USA > Iowa > Adair County > History of Adair County, Iowa, and its people, Volume I > Part 15
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William W. Peet, son of Rev. J. W. Peet, also of Richland, was a young school teacher, and deputy treasurer in the office of L. J. Gray for about a year; then he secured a position with the Burlington Railroad as land and tax clerk in the office of the superintendent, a position which he held for several years, being advanced to a very responsible position in the business of that road. About 1886 he accepted the position of financial agent for the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions at Constantinople, Turkey, a place of vast business responsibility, which he still holds.
Rev. Josiah W. Peet, a graduate of Middlebury College, Vt., and a Congregational minister, was one of the early ministers in the county and was instrumental in building the first church in the county at Fontanelle. He purchased and improved a farm in the south part of Richland Township, was pastor of the churches in Richland, Fontanelle and Grand River and preached occasionally in Lincoln and other townships in the county. He served one term as county superintendent of schools and took great interest in educational development. In those times the preacher's work was mostly a labor of love; the pecuniary consideration being hardly enough to supply a living for himself, let alone his family. The calls for help and con- solation took him on long horseback trips over lonely trails, and over flooded streams; a hard, dangerous and devoted existence which dwellers of the present generation can scarcely comprehend.
NEVIN
An example of the land shark is given in the history of the Town of Nevin, a portion of which lies in the south part of Richland Town- ship. Long before the days of the railroad in Iowa, about 1855, some speculators came out to Iowa from Massachusetts and located a large tract of land in Adams and Adair counties. They contemplated platting it into house lots about the center, surrounded by two and a half, ten acre, forty acre and one hundred and sixty acre lots, and showing on the plat a city some four miles square, with parks, churches, streets, etc., in embryo. There was a small creek, dry a
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considerable part of the year, which runs to the Nodaway, some miles distant.
The promoters went back East and showed their fancy map of a city of magnificent distances, located at the head of steam navigation on the Nodaway River, and succeeded in disposing of some of the land. A colony of settlers, lured by high promises, came on the long journey by railroad and stage, and from the Mississippi River by steam, to find in the place of a thriving town, an unbroken wilderness. A few who were too poor to go farther stuck and in time, as travel began to cross the prairies of Iowa, and conditions of settlement improved, they succeeded in developing a fine little town, always hoping for a promised railroad which never came, executing the New England grit which built states. It is related in the Ellis History of Nevin that the first party of colonists wandered around for several days before they could find out where Nevin was located, and that the first year or two the privations and discouragements were such as were almost beyond the range of possibility.
CHAPTER XVI
JACKSON TOWNSHIP
Jackson Township comprises the whole of congressional township 75 north, range 33 west. The surface of the township is very rolling and is well adapted to stock grazing. It is well watered by the west branch of the Middle Nodaway River and its tributaries. The main stream enters the township from the north, on the upper line of section 4, and traverses that section, together with 9, 10, 15, 22, 27, 34 and 33, leaving on the south line of the latter. Rutt's Branch, one of the affluents of this stream, enters the township from Summerset, at the northeast corner of section 12, and flowing through sections 12, 1, 11, 14, makes a confluence with the main stream in the south- east quarter of section 15. At one time there was considerable timber within the boundaries of the township, but with the progress of agri- culture this has been largely cleared away. Game was also abundant during the early days. The buffalo were here before the first settlers came, but long before the advent of the latter, had completely dis- appeared. The wapiti, or elk, were here, however, as were the deer. The elk were killed off during the hard winter of 1856-7. It is said that so great were their numbers at one time that Abner Root and John G. Vawter marked a route from the east branch to the middle branch of the Nodaway River, a distance of five or six miles, by plant- ing elk horns which they picked up by the way within sight of each other the whole distance. Deer remained for many years after the wapiti had gone.
EARLY SETTLEMENT
The first man to make a home in Jackson Township was Alfred Jones, Sr. He was a native of North Carolina, but came here from Kentucky on June 3, 1852, and located on section 4, accompanied by his family. Here he resided until his death on October 18, 1881.
About the middle of June of the same year, 1852, Willis Lyons squatted upon section 12 and there built a home. He afterwards
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abandoned this house and lived in an underground dwelling, cut into a bank near the old spring on section 11. Lyons claimed much of what was afterwards Vawter's Grove, which claim he later sold to a Mr. Taylor. Lyons did not stay in this county very long, but fol- lowed the tide of emigration westward and lost himself to the knowl- edge of people in this locality. Taylor was not a permanent settler either, but had only stopped here while on his way to California with a drove of cattle and purchased the interests of Lyons, where he kept his stock until the spring, when he continued on his lonely trek across the continent.
During the year 1852 John Cears, one of the best reputed men of the township, came here and located on section 3.
Azariah Root settled on section 11 in the fall of 1853, together with his family. He constructed a cabin of logs with a frame addi- tion.
Abner Root settled on section 11 in the fall of 1853. Accom- panying him was his father. Four years later he removed to section 12 and erected a frame house, in which he lived for several years. In 1876 he moved to Eureka Township. He served as the first sheriff of Adair County.
In 1855 John Martin located upon section 12 and acted as the agent of John G. Vawter, a merchant of Winterset, on this land, which belonged to Vawter and a partner named Lansing. Martin continued to live here until 1866, when he moved to Kansas and there died.
J. J. Leeper, afterward county judge, made a settlement on sec- tion 34 in 1854, but left here for Washington Township two years later.
John Kenney located upon section 5 in 1855, where he lived until 1860, when he went to the State of Kansas. He later moved to Cali- fornia.
William Johnson, a former resident of Michigan, was a settler of the year 1856, locating upon the northeast quarter of section 4 during that year.
George Miller settled on section 23 or 24 about the year 1856. He was from Wayne County, Ind., and while here followed the trade of carpentering in connection with his farming.
J. P. Sullivan, a native of Monroe County, Ind., came here in 1856 and settled upon the northeast quarter of section 24, where he lived for twenty years. In 1876 he left here and moved to Nebraska,
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and later to Kansas. J. B. Sullivan located in this township on sec- tion 34 in 1856.
John W. Stinman came to Adair County in 1857 and first rented the farm of J. J. Walter on section 11, where he remained two years, then removed to the farm of George Rider, staying there also for two years. He then bought a piece of land on section 9, and there built a log house, 16 by 18 feet, in 1860. In this he lived about eight years. The house was torn down in 1884. He moved from his log house to a more commodious residence which he had constructed in 1863.
Eli Roberts came from Clarke County, Ia., in 1857 and took up his residence with J. B. Sullivan. He was engaged in breaking land for other parties and in 1859 constructed a house on the Sullivan place. In 1861 he moved to Oregon and from there to Colorado, where he died in 1882.
G. P. Rider made a settlement on section 22 in 1858. He came from New York State and returned there in 1860.
Aaron Codner made a settlement on section 15 in 1863 and remained for many years, or until 1877, when he went to Kansas.
Lemuel Lewis came to this township in 1863 and located on sec- tion 5. He was a native of Tompkins County, N. Y.
Among the settlers of 1865 were John Hall Bryant on section 12 and F. V. Jeffreys on section 3. S. M. Kendrick settled on section 32 in 1866, lived there ten years, and then moved to Nebraska.
Joel A. Aspinwall moved to Adair County in 1869. He became interested in this territory through his uncle, Doctor Bates.
August W. Rechtenbach, a native of Germany, came here in 1869, and became one of the foremost citizens in Jackson Township.
Gustave G. Rechtenbach, also a native of Germany, located here in 1880.
Truman L. Lewis came to Fontanelle in 1863 with his parents. He was a native of New York State. When he first came to Fon- tanelle he clerked for J. C. Gibbs and worked in and about town until the spring of 1866, when he entered the farming vocation.
Henry J. Roos came to Adair County in 1881 and located upon 160 acres of land in Jackson Township. He was a native of Ger- many.
Henry Burg, born in Germany, served in the Civil war in the 140th Illinois Infantry, and then came to Adair County and located in Jackson Township.
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HISTORY OF ADAIR COUNTY
Jacob Burg, a brother of Henry, came to Adair County in 1879 and located on section 18.
Edwin R. Faurote located in Summerset Township, this county, in 1871, and after several months there came to Jackson Township. John Hall Bryant, a grandfather of Mrs. Faurote, came to Adair County in 1865 and settled on section 12, Jackson Township.
Norman Norton came to the township in 1861 from Cass County, Ia., and in 1864 settled on section 4. He was justice of the township in 1862 and again in 1880-81, also has been township trustee.
John Latas came to Adair County in 1868. He was a native of Poland, served in the Austrian army during the Hungarian war, and in 1850 escaped from the army to England, and from thence came to America, where he wandered considerably over the country before settling down in Jackson Township.
George Reis, from Germany, located here in 1880. Here he became identified as a very successful farmer.
Josiah A. Daugherty came to this county on May 31, 1869, and bought 175 acres of land from Truman Poce. He was a Pennsyl- vanian, born in 1829.
Isaac Bailey, from Ohio, came to Adair County in the fall of 1873 and bought a farm.
FIRST ITEMS
The first election for township officers was held in October, 1861, at the house of Abner Root.
The first preaching in the township was at the home of Alfred Jones, Sr., by Rev. Harris Standly.
The first election in Jackson Township was held in 1853, while this county was a part of Cass County, at which time Alfred Jones, Sr., was elected justice of the peace.
The first marriage in the township was that of Joseph W. Betts and Polly C. Thompson on August 18, 1856. The ceremony was performed by Judge Azariah Root.
The pioneer steam mill of the county was built in Jackson Town- ship by Mr. Vawter on section 11 in 1859. This was in what was called Vawter's Grove, the greater part of which was claimed by Willis Lyons in 1852, but which claim he sold out to a Mr. Taylor, who in turn disposed of it to Vawter and Lansing, partners. The mill was not a paying investment and was soon afterwards removed.
The first death in Jackson Township was that of Mrs. John Mar- tin, which occurred on December 24, 1860. The body of the deceased
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was interred on Azariah Root's farm, but in 1869 was disinterred and placed in the cemetery on section 12.
The first child born in the township was that of Miniture Jones in 1853.
For early educational statistics relative to Jackson Township, see the chapter on the progress of education in Adair County.
ORGANIZATION
Jackson Township was organized in 1861 and the first election occurred on October 8th at the house of Abner Root, at which time the following officers were chosen: Abner Root, E. Whitney and James Tolen, trustees; J. P. Sullivan, clerk; J. B. Sullivan, assessor; N. Norton and N. S. Taylor, justices and road supervisors.
POSTOFFICE
There was a postoffice called Jackson established in 1872 with Ed Bancroft as postmaster. He ran it for about two years when he was succeeded by Lemuel Lewis in April, 1874.
CHAPTER XVII
LINCOLN TOWNSHIP
Like the other townships, Lincoln occupies the space of a full congressional township. The only stream of importance is the North River, which flows in a diagonal course through sections 18, 19, 30, 29. 28, 33, 34, 35 and 36, passing from the latter into the adjoining County of Madison. On Section 36 it makes a confluence with Grassy Run which rises on section 6 in the northwest corner of the township and flows in a southeasterly direction through sections 5, 8, 9, 16. 21, 22, 27, 26 and 36. There are other branches and creeks, which supply an ample quantity of water for all purposes.
EARLY SETTLEMENT
The first settlement in the township was made by Zimri Horner, who entered land October 24, 1854, on section 2, and moved on to it a few weeks later. Horner was a native of Indiana. He afterwards moved to Wyseotte, Ia., and erected a mill, selling his farm in 1863 to A. L. MePherson.
The next settlement in Lineoln was made by John F. Coppock, shortly after that made by Horner, who purchased a farm near the center of the township on Seetion 22 and constructed a small dwelling out of the native timber. Coppoek was a mechanie and made some good improvements. He came from Indiana, to which state he later returned.
Calvin Carson entered eighty acres of land in 1854, but did not move upon it until 1855.
Albert Barnett came also in 1855 and settled on a farm on North River.
Robert Ewers settled at an early date near Stuart on section 3 and kept the old house then known as the Octagon House.
Milton Mills was among the early settlers of Lincoln and entered
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HISTORY OF ADAIR COUNTY
land on the southeast quarter of section 3 or the southwest quarter of section 2.
Another pioneer settler in this township was William Stevens, who located on section 25. The farm was originally the property of A. L. McPherson, but the first improvements were made after Stevens came into possession of the land.
Orin Dinsmore came the same year as Stevens. A man by the name of Garnett was also an early settler.
ITEMS
The first death in Lincoln Township was that of a son of Zimri Horner, named William, who died January 7, 1862, at the age of eight years, seven months and twenty days.
The next death was that of Robert Ewers on March 16, 1864.
The first ground in the township was broken by either Zimri Hor- ner or John Coppock. They also planted the first crops, such as corn and wheat.
The first schoolhouse in Lincoln was commenced in 1862 and com- pleted in 1863.
The first marriage in the township occurred in July, 1868. It was that of Charles Smith and Harriett Nelson, the ceremony being performed by Rev. J. W. McPherson.
The first religious services were held during the fall and winter of 1868 at a schoolhouse then known as the Lindley schoolhouse, but which has long ago been removed and destroyed. Reverend McPher- son had several appointments during the fall and winter season of 1868.
ORGANIZATION
Lincoln Township was organized in 1861. The following were the first officers elected: Milton Mills, member of board of super- visors; Robert Ewers, justice of peace; Zimri Horner, clerk; John Compton, assessor.
Union Church of Lincoln Township was organized in the late '70s and represented all denominations. In the early years of its existence services were held every two weeks at the schoolhouse in the independent district of Mount Vernon.
North River Union Sunday School was first organized in the summer of 1882, when B. F. Fry was elected superintendent.
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HISTORY OF ADAIR COUNTY
STUART
A small portion of the Town of Stuart extends over the line from Guthrie County into Adair County in this township. This portion comprises the Third Ward of Stuart and has about four hundred people living in it. This is mostly a residence district. For legal and taxation purposes this strip of town is counted as a part of Adair County.
Charles Stuart, in whose honor the Town of Stuart was named, was a Chicago capitalist who purchased a large amount of land in Lincoln Township and he was instrumental in persuading the Rock Island officials to locate the Town of Stuart. He built an elevator and for several years bought and shipped grain, while developing his large farm in conjunction with George Gray. He did a large busi- ness in that part of the country.
Alfred Osborn was an early settler of the township and served a term as county supervisor. T. P. Neville and C. A. Ostrander were also prominent early settlers of that township and each served several years as county supervisor. George Smith, afterward county auditor, was another settler of the township.
CHAPTER XVIII HARRISON TOWNSHIP
TOPOGRAPHY
This township is watered by the Middle River and its branches. The stream enters the township on section 7, flowing in a diagonal course through sections 18, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 35 and 36, leaving the township on the latter section. At one time there was quite a quantity of timber in this township.
EARLY SETTLEMENT
Harrison Township originally comprised all the territory con- tained in Lincoln, Grand River and Union townships.
The first to seek a home in Harrison Township was William McDonald, who was also one of the first settlers of Adair County. He settled upon section 26 in August, 1849, where he erected a small log cabin. In the spring of 1850 he moved his family here. During the same year he raised a small crop of corn, wheat, etc., which was the first agricultural work accomplished in the township.
James Roberts was another of the first comers to this township, settling with his family on section 36 on September 19, 1854. His first dwelling was a small log cabin, with stick and clay chimney. At that time they were compelled to journey to a point below Winterset to get their corn ground and to Indianola for flour. Roberts was a Kentuckian.
Robert J. Murphy came to Adair County on the 1st of Septem- > ber, 1854, and located upon section 25 in Harrison Township.
Zebulon Hollingsworth made a settlement in the fall of 1854, coming from his native state, Indiana. He died in 1858 in Madison County.
In April, 1855, William Thomas settled upon section 32. He was born in Madison County, Ky.
Vol. I-11
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HISTORY OF ADAIR COUNTY
During the summer of 1855 Manning Drake came to the town- ship. He kept a stage station in the eastern part for some time. He was elected to the office of county judge, but did not qualify. He afterward disposed of his property and left the county.
Charles Friend made a settlement in this township prior to the fall of 1855. William Stinson also settled about the same time as Friend.
Samuel W. Pryor, a native of Tennessee, came from Washing- ton County, Ia., and made a settlement in Harrison on August 1, 1856, on section 34.
S. W. Pryor was for several years county surveyor and kept an important stage station on the route between Fontanelle and Winter- set. He was well known among the early settlers.
William McAferty settled on section 20 in the year 1857.
Another of the pioneer settlers of the township was George Wright, a Kentuckian. He came here in 1857 and entered land on section 13.
Edward Lee made a settlement on section 34 in the fall of 1859. He was native of England, coming to this country in 1849.
John B. Rodgers is another of the first comers. He came in the spring of 1861. He was deputy auditor for one year, after which he engaged in the insurance and land business at Orient and Port Union.
ORGANIZATION
The organization of Harrison County occurred in 1856, Charles McDonald being elected the first clerk.
PORT UNION POSTOFFICE
A postoffice was established in 1857 in Harrison Township, on section 34, with Daniel A. Pooram as postmaster and was called Arbor Hill. About a year afterwards he left the township and Sam- uel W. Pryor received an appointment to the office by President Buchanan, and he held the same until 1868. The highest salary received either of these years was $28 and the smallest $4 per annum. The office was on the Winterset and Greenfield route, but was after- ward removed to Port Union. Dissatisfaction resulted from the change, it being somewhat out of the way, and the carrier refused to take the mail to the office. A petition was immediately circulated, which resulted in a daily mail from Stuart to Greenfield.
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HISTORY OF ADAIR COUNTY
STORES
A store was opened at Port Union in January, 1883, by Fisher Brothers, who carried a general stock. The postoffice was in this building and J. W. Fisher was the postmaster.
There was also another general store at this point, owned and operated by J. B. Rodgers.
Steward Fisher had the first blacksmith shop at this point and Gottlieb Bornmann operated a wagon shop.
NOTES
The first mill in the township was erected in 1870 on section 20 by Beaman & Thomas, residents of the township. They died before it was completed, there being but a week between the two deaths. It was then sold at administrator's sale to Parrish & Headley, who com- pleted it in 1872 and continued to operate it for a year and a half, at the expiration of which time the former bought out the interest of the latter and operated it for two years longer. The Beaman heirs then purchased the mill, but retained it only for nine months, when they sold to F. H. Parrish. On November 10, 1883, it was sold at referee's sale to Thomas Salisbury and in January, 1884, he sold to J. B. Rodgers.
The first child born in Harrison Township was a daughter to John and Sarah J. (McDonald) Stinson and was christened Mary J.
The first death occurred in 1850, being a child of William McDon- ald. It was buried in the Roberts cemetery.
William Stinson and a Miss Crow were the first people to be married in the township.
William McDonald broke the first ground in the spring of 1850 and planted the first corn, being seven acres in the sod. The year following he sowed the first wheat in the township.
The first religious services were held in 1855, by the Christian Church, at the houses of James Roberts and William McDonald, with Rev. Adam Kellison as the first preacher.
Mount Zion church of Harrison Township was organized in 1855 and was located on section 9. Services were held at first at the resi- dences of the different members. A building was constructed in the summer of 1881. Rev. J. B. McGinnis was the first pastor after the church building was constructed.
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HISTORY OF ADAIR COUNTY
The cemetery in connection with Mount Zion Church was laid out in February, 1876. The first interment was that of the body of Joshua Jones, a brother of Elijah Jones.
The Cumberland Presbyterian Church started an organization in the '70s, with a first membership of six people. They held their first church services at a schoolhouse on section 8. The first pastor of the church was Rev. James Mumford of Kansas.
CHAPTER XIX GROVE TOWNSHIP
Grove Township is well watered by the Middle River, Grand River. Turkey Creek and numerous smaller branches throughout the township. There has never been very much timber of natural growth here. The soil is of a rich, dark and sandy loam.
ORGANIZATION
The official organization of Grove Township occurred in 1860. At the first election in November of that year the following officers were elected: P. C. Barrows, clerk; S. Barrows, justice of the peace; John Bruce, member of board of supervisors; J. M. Witt, Jacob Bruce, S. Barrows, trustees; J. M. Witt, P. C. Barrows, constables; Jacob Bruce, road supervisor; S. Barrows, assessor.
The name Grove was suggested by Jacob Bruce, one of the pio- neers of Jefferson Township, and was adopted officially.
EARLY SETTLEMENT
The first settlement in Grove Township was made by J. R. Pierce, who entered land in 1856. He resided here about four years, when he removed to Kansas.
W. H. Brainard entered land in Grove Township in 1857.
James McMaster, a pioneer settler of Grove Township, located a claim on section 4 in an early day. He remained here for a num- . ber of years, after which he removed to Creston and there died.
John Wagner came in the spring of 1869 and settled upon sec- tion 29. He remained here until 1875 and then went to Guthrie County.
James Merritt also came in the spring of 1869 and settled upon section 29. In 1875 he went, with his family, to the State of Kansas.
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