USA > Iowa > Buchanan County > History of Buchanan County, Iowa, and its people, Volume I > Part 34
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The old school Baptists organized in this township some time later. There were ten members at first, namely: John Merrill and wife, J. B. Ward and wife, Charles Richmond and wife, Amanda Braman and Orrin Ross. The first preacher was Rev. George Seott. For the first six years of their existence they held services in the log schoolhouse. In 1871 they constructed a frame house of worship, also a parsonage. This society has not been active for about eight years. The reunion of the Baptist societies has resulted in the reorganization under the Free Will denomination.
The Lutheran Church at Lamont was organized about the year 1898 and in 1900 a church and parsonage were built, costing about four thousand dollars. The church was dedicated on April 2d of that year. The membership now totals seventy-five.
The first cemetery was established at Buffalo Grove, in the southwest part of the township, in abont 1857. A second one was located at Ward's Corners,
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
now Lamont, in the next year. A third was established in the northeast corner of the township.
A ferd mill was constructed here in 1856, by Whitney and Ward, on the Magnoketa. At the sime time a sawmill was built, but it did not prove a paying investment. In 1881 a second mill was built near the site of the old one.
The first white child born in the township was Hiram Whitney, a son of the first pioneer, in 1854.
The first death was that of David Cornell, in 1854.
The pioneer blacksmith was John W. Dana, in 1857, his shop being about a half inile east of the then Ward's Corners.
Silas Ross raised the first erop of wheat in 1854.
The first store was kept by Rev. W. Durfey at Ward's Corners.
No hotel was operated in the township until 1880, when Alfred Bush started a tavern.
CITY OF LAMONT
The City of Lamont is located in the eastern part of Madison Township. The building of the Chicago Great Western Railroad through the township in 1886 insured the growth of the then village into the prosperous town as at present.
Prior to the building of the railroad Lamont was indeed a small village. Seymour Whitney deeded the land where the village stood and built the first house on the spot where Mr. Retz now lives. There was a postoffice established in 1875 and called Erie. Mr. Ward was appointed postmaster and he imne- diately had the name changed to Ward's Corners in honor of himself. The next change in name occurred when G. M. Foster became postmaster in 1883. Some authorities claim that the railroad changed the name to Lamont, but the wiser ones concede the act to Mr. Foster. The mail in the early day was carried by a line running from Independence to Strawberry Point, and later from For- restville.
Albert Bush was the first hotel keeper in the town. Charles Richmond ran the first blacksmith shop. The first important step after the beginning of the village was the building of the Baptist church in 1867, just back of the present Redmond store. It was later moved across the creek to its present location. The first store building was constructed by Willis Durfey in 1872. In the next year a creamery was built, a fine two-story building, by John Stewart. The upper floor was used as a town hall. Mr. Quick put up the next store building and Whitney Bush had the third. There were ten or twelve store buildings and an equal number of residences when the railroad came through in 1886. There were three fairs, or rather barbeenes, held in the early days, but the praetiee has become lost.
The first and best things in the sketch of Lamont are the banks which do business there. Both are among the most substantial in the county. The Farmers Savings Bank was organized on March 3, 1910. The first officers were : D. J. Kenna. W. C. Falck, and M. J. Nolan. The directors were: J. H. Brown, Frank Dozark, Thomas Vanek, A. K. Anderson, Fred Retz, and A. L. Seeber. The capital stock of this institution is $15,000, the surplus $1,000 and the deposits amount to $100.000. W. C. Falek is the president now : Fred Retz. vice-president ;
HIGH SCHOOL, LAMONT
STREET SCENE IN LAMONT
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
and O. C. Gladwin, cashier. The Lamont Savings Bank was incorporated on April 4, 1892. The first officers were : A. R. Loomis, president ; M. F. LeRoy, cashier; A. R. Loomis, E. S. Cowles, M. F. LeRoy, E. H. Hloyt, and E. M. Carr, directors. The first capital stock was $10,000, which was raised to $15,000 in August, 1899. The present officers are: John Elliott, president ; A. A. Smith, vice-president : C. E: Hayes, cashier ; and H. M. Fitch, assistant cashier. The capital stock is $25,000; undivided profits, $7,000: and deposits amount close to $250,000. The directors now are: Jolin Elliott, C. R. Jenks, Henry Allen- stein, Henry Sharff, A. A. Smith, Thomas Kelsh, James Carr, John Kash, and C. E. Hayes. Prior to the existence of these two banks there was a private bank known as the Bank of Lamont, run by Oscar Tuttle. This institution went out of existence. More detailed sketches of these banks may be found in the second volume of this work.
The newspaper history of Lamont has just begun practically. The first issue of the Lamont Reporter was published on May 17, 1893, by E. D. Alexander. The paper was a weekly, run every Wednesday. In 1900 JJ. F. Davidson came into control of the paper and changed its name to the Lamont Leader. This is also a weekly paper.
The City of Lamont was surveyed in April, 1886, by P. H. Warner and the płat was filed for record December 14th of that year. A petition was presented to the court on October 4, 1892, by William Quick and others, asking that the town be permitted to hold an election for incorporation. This was granted and on November 22, 1892, the people voted to incorporate the town.
The water plant of the eity was proeured in 1908 and was the first public utility. It was built by publie subscription and cost about $5,000.
The lodges in Lamont are very numerous for the size of town, but are all strong. There is a lodge of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen, Wood- men of the World, and Mystic Toilers. All of these orders have the ladies' auxiliary. A number of clubs are maintained among the women also, the prin- eipal one being the Tourist Club, for the study of literature.
The main industry of the city is the Lamont Cooperative Creamery, estab- lished in 1898.
The school building in Lamont is a structure about ten years old, and is con- venient and adapted to the latest style of school architecture. An efficient corps of teachers is maintained here every year.
MIDDLEFIELD TOWNSHIP
Middlefield Township was regularly organized and set off as a separate town- ship on September 21. 1858. Following is the order of the county court :
"Be it known, that on this twenty-first day of September, 1858, on petition of Philetus Mackey and Albert Risley and others, a new township in said county is hereby constituted and formed, consisted of the thirty-six sections of con- gressional township 88, range 7, and in accordance with the wishes of the inhabit- ants thereof, it is ordered to be styled Middlefield. Signed, Stephen J. W. Tabor, eounty judge."
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
The first election was held at one of the schoolhonses in the fall of 1858 and the following officers were elected : G. Smith, R. Stoneman and M. Broadstreet, trustees; Daniel Leatherman, assessor and constable.
SETTLEMENT
The first settler in Middlefieldl was Patrick M. Dunn. Hle located in the southeast part of the township on April 2, 1850. Ilis location was in the center of a heavy mass of timber, on the banks of Buffalo Creek. He was a native of Kings County, Ireland, having been born there in the first year of the nine- teenth century. ITis companions in the forest when he settled here were mostly Indians and wild game. Food was the big question with him, as with hundreds of other pioneers, and he often traveled two weeks continuously to Quasqueton after meal with which to make bread for his family.
Daniel Leatherman and his family were the next to settle in this township. They came June 2, 1854, and settled on the prairie, living in their covered wagons until a home was built. A few aeres were broken this year and a little sod corn raised, also a patch of watermelons. His was the only house built out on the prairie and probably the first frame structure in the township. The stage road from Dubuque by way of Coffins Grove to Quasqueton passed by their house, and this was the only house on the line, a distance of twenty-three miles. At night a light was placed in the east window of the upstairs of the house, so that travelers from Coffins Grove might be guided. It is said that when Leather- man first came to the township he put in most of his time teaming between Dubuque and Quasqueton, a distance of seventy miles. Most of the lumber with which he built his house was drawn from the Town of Dubuque. Leather- man was one of the first magistrates of the township.
R. Stoneman settled in the township in 1855 and was Leatherman's first neighbor. Ile lived here about ten years and then went to Kansas.
George Smith was another pioneer who came about the same time as Leather- man. He also removed to Kansas after the death of his wife, eight years after his coming. Ile was a Wesleyan minister and held the first religious services in the settlement.
William Broadstreet became a settler of the township in 1854, not far from Leatherman's place. Ile afterward removed to Liberty Township.
A Mr. Me Williams settled in the township in June, 1854, coming from the State of Ohio. Ile lived here until 1865, when he moved to the southern part of the state. His son Ilenry was killed in the same battle in the Civil war in which Leatherman's son met his death.
Stillman Berry came to the state in May, 1855, and settled first at Quasqueton, but in the same year bought land in Middlefield Township. He was a native of Maine.
MISCELLANEOUS
A cemetery company was organized here about 1874. The grounds had been used previously for the burying of the dead, but the association was not formed until the above year.
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
A postoffice was established here in about 1872 and L. P. Stitson was the first postmaster. The office was called Middlefield.
The birth of Edward L. Leatherman on April 4, 1855, was the first in the township.
The first wedding was that of Willard S. Blair and Permelia Ann Leather- man on June 24, 1855.
The first religious services ever held in the township were by Rev. G. Smith in 1855, in the schoolhouse which had just been built.
The first crop raised in the township consisted of turnips, raised by Patrick M. Dunn, also a little sod corn and a few potatoes. Dunn also raised the first wheat in 1851.
The first school taught in the township was in a honse which Leatherman and several others had constructed, and the first teacher was Malinda Gageby, later Mrs. Samuel Braden. The house was paid for by subscriptions, and in this same way the teacher received her remuneration. Henry Blank, A. Scott, R. Stoneman and Nancy Merrill also taught in the early schools of this town- ship. The second schoolhouse was built near Stillman Berry's place, in about the center of the township.
The first entry of land in Middlefield Township was made by Patrick Dunn.
NEWTON TOWNSHIP
Newton Township was organized by the following order on July 20, 1854: "It is ordered by the court that township 87, north, range 7 west, in this county, be and is hereby set apart as a new township, to be called Newton Township. This order to take effeet on the third Monday in July next and not sooner. Signed, O. H. P. Roszell, County Judge."
The first election was held the first Monday in August, 1854, at one of the schoolhouses in the south part of the township. Andrew Whisenand, Charles Hoover and Nathan Holman were appointed by the court as judges of election. The following township officers were elected: Charles Hoover and Reuben C. Walton, justiees; Jesse MePike, Andrew Whisenand and Charles Hoover, trus- tees; Charles MePike, assessor; Amos Long, clerk; and Green Berry, constable.
SETTLEMENT
The first permanent settler in the township was Joseph Austin. In the spring of 1845 he built a cabin in the vicinity of a good spring at the timber edge. Austin lived here until 1853, when he moved to Cono Township. He fought for the Union in the '60s.
Reuben C. Walton was the next to settle here in the spring of 1847, on section 33, in the south part, near Austin's home. A spring which flowed near to his home was afterwards known as the Walton Spring. Walton was one of the first magistrates of the township and is said to have performed the first marriage ceremony.
W. H. Harris and W. Ogden, with their families, settled here in 1851 near the Austin place. These men remained only about two years.
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
Charles Hoover first came to the state in April, 1851, and stayed for a short time at Quasqueton. Hle then came to this township. llis nearest neighbor lived at a distance of four miles from his home. Hoover was noted as a deer hunter, bagging fifty-seven in fourteen months.
Martin (. Glass settled in Newton in the year 1849 and bought out the inter- ests of Austin, the first settler. He lived in this township for three years, then moved into Cono.
Jesse MePike settled here on April 28, 1853. He also bought the Austin place, with its noted spring, and here remained until his death on August 25, 1875.
Henry M. Holman came here in 1851, settling first in Cedar County.
Andrew Whisenand settled here in 1851 on the property later owned by Renben C. Walton. He was one of the organizers of the township and was one of the first judges of election. He was also a township trustee and one of the pioneer Methodists.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES
The first religious meetings held in the township were by the Methodists, at the house of Reuben C. Walton, about the year 1853. Sammel Farlow was the preacher. Services were held at the house of Iesse MePike also.
The Christian Church was organized here in 1853 with some fifteen mem- bers, among whom were II. N. Holman and wife, S. Payton and wife, P. Payton and wife, William and Thomas MeKee, and Nathan MeConnell.
These two churches have since passed out of existence in this township.
St. Patrick's Catholic Church was first organized in 1856. Services were first held in a log schoolhouse, but in 1870 a large church structure was put up and also a pastoral residence. These are at Monti. Among the priests have been Fathers Slattery, Shields, Ghosker, Malone and Clabby. The church now mahers about sixty families and is the only church at Monti.
The Protestant Methodist Society was organized here in 1858 at the Hoover schoolhouse with abont twenty members. The church is now in good condition at Newtonville and has about sixty-five members.
FIRST SCHOOLS
The first schools of the township were maintained by popular subscriptions. The very first school was held in 1848 in the south part of the township, near the place of the first settlement, and was taught by Ned Bartly. Ile had ten scholars in his first class. Mr. Harris shortly afterwards donated the use of a loghouse for the school. In 1850 Reuben C. Walton and several other men got together and built a log schoolhouse in which classes were held for a number of winters. Samuel Calvin, later a professor in lowa University, taught the first school in this house. A few years later the district built a good house on this old site. There was also a house built in the eastern part of the township. Besides the early teachers above mentioned there were Mrs. Geiger, Charles MePike, A. Henry, George Francis and Charles Moore.
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ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH, MONTI
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HISTORY OF BUCIIANAN COUNTY
MISCELLANEOUS
The first death in the township was that of a daughter of James Brown, and granddaughter of Jesse Melike, in September, 1853.
Leonard Austin was the first white child born here, his birth occurring in the winter of 1847.
The first wheat in the township was raised by Joseph Austin in the year 1846.
The first wedding was that of Isaac Arwin and Jane Holman in 1855. Charles MePike was wedded to Jane Ramsey about the same time. Reuben C. Walton condueted both of these ceremonies.
The first store in the township was kept by J. S. Long in the south part of the township on HI. M. Holman's farm.
A postoffice was established here and named Newton Centre in the summer of 1855, in the south part of the township, near where the first settlements were made. The first postmaster here was Ulysses Geiger, and after him were R. C. Walton, Turner Cartright and R. Downs. In 1873 the office was transferred to the center of the township and Sammel Hoover was appointed postmaster. This office is now at Newtonville.
A cemetery was established in the south part of the township in 1853. Jesse MePike donated the land. The first burial here was Mrs. Long. Charles Hoover had a private burying-ground near his home in the early days. In 1880 there was a cemetery association formed with James Ironsides as president, W. King, treasurer, and Samuel Hoover, secretary. A cemetery was established near the Catholic church in the east part of the township in 1856 and this is now known as the Catholic Cemetery of St. Patrick's.
The old postoffice at Newton Centre was afterward called Newtonville, but has been abolished. The Village of Newtonville lias been seriously handicapped by the laek of transportation facilities, and consequently has never reached a stage of development. There are one or two lodges there and one church, the Wesleyan Methodist, described elsewhere in this volume.
The same might be said of Monti. There is one church there, the Roman C'atholie, presided over by Father Donaghey. This society was organized in this vicinity about twenty-five years ago, but was never very active until ten years later. In the late '90s a church building was ereeted, the interior being one of the finest in the county. A parsonage was also erected for the pastor.
Neither of these towns have a postoffice at present, but are supplied by rural free delivery.
PERRY TOWNSHIP
Perry Township was organized as an independent township on February 17, 1853, by order of the county judge. This order follows:
"Ordered by the County Court, that townships 89 and 90 of range 10, Buchanan County, and also the west tier of sections in township 90, range 9, and sections 6 and 7 and west half of sections 18, 89. 9, be, and the same are hereby, separated from Washington Precinct in the same county, and shall, until further orders, form a separate preeinet, to be called Perry Precinct ; and all orders, so far as they conflict with the above order, are hereby revoked."
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
Several changes have since been made in the township. Township 89, 10, was set off by itself March 5, 1855, under the name of Alton, now Fairbank; and the west tier of seetions in 90, 9 was attached to Superior, now Hazleton. Subsequently, the part belonging to 89, 9 was severed, leaving a square town- ship of thirty-sex seetions.
The first election was held at the home of John Cameron, on April 4, 1853. Ilenry Bright and W. S. Clark were elected as justices of the peace; Charles Melrose, Gamaliel Walker and John Il. Anderson, trustees; and W. S. Clark, elerk.
EARLY SETTLEMENT
The first settler in the township is said to have been Charles Melrose, a Scotchman, who came from Fort Wayne, Indiana, with his family, in June, 1849. He entered land, but some error was made in his entry and found that he had claimed land near Jesup. Hle did not think that land in that locality would ever be valuable. so he procured the aid of Senator G. W. Jones and a special act of Congress was passed, by the terms of which he vacated his entry and placed it in the section he had originally intended.
During the same year that Melrose came, Gamaliel Walker settled in the northwest part of the township, near Littleton. He was undoubtedly the see- ond settler in the township, if Melrose was the first. James Minton came with Walker and continued to live with him until his marriage, which happened soon after his arrival. He then moved to Fairbank, where he stayed for a number of years. He later went to the State of Kansas.
John Cameron settled in the northeast part of the township, in September, 1850. Ile came from the State of Indiana. Six daughters came here with him. Mr. Cameron became a very prominent citizen in the township and county. He assisted in the organization of two Methodist Episcopal churches, filled the office of county supervisor for two years, and was a member of the Masonie order. He was a farmer by trade. The first religious services ever held in the township were conducted at his house.
Martin Depoy and family came to the township in 1850. He had entered his land here the previous year. He was a Virginian, but went to Ohio when six years of age and while there married a sister of John Cameron. Ile then resided for several years in Indiana, finally coming to Iowa and living at Jesup, where he condneted a grocery.
II. S. Bright settled near Littleton in 1850. Jacob Slaughter was another early settler in this district. James Shrack came to the township in 1851, accompanied by his family, and settled in the northwestern part of the town- ship. He was noted as an expert hunter and trapper.
The life of the early comers to this township differed very little from that of the men in the other townships. The mill at Quasqueton, twenty-five miles distant, was the only one within reaching distance. The first store of any kind was kept by Sufficool & Marshall in 1856, at the present town of Little- ton. Sufficool afterward sold out his interest to John Cameron. The colony in this vicinity once made up a purse between them and dispatched John Cameron to Dubuque for groceries. Upon this trip it is said that Mr. Cameron brought the first plow to the township.
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Methodist Church Catholic Church Baptist Church Presbyterian Church
High School
HIGH SCHOOL AND CHURCHES OF JESUP
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
The first hotel was owned and operated in Littleton, by B. C. Hale, and the second one was a mile north of Jesup, kept by Mr. Boardman on the state road. The early doctors were MeGonigal, Allen and James Muncy. The first post- master was Charles Melrose and John Cameron was the first mail carrier. It is said that the first mail consisted of three letters. The first wedding in the township was held at the house of John Cameron in 1852, and the principals were Martin Campbell and Emeline Cameron. Squire W. S. Clark performed the ceremony. A daughter of Isaac Spencer was the first white person to die in the township. The birth of Naney Melrose on April 1, 1850, was the first in the township. The first bridge constructed in the township was across the Wapsie at Littleton. It was built of wood. The first wheat raised in the town- ship was grown by John Cameron, Martin Depoy, Gamaliel Walker, Jacob Slaughter and Charles Melrose. These men cooperated in raising this first crop. They cut the erop with eradles and sent to Clayton County for a machine to thresh it. J. R. Jones put up the first grain elevator in the township. The first school elass was taught in Jesup, at the house of R. S. Searls. William Boss was the first depot agent.
JESUP
The beginning of the town of Jesup may rightly be said to have occurred with the building of the Illinois Central Railroad through this territory in the year 1860. The small village of Barclay, located in Black Hawk County to the west, was relocated at Jesup at this time.
The first store in the town of Jesup was kept by R. S. Searls and this gentle- man also did duty as the postmaster. He also is said to have shipped the first earload of stock from the town. The first blacksmith was A. Grattan. A Mr. Marvin probably kept the first hotel: he located before the railroad was put through.
The history of Jesup has been an interesting one. The town has, with the exception of Independence, grown more rapidly than the others in the county, due in no small part to its excellent location on the railroad and the close proximity to Independence and Waterloo, Black Hawk County, alike. This town is equally as good a shipping point as the county seat and the amount of trade condueted through it is larger in proportion.
Of the earlier history of Jesup there are just a few points which stand out. It is true that in the '80s and '90s there was a company of militia in existence here. It was Company I of the First lowa National Guard. The company was organized February 17, 1877, with F. C. Merrill, captain ; H. J. Wolfe, first lieutenant ; and C. C. Smith, second lieutenant. The company was composed of about sixty volunteers.
A shirt factory also existed in Jesup in the spring of 1880, owned by R. and II. Cook.
The town of Jesup was incorporated as a city on March 8, 1876. The first officers were: John Anderson, mayor: G. E. Marsh, recorder; H. M. Gray- ton, G. O. Marsh, Murat. Sayles, E. Parker and I. A. Stoddard, trustees. Fol- lowing Anderson as mayor came the following: II. M. Crayton, C. Hoyt, James Dalton, I. C. Underwood, James Dalton, R. L. Bordner, C. L. Bright, R. L. Vcl. J- 1X
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