USA > Iowa > Polk County > Centennial history of Polk County, Iowa > Part 5
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M. L. Devin, a resident of Des Moines twenty years ago, has a large, well cultivated farm in this Township. He pays much attention to the raising of thoroughbred stock. Many wealthy farmers besides him, are living here, who, in a few years, have made a wonderful change in the face of the landscape.
Samuel Gray, and Samuel Bell, the former of whom was once County Treasurer, and the latter our first Superintend- ent of Schools, were both early settlers of Bloomfield. Mrs. M. A. Brechbill, who once had a store in an old Govern- ment building on the site now occupied by Keyes, Thomp- son & Reeves' wholesale establishment, has been a resident of this Township several years. Her farm, containing a section of land, was a bare prairie in 1861. It is now all under cultivation, and includes within its limits, a fine or- chard of 2,000 bearing apple trees.
CAMP TOWNSHIP.
Contains Township 78, Range 22, and northeast part of 77, 22. This is a densely settled township, with a gen- erous distribution of timber and rolling prairie. Camp and Mud creeks, and the Des Moines river, are its principal streams. Coal is found along its water courses.
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OF POLK COUNTY.
Patrick Kelly came here in 1848, and the Garrets, for whom an entire community is named, settled in 1850. About the same time, Wm. Sweeney established his home. The Plummers also found homes in the Garret neighbor- hood. James Stewart, George N. Stewart, and Elijah Can- field came in 1846, the latter Stewart starting a store some- time afterward; and in 1847, J. M. Montgomery, Rev. Mr. Russell, David Johnson, Mr. Woodward, Montgomery Mc- Call, Abel Fouts, Joseph Langdon, L. M. Burke, Mr. Rob- inson, and Miss Lavinia Hendricks belonged to the list of arrivals. Miss Hendricks was united in marriage to Mr. Woodward, at James Stewart's residence, Esq. Abel Fouts officiating. J. B. Hempstead, Creth Renfrow, and a Mr. Fleming, were accessions to the Stewart settlement in 1847.
In 1849, Dr. A. Y. Hull advertised lots for sale in the village of Lafayette. This place had some notoriety in 1848, and the energy of its new proprietor, Dr. Hull, an em- inent physician by the way, and a good lawyer, stimulated its growth wonderfully. The Doctor's father, John Hull, also settled here.
On the 4th day of July, 1850, an important celebration occurred in this village, in which many of the people par- ticipated.
Adelphi is remembered also as one of the villages of Camp Township, laid out April 6th, 1857; but this place, as well as Lafayette, has had no railroad line to give strength and efficiency to its growth.
One of the first Justices of the Peace in this part of the country, was James N. Stewart, elected in 1847. Elijah Canfield erected, south of Burk's Grove, a log cabin, six- teen feet square, with a stick chimney and a fireplace com- posed of a few stones. In the winter of 1846-7 a log school house was built in the neighborhood. One day, when the children of Mr. Canfield were proceeding to school, they were badly frightened by a huge timber wolf, two feet and
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY
a half in height, which had been for some time a pest and a terror to the community. The children escaped unharmed; and a few nights later, when the brute made his appearance in the vicinity of Mr. Canfield's pig pen, the old pioneer grasped his shot-gun, and fired at the bold intruder. The wolf fell dead. Rattlesnakes infested this region in those times; and skunks, rabbits, and prairie wolves abounded. In the fall of 1846, fever and ague prevailed most alarmingly, and the family of Mr. Canfield became victims of this dis- ease. His little daughter Angeline, and a boarder in the family named Lathrop, died. In the midst of this general sickness, Mr. Canfield was compelled from necessity to go sixty miles to mill. While absent, he was himself prostra- ted for a time by the epidemic. His protracted absence greatly alarmed the family, who, on account of their own sickness, were unable to care for the cows and other stock on the farm. After a time, however, Mr. Canfield returned, showing the result of his sharp experiences in his bilious face and wasted figure.
The Lower Des Moines Trail, as it was called in those days, led through Red Rock, and through Stewart Settle- ment in Camp Township, to Fort Des Moines. A Chris- tian Church was organized in Stewart Settlement, by Rev. Russell. This gentleman preached the funeral sermon of the pioneer, J. M. Montgomery. The first death at the Set- tlement occurred in the family of Mr. Woodward, his little child being the victim. Edward Martin, the Des Moines River ferryman, noticed elsewhere, died in 1850.
Dances were frequent at the residence of Mr. Robinson, at which Jerry Church, the city builder, was wont to exer- cise the virtues of his violin, while the young people, and sometimes the old ones, tripped the light fantastic toe! Per contra, in the spring of 1848, a class of Methodists, eight in number, was organized in Mr. Canfield's neighborhood, of which that gentleman was chosen leader. Rev. Ezra Rath-
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OF POLK COUNTY.
burn preached occasionally, and much good was accom- plished in the interest of Christianity.
The pioneer, L. M. Burke, was a poet and a genius. The diary which he kept in 1848, was a lively commentary on the scarcity of money in those times, and the general pov- erty and destitution of the people. Teaming was a com- mon occupation, but it was not fruitful of financial results. J. J. McCall contracted with Mr. Ballard, in 1846, to haul his corn to Fort Des Moines, agreeing to take each alter- nate load as a compensation.
The residences of John Q. Deacon, and other families, now living in Jasper County, were in former times, although there has been no removal by these persons, citizens of Camp township. The change of the townships on the southern line of the County in 1853, produced this result. Calvin Brockett, William Wallace, and a man named Linn, were settlers here in 1846.
Lafayette was a lively village in 1849 and 1850, stimu- lated as it was by the arrival of Dr. Hull and his relatives. Parties were frequent; and the singing school taught by a Mr. Hatch from Warren County, was a distinguishing fea- ture. In the latter year, the approach of a steamer to that place, on its way up to Fort Des Moines, caused quite a sensation, the villagers hurrying in crowds, to the river to witness the wonderful spectacle.
The first wedding in the village was that of Peter Ridgeway and Miss Hamlin. The first birth was in the family of Jonathan Hammer. The babe was named Maggie Hull. The first death occurred in the family of Peter Ridgeway. His child expired when still in its babyhood.
DELAWARE TOWNSHIP
Contains Township 79, Range 23. This is a good town- ship, well watered and timbered, the timber being found in
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY
the vicinty of Four Mile Creek, which is the principal stream.
Riley Thornton came to this section in 1846, settling on a branch of the Four Mile, followed soon after by William Haworth, Isaac Thornton, William James, and C. Brazel- ton. Rev. Mr. Corey, the pioneer of Corey's Grove, preached here in 1849. The first death was that of a little child of Mr. Haworth. The first wedding united Clay Van Doren to a daughter of Mr. James. Stephen Harvey came here in 1851. Anthony, and his son Levi Yant, came soon after, living in a cabin of Mr. Harvey. Among those who came here as pioneers at this time and subsequently, were Rev. Demas Robinson, John Harlen, I. Hand, B. H. Woodrow, John H. and Benjamin Robison, and Mr. Florey, a Dunkard minister.
The first school in the Yant and Woodrow neighborhood was taught by Mr. Phenicia. Rev. Mr. Summerbell, well known to our citizens, was one of the first preachers Ste- phen Harvey erected a saw mill in 1854, resulting in great advantage to the infant settlement.
It was to this township that James Smith, the veteran orchard grower, first immigrated. He afterwards moved to Bloomfield township, where for many years he has been widely and popularly known in his department of enter- prise. Isaac Cooper came here in October, 1845, and sub- sequently became a resident of Fort Des Moines.
Altoona, partly in Beaver, but principally in Delaware township, a few miles west of Mitchellville, at the junction of the Rock Island and Keokuk & Des Moines railroads, was started in 1867, by a Mr. Cook, who called it Peters- burg. The next year, August 3d, 1868, when it contained but two houses, it was officially laid out by H. G. Davis and J. B. Bausman, of Des Moines. When the Rock Island Railroad reached this place, in 1867, it was called Yant's
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OF POLK COUNTY.
Station, and was afterwards rechristened Altoona, by sug- gestion of Mr. Bausman.
Among the early residents of Altoona, were W. Cham- berlain and N. W. Wheeler, merchants; and J. W. Seller, blacksmith. H. C. Ensign laid out eighty acres in Dela- ware township as the first addition to the original town plat of ten acres. Dr. Morgan opened his office for the practice of medicine, and in 1871, T. E. Harris opened a grain ware- house and sold farming implements. In 1873, the K. & D. M. depot was built, and D. A. Cheney erected an elevator. A large and commodious school house was built in 1874.
A society of Methodists was formed in the Harvey neigh- borhood, meeting at the residence of that gentleman. Ja- cob Butts, an exhorter, often addressed the class. He also taught a singing school.
Calvin Thornton and Larned Case were among the first magistrates of Delaware township. Mr. Case came to the county in 1847, and Mr. Thornton a little earlier. A destruc- tive prairie fire occurred in this township in 1868.
DOUGLAS TOWNSHIP
Contains Township 80, range 23. The greater part of this township is settled, and dotted over with thrifty farms. The largest farm in the County, embracing a thousand acres, is owned here by A. C. Bondurant. Delaware Precinct, from which Douglas was taken, was originally ten miles square. The new Township was created in 1858. Among the first settlers was Calvin Thornton, who was the first Justice of the Peace. Daniel Justice, and other members of his family, located here at an early date.
Hon. William G. Madden, a farmer and extensive stock grower, and also one of the members of the Legislature, has since 1854, been a resident of this part of the County. The Thorntons and Brazeltons, forming a large group of relatives, came here in early times. Seventeen of these 9
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY
relatives were on the cars, which were recently wrecked near Columbus, Ohio, and two of them, Mrs. C. Brazelton, and Isaac Thornton, were killed. A large party of our citizens in town and county, among whom was the unfor- tunate company from Douglas Township, started from Des Moines, September 12th, to be participants in the grand Indianapolis excursion to Philadelphia. Mrs. Brazleton was a sister of Hon. W. G. Madden.
Isaac Thornton, one of the killed in the late disaster, came to what is now Douglas Township in 1846, settling on the farm now owned by William Justice. He after- wards moved to Van Meter, Iowa. The remains of Mrs. Brazleton were buried in the Friends' Cemetery at Green- wood in this township.
The Greenwood post office was established many years ago.
ELKHART TOWNSHIP.
Township 81, range 23. The Chicaqua river runs through the Northeast part. The prairie is rolling and fertile, pos- sessing many genuine attractions. The Elkhart post office was established in the Southeast part, April 7th, 1853. More than half the land has been improved. In 1846, a trio of enterprising men, Messrs. Byers, Elliott, and Fowler, made the initial improvements in this township. Charles W. Gurnea, for several years a member of the Board of Supervisors, made his home here at an early date. In the central part of Lavish Grove, Walter Corey, an old settler, who gave the name to Corey's Grove, laid out the town of Ottawa, October 6th, 1856, which attracted considerable at- tention. It contained a hotel, post office, blacksmith shop, and McClary's mill. It was on the line of the mail route leading through Peoria City.
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OF POLK COUNTY.
FOUR MILE TOWNSHIP.
The greater part of this township is undergoing improve- ment; and as a farming section, it is rapidly increasing in wealth, population and importance. Coal exists in quan- tities. Among the early settlers were Lewis Barlow, Mr. Ellison, Joshua and his son, Rev. A. J. Barton. The wife of the elder Barton was a physician of good repute; and the son was a popular local preacher, who became Chap- lain of one of our Regiments during the war.
In 1851 Lewis Barlow laid out the village of Rising Sun, the plat of which was filed for record July 8th, 1854. For years thereafter, it steadily increased in population and bus- iness. But the railroads which introduced sad reverses to many enterprising communities, brought practical ruin to this place. Two railroads pass near enough to kill it. J. B. Tiffin, for eight years our County Treasurer, sold mer- chandise here more than twenty years ago. Among other pioneers, we are able to mention Lewis Barlow and Thomas McCall, who kept store, Ross Garrett, who started another store; Benjamin Pearson; Jacob Fisher, hotel; Dr. Burnett, Mr. Birk, Mr. McBroom, a farmer, and Benjamin F. Fred- erick, son of Jacob Frederick, one of the oldest settlers in the County. Besides these, some of whom belong to the town, and others to the country, were James Rooker, and Emory Barlow. Thomas Humphreys taught the first school just south of town. George Currans was the first magis- trate. The parties to the first wedding were George Stew- art and Miss Rogers. Isaac Barton was married a few weeks afterward.
It was in this and Camp townships that the great oil ex- citment of 1865 originated. The earth in the latter town- ship was penetrated to the depth of several hundred feet; but as no oil was developed the work was abruptly aban- doned. The whole thing was a gigantic swindle, designed
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY
to impose on the credulity of the people, and to transfer an untold amount of gold or greenbacks to the pockets of pro- fessional sharpers. We have a certificate of one hundred shares in the Spring Creek Oil Company, which we will sell very cheap for cash, or credit on good time.
Rising Sun is situated on the north line of the township, between Spring and Four Mile Creeks. Two church build- ings, one belonging to the Methodists, and the other to the Christians, were built here in 1860. Rev. J. B. Hardy, Pre- siding Elder in the M. E. Church, resided here in 1857. The Methodist parsonage for the circuit has long been loca- ted in the village. In 1860 the population of Rising Sun was not less than 300.
A Methodist Society, of which Benjamin Pearson and others were members, was organized at Rising Sun in 1851. Revs. A. J. Barton, Ezra Rathburn, and Moses Shinn were the ministers. Willam Dawson and John Hawkins bought their merchandise at this village. A Mr. Smith lost a child here, which was the first death in town. The death of Lewis Barlow, the village proprietor, took place shortly afterward. Dr. Jessup, of Ottawa, preached the funeral dis- course, standing in the door of the cabin, with an attentive and mourning audience outside.
The first sorghum in the County was raised by J. F. A. H. Roberts and B. F. Frederick, in 1857. In the winter of 1856- 57, Jeremiah Barlow died. The ground was so hard that fire was applied to soften it, before a grave could be dug to receive the body of the pioneer. Walter Ellis came to the township in 1855, settling ten years later in the village. He erected the first house in Dexter, Dallas county, in 1868.
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.
Nearly half of the land is improved, the vacant land being in the northeast. The Chicaqua river runs through the northeast corner; and along its margin timber is found. In
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OF POLK COUNTY.
the neighborhood of this stream is Trullinger's Grove, named for the pioneer, Eli Trullinger, who made here a set- tlement, April, 1846. Another grove, situated in the north- west part, goes by the name of Lavish, in honor of the gen- tleman who established himself in that vicinity.
Our data in reference to the colonization of this township are very imperfect, giving us much trouble, with but little profit in the investigation. Mrs. Sanford, whose history of Polk county is full of interesting details, states, while wri- ting of Beaver and Franklin townships, without a clear dis- crimination as to boundary lines, that A. C. Vandoren set- tled in the northwest corner in 1856; and that I. H. Wood- row, whose name is mentioned elsewhere, came originally to Trullinger's Grove; and in the same connection she no- tices the names of B. H. Woodrow, John H. and Benjamin Robison.
Franklin was originally a part of Skunk township. Mi- chæl Lavish, Nathan Webb, Ezekiel Jennings, and Joseph Jones settled here in 1846, as the advance guard of a large and flourishing colony. Deer and wolves were numerous. The Indians were often saucy and impertinent to the settlers, but not hostile. Christopher Birge, father-in-law of Ben- jamin Bryant, came to this region in 1846.
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.
Beaver Creek flows through the central part, and Ayers' Grove is in the Southwest. Pleasant Lake is situated here. April 23d, 1857, a man named Doggett, laid out a town on the plateau between South Beaver and Des Moines river, which was at first called Andrews, but which at a later day was generally known as Dogtown. The Lincoln post office is established here. The village has not made much im- provement.
Nearly cotemporary with this enterprise, another village, Lovington, was started December 2d, 1854, at the mouth of
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY
Beaver Creek. This village bas now no existence, except in our border annals. Among the early denizens of this township, were Abraham Elliott, and the two brothers Mc- Clain. . These gentlemen took a leading part in making up the civil and political history of their section.
Before leaving this township, we must not omit an excel- lent family by the name of Murray, consisting of the parents and seventeen children. They came here more than twenty years ago. Two of the sons lost their lives in the service of their country, and a third one suffered the loss of his property by fire sometime since.
It was in this township that a most atrocious murder was committed, August 9th, 1854. Pleasant Fouts deliberately killed his wife, and finally escaped hanging by a commuta- tion of his sentence to imprisonment for life. The elder Mr. Murray was present at the scene of the murder shortly after its accomplishment, and was, therefore, an important witness at the trial.
The school house in the McClain neighborhood was the first in the township. It was used not only for schools, but for religious and political purposes, especially the latter.
The site of the village of Lovington, to which we have referred, is now within the limits of Valley Township. Another town named Huntsville was laid out February 21st, 1854. Like most of the other villages of this part of the country, which were started on paper in speculative times, Huntsville does not now exist.
W. H. McHenry, one of the early Mayors of Des Moines, lived originally in a cabin in this township. He is now one of the solid lawyers of the city.
MADISON TOWNSHIP.
This is one of the most important Townships in the County, celebrated alike for its population and wealth, as well as for the abundance of its natural resources, and for
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OF POLK COUNTY.
the interesting nature of its local history. Polk City, one of our principal towns, was laid out by George Beebe, No- vember 8th, 1850. Mr. Beebe, the first magistrate in this section, erected a mill, brought on a stock of goods, and sold lots The new village was attractively located. Dr. Mather was the first physician. Piper and Barnum were merchants." John De Moss, Thompson Bird, and Mr. Martz, preached here in those days, the last named divid- ing his time between preaching and running a small chair factory. Andrew Messersmith, who took a claim four miles from town, and John Saylor supplied the soldiers of Fort Dodge with hay, meat, and other necessaries.
In time, the village was enlarged by the arrival of Dr. Armstrong, N. R. Kuntz, Warren Pickard, Dr. J. C. Ben- nett, Philip Harter, and many others. Messrs. Pickard and Kuntz were merchants, and Mr. Harter kept hotel. Dr. Bennett, who has been dead several years, was an eccentric and talented man. He first distinguished himself among the Mormons; and after his immigration to Polk City, he was appointed Major of the Tenth Infantry during the first year of the war.
Two other towns, Montacute, (or Springfield) and Cory- don, were started as rivals of Polk City; the former by John Hauser, on Big Creek, southeast of Polk City, May 23d, and the latter in 1853, by J. H. Skidmore. New Corydon was laid out August 21st, 1855. Polk City maintained the lead from the start; and two years ago it was made a sta- tion on the Des Moines & Minnesota Railroad, constitu- ting the most important place on the line of that road between Ames and Des Moines.
To make the early history of this township more suc- cinct and complete, we subjoin the following items: George Beebe settled here in May, 1846, succeeded soon after by Rev. D. C. Marts, Andrew Grosclose, J. M. Marts, John
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY
Hays, William Hurbert, Andrew Messersmith, the Van Dorn's, D. B. Spaulding, and the Byrom's.
Polk City lies partly on the site of an old Indian village, Waukonsee by name, the remnants whereof were employed by Alexander Swim and others, in the construction of their cabins. William Herbert, and Calvin M. Burt are embraced among old settlers, the latter of whom married a Miss Thornton a year after his arrival. The death of the young wife of Mr. Burt, which occurred a few months later, was the first event of the kind in Madison Township. One of the first justices was 'Squire Deford.
Polk City was incorporated in 1875; and the following officers were chosen to rule the destinies of the young city: Mayor, A. D. Hickman; Recorder, J. A. Kuntz; Treasurer A. L. Clinghan; Assessor, T. L. Dyer; and the Aldermen were, N. R. Kuntz, O. N. Rogers, Wm. G. Swim, W. J. Wilson, and Dr. R. B. Armstrong.
Coal and stone are found in large quantities in Madison Township; and Big Creek, Des Moines River, and other streams furnish abundant water for all purposes. Every- thing considered, this Township occupies a good position; and Polk City, with its railroad and other advantages, is destined to grow year by year in importance and prosperity.
Cantrell's flouring mill was erected in 1847, three miles North of John Saylor's residence.
A log school house was one of the early structures in Polk City, in which for a long time a Sabbath School was kept in addition to the common school. Church services were held in it by Rev. D. C. Marts, and other ministers. Revs. John De Moss, and Thompson Bird preached at the residence of George Beebe, through the Fall and Winter of 1850.
Montacute, one of the rivals of Polk City, had in it a store-house and one or two other buildings. Its proprietor,
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OF POLK COUNTY.
John Hauser, was Post Master for a brief term. The mail was brought from Des Moines on horseback.
Corydon had a school house, blacksmith shop, saw-mill, and several dwelling houses.
The following poem, written by the Polk county poet, Leonard Brown, in the rhythm of Longfellow's Hiawatha, is not only meritorious in a literary sense, but, historically considered, it is very valuable, containing as it does the familiar names belonging to other times:
OLD LANG SYNE.
BIG CREEK, POLK COUNTY, IOWA .- CENTENNIAL POEM.
Thirty years ago, an ox-team
Wended, browsing, up the river,
Forded Big Creek-traveled westward, Following up an Indian pathway To the village of Wauconsa- Indian village of Wauconsa- Deserted village of Wauconsa- Then moved onward up the river, On until it struck the prairie Right where Beighler has his farm house ; There it was the ox-team halted, And the mover built his cabin. 'Twas the house of Andrew Grosclose- Of the first white man that settled West of Big Creek, in Polk county. But soon other movers followed- Calvin Burt with his companion, Anchored here and built their cabin- But, alas! it soon was lonely : The companion of his bosom Soon was carried in her coffin From the door of that lone cabin- 10
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY
The first funeral attended- The first grave dug of the pale-face In the neighborhood of Big Creek- Buried on the farm of Grossclose- On the farm of Andrew Grossclose. No man held a better title To his land than Andrew Grossclose; And he set apart an acre- Gave it for a public grave yard. Let me give a panorama Of the funeral procession, Moving forward to the graveyard. Several wagons I have counted, Drawn by oxen and by horses- For the people then were friendly- For they then were truly neighbors- Felt the sympathy of children For the griefs of one another. There were Uncle Jacob Van Dorn, William, Abner, George and Isaac- The Martses-David, George and Jacob- Stephen Harvey, and George Beebe- Adam, John, and Andrew Byron- Adolphus and Josiah Hopkins - The Messersmiths and both the Bowmans, John and James, and Henry Crabtree- Uncle George and Jacob Hauser- Leonard Small and D. B. Spaulding, Bristow, Norris, Kasher, Provolt, Hays, and Bryant, Hunt, and Hinman- Alexander Pierce and Richard- Herbert, Holliday, Swim, and Williams. These and all the generation- Fathers, mothers, wives and children- Others, too, that I've forgotten-
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