USA > Iowa > Buchanan County > History of Buchanan County, Iowa, and its people, Volume I > Part 32
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
Dessmer, Dr. O. G. MeCanley and others were among the first business men of the new town. One saloon was there in an early day, kept by an old German, but this pleasure has been ousted from the town many years hence.
The Town of Rowley in the past twenty years has not become a city, having yet to be incorporated, but the business air and civie pride are well developed considering the size of the place. There are many business houses in operation and all doing uniformly well, assisted by the convenience of the Rock Island as a shipping point. The several lodges, including the Masons, the Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen create a spirit of good fellowship among the people, also the three churches and the clubs formed among the women of the town. The town is surrounded by a rich agricultural distriet and this, in large measure, accounts for the snecess of the place from a business standpoint.
The Rowley Bank was organized on July 1, 1902, by Mrs. Lizzie Rentz, George Rentz and C. Gunzenhanser. The first capital stock, as at present, was $10,000. In December, 1905, George Rentz sold his stock in the bank to C. Gunzenhanser and on July 3, 1908, Mrs. Lizzie Rentz sold to the same man. The capital stoek and surplus now amount to abont twenty thousand dollars. C. Gunzenhanser is cashier and George Rentz is assistant cashier. The bank has no charter yet. The institution owns its own building, bought at the time of organization.
THE ROWLEY FIRE
On Tuesday evening. July 10, 1894, the Village of Rowley was visited by tire. The fire broke out about 9:30 in the evening and at 11 o'clock the whole business portion on both sides of the street was destroyed. The fire originated in the back room of Norton & Clayton's Hardware Store. The origin is a mystery, the blaze being the first intimation of the fire.
The room where the fire started was used as an oil depot and the fire spread very quickly over the oil soaked floor and ignited a keg of gun powder which exploded. The total loss of the fire was abont twenty-five thousand dollars.
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP
It is recorded that the first aetnal settlers in JJefferson Township were J. B. Stainbrook and his family on June 13, 1850. He came from the State of Penn- sylvania, having been born there on September 29, 1823. Stainbrook's first aet after coming to this country was the entering of land from the Government and later he purchased the same land. The log house he constructed stood for many years as a monument to the early settlement of the county. His brother-in-law, Henry Albert, also came with him, but later settled in Benton County.
In the fall of 1850 Peter Albert, the father-in-law of J. B. Stainbrook, came to the township accompanied by his wife and four children ; Nicholas Albert and family ; and Phillip Zinn with his wife and four children. These people eom- posed the colony during the winter of 1850. Their supplies were obtained from Cedar Rapids, and the trip was generally made in three days, averaging ten miles per day. Once a week they sent a man thirty miles to Marion for their mail. Outside of these necessary exenrsions the only departure from the cabins was when the men started to hunt the wild game for food.
Photo by Gilbert
STREET SCENE IN ROWLEY
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
Another of the early settlers of this community is Jacob Fouts. He was born in the State of Ohio in 1808 and came to Towa in 1852. Ile lived here until his death in 1874.
William Rouse settled in Jefferson Township in February, 1851, on land which he afterward entered from the Government. He was a native of Ten- nessee. John Rouse, or Jack as he was called, father of William, came to section 13 in 1851, where he settled a traet of twenty aeres. Ile was noted as a great hunter and he spent most of his time while here in the pursuit of the pleasure. The game becoming more scarce he moved to Nebraska in 1862. The first elec- tion in the township was held in his house and he himself was elected one of the magistrates. Abel Cox, son-in-law of John Rouse, and a native of Indiana, came in the spring of 1851 and settled near Ronse, on the same seetion.
John Frink settled in this community in 1852, coming from the State of Illinois. He first settled in a grove three miles north of Brandon, the place still bearing his name. An aet of the general assembly of 1856 said that the name of Frink's Grove be changed to Avon. IIe was one of the first magistrates in the township. His son, John, kept a tavern on the state road in the early days. This was the first and only whiskey house in the township. This grove later became known as Shady Grove and a postoffice was established there. The office was subsequently abolished. At present there is a store in the village and a few residences.
ORGANIZATION
The Township of Jefferson was set aside by order of the county judge on March 1, 1852. The record of the order is as follows: "It is ordered by the court that township 87, range 9, and township 87, range 10, of the County of Buchanan, compose one precinct to be called Jefferson Precinet, and that an election be held in said precinct, on the first Monday in April next, at the house of Jolin Rouse." A change was made in the township on July 29, 1858, when Congressional township 87, range 9, was severed therefrom and constituted one township under the name of Homer.
The first election was held at the home of John Rouse at the above date and eleven votes were east. J. B. Stainbrook, Abel Cox and Joseph Rouse were elected as trustees; John Rouse and John Frink were selected as justices ; Alonzo Frink, assessor; and John Rice, township clerk,
The second election was held where Brandon now stands, on Lime Creek, with about the same number of votes.
MISCELLANEOUS
The first school in Jefferson Township was a private or subscription school. A petition was cireulated around among the people of the township for the pur- pose of hiring a teacher and buying a stove. Enough money was raised in this manner to justify the opening of the class. Jacob Fouts gave them a log house. or the use of it, in the Village of Brandon. Mrs. William Boyles was selected to be the teacher of the new school. The first class was composed of twenty scholars. This was in the winter of 1854.
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
The first regular schoolhouse was constructed in Brandon on Lime Creek by Ed Webster. Soon after another was built in the Lizer district and also one in the Boone district. In the year 1880 a large modern school was constructed in Brandon and in the early years of the twentieth century an excellent briek edifice was put up for the accommodation of the grade schools and the high school. Among the early teachers in this vicinity were Wellington Town and R. P. Nelson.
The early physicians were Drs. B. F. Muchmore, Stimpson and J. B. Darl- ing. The first hotel was kept by E. C. Wilson. The first blacksmith was Free Youndt. The first entry of land was made by William MeCay on seetion 28. The first wedding of which there is any account was that of Davis Fouts and Julia Albert on August 5, 1852. They resided here until 1877 when they moved to Woodbury County.
The years 1855 and 1856 are years remembered by every old settler. In the former year occurred a very early frost, coming on August 31st, and the corn crop was entirely destroyed. In the next year a terrific hail storm, coming out of the north. passed through the township and again destroyed the corn crop. Seareely a stalk was left standing. Roofs of the cabins were blown away and one or two houses were turned over. It is said that even the bark on the north side of the trees was blown off. The following winter was one of the most severe in the history of the county. The snow obtained at one time the depth of four feet on the level. Many of the settlers lived on boiled corn which they proenred in Linn County at $1.25 per bushel.
The first fruit was cultivated in that township by John S. Bouck. He began the first fruit nursery and possessed a splendid orehard in the northwestern part of the township. Severe winters soon destroyed his trees and plants, however.
A cemetery was established in the township in 1853 and was located on the farm owned by Mr. Beachler, about a mile from Brandon. The first person buried here was a little girl by the name of Pella, who was accidentally burned to death. This was also the first death in the township. The second to be interred in the cemetery was Noah Taylor, a youth of eighteen years, in 1854.
In 1859 a second cemetery was established near Brandon and adjoined the plat on the west at that time. The third was located two miles east of Brandon, at Green Wood Chapel. under the management of the Wesleyan Methodists.
THIE CONSOLIDATED SCHOOLS OF BRANDON
In the early spring of 1911 an election was held in Jefferson Township, at Brandon, to consider whether or not to consolidate the schools. After this election was over, the judges of election discarded three ballots which were untilated. The count then stood one vote in favor of consolidation. The school continued as a consolidated school the next year. In the meantime an injune- tion was brought by those opposed to consolidation and in the fall of 1912 the question was taken before the county court. The court decided that the three ballots which had been discarded should be counted. As one of them was for and two of them against consolidation, it resulted unfavorably to the former result. The court gave the township one month to call another election. When
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
this was held, it was conducted under the new law which had passed the legis- lature, stating that eleetions in townships should be held in the town and township separately. School was dismissed for one month prior to this election.
When the ballots were counted, the votes in Brandon were a majority of twenty-one for the consolidation and four in favor of the consolidation in the township, making twenty-five majority in all.
This new method of education has done away with the numerous small distriet schools and brings the scholars of the township into closer and more general communication with each other. The old school building at Brandon was extensively remodeled in the year 1911. This is a new feature in Iowa, having gradually been coming West from the Eastern states. Three transportation haeks are used to carry the pupils from their homes to the school. There are now five teachers employed in the consolidated school, which school is under the supervision of the distriet directors as heretofore.
TOWN OF BRANDON
The present Town of Brandon is located in the southwestern portion of Jefferson Township. The village was platted and laid out by S. P. Brainard, Jacob Fonts and E. C. Wilson in the year 1854.
The first store to be opened up and the first stock of goods to be put on sale was by S. P. Brainard. W. 11. Fouts soon after became his partner in the business and subsequently bought the interest of Brainard and continued the business alone for several years. S. P. Brainard was also the first postmaster when the office was established in 1855 in the town and W. H. Fouts was the second. A. B. Edwards, James Romig, J. N. Bissell, Nellie Bissell and John Bain were other early postmasters.
From a small inland town sixteen miles from the county seat and with no railroad, Brandon has made rapid strides and is one of the best towns of its size in Iowa. With the advent of the Cedar Valley Road, electric interurban, close connection with the Waterloo, Cedar Falls and within the last two months with Cedar Rapids, has been established. This was in 1906. There are over forty freight and passenger trains daily over this road and the freight ship- ments from Brandon exceed those of any other town on the road. As an in- stance, in the two months of September and October more grain and hogs were shipped from Brandon than any other town in Buchanan County.
INCORPORATION
The Town of Brandon was incorporated in the year 1905. The first regular meeting of the city eouneil was held on April 3d of that year. W. D. MeLiesh was mayor; W. W. Bain, elerk; R. A. Buckmaster, treasurer; John Bain, M. J. Hyde, J. H. Douglas, J. E. Haines, C. C. Thompson and W. E. Miller. coun- cilmen.
In 1906 J. II. Douglas and E. Lizer were chosen as councilmen. On April 2d James Bearhower was appointed marshal. W. D. MeLiesh resigned his office as mayor on June 4, 1906, and on August 28th W. Jameson was appointed by the city council to fill the vacancy. On February 11, 1907, W. Jameson filed
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
a bond as assessor. On April 1. 1907, Robert Shillinglar and W. E. Miller were elected conneilmen. W. W. Bain was elected mayor this year. Charles W. MeClintiek was appointed marshal, B. B. Brown was appointed street com- missioner and R. H. Ilamer appointed elerk. On December 2, 1907, the office of treasurer was declared vacant by the council and V. W. Doris was elected to fill the vacancy. In 1908 M. Nelson was sworn in as a member of the council. On August 7th W. A. Albert was appointed clerk to fill the vacancy made by the resignation of R. II. Hamer. At the 1909 election W. W. Bain was elected mayor; V. W. Doris, treasurer; E. W. Miller, assessor; C. C. Thompson and L. A. Bachler, councilmen. W. A. Albert was elected clerk later. J. L. Weart was appointed street commissioner to succeed MeClintiek. J. W. Hines was made marshal. On December 6th Nelson and Shillinglar moved away and C. R. Bolton and J. S. Blair were appointed to fill the vacancy. The 1911 city election resulted as follows: JJ. S. Blair, mayor; Walter Jameson, assessor; V. W. Doris, treasurer; L. N. Trunk, street commissioner; James Hines, mar- shal; W. A. Albert, clerk ; C. Bollen, J. L. Weart, W. H. Albert, W. E. Miller, W. HI. Crumrine, councilmen. On February 20, 1912, W. Jameson resigned as assessor and Levi Zwinger was appointed to fill the vacaney. The subject of a jail was brought before the council on May 6, 1912, and they decided to con- struct a bastile 10 by 12 by 8 feet in size. On July 1st the council prohibited the firing of firecrackers in the town. The city election of March, 1913, dis- closed the following result : J. L. Weart, mayor; W. A. Albert, clerk; W. J. Romig, assessor ; Clair Short, treasurer; James Ilines, marshal; W. II. Crumrine, street commissioner: I. E. Blair, A. E. Briggs, W. T. Ernster, W. II. Albert and M. W. Kanouse, councilmen.
On June 5, 1914, the town voted on the question of acquiring electricity for the townspeople. The election resulted 50 to 5 in favor of the new utility. Electricians are at present busy erecting poles and wiring the homes of the town and by December 1, 1914, the current will be turned on. The current is bought by the city from the interurban company and is sold to the patrons at a 12 cent rate. The town is making arrangements to maintain thirty street lights. This is the first public utility for Brandon, but plans will be pushed through in the future for further conveniences for the residents.
BANKS
The Farmers Savings Bank was opened for business on May 12, 1913; the date of the charter is April 21, 1913. The president of this bank is J. D. Sweeney ; B. F. Nabholz is vice president, and E. E. Strait is eashier. The capital stock at the present time is $16,000 and the amount of deposits is $65,000. With the opening of the bank the entire corner in which the office is located was bought and is now given a valuation of $3,500.
The Brandon State Savings Bank was organized on March 7, 1906, as a state bank. The present officers are: R. F. Clark, president; Theodore Peek, vice president ; W. W. Bain, cashier ; directors, R. F. Clark, B. W. Davis, F. P. Davis, Roy A. Cook, Nathan Mass, L. HI. Tucker and N. E. Parker. The capital stock is $20,000 and the amount of deposits is $70,000.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, BRANDON
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CHRISTIAN CHURCH, BRANDON
PUBLIC SCHOOL, BRANDON
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
SOCIAL LIFE
The people of Brandon have the reputation of upholding a very high standard of social life in the town. There are many small clubs in the town and each is active in maintaining the proper character of the community. In fact, each and every person considers it his especial duty to guarantee the best surroundings for the children who are growing up and receiving their education here.
The fraternal societies are very strong, among them being the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Rebekahs, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Modern Brotherhood of America and the Yeomen, the latter a lodge recently instituted in Brandon.
A Grand Army of the Republic Post was established at Brandon in 1888. This Post has not been active for several years, owing to the scarcity of members.
CHURCHIES OF JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP
The first ehnreh to be started in Jefferson Township was the Methodist. The first services were held in private homes as it was some time before the society could build a house of worship. Schoolhouses were also utilized for the purpose of holding meetings. In May, 1856, Rev. D. Donaldson organized the first Methodist Society at the house of J. G. Williams, with a first class of only five members, namely : J. G. Williams, Caroline F. Williams, Thomas Brandon and wife, and daughter Maria. In 1870, the year the frame church was con- strueted, there was held in Brandon the biggest revival service in the history of the church. Enoch Holland was the pastor who conducted these services. At this meeting the proposition for a new church buikling came before the people and J. B. Stainbrook nobly donated one lot to the church and sokl an adjoining lot for the small sum of $25. Upon this lot the frame church was constructed, the church which is now the east half of the new structure. The revival meeting which preceded the construction of this church was held in the small schoolhouse back of the present meat market. Reverend Tinkham was the first pastor in the new church. This church was in the circuit formed by Spring Creek, Bear Creek, Brandon and the Cedar Valley. The church is in splendid condition at the present time, having about one hundred and fifty members and several active societies in the church. Five years ago the old frame church was extensively remodeled and additions made. This year, 1914, a handsome parsonage has been erected and is one of the most modern houses in the town. Rev. II. W. Artman is the present pastor. Before him the following named acted in this capacity : Reverends Tinkham, B. C. Barnes, W. N. Fawcett, Wilkinson, Albert A. Woods, Daniel Sheffer, O. D. Bowles, John M. Rankin, J. B. Jones, D. N. Cooley, R. F. Hurlburt, Rickards, Smith, Jesse Smith, Enoch Ilolland, Baker, B. L. Garrison, Wyrick, B. A. Wright, J. J. Littleler, Jacob Haymond, Alonzo Camp, W. H. Lusted, W. N. Brown, F. G. Young, E. R. Leman, John Dawson, J. D. Perry, R. M. Ackerman, W. E. Ross, J. H. Ilayward, O. M. Sanford, J. B. Metealf, Jesse Underwood, J. B. Shoemaker; these names are not in the order of their service as this information was impossible to discover. It is known, however, that all of these men served the church as pastor.
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IHISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
The Wesleyan Methodist Church was organized in February, 1867, with about twenty-five members. D. P. Parker was their preacher at this time. The elinreh was known as Greenwood Chapel. This church no longer exists in Buchanan County, having been moved west four miles in Black Hawk County about twenty years ago.
The Reformed Church in the United States was organized December 1, 1860, with twenty members. Rev. Joshua Raile was the first pastor. This church passed out of existence about twenty years ago.
The Christian Church in Brandon was organized on August 3, 1856, in the country north of the city. John Martindale organized the class. The first elders in the church were: W. 11. Elliott and wife, Frederick Yount and Mary Yount. The other first members were: Davis Fouts, Juliet Fouts, George W. and Susan Short, Henry and Mary Fouts, Aunt Betsy Fouts, Elsie Fouts, George W. Byfield, Darah Boon, John S. and Lizzie Coats, Emeretta Steckman, W. E. and Isabel Bain, Rhoda E. Albert, Susan Tracy, Robert H. Elliott and wife, John and Eliza Bain. A Frame church was constructed in 1892, costing $1,500. The present church society consists of eighty members and the societies now active in the church are the Ladies' Aid, the Young People's Christian Endeavor, the Christian Women's Board of Missions. The pastors who have served this church are in order: John Martindale, Josiah Jackson, Cain, Alpheus Applegate, O. E. Brown, Solomon Cross, Jolm Crocker, Daniel Dunkle- berger, Overbangh, Hastings, Samuel B. Ross, Earl Lockhart, Hollett, Ketford, E. Curliss, Carroll, John McKee, Ferguson and Gust H. Cachiaras. For a year and a half the church has been without a regular pastor.
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP
Liberty Township is a regular Congressional township six miles square. In the year 1847 the county was divided into three precinets, namely : Washington, Spring or Centre, and Liberty. The latter then comprised the south half of Middlefield, the south half of Liberty, except sections 19, 20, 21, 30, 31 and 32, all of Cono except section 6, and sections 12, 13, 24, 25 and 36 of Newton. Also, the north half of Liberty then comprised a part of Spring Precinct. Quasqueton was the voting place of the Liberty Precinct, as it had been at one time for the entire county.
On the 5th of September, 1859, Liberty Township was reduced to its present size and form.
This township has always been recognized as one of the best in the county. The township has an advantageous location, with fertile land and several small hills and valleys. At one time there were numerous sloughs in the township, but these liave been largely drained, leaving the rich, black loam for the cultiva- tion of erops. The soil, however, varies in different parts of the township. There are said to be three or more particular soils. When the first settlers came to this township about half of it was covered with a dense mass of timber. The native trees are the white oak, bur oak, red oak, black oak, soft maple, sugar maple, white and red elm, linden, walnut, butternut, hackberry, poplar, aspen, cotton- wood, shagbark, bitter nut, ash and water birch.
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
EARLY SETTLEMENT
The first white settler in this township, and in the county, was William Bennett. In February, 1842, he came to Quasqueton from Ede's Grove, Dela- ware County. Bennett was not a man who was liked by those who knew him, for he bore a bad reputation and was reputed to be dishonest. The first house in Quasqueton was constructed by Bennett, of logs with a bark and dirt roof. Here he lived with his wife and three little daughters. It stood on the bank of the river, some twelve rods above the mill, and near the foot of the present Walnut Street.
A few weeks after Bennett's arrival S. G. Sanford and his family came in and built their home a quarter of a mile south of Quasqueton on the later Cordell place. His brother, H. T. Sanford, a carpenter, lived with him. Ezra G. Allen also lived in a hut nearby. On the last day of April, 1842, a band of emigrants arrived, the band including seven men, two women and three children. Their names were: R. B. Clark, Dr. E. Brewer, Frederick Kessler, J. Lambert, Simmons and Daggett, Mrs. R. B. Clark, Mrs. Frederick Kessler, Mason and Seth Clark and Sarah C. Kessler. Clark and Brewer built the first house on the west side of the river. These men were native to the State of Wisconsin, particularly Exeter, Greene County. Brewer was originally from Massachusetts; and Clark of Cleveland, Ohio, or the site of Cleveland. Kessler was a Pennsylvanian and died several years after his coming here, in the mining camps of California. He built a rnde house here half a mile west of Clark and Brewer's, on the later Boies farm. This band of settlers found the country green and fresh with the early spring. The following summer, however, was very dry and there was a frost every month in the year, which made it very difficult for the men to raise successful crops. Consequently they looked with discouraged eyes toward the coming winter.
The first white child born in the township and in the county was born during this summer. It is said to have been Charles B. Kessler and the date of his birth July 13, 1842. He died in the Union service during the Civil war, in April, 1864.
During the summer of '42 a man named Style came to Quasqueton and lived in a small log cabin a short distance from the mill. Soon after he added to his house and for a short time ran a hotel. This was the first really public honse in the township.
Hugh Warren, a good-for-nothing, was another resident of the community and several other fellows, by name Warner, Jeffers, Wall, Day and Evans, all of them in the employ of Bennett. During this same summer Bennett con- structed a dam aeross the river, using logs and sod, and about the first of October started the building of a mill. Hle and his men made large claims to the land and it is said that at one time they claimed nearly all of the center portion of the county, but, as is known, they were not the class of men to stay long and soon moved away farther west.
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