History of Buchanan County, Iowa, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 116

Author: Williams bros., Cleveland, pub. [from old catalog]; Riddle, A. G. (Albert Gallatin), 1816-1902
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Cleveland, Williams brothers
Number of Pages: 574

USA > Iowa > Buchanan County > History of Buchanan County, Iowa, with illustrations and biographical sketches > Part 116

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NEWTON.

This township is situated in the southeastern part of the county, and bounded on the south by Linn county, and on the east by Delaware.

ORGANIZATION.

It was set apart as an independent and separate town- ship on the twentieth day of July, 1854, as evidenced by order of the county judge, which is as follows:

tt 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 effect on the third Monday in July next and not sooner.

O. H. P. ROSZELL, County Judge.

ELECTION.

The first election was on the first Monday in August, 1854, at a school-house in the south part of the town- ship. Andrew Whisennand, Charles Hoover and Nathan Holman, were appointed by the court judges of election, and the township officers elected at that time were Charles Hoover and Reuben C. Walton, justices; Jesse McPike, Andrew Whisennand and Charles Hoover, trustees; Charles McPike, assessor; Amos Long, clerk ; and Green Berry, constable.

The present officers are John Gunn and John B. Pot- ter, justices; H. C. Rowe, Owen Ward and H. A. Wil- liams, trustees ; John B. Potter, clerk; Isaac Holman, assessor ; W. H. Ball and Louis Sauer, constables.

SETTLEMENT.

Joseph Austin was the first permanent settler, building a cabin in the spring of 1845 near a beautiful and large spring in the timber, which, to this day, bears his name. When he first came he was an unmarried man, but in 1846 he married a lady from Linn county. He entered the land upon which he lived. He lived here until 1849, when he sold to Martin C. Glass, who remained until 1853 and then moved to Cono, where he resides. Austin, from Linn county, went to Sac City, lowa, thence to Nebraska, where he now resides. He was a native of Ohio. He has four children- Leonard, Almiria, Phoebe, and Mary. He volunteered in our late civil war and was a brave soldier. He passed through the whole war, coming out unharmed.

Reuben C. Walton was the next to settle here, in the spring of 1847, in the south part, on section thirty-three, near Austin's, and also near a large spring that bears his name-Walton spring. He continued to reside there for nearly twenty years, then sold out with the intention of settling in Kansas; but there became dissatisfied, and returning, bought a place near where he first settled, and now resides there. He had thirteen children, ten of whom are now living. He had a boy in our late war, who

died in the service. Mr. Walton was a native of Ohio, coming from about the same locality with Mr. Austin. Mr. Walton and family came to lowa in 1845, stopping for a short time in Linn county. He was one of the first magistrates and married the first couple in the township.

W. H. Harris and W. Ogden, with their families, set- tled here in 1851, near where the first settlement was made by Mr. Austin. They did not remain but about two years. Mr. Harris is now living in Waverly, Bre- mer county.

Charles Hoover came to this State in April, 1851, and stayed a short time at Quasqueton ; but the same summer settled on the land now owned and occupied by him. He is a native of Ohio. When he first came and set- tled here the nearest neighbor was four miles away. He has had thirteen children, five living, whose names are as follows: Nancy, married to a Mr. Stout, and lives in Cono township; Samuel, a farmer, and lives in Newton; Jane, married to John M. Carson, and now resides in Kansas; Adam, a farmer in Newton ; James, married and lives in Cono; his three sons, Samuel, Adam and James, are among the most prosperous in the county. In early days Mr. Hoover was a great hunter, and kept about him a fine pack of trained hounds, and used to follow the swift-footed deer over the prairie and through the timber, furnishing the settlers with plenty of good venison. Since he came to this State he has killed here fifty-seven deer. His manner of travelling while hunting was invariably afoot. The lynx was also quite common in those days, which he frequently killed. At one time when he was out hunting he saw a lynx in a tree and fired upon it; but it still remained in a crotch of the tree. Thinking it might be dead, he climbed the tree, when, as he came near it, he noticed its glaring eyes, as if in in the act of leaping upon him. Then he thought dis- cretion was the better part of valor and immediately re- turned. Again he opened fire upon him, and this time he was dislodged and fell to the ground, where he was quickly dispatched by the dogs. Mr. Hoover has thirty- eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Martin C. Glass settled here in 1849, purchasing the interest of Joseph Austin, and becoming the owner of the Austin Spring. He lived there only three years, and then moved into Cono, where he now resides. He pays a large portion of his attention to orcharding, and raises some very fine varieties of apples. There have been in his family twelve children, eight of whom are now living. He lost one boy in the army. He can now gather about him eight children, twenty-nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.

Jesse McPike settled here on April 28, 1853. He came from Indiana, but is a native of Tennessee. He purchased the place, where the first settlement was made by Austin, near the famous spring, and lived there up to the day of his death, August 25, 1875. He was a sol- dier in the War of 1812. He and his good wife lived to- gether for sixty years and two months. They had twelve children, five of whom are now living, whose names are as follows : William, who lives on the old homestead, and has a large family ; J. W. McPike and Charles live in Linn county; Charlotte, married, and resides in Indi- ana; Jane C., married Green Berry, and is living in Linn county, Iowa. Mr. Pike was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and one of the first trustees of the township. His wife, Mary McPike, is now living on the old place, at the advanced age of eighty-three years. She has five children living, thirty-two grandchildren and thirty-one great-grandchildren.

Henry M. Holman came here in 1851, but moved to the State in 1852, settling first in Cedar county. He still lives on the same farm, where he first settled, in New_ ton township. Mr. Holman was born in Woodbury county, Kentucky, March 16, 1805, living there until he was twenty-one years of age, when he went to Indiana, and there married and lived until he came to Iowa. He had five children-Sarah, married to J. S. Long, and liv- ing at Troy Mills, Linn county; Susan, who died when quite small; Isaac, married and living in Newton town- ship, is now assessor and one of its farmers ; Nancy, mar- ried to Isaac 1. Arwine, who volunteered in the late war, and was killed in battle. He had two children, and his widow lives with Mr. Holman; Catharine, married to Levi Birney, who died in the army. She afterwards mar- ried a Mr. Thompson, of Fayette county, and now lives there. Mr. Holman is a member of the Christian church, and an elder in the same. He seems to be quite a genius. Without serving any apprenticeship whatever, he built the house he lives in, doing all the work himself, does his own blacksmithing, even to the making of the necessary tools to do the work with. In his early days he was quite a hunter, spending much time in pursuing the deer and other game.

Andrew Whisennand settled here in 1851, on the property where Reuben C. Walton now lives; was born in Kentucky May 19, 1813, and moved to Indiana when a mere child. There he grew up and married, and con- tinued to reside until he moved to Iowa. When he came here he had a family of five children ; has had twelve in all, four now living, whose names are: Stephen H., who lives in Newton; Nathan H., living at home; Rebecca, married to John McClure, and Jemima. He had three sons in our late war, two of whom died in the service. He was one of the early organizers of the township, being one of the first judges of election, appointed by the court at the first election. He was also one of the township trustees and a pioneer Methodist.

GAME.

Bears were seen in the township, but we could not learn that any had ever been killed here. Deer were very plenty, and were a source of profit to the pioneer.

There were also a large number of lynxes, that excited fear among the people, on account of their ferocity. Wild-cats and turkeys were also sometimes killed. The principal hunters here were Charles Hoover and Nathan Holman; but of late years the larger game has disap- peared, and the smaller is scarce. These Nimrods have both become old men, but are yet living in the township. They have disposed of their dogs, hung up the rifle, and devoted their attention to farming; and their farms have the appearance of thrift, enterprise and good husbandry.

FIRST CHILD.

Leonard Austin was the first white child born here, in the winter of 1847; and he first saw the light of day near the beautiful spring, near which his father made the first settlement in 1845, and which now bears his name. Leonard has grown to manhood, and is now living in Nebraska.

The first wheat in the township was raised by Joseph Austin in 1846.

SCHOOLS.

The pioneer schools of this township were supported by voluntary contribution from the people. The first school was held in 1848, in the south part of the town- ship, near the place where the first settlement was made, and was taught by Ned Bartly, with ten scholars. The use of a log house was donated to the school by a Mr. Harris. In 1850 Reuben C. Walton and five others built a log school-house, in which they had a school taught a number of winters. Samuel Calvin, who is now professor in lowa university, at lowa City, taught the first school in this house. A few years after this, the district built a good house on the old site, which is now standing. There was also one built in the eastern part of the township. Among the early teachers were Ned Bartly, Samuel Calvin, Mrs. Geiger, Charles Mclike, A. Henry, George Francis and Charles Moore. There are now eight schools in the township.

FIRST DEATH.

A daughter of James Brown (a granddaughter of Jesse McPike) was the first who died in this township, in September, 1853.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

The first religiona meeting of any kind held in New- ton township was by the Methodists, at the house of Reuben C. Walton, about the year 1853. Samuel Far- low was the preacher. They had also frequent services at the house of Jesse McPike.

The Christian church was organized here about 1853, with some fifteen members, among whom were H. N. Holman and wife, S. Payton and wife, P. Payton and wife, William and Thomas McKee and wives, and Na- than McConnell. The present preacher is Milton Mc- Kee. The society owns a house of worship, and has a membership of eighty persons.

St. Patrick's Catholic church was first organized in 1856. They had services for some time in a log house, but in 1870 a fine large church was built here, as also a two-story pastoral residence. Among their priests have been Fathers Slattery, Shields, J. G. Ghosker, and Malone.

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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.

The present priest, who has been in charge ten years, is Patrick Clabby. The whole property belonging to the church is probably worth one thousand dollars. There is a large membership connected with this church- eighty families.

The Protestant Methodist organized here a society in 1858 at the Hoover school-house, with some twenty members. They now have a good society and have services at the Centre school-house. Rev. M. H. Noe is the present preacher.

CEMETERIES.

A cemetery was established in 1853 in the south part of the township. Jesse McPike donated the land and the first burial there was that of Mrs. Long.

Charles Hoover had a private burying-ground on his land near his house, but, in 188o, a cemetery associa- tion was formed, with James Ironsides president, W. King, treasurer, and Samuel Hoover, secretary.

A cemetery was established near the Catholic church in the east part of the township about 1856, and there are in it some fine monuments.

RIVERS, CREEKS, ETC.

The Wapsie river passes through the southwest corner of the township; Buffalo creek through the northeast part, and Carpenter creek through the centre. There are several other small streams in the township.

POST OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS.

A post office was established here and named Newton Centre in the summer of 1855, in . the south part of the township, near where the first settlement was made; and the first postmaster was Ulyses Geiger, and after him were R. C. Walton, Turner Cartright and R .. Downs. In 1873 the office was transferred to the centre of the town- ship, and Samuel Hoover appointed postmaster. The present incumbent is William Bruce.

FIRST STORE.

The first store kept here was by J. S. Long, in the south part of the township, on H. M. Holman's farm ; but there is nothing of the kind there now. There is a little village, south of Newton township, in Linn county, called Troy Mills that accommodates many of the people in the township with opportunities for making pur- chases, etc.

THE FIRST WEDDING.

The first wedding that was solemnized in this town- ship was that of Isaac Arwine and Jane Holman, daughter of H. M. Holman, about the year 1855. Mr. Arwine volunteered as a sodier in our late war, and died in the army in the service of his country. Charles Mc- Pike was married to Jane Ramsey about the same time. These parties were married by that early pioneer, Reuben C. Walton, esq.

TIMBER, ETC.

The timber, for the most part, is in the northeast, along the Buffalo creek; and also in the southwest corner, along the Wapsie. There are probably five and one-half sections in all, together with native groves. In the timber and near the large springs the early settlers, Austin and Walton, built their first modest log house.

SHEEP-WOOL-GROWING.

James Ironsides, living in the western part of the township, commenced raising sheep in 1856, with a small Rock he took on shares from a neighbor. He now has a flock of six hundred. They are of the large breeds, and are in a very healthy condition. He finds them as profitable as any stock on his farm-he raises large numbers of cattle.

BREEDER OF FINE CATTLE.

John B. Potter commenced the breeding of Durham cattle here in 1872, with a full blooded imported bull. He has now on his farm here a herd of thoroughbred Durham animals. His sales have been quite large. During 1880-SI he sold ten good ones at one hundred dollars each. He finds it a very pleasant and profitable business.

PRODUCTIONS.

The principal productions are corn, oats and hay. Considerable attention has been paid by the farmers to cattle, hogs, sheep and horses. The only large flock of sheep in the county is owned here by James Ironsides.

There are some large farms here, and among them those of J. B. Potter, six hundred acres ; James Ironsides, six hundred and fifty acres, and Charles Hoover, five hundred and fifty acres.

ORCHARDS.

There are in the township some orchards, although yet quite young, but yielding to the owners quite a large amount of fruit; the most noticeable are those of Patrick Smith, Patrick Durham, R. C. Walton, Adam Hoover and H. M. Holman.

In the early days the inhabitants were subjected to many deprivations-some living for weeks upon hulled corn. As there was no market, their farm produce did not bring but a small price. Nathan Holman, one of the early settlers, when he first came here rented land in Linn county, and the place where he raised wheat was fifteen miles, and corn five miles ; and that distance he went for the purpose of taking care of this crop. He frequently went to Anamosa, some thirty miles away, for a load of corn.

SPRINGS.

There are, in the south part of the township, near where the first settlement was made by Austin and Wal- ton, two beautiful and never-failing springs, already mentioned ; one is called the Austin spring, and the other Walton spring. These are what attracted those early settlers. The water is clear and pure, bubbling up from the depths below; never ceasing in its flow or los- ing its purity. Here the Indian and his dusky mate have often bowed and drank from these pure silver fountains; and, having slaked their thirst, have uttered a silent prayer of gratitude to the Great Spirit.

John Bolton was born June 18, 1821, in the county of Granville, Canada West, where he resided till 1864, when he came west and located in Newton township. Mr. Bolton was engaged in farming in Canada, which occu- pation he has ever since followed. He purchased one hundred and sixty acres of wild prairie in Newton, built a house, and made many other improvements. He lived

- NOSS END

John May -

Mr. John McCay, deceased, was born in Antrim county, Ireland, May 4, 1815. In that country he spent his childhood and early manhood days. In the year 1847 he came to America to share its liberal institutions and make his future home. His first three years in this country were spent in the employ of a physician in New York city, at the expiration of which time he went to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and engaged as a laborer on the farm of a merchant with whom he remained two years. On the eleventh day of June, 1852, he married Miss Ann Robison, a lady of Irish birth, born in Fer- managh county, in 1826, and came to America in 1850. Immediately after their marriage they came to Iowa and purchased eighty acres of land, where Mrs. McCay still resides, in section one, Newton township, this county. They were among the first substantial settlers of this county, and among the few who held to the plow and did not look back. To their first purchase they have added different tracts of land, till the farm consists now of three hundred and sixty acres. It is beautifully located, and is of the finest soil the west affords. Dur- ing Mr. McCay's life time he devoted this farm princi- pally to the interests of stock-raising, learning its profits exceeded that of farming. In the year 1879 he built one of the finest farm residences in the county, costing over four thousand dollars. But, sad to say, fate decreed that he should enjoy it only seven short months. On the thirty-first day of July, 1880, while engaged in

reaping with a four-horse team, they became frightened and threw him in front of the guards, where he was so mangled that he died in two weeks afterwards. Thus ended the career of a man whose life was a beacon of hope to the poor man, and a model to the church. He was a man, who, by his own exertions, wrung from the hard hand of toil one of the finest properties in the west. When he first became a citizen of this county his only possessions were about three hundred dollars. But with his and his wife's combined efforts they won for themselves a fortune that classed them not only among the well-to-do farmers of the county, but among the wealthy citizens of the State.

Both Mr. and Mrs. McCay were earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal church, which relation Mrs. McCay still sustains. They commanded the highest re- spect of the community, and Mrs. McCay still lives to enjoy it, while Mr. McCay only lives in the memory of his many friends and acquaintances, who will thank Mrs. McCay for the mark of respect she has displayed for him, and the favor she has conferred upon them, by hav- ing the above portraits in this work. Of Mrs. McCay, we are pleased to state, she is a woman who has always had the will and dare to do, as the event of her com- ing to this country alone, when only a girl, testifies. She is a lady whose morality, friendship and generosity can- not be excelled.

Эт Мевач

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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.

here till 1872, then exchanged his farm for the one upon which he now resides in the same township. It contains two hundred acres. He erected the centennial house he now occupies in 1876. It is well situated and is finely surrounded with a natural grove. He also has a young orchard. Mr. Bolton is engaged in mixed farming, keeps quite a stock of cattle, horses and hogs, and is consid- ered one of Newton's successful farmers.

He was married October 5, 1849, to Miss Mary Rich- ards, of Elizabeth township, in the county of Leeds, Canada West. They have had seven children: Marion M., born July 15, 1850; William H., born January 27, 1852; George W., born November 19, 1859; Francis E., born March 20, 1862 ; Anah B., born December 3, 1867; Mary E., born February 1, 1870; John N., August 24, 1854. John died in infancy.

Mr. and Mrs. Bolton are members of the Wesleyan Methodist church. Politically Mr. Bolton is. a Repub- lican, has held several offices in the township, and is a worthy citizen. He was married the second time to Sarah Howarth, of Cook county, Illinois, January 11, 188 г.

William N. Walton, the subject of this sketch, was born March 28, 1852, in Linn county, Iowa, where he resided till 1872, when he moved to Newton township and rented a farm till the spring of 1880; though he had bought the farm he now lives upon the previous year. His farm contains one hundred and sixty acres of excel- lent land, also twenty acres of timber. He has a very pleasant home, and is evidently enjoying life. Mr. Wal- ton was married October 20, 1872, to Miss Isabel Hoo- ver, of Newton township. They have four children : Charles, born September 23, 1873; Alva N., born June 1, 1875; Ida I., born July 15, 1877; Esther S., born February 16, 1881. Mr. Walton is a Republican, and has often been solicited by his fellow townsmen to hold places of trust, but has always refused.

William H. King was born December 27, 1835, in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, where he lived till he was about four years of age, when he moved to Knox county, in company with his parents, and resided there eight years; then moved to Wyandott county, living there about eight years, being engaged in various occupations. His next move was to Illinois, where he worked one year in his father's carriage shop; then went to Black Hawk county, Iowa, where he lived five or six years and was employed as a carpenter the greater part of the time, till he came to Newton, and settled upon the farm where we now find him pleasantly situated, enjoying a home made by hard and industrious labor. His farm contains one hundred and sixty acres of good land, also forty of tim- ber. He is engaged in mixed farming; keeps quite a stock of cattle and hogs, and is a successful farmer. Mr. King was married September 21, 1857, to Miss Delilah C. Cochonour, of Ohio. They have had six children, five of whom are living; Emma E., born September 13, 1858; Joseph W., born September 29, 1860; Nettie E., born December 17, 1865; George N., born January 1, 1868; Mary L., born September 25, 1870; Rachel C., born April 26, 1871. Emma died when about fourteen

years of age. Mr. and Mrs. King are members of the Methodist Protestant church. Mr. King is a Republi- can, has held several offices; has been trustee, school director, and is held in high esteem by all who know him

Thomas Moody, one of the early pioneers of Buchan- an county, was born December 21, 1826, in England, and emigrated to America in 1853. His early years were spent on a farm, being engaged in the dairy bus- iness chiefly. Immediately after landing in New York he went to Niagara county, and settled in Middleport, where he resided two years, then came west, locating in Quasqueton, where he lived for a time, being employed in various occupations. He then came to Newton town- ship, where he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty aeres, and resided upon this twenty years. In the meantime he made many improvements and built up a pleasant home. He sold out in 1875, and came upon the farm where we now find him pleasantly situated. His farm contains two hundred acres of excellent land. He built the residence he now occupies in 1877. It is well located and is one of the most pleasant places we have yet visited. Mr. Moody married Miss Eliza Car- penter, of Bath, England, in 1849. They have had four children: Thomas W., born June 8, 1854; John H., born February 17, 1856; Eliza A., born October 23, 1859; Mary J., born August 4, 1863. Mary died in infancy.

Samuel Hoover, one of the early residents of Buchan- an county, was born December 2, 1836, in Harrison county, Ohio, where he remained till he was fourteen years of age, when he came to lowa, in company with his parents, and settled in Newton township, where he has ever since resided. He has a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres of prairie and twenty of timber. He built the residence he now occupies in 1861, though he did not complete it until 1869. It is a beautiful place and is well surrounded with a grove of maple and poplar. All the improvements now existing have been made by the hard and industrious work of Mr. and Mrs. Hoover, and they now enjoy a fine home as a reward of their efforts. Mr. Hoover was married, February 23, 1860, to Miss Hulda Cummings, of Ohio. The have had seven children, five of whom are living: Junius P., born December 3, 1860; Mary E., born February 21, 1863; Martha M., born August 17, 1865; Janetta S., born September 9, 1867; Rosa, born November 29, 1871; William J., born September 16, 1875; Byron J., born October 7, 1877. Rosa and William died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Hoover are members of the Wesleyan Methodist church. Politically, Mr. Hoover is a Republican, and has held office the greater part of the time since he became of age; has been township clerk, treasurer of school board, also secretary and mem- ber of the same; has been postmaster seven years.

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History of Buchanan County, Iowa, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 116

Author: Williams bros., Cleveland, pub. [from old catalog]; Riddle, A. G. (Albert Gallatin), 1816-1902 Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Cleveland, Williams brothers Number of Pages: 574

Author: Williams bros., Cleveland, pub. [from old catalog]; Riddle, A. G. (Albert Gallatin), 1816-1902
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Cleveland, Williams brothers
Number of Pages: 574