USA > Iowa > Buchanan County > History of Buchanan County, Iowa, and its people, Volume I > Part 31
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Alru Peek from New York settled in the township in April, 1855. He entered land from the Government. When he came there were in the township only the two Riches and James Fleming. Peck afterward became prominent in the affairs of the township and served as the first clerk.
Andrew Payne settled here in October, 1855. coming from the State of New York. He was a brother-in-law of Alru Peek and came here with the latter.
James Fleming settled in Fremont. Township in July, 1854, coming direct from Wisconsin. He was a native of Massachusetts.
FIRST EVENTS
Z. R. Rich built the first schoolhouse in the township in 1856. Laura Peck, afterward Mrs. Toogood of Independence, was the first teacher in this log school. She held the position for two years. The school was supported by the two Rich brothers, for at the time there were no settlers within four miles in this town- ship. In 1858 a school distriet was organized. The house constructed by Rich was rented for the first term and S. W. Rich was engaged to teach. No more schoolhouses were built until the closing years of the Civil war. The first one Vol. 1-16
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was in the Fleming district in the southwest part of the township. Among the first teachers of this latter school were Laura Peek, Ellen Payne and S. W. Rich.
The first cemetery established in Fremont Township was in the southwest part, in 1855, on land donated for the purpose by James Fleming and Alru Peek. Quite a number of the early pioneers are buried at this place.
The first death was that of Omer Fleming on February 17, 1855.
The marriage of S. W. Rich and Emily Gaylord was the first in the commu- nity, occurring in 1854.
It is said that the first white child born here was Ella Rich. The birth happened December 29, 1853.
The first crop was raised in the township by Z. R. Rich during the year he came. It consisted of buckwheat and sod corn. The Rich brothers also raised the first wheat in the summer of 1854.
Creameries were established in the township in the '70s by C. W. Schoville and W. L. Mallory.
There never has been a town in this township, but the rich agricultural dis- triets and the prosperity of the farmers residing within the township bounds make it one of the best in the county.
HAZLETON TOWNSHIP
The Township of Hazleton was organized by order of the county judge in April, 1853, under the name of Superior Township. The township was then composed of thirty-six sections.
The first election was held on August 1, 1853, and the following is the result : James Huntington and Samuel Sufficool, justices of the peace: Nathan Peddy- cord, E. P. Spear and John Kint, trustees.
The name of the township was changed from Superior to Hazleton about the year 1862.
SETTLEMENT
Samuel Sufficool and D. C. Greeley made the first permanent settlement here on February 21, 1847, and in the northwest part of the township. They had emigrated the previous year from Ohio, but stopped for a time in Linn County, Iowa. They came to the county the summer before and put up some hay in Buffalo Township. They also constructed a small shanty and spent the winter hunting and getting the place ready for spring. In the spring they built a log house with logs they had eut during the winter. Soon after this was com- pleted Calvin Tuttle eame with his wife and moved into it and with him Greeley and Sufficool lived. That season they broke a traet of sixty aeres and raised a little sod eorn.
William Bunce, with his wife and child, came in September, 1847, and built a log house near that of the two first settlers.
John Kint and family settled here August 17, 1846. They located on sec- tion 2, which land Kint afterwards bought from the Government. With Kint came Gilman Greeley and wife and his two sons, W. H. and Stephen L.
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
In June, 1848, Isaac Sufficool, the father of the first settler, came to the township and moved into the house of Sufficool and Greeley. Orlando Suffieool the same year settled in the southwest part of the township upon land which he had entered in 1847.
G. M. Miller came to this township in 1852 and settled upon land which he afterward purehased.
A. Belt settled here in 1852. He resided in the township for several years, then moved into Byron Township, this county.
James Girton came in 1851. Fayette Gillet, a New Yorker, settled in the west part of the township in 1854. W. C. Nelson, of Pennsylvania, settled at old Hazleton in 1853. He was the pioneer physician of the township. He also taught the first school established at the above village, which was then the only one in the township. E. W. Tenney settled here on September 28, 1853. Im- mediately upon his arrival he opened a store in old Hazleton, being the second man to do this in the township. L. D. Engle settled here with his family in 1851. W. W. Gilbert, a native of Ohio, settled in the township in the spring of 1854. He was noted as a hunter.
MISCELLANEOUS
The first wedding in Hazleton Township was in 1848, between W. H. Greeley and Mary Ellen Sufficool, at the bride's residence. D. C. Greeley performed the ceremony.
The first white child born in the township was Wallaee S. Sufficool on Jann- ary 29, 1849.
The first wheat was raised by Samuel Sufficool in 1848.
Allen Coy was the first postmaster.
The first sawmill was constructed about 1854 by John Moorehouse on Otter Creek. Before he had completed it he sold it to Isaae Sufficool, who finished it and operated it for a number of years.
A tannery was started here in 1862 by E. W. Tenney, W. A. Nelson and S. Faulkner, which was the only one ever in existence here.
William Bunce made the first entry of land here in June, 1847, and at the same time the following also made entries: D. C. Greeley, W. H. Greeley and Orlando Sufficool.
After Coy the next postmaster was E. W. Tenney and at this time the office was moved 21/2 miles south from the first site. At the present time Jacob Kiefer is the postmaster, a position he has held for many years.
The first cemetery here was established in the fall of 1849 in the northeast part of the township near the point of the first settlement. In this cemetery the earliest settlers were buried. A second burying ground was established in 1855 in the center of the township.
Like the rest of the county the schools of this township were at first largely supported by subscription. In the fall of 1852 a large log schoolhouse was built in the northeast part of the township by D. C. Greeley and John Kint. Elizabeth Amelia Sayles taught a class of twelve scholars here that winter. Some of the early teachers were Abraham Wykoof, Stephen L. Greeley and C. W. Lillie.
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
THE CITY OF HAZLETON
In the year 1852 a store and postoffice were started near where Sufficool and Greeley made their first settlement in 1841. The store was in charge of Allen Coy and he also acted as postmaster. Edward Hutchins soon bought this business. A small community of people lived in the vicinity of this store, but the place never grew and has gradually sunk into nothing, little remaining now but the site. The place has been known as Coytown.
In the year 1853 E. W. Tenney opened a store 21/2 miles south of Coy's store. A postoffice was established there and. given the name of Hazleton. Tenney served as postmaster. Three years later C. Weistman also opened up a general store and this little community quickly became the center of trade for the township. The coming of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railroad, in 1873, however, spelled the doom of this village. The route of the road lay one mile west From the village. Accordingly the stores, shops and nearly all of the dwelling houses were moved to a position directly on the railroad. This site is now the present City of Hazleton.
BIG FIRE AT HAZLETON
On Friday morning, May 3, 1889, at 1:45, the inhabitants of the prosperons little town of Hazleton were rudely awakened from their deep shimber with the ery of fire and turned out to find the entire business portion of the place threatened with utter destruction. Having no regular organization, and but few facilities for fighting a fire, by the united efforts of the entire population the flames were soon got under control with the loss of but four buildings, the opera house, barber shop, one store and dwelling house. A loss of $20,000 was caused in one hour.
The origin of the fire is unknown, but was supposed to be the work of an incendiary. The opera house, where the fire started, was a substantial frame building 40 by 80 feet and was erected some years previous by Mr. Pret King, at a cost of $3,500. The furniture and fixtures cost about eight hundred dol- lars more. This was a great loss to the people of Hazleton. Arrangements had been made for a May Pole dance on the evening of the fire. South of the opera house was a store operated by Osear Tuttle and in this was located the postoffice. Everything pertaining to the postoffice was completely destroyed and Mr. Tuttle's loss on stock of goods was estimated between thirteen thou- sand and fourteen thousand dollars.
Realizing the advantages of the steel road, the town soon began to pick up in commerce and trade and has now reached a high position in the county. For a period of twenty years the town began to have more courage, and, having the advantage of a splendid agricultural district surrounding, believed that the business of the town demanded incorporation. So, in the summer of 1892, the town was incorporated and the first meeting of the council was held on August 8, 1892. W. A. Nelson was the first mayor; W. G. Kiefer, recorder; A. W. Jarrett, D. N. King, E. A. Matteson, J. D. Lawrence and Henry Miguet, trustees. Following Nelson as the first mayor came in order: H. E. Searle, E. A. Matteson, P. E. Gardner, O. A. Bates, James E. Friars, E. H. Latham,
VIEW OF HAZLETON
OLD HAZLETON MILL
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
H. Il. Hunt and Thomas Neteott, the latter at present in office. The other officers at present are: W. G. Kiefer, treasurer; George J. Wengert, clerk ; W. S. Woodworth, T. E. MeCurdy, W. L. Miller, Henry Miguet and J. Cappel, councilmen.
Hazleton has two banks, the Iowa State Bank and the Hazleton State Bank, both of which are in excellent condition. The Iowa State Bank was officially organized on March 31, 1913, by R. B. Raines, R. G. Swan, J. B. Truax, W. E. Bain and M. A. Smith. Swan was the first and present head of the institution; H. F. Suhr is the vice president; and J. N. Smith is the cashier. The capital stock is $25,000 and the amount of deposits at the present time is $80,000. The bank, upon its organization, bought the corner lot next to where they are now located and are going to move into this location very soon.
The Hazleton State Bank was organized in the month of May, 1893. The incorporators were T. E. MeCurdy, M. M. Miguet, O. M. Gillett, Frank Miguet, A. W. Jarrett, O. P. King and Theodore Messenger. T. E. MeCurdy was the first president; N. M. Miguet, vice president, and Willis G. Kiefer, cashier. These officers have not been changed, with the exception of vice president, since the establishment of the bank. The capital stock is $25,000, the surplus $40,000, and the deposits amount to $225,000. The present bank building was bought at the time of organization. The bank magazine, The Financier of New York, in 1910, gave the Hazleton State Bank fourth on the roll of honor of Iowa. The three leading banks were old established institutions at the time the Hazle- ton Bank was organized.
Another distinet feature of the Town of Hazleton is the fair which is held here every year. The fair is in charge of the Hazleton District Fair Association and was first started in the year of 1894. This exhibit has steadily grown, until now it is conceded to be better in respects that the county fair held at Independence. G. M. Miller and J. B. Shackleford were the men to first start this fair, using their own money to pay the expenses and also to give eash premiums. Shackleford retired after one year and then Miller operated it alone every year until three years ago. Tents are raised to house the exhibit each year, and besides this there are many amusements and entertainments for the people. Exhibits of live stock, vegetables, grain and all farm products are shown. The fair lasts one day and is generally held on the third Wednesday in September.
KIEFER BANK FAILURES
The Kiefer brothers moved to the City of Hazleton in 1877 and very soon after started a private bank in connection with their store. In the early '80s they moved the bank into a separate building and conducted a very extensive business until March, 1913, when they were forced into involuntary bankruptey. The liabilities amounted to several hundred thousand dollars and what might be realized out of the assets has not been definitely determined.
The Kiefer Savings Bank was organized on September 14, 1908, with $10,000 capital. Adam Kiefer was president ; E. R. Prindle, vice president ; K. K. Kiefer, cashier; and William Smith, assistant cashier. In March, 1913, a receiver was appointed and in May of the same year the court ordered an assessment against
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the stockholders. At the time of the failure Adam Kiefer was president; K. K. Kiefer, vice president; and William Smith, cashier.
The failure of both of these banks is of recent occurrence and so much feeling exists that we deem it inadvisable to attempt any detailed account of it.
The first newspaper to be established in Hazleton was the Hazleton Pioneer, begun in Mareh, 1900, by Taylor and Armstrong. This continued about a year and then died. The next paper was Hazleton Advance, which was started by J. C. Seeley on March 14, 1902. The life of this paper was abont four years. The next and last sheet to be published was the Hazleton Free Press, started February 22, 1908, by E. S. Holmes. On March 25, 1910, this paper was dis- continued. With the exception of the last named all of the papers were weekly. The last was semi-weekly.
On March 13, 1884, Capt. II. W. Holman organized a Grand Army of the Republic Post at Hazleton, with twenty-seven members. Among these members were: W. A. Wilson, commander ; B. II. Miller, T. E. MeCurdy, R. G. Merrill, T. C. Nelson, J. A. Ward, Pret King, A. D. Allen, John Delan, C. H. Shreeve. These men were the early officers. The Post is still in existence, although greatly shrunk in numbers.
The Hazleton Opera House was christened on June 1 and 2, 1881. The initial performance was that of "The Merchant of Venice," with Professor Gibney and Nellie Wilkins in the leads, assisted by a competent cast of local talent. This place of entertainment is used frequently now for plays of good character and motion picture exhibitions.
A new brick and stone school was started in Hazleton in the year 1914 and is rapidly nearing completion. The cost of the building will be close to fifteen thousand dollars, and when it is finished Hazleton will have one of the most up-to-date schools in the county. N. M. Miguet, president, and George Wengert, E. N. Fortner, L. Gerstenberger and Henry Suks, directors, were largely responsible for this improvement.
BRYANTBURG
Bryant was the first name of the small town now known as Bryantburg. It was originally a flag station on the railroad between Hazleton and Inde- pendence on the Rock Island. In January, 1885, it became a regular station and was made a postoffice. Alvin Johnson was the first postmaster.
The Bryantburg Savings Bank was organized on June 21, 1913, and chartered on October 11th of the same year. The capital stock is $10,000. Alfred Hanson is president: J. H. Menzel, vice president, and O. B. Batcheler is the cashier. The bank was organized by Rich H. Smith, M. L. Batcheler, O. B. Batcheler, C. V. Spezia, E. J. O'Connor, Isaac, Alf and I. L. Hanson, all of Oclwein except the Batchelers.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES
The Methodist Episcopal Society had their first organization about the year 1852. The home of A. Belt first served as a meeting house. Among the first members of this society were: A. Belt and wife; Nathan Peddycord and
SOLDIERS' MONUMENT, HAZLETON
METHODIST CHURCH, HAZLETON
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, HAZLETON
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
wife; C. S. Belt, and Mr. Russell and wife. Reverend Shippen preached the first sermon. At first the society hield occasional serviees at the schoolhouse and in private residences. In the year 1879 a building was erected and this structure has since been extensively remodeled. The society at the present time has a membership of about eighty people.
The first Presbyterian Church was organized here in 1874 at the home of John Long by Rev. J. D. Caldwell. Their first services were held in the Methodist Episcopal Church. This church has a small but active membership at the present time.
The Catholic Church of Hazleton was first organized in 1881 by Reverend Father Grady. At this time a small frame church was constructed. In the year 1905 the present handsome church was built, also the parsonage. Rev- erend O'Donnell followed Grady at this pastorate and then came Father McNamee, and then the present priest, N. M. Homan. There are forty- seven families in this church. Father Homan also attends the Lamont Cath- olie Church where there are sixty families.
An organization of Free Will Baptists was formed here in July, 1879. They first held services in the schoolhouse in district No. 9 in the southwest part of the township, until the building of the present church at Bryantburg in 1900. The church now has a membership of fifty people.
The Methodists also have a church and a building in the northeast corner of the township named Prairie Center Church. There is a membership here of about fifty people also.
HOMER TOWNSHIP
Homer Township was organized on July 29, 1858. The record of the county court says : "Be it known that on the petition of James D. Phillips, Eli Nor- ton and others, the court aforesaid, this twenty-ninth day of July, 1858, con- stitutes and forms a new township in said county, as follows: The whole thirty-six sections of the Congressional township 87, range 9, in said county. And it is also ordered that the new township thus formed be called the name of Homer, in accordance with the wishes of the voters thereof. Signed, Stephen J. W. Tabor, county judge."
Before this order, or from May 22. 1852, the township had been a part of Jefferson. The first settlements in the Township of Jefferson, that is the original township, were along the ereeks near where Brandon is now located.
The first election in Homer Township was held at the house of Nathan Nor- ton in September, 1858. Twelve votes were cast, of which eight were republi- can. The first officers were: L. S. Allen, Joseph L. Norton and Eli Norton, trustees; Eli Norton and L. S. Norton, justices; L. S. Allen, county super- visor ; James Norton and D. O. Sweet, constables; Joseph L. Norton, assessor ; Dyer Shealy, township clerk; John Sites and James Norton, road supervisors.
EARLY SETTLEMENT
Thomas Kendriek and family made the first settlement in Homer Township in the fall of 1853, locating on the banks of Bear Creek. For two years pre-
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vious they had lived in Jefferson Township. Kendrick there constructed a rude cabin and entered upon life, a life soon to be broken by one of the saddest tragedies ever visited upon man. Of his thirteen children ten of them died in the year 1868, within eight weeks of each other. Diphtheria and scarlet fever were the fatal diseases. Kendrick himself became insane over this blow and he died within a year after his ten children. Mrs. Kendrick afterward married Charles Kountz, of Independence.
Price Kendrick, a brother of the first settler in the township, settled here in 1854. With him came- his two sisters, Mrs. Holland and Mrs. Robinson. Ilis death occurred two years after his coming to the township.
D. O. Sweet settled here in 1855, coming from New York State. IIe was honored with the office of constable at the first election held in the township.
Joseph L. Norton, a Pennsylvanian, settled in Homer Township in 1855, but subsequently moved to Kansas. IIe married Sarah Kessler, daughter of one of the first settlers in the county.
Joseph MeGary came from Vermont and bought a farm here in 1858 and the next year built the first stone house in the township, and which is still used as a residence on his land and there he, with his brother-in-law Murphy, kept house together. Ilis family consisting of his mother and four sisters arrived within the next two years, one of whom was Murphy's wife.
Lyman S. Allen, a native of Ticonderoga, New York, came with his family in 1834 and settled in Homer Township. The frame house which he built there is still standing and occupied by his son Stephen M. Allen.
Nathan Norton came to the township in 1855 from MeHenry County, Illi- nois. The first election held in Homer Township was held at his home.
John Bain settled in the township in July. 1858, on Bear Creek. He came from the Hoosier State.
Eli Norton came to lowa in 1854 and first settled in Liberty Township, but came to Ilomer Township the next year. Here he bought a farm and lived upon it the rest of his life.
SCHOOLS AND CIIURCHIES
The first church society in the township was the Methodist Episcopal. A class was formed in 1858 by Rev. John Fawcett and he served as their first preacher. Among the early members of this church were: Eli Norton and wife; Nathan Norton, Sr., and wife; and John D. Price and wife. They built a meeting house in 1868 abont a half mile from the present site of Rowley, but the building was blown down in the summer of 1875. The railroad com- pany presented them with a lot in the Town of Rowley, provided that the church wonll ereet a building upon it, which they did. This they did and the church still stands, although it has been remodeled a number of times since the building of it. The class at present numbers abont a hundred members.
The first Presbyterian Church to be organized in the township was in 1873, immediately after the building of the railroad. Rev. George Carroll was the first preacher and he held services at first in the railroad depot, where with seven members he organized the society. In 1898 a church building was put
COMPANY G, 9TH IOWA REGIMENT IN 1902
WEL
G. A. R. REUNION AT HAZLETON
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
up at Rowley and there the society is now very strong and prosperous. The congregation numbers about one hundred people.
The Catholic Church was established in Rowley in the late '90s and is still in existenee, although there is no regular pastor. A $3.000 building has been ereeted and the congregation is composed of about thirty-five families.
SCHOOLS
The first school in the township was opened in 1856 by Mrs. Sarah C. Priee in her own house in the eastern part of the township. Her elass was com- posed of twelve scholars. The next winter a school was conducted by John Bain, Sr., in the west part of the township at the house of George Boone. Thir- teen pupils attended this school.
The first schoolhouse was built near the present Town of Rowley. The second one was constructed on land donated to the district by Joseph MeGary and the third building was located in the Boone distriet. The schoolhouse known as the Delaware School erected on the MeGary land is still used for a schoolhouse and is the oldest one in the county.
Since these early days the schools have attained a very superior quality. Efficient district schools have been erected and the schools of Rowley are excel- lent. The building in the latter town was erected in 1901 and is thorough and well equipped with the conveniences of the modern schoolhouse. 1 commis- sioned high school is maintained in Rowley, at present having about sixty pupils.
Among the other early teachers of the township besides those mentioned were: Mary MeGary, Betsy L. Patterson, Oscar L. Luckey and Lizzie Taylor; the latter afterwards married Doctor Griffin.
MISCELLANEOUS
Before the advent of the railroad there was no postoffice in the township. the people getting their mail at neighboring offices. In 1873 a postoffice was estab- lished at Rowley and J. W. Cooper was appointed the first postmaster.
The first wedding is said to have been that of Don F. Bissel and Aurelius Bishop in the fall of 1856. About the same time Reuben Crum was married to Wealthy Allen.
The first death was that of George Boone in 1858.
ROWLEY
Rowley is the only town in the township and had its conception with the building of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern, now the Rock Island. railroad in the fall of 1873. The town was named in honor of D. W. C. Rowley, who was secretary of the railroad company when the line reached the town.
The first store opened here in this year and was operated by J. W. Cooper. .1. 1. Prentiss in the grain. seed, cattle and hog business. C. E. Ilawley and asso- ciates in the dry goods and grocery trade. J. B. Edgell. William J. Miller. D. C. Tuttle, keeper of the Rowley Ilouse, George H. Norton, Slater and Wilson,
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