller ones, which he wished to use, two large wolves jumped over his head. Of course he knew they were wolves, but some new-comers would have thought that away out here in Iowa, stones had legs. (we are not accountable for what we think when frightened) Mr. Parrish generously "let " this house to Mr. Huxley, free of rent. They too, used the hickory pole, double bed, which, during the day, answered the purpose of a sofa.
That Mrs. Huxley was homesick is not to be wondered at, for surely the prospect was not a very bright one. To cap the climax of the terrors of a new country, a bald-headed neighbor (any body within fifteen or twenty miles was a a neighbor,) called one evening, and overhearing the re- mark that he looked young to be so bald, explained that it was the effects of the cold Iowa winters, whereupon the lady insisted upon "going back; she would not stay in a land so cold as to freeze the top of a man's head like that."
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