USA > Iowa > Buchanan County > History of Buchanan County, Iowa, and its people, Volume I > Part 29
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On the east side of the river, in 1857, a large building was being erected on the south side of Main Street, near the bridge, conjointly by Messrs. S. S Allen. Thomas Close and H. Armbrecht.
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In the July 22d, 1857, Civilian, appeared this notice : A new and appropriate carriage has just been purchased by Messrs. Trask and Westfall, for the use of the public in the conveyance of the dead to the burial ground. The want of such a carriage has long been felt by our citizens, and it is hoped that the town will purchase it, as it should not be owned by private individuals. Other items appear. which show the wonderful optimism and faith which the early settlers had in the future prosperity of their county and town.
In May, 1858, a man by the name of MeKellar made Independence a visit, with a view to establishing a starch factory here. lle was a starchmaker by trade, and said he had seen no place which he considered so good as this for the business. "Such a factory would be of great benefit, both to our town, and to the country around. It would give the farmer a market for his grain, and at a good price too, which he cannot now sell at all."
In the fall of that year another project to start a paper mill was in progress. A man came here for the purpose of purchasing a waterpower. "We hope he may sucered in the negotiation, as there is nothing more needed in this part of lowa than paper manufactories." A tannery had been erected that summer by Loomis & Campbell. The leather was tanned by a new process, which is said to answer the place of hemlock and oak bark.
INDEPENDENCE IN THE EARLY SIXTIES
The streets in Independence in the early days were always in a dreadful condition. They were uneven and muddy, the sidewalks were a menace to life and limb. The first sidewalks in town were of oak, or elm boards, often twisted and full of splinters-when pine planks were introduced it was eon- sidered a great improvement. Not until 1864 was a grade established on Main Street; before that time the merchants had built according to their fancies and the inelines and declivities of the street. At the east end of the bridge, the street was some five or six feet lower than it is now and every time the river was very high that portion of the bridge and street were inundated. This was greatly improved after the grade was established-Main Street was ploughed up and leveled-exeavating was done from Walnut Street east, and filling in from Walnut Street west to the bridge and the bridge was raised up five feet at the east end.
Away baek in 1861 there was a movement on foot to maeadamize one of the streets leading to the S. C. D. R. R. Depot ; it was estimated that it would only cost $75 or $100 and it was proposed to procure this by subscription. But not until May, 1866, was Chatham Street opened clear through to the depot. Up to that time, the lots adjoining Main Street were private property and were covered with brush and undergrowth. For six years Mayor W. A. Jones had been trying to boost the project, and three years previous had bought one of those lots with that objeet in view and finally, after expending a great deal of energy and zeal, he accomplished his purpose.
In 1864, Independence was a booming, thrifty village. Many families had been compelled to leave town because it was impossible to rent any kind of a place to live in. Honses were so scarce that families were living in any avail- able quarters. The papers were agitating the building of more houses.
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Aside from Cedar Falls, which, being at the terminus of the railroad, had a much larger territory to draw from, Independence shipped more grain, live stock, wool and sundries in the year 1864, than any other town on the railroad between Dubuque and Cedar Falls, the total amount being 1,463,47I pounds. We exceeded Manchester, the next highest, by 442 pounds. The Independence people in those days indulged in numerous exeursions to the towns elose by and to the soldiers' eamps at Dubuque. In 1864, 2,972 railroad tickets were sold to other stations than Dubuque, which was seventy-nine more than Water- loo sold that year, but they beat us on tickets sold to Dubuque, Independence having sold 1,896 and Waterloo, 2,126.
On a cold winter's day in January, 1866, the editor of the Guardian counted 46 carriages and 327 persons from the Montour House (corner of Main and Walnut streets) to the bridge and this on a Saturday afternoon when the majority of the population was watching a horse raee which was taking place at the river. There was a great rivalry between the towns of Cedar Falls, Waterloo and Independence about their respective populations, and although both Cedar Falls and Waterloo boasted a larger population, the vote always indicated otherwise. In the fall elections of 1864 the vote in Independence was 468 votes, exceeding that of Cedar Falls by 35 votes and Waterloo by 26. The Waterloo Courier took exception to the Buchanan County papers' com- parison of votes and drew attention to the fact that at our municipal election in December, 1864, only 139 votes were east, which, at the rate of 1 to 6 would indieate a population of 800. But in explanation there was but one ticket in the field and a very light vote was east, the mayor receiving but 139 votes.
Undoubtedly at this time Independenee was a better town than Waterloo. Several women doctors were practitioners here in the early days. An innova- tion in the way of a regular sprinkling apparatus, in other words a wagon, was introduced into Independence in June, 1864, both to lay and allay the dust.
A vinegar manufactory was located in Independenee in 1865. Mr. Christian Heege had just built a fine new brick ice house the same year. Many of the residents used to put up their own ice in those days.
The first bakery was started in Independence in February, 1866, by Board- man & Unger.
The first tobacco store was established the same year by Mr. A. Kraft.
A Miss Pomeray and sister had a photograph gallery in Independence for several years from 1865 on.
The First National Bank was started in March, 1865.
In 1864, ninety marriage licenses were issued by Judge Barton (the only legal souree from which licenses were obtainable) ; in 1863 there were but sixty-four, showing an increase of twenty-six. In spite of the war and the absence of many young eligibles, Cupid was still energetieally using his bow. Mayhap the war had a tendency to inerease, or at least precipitate marriages. The young ladies easily succumbing to the attractions of brass buttons and becoming tired of waiting till the war was over, seized the first furlough for a honeymoon. The population of the county was 8,000 and the marriages aver- aged one couple out of every eighty-nine persons. Vol. 1-15
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IIISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
From March, 1865, to March, 1866, over half a million dollars of real prop- erty changed hands in Buchanan County. nearly fifty thousand acres sold and about five hundred town lots. A total of 1,000 sales in one year in the county.
Fairbank Township led in farm sales and Independence in town sales, which sales amounted to $83,000.
In 1869 over one hundred buildings were erected at a cost of $144,690, the Mill Company expending $30,000 of this sum in improvements.
CHAPTER XIII HISTORY OF TOWNSHIPS
BUFFALO TOWNSHIP
In the year 1852 a township was formed composed of the whole of the present Buffalo, Madison, the north half of Bryon and Fremont. Subse- quently each was set aside as a separate division of the county. The order establishing Buffalo Township was issued by O. H. P. Roszell, county judge, on August 6, 1852.
The first election was held in the spring of 1857 at the house of Abiathar Richardson and the following were elected township officers. A. Richardson, A. J. Eddy and Mr. Gould, trustees; Silas K. Messenger, justice; Samuel M. Eddy and R. W. Bancroft, constables; A. Richardson, elerk.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS
Abiathar Richardson was the first settler in the township, coming in the fall of 1849. Ile built for himself a log house on the west side of Buffalo Grove. He lived here alone for a year, then persuaded Silas K. Messenger to buy his cabin. Richardson soon after married and built the first frame house in the township. He died in 1872.
Andrew J. Eddy became a resident here in June, 1851, and immediately built his home near Richardson's. Eddy's home became popular with the travelers who passed this way and desired lodging for the night.
William Jewell settled here in 1850 and only a short time before Eddy. Rockwell Jewell became a settler in the township about 1852, but he only remained here four years.
Samuel M. Eddy came to Buffalo Township in 1851 with his brother, A. J., and lived with him until 1857, when he entered some land, built a cabin, and took care of his mother.
MISCELLANEOUS
There was at one time a village in the southeast part of the township by the name of Buchanan, but popularly known as Mudville. It was platted and laid out by Abiathar Richardson in about 1857. There was a thriving business in this town before the construction of the railroad a few miles north. When this occurred, however, the town sunk to an ignominions death.
The first store to be kept in the township was by Joseph Abbott. The
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first blacksmith was Caleb Fairchild. Cook Richardson constructed a saw mill in the south part of Mudville and ran the factory for several years. The first postmaster was the founder Abiathar Richardson.
The first white child born here was Emeline Jenks in September, 1852. Ezra Richardson was born in the fall of the next year.
The first death in the settlement was that of Rufus Connelly.
In the summer of 1853 a school was taught in the house of Silas K. Mes- senger by Emily Gaylord. This was a subscription school. The first house was built of logs and James Bennett was the first teacher to have a elass therein.
A cemetery was established here in 1868 'in the eastern part of the township.
The first marriage in the township was that of Abiathar Richardson and Almira Noyes in 1852.
The first frame house in the township was built in 1851 by this same Rieh- ardson and was located in the Village of Mudville. The first frame barn was constructed in 1855 by A. J. Eddy. Eddy also drew the first load of pork from the township, hauling them to Dubuque.
C. H. Jakway raised the first flock of sheep in 1857.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES
The first religious meetings held in the township were at the home of A. J. Eddy in 1852 by a traveling pastor named Zeigler.
The Methodist Episcopal Society was first organized in September, 1856, in a private residence. Schoolhouse and these homes were the places of meetings for a number of years after the organization. Among the early members of the society were: O. Preble and wife; L. H. Smith and wife; J. G. Ward and wife; and others. Services were afterward held in the Free Will Baptist Church. The church in Aurora was constructed in 1892 and the one in Stanley in 1894. The former church has a membership of about seventy-five and the latter sixty-five.
There is also a Union Church at Stanley.
The Free Will Baptist Church was organized in the township about 1857. The society was formed by P. M. Halleck and wife and H. M. Bailey and wife, they having withdrawn from the church at Madison. R. Norton was the first pastor and his congregation consisted of eight members. The Aurora Church is the descendant of this society, but has never had a regular pastor. They are either supplied from Lamont or Winthrop.
There was an United Brethren Church organized in the township about 1875, but this society has become extinet and the records lost.
CITY OF AURORA
The building of the Chicago Great Western Railroad through Buffalo Township was also responsible for the growth of the City of Aurora. The town was surveyed and platted in the year 1886, the same year the railroad came in, and the plat was filed for record on November 1st of that year. The
MAIN STREET OF AURORA
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town rapidly grew when the opportunity eame for shipping and receiving tradesgoods and the 400 people living there today are mostly well-to-do and thrifty.
There are two good banks in the town. The first, The Aurora Savings Bank, was established in the year 1892. The present officers are: R. Rieh- ardson, president; C. H. Jakeway, vice president; W. I. Warren, cashier; and Pearl Durfey, assistant cashier. The capital stock is $10,000, the surplus is $4,000, and the deposits are $95,000. The Farmers and Merchants Bank was organized in 1898. George Spangler is the president at this time; C. Watson, vice president and W. G. Elliott, cashier. The capital stock is $10,000 and the deposits amount to $65,000. A fuller account of these two banks may be found in Volume II of this work.
The Aurora Observer is the only newspaper published in the town. It was established in 1894 as an independent paper by J. A. Kinney, who after- ward turned it over to his brother, R. D. The latter sold to Mr. Knapp, who in turn disposed of the paper to Mr. Tennis. Tennis is now running the same in weekly issues. It is a very substantial paper, with excellent make-up, and good circulation.
Fraternal societies in Aurora are represented by the Masons, the Odd Fellows, and the Modern Woodmen. There are also several ladies' sewing clubs active.
In the spring of 1899 the following men, Lake Ilarmon, F. L. Chapman, M. J. Brown, J. A. Kinney, M. D. Mallison, and M. T. Miller, petitioned for an election for incorporation. This was granted and the town was incor- porated May 25, 1899.
The modern schoolhouse in Aurora was built in 1909 and is one of the best in any of the smaller towns of the county.
TOWN OF STANLEY
The year 1886 ushered in the little City of Stanley, located in section 12 of Buffalo Township. It was platted and owned by S. C. Irvine. The Chi- cago Great Western, of course, started the town. The postoffice was estab- lished in that year.
The Stanley Exchange Bank was established in 1897, by Adam Kiefer, of Hazleton, with C. E. Hayes as cashier. R. R. Sherman is president of the bank at this time, and H. L. Irvine is cashier. The capital stock is $15,000 and the deposits amount to $125,000.
In 1905 there was a newspaper started in Stanley called the Stanley Gazette and was published by the Stanley Printing Company. The paper was of poor make-up and poor editorial quality so it lived but a year or so.
The Town of Stanley was officially platted on August 17, 1886. On March 5, 1914, an election was held for incorporation and the result was favorable. D. E. Mahoney was elected mayor; R. D. Platt, clerk; George Hill, treasurer ; Frank Ingamell, H. W. Bird, R. R. Sherman, H. E. Garlock and R. S. Zabriskie, councilmen.
Stanley has a good school building, erected in 1902.
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY BYRON TOWNSHIP
ORGANIZATION
The Township of Byron was organized on March 20, 1856. The court order, reading as follows, gives an idea of the details of the organization: "Comes into court James Lines and forty-six others praying that the court set of township 89, range 8 north, excepting sections 13, 24 and 36; and the same is hereby formed into a separate preeinet to be called Byron, and the court orders that an election be holden in said township on the first- Monday in April next, at the house of William Lines, on section 15 in said township, for the election of three trustees, two justices, two constables, and one road supervisor, and one school- house commissioner, for the county at large-O. H. P. Roszell, County Judge."
TIIE ELECTION
This election was held on the above specified date as ordered by the court. T. Stoneman and C. W. MeKinney were appointed judges of the election and William Lines, elerk. The following persons were elected at this time: E. B. King, John Tullock and William Potter, trustees; L. S. Brooks and Sylvester Pierce, justices of the peace; James Becker and Martin Hearne, constables; S. 1. Gaylord, county supervisor : William Lines, elerk, and John C. Ozius, assessor. There were thirty-seven votes cast at this election.
EARLY SETTLEMENT
The first permanent settler in Byron Township was Henry Baker. Ile came in the year 1844 and built the first eabin, in the southwest part of the township. He selected a site near to a natural spring and within easy distance of the timber. Baker lived on this spot for nearly two years, having as his nearest neighbor Hamilton MeGonigle, who had settled south in Liberty Township, three or four miles distant. The only company Baker had during these two years of residence was his sister. However, near the time when he departed from the township he married Laura Hunter. His sister married Sammel Casky and lived for many years in Quasqueton. Nothing more was heard of Baker after he left the town- ship, but it is presumed that he went to some of the western states.
Robert Sutton settled in the township about the year 1846 and immediately purchased the claim made by Baker. With the latter's departure, Sutton was left the one inhabitant of the township. He and his family hunted and drove to mill at Quasqueton without seeing more than a dozen people on the route. Sutton stayed here until the year 1865, when the mareh of civilization began to reach his quarters. He was a typical frontiersman, scorning the advantages of settled communities and desiring the free openness of the prairie, without hindrance, so he packed up his belongings, and took his family to Kansas, where he kept a tavern. Many stories are toll of Sutton, stories which do not speak well of his character. In the first place, he is said to have been very cruel to his family. At one time he tied his son, Benjamin, to a tree, fixed an ear of corn in his mouth, and left him there for several hours, to endure the torture and the hot
VIEW OF STANLEY
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sun as best he might. The names of his children were: Henry, James, Benja- min, Jessie, Clarissa, Daniel, Nancy and Perry. Sutton was a Pennsylvanian, but had stopped in Illinois prior to coming to Iowa.
Another early settler of Byron Township was an S. L. Gaylord, a native of New York State. Mr. Gaylord did not live long after his location in the town- ship, passing away on October 20, 1856. His widow moved to Independence in 1865 and there lived until the time of her death in 1878.
Hamilton MeGonigle was another settler of the early township. 1Ie first set- tled in the county in 1848, about one mile east of Independence. lle squatted on this land, made improvements, but while he was doing this another party regularly entered the land from the Government and MeGonigle was forced to move. They moved first to a place near Qnasqueton, then the largest town in the county. In 1853 he came to Byron Township and here remained until his death on April 24, 1867.
Col. Isaac G. Freeman, a native of New Jersey, came to lowa on April 14, 1853, and settled on Pine Creek. During his residence here he was an active worker for the good of the community and for a time filled the office of justice. Nathan King came to the county in the year 1852, and first settled in Washing- ton Township, but in 1853 he became a settler of Byron and on the farm now owned by A. Franeis. He died here in October; 1866. Amos Knig came to the county in 1849, settling first in Independence, but in the early part of 1851 he moved to Byron Township, building his cabin on the banks of Pine Creek. He remained here but two years, subsequently moving to Ohio and then to Chicago. Ezra King settled here about the same time in 1851 and stayed until 1877, then removed to Liberty Township and died there in 1880.
MISCELLANEOUS
The first cemetery to be established in the township was in 1875 and was called the Whitney Cemetery.
Perhaps the first school to be taught in the township was in Col. I. G. Free- man's house in 1854 by Miss R. C. Freeman. During the next year another school was taught in a log house belonging to D. C. Gaylord by Lueinda Pierce. In this year of 1855 a schoolhouse was constructed in the Freeman district. The next one was in the Daws district. Among the early teachers were Mary Free- man, S. G. Pierce, Philip Bartle, Lucinda Pierce and R. C. Freeman.
The first death in the township was that of Frank Freeman, a son of Col. I. G. Freeman, on October 23, 1856.
The first wedding was that of Robert Copeland and Louisa MeGonigle in 1856, the ceremony being performed by S. G. Pierce.
The first postmaster in the township was L. J. Dunlap in 1858.
The first white child born here was Thomas Sutton in 1852.
The first religious meetings were held in the southwest part of the township in the Bethel district.
The Illinois Central Railroad was constructed through the township in 1859. The usual experiences were endured by the people when this road was put through, experiences both pleasant and unpleasant.
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IHISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
TOWN OF WINTHROP
The only town in Byron Township is Winthrop, located in the extreme south- east corner of the township. This town was first platted and laid out as a village in 1857 by A. P. Foster. The name of Winthrop was suggested by E. S. Norris, a friend of the man who platted the town, but the significance of the name is not known. The first purchase of land here was by Foster himself. He bought 240 acres, a part of which is now included in the town. The postoffice was estab- lished here in 1856.
The first two years of the existence of this town were not productive of much growth. The town merely existed on paper. However, the construction of the Illinois Central Railroad through the site in 1859 started the growth of the town. A Mr. Dutton opened up the first store and the first hotel was kept by Henry Corriek.
WINTHROP FIRE
On Tuesday morning, January 1. 1878, the Town of Winthrop was visited by fire which destroyed about eight thousand dollars worth of property. The fire was discovered in the rear of a building occupied by Mrs. Phonecia as a dry goods store and dwelling. So fast was the progress of the fire that the occupants barely had time to escape. The fire spread to the east and to the west, and when it was finally stopped, the only buiklings left standing in the bloek were those on the extreme corners. However, the town was quickly rebuilt.
From this tine on Winthrop has been an important town in that section of the county. At the present time, there is a population of about six hundred and fifty people and the advent of new business and increasing importance as a trade center promise a substantial growth in the next few years. The people of the town held an election on April 19, 1886, and voted that the village be incorpo- rated as a town. The first mayor chosen was N. Barney and the first trustees were J. Palmetier, S. Braden, A. Downing. A. Uhl, W. B. Halleck and F. C. Norman. The mayors who have served since N. Barney have been W. C. Boyn- ton, C. D. Van Ilorn, A. C. Householder, J. Pahnetier, A. Downing, O. J. Metcalf, N. Barney, F. C. Norman, George Spangler, M. L. Shine, A. W. Norman, E. G. Schacherer, and A. W. Norman. This list is in the order of service. The present officers of the city are A. W. Norman, mayor; L. N. Norman, elerk ; H. M. Lutz, treasurer.
BANKS
One of the best proofs of the prosperity of Winthrop is the excellent condi- tion of the town banks there. The Peoples State Bank is an institution organized on August 1, 1901, and opened for business five days later, with a capital stock of $25,000. The first officers of this bank were: Thomas Thompson, president ; James MeKay, vice president; and L. N. Norman, cashier. These officers are still active. The deposits at the present time amount to $150,000 and there is a surplus of $15,000. The bank bought the present building at the time of open- ing, but plans are under way now for the construction of a new edifice in the next year.
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MAIN STREET, LOOKING EAST, WINTHROP
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
The Winthrop State Bank was first organized as a private bank in 1884 by L. S. Clark, George Spangler, W. B. Halleck, J. Palmentier, Walter Thompson and Samuel Braden. The capital stock at this date was $5,000. A small brick building was constructed at the same time, the building being 16 by 24 feet in size. J. Palmentier was chosen as the first president; George Spangler, vice president, and L. S. Clark, cashier. In the month of March, 1892, the private bank was reorganized as a state bank, with same officers, excepting the position of cashier, which was taken by E. Brintnall. The present officers are: W. B. Halleck, president ; A. J. Dunlap, vice president ; and E. Brentnall, cashier. The capital stoek is $25,000; deposits, $175,000; and surplus, $10,000. A new building was constructed in 1900 at a cost of $2,000, being a one-story brick.
The present Winthrop News was first established as the Winthrop Review by Frank Vierth, now publisher of the Quasquetonian, about 1895. Succeeding Vierth eame Dunlap, Bird, Seofield, Ainsworth, Heath and J. N. Gray, the latter at present in charge of the paper. Heath, in 1904, changed the name of the paper to the Winthrop News. The publication is issued weekly, has a good cireulation, and is known as one of the most staple of the papers in the county outside of Independence.
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