USA > Iowa > Butler County > History of Butler County, Iowa: a record of settlement., Volume 1 > Part 23
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TOWN HALL
The building erected here for town purposes is not an impos- ing affair and it is highly probable that not many years will be permitted to pass before a modern city hall takes its place. Pos- sibly three decades ago the town hall was built, a two-story frame, and this has been the meeting place of the council. The ground floor has been devoted to the fire department and its apparatus.
WATERWORKS SYSTEM
In 1896 the question of constructing a system of waterworks and issuing $7,000 in bonds to cover the cost of the proposed improvement was submitted to a vote of the citizens, and was car- ried by a substantial majority. Before the expiration of the year the work of drilling wells, erecting a tower and tank and laying mains was completed, the outlay overreaching the bond issue only by $500. Since then probably $20,000 additional has been expended, in the extension of mains, building of a steel tower and tank and repairs. Power for pumping is furnished by the elec- tric light plant. Clarksville is now blessed with a good supply of pure water and the citizens feel comparatively safe from any serious conflagrations.
ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER PLANT
The town of Clarksville does not own or control the lighting plant established there. This is a private concern, built in 1895 by William Buchholz and later sold to H. S. Boutin. In the
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year 1913 the utility went into the hands of local capitalists, chief among whom is A. D. Van Meter. The industry gives a fair measure of satisfaction, although the service is not continuous.
FINANCIAL
The oldest financial institution in Clarksville is the Butler County State Bank which, from its inception, has had the confi- dence and support of the community and contiguous country to the present time. The bank was started in 1871 as a private concern by M. B. Wamsley, Jeremiah Perrin, James Butler, A. Slimmer, N. B. Ridgeway and Samuel McRoberts as principal stock- holders, having a capital of $50,000. The first officials were: Malon B. Wamsley, president; Jeremiah Perrin, vice president; Louis Slimmer, cashier. This new departure in Clarksville's make-up began business under the name of the Butler County Bank and so continued until 1881, when Louis and A. Slimmer secured full control of the stock and for a number of years the Butler County Bank of Louis Slimmer & Company was the depos- itory for funds of the community. In 1891 a building was erected on the corner of Main and Poisal streets, which was the home of the bank until 1882, when the present headquarters, a two-story brick, was erected and occupied on the corner of Main and Supe- rior streets. On the first day of November, 1909, under a charter secured according to the Iowa banking laws, this financial concern was reorganized and took the name and title of the Butler County State Bank, being capitalized at $40,000. The incorporators were Louis Slimmer, Bascom Wamsley, C. G. Burling, W. F. Ray, O. C. Perrin, A. L. Asher, C. H. Ilgenfritz, A. J. Ilgenfritz, Fred Seitz and others. First officials: Louis Slimmer, president; C. H. Ilgenfritz, vice president; O. C. Perrin, vice president; Fred Seitz, cashier; W. L. Asher, assistant cashier. Directors: Louis Slimmer, C. H. Ilgenfritz, B. Wamsley, Fred Seitz, C. G. Bur- ling, W. L. Asher, W. F. Ray, O. C. Perrin. The last report, at the close of business on January 28, 1914, shows a capital stock of $40,000; undivided profits, $3,324; deposits, $395,834.
Believing Clarksville a good point for a second bank, J. H. Hickle, George A. Stewart and others incorporated the State Sav- ings Bank July 6, 1908, with a capital stock of $25,000. A one- story brick building was erected the same year, in which the bank is now conducting its affairs. The first officials were: J. H.
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Hickle, president; F. H. Brockmann, vice president; George A. Stewart, cashier. Mr. Hickle retired from the presidency in Jan- uary, 1914, and to fill the vacancy F. H. Brockmann was elected by the directorate. In December, 1912, by reason of Mr. Stew- art's retirement, William M. Roberts was elected cashier. Cap- ital, $25,000; deposits, $50,000.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
In the same year that Butler county became an integral part of the state as a separate organization, or in other words, in 1853, Thomas Clark and wife, George Poisal and wife and Jeremiah Clark and wife assembled in the comfortable home of Thomas Clark and formed a Methodist Episcopal society. Before this diminutive gathering of the faithful, Reverend Ingham preached the first sermon in the town of Clarksville. Thereafter services were held at the homes of members and the organization grew apace. With prosperity and strength in membership came the need and desire for a suitable house of worship, so in the year 1864 a church edifice was erected, a frame 24x48 feet, at a cost of $2,000. In connection with the society a Sunday school was organized soon after the church was established, which has grown to no little importance with the passage of time. The attendance has now reached an average of seventy, while the membership of the church is 160.
Recognizing the need of a more modern and commodious build- ing, the board of trustees caused to be built in 1905 a new house of worship. This is a frame structure and was dedicated Decem- ber 17, 1905. On the lot adjoining the church stands the parson- age. The names of pastors serving this charge is hereto appended :
Reverends Ross, Ingham, Gough, Burleigh, Holbrook, Swear- ingen, Henderson, Thompson, Larkin, Waterbury Smith, Moore, Gould, Sherman, Murphy, Webster, Smedley, Littler, W. W. Smith, Wolf, Shumaker, McKee, John W. Hancher, 1883-84; A. S. Cochran, 1884-87; J. R. Cameron, 1887-89; E. R. Leamon, 1889- 90; J. K. Shiffer, 1890-91; T. O. Kent, 1891-93; B. C. Barnes, 1893-95; Daniel Sheffer, 1895-97; W. N. Brown, 1897-99; E. B. Downs, 1899-1900; F. T. Heatly, 1900-02; T. A. Trimble, 1902-05; H. H. Barton, 1905-07; W. E. Ross, 1907-12; A. W. Smith, 1912 -.
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Christian Church
Presbyterian Church
Methodist Episcopal Church
German Lutheran Church
CHURCHES OF CLARKSVILLE .
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Reverend Smith also preaches every Sunday afternoon at the Methodist church at Packard, where there is but a small member- ship, although they own a church building.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
The Presbyterian church of Clarksville was organized at the home of David Blakely, who was the first pastor, in September, 1854, the initial members being Samuel McCreery and wife, Mrs. Emily A. Strong and David Blakely and wife. Soon thereafter additions were made to the society in the persons of William Pringle and wife, John M. Moulton and wife, James Ford, Matilda. Hilton, W. H. Van Dyke, John Stevenson and Samuel McRob- erts. Services were held in the schoolhouse until 1867, when under the pastorate of Rev. George Graham, a house of worship was erected. The building was a frame, 28x44 feet, had a seating capacity of 160 and cost $2,500. The same year witnessed the establishment of a Sunday school. Reverend Graham's pastorate here was a remarkable one, extend- ing throughout a period of thirty-three years. Honored by years of faithful service and the love and veneration of his people, this noble character was called to his final reward October 28, 1900, and five years later the partner of his joys and sorrows followed him. The Graham children are still residents of Clarksville and mem- bers of the church, which has prospered with the years and now has a handsome house of worship, which took the place of the old one in 1911. The new temple was dedicated July 28, 1912. The cost was $9,000. The manse was built in 1903, at a cost of $2,000. Present membership, 130; attendance at Sunday school, sixty-five. Successors to Reverend Graham in the pulpit: James T. Wiley, several years; Charles Ticknor, two years; E. O. Tick- nor, a brother of the former pastor, four or five years; H. W. French, eleven months; the present incumbent, W. H. Sinclair, since 1907.
CHRISTIAN CHURCH
The Christian church of Clarksville, organized in the late '80s, is an outgrowth of the church established at Antioch on the 5th day of July, 1857. At the time of the organization of the society at Antioch William Barnard, P. Barnard, James Hodgson, Eliza- beth Hodgson, Hannah P. Davis, Clement N. Burton, T. A.
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Taylor, Sarah Taylor, Mary Kinsley and Mary P. Burton became members. Many of these people moved to town. To these names were added during the first year the following: John Kimmins, Cynthia Kimmins, Francis Pro- basco, Malinda Hodgson, Christopher Billhimer, Barbara Bill- himer, Mary Barnard, Lydia G. Barnard, Alex March, Charles S. Martin, Samuel March, Abram March, Eliza March, Thomas Houck, Elizabeth Houck, Sarah P. March, Rachel Burton, James M. Burton, Esther A. Taylor, John Farlow, Eliza- beth Brown, Mary H. Brown, James R. Taylor, George H. Bur- ton, Alfred Brown, William R. Taylor, Nancy M. Taylor, Mary Rothrock. The organizing minister was T. R. Hansberry, who remained in charge one year. For some time following the church was supplied and among those who occupied this pulpit may be mentioned John Kane, N. E. Corey and N. A. McConnell. J. W. Moore came in 1865 as the regular pastor and remained four and one-half years. Then U. H. Watson accepted a call and worked in his field until 1870; during this time he also attended the churches at Shell Rock, Coldwater and Finchford. The year 1870 found J. W. Moore again presiding over this charge. This time his pastorate extended up to 1881, with the exception of one year spent in the cause in Linn county. During the interval Doctor Hunt had charge. A church building in Clarksville became necessary in the course of time, so many of the members having moved to town, and in 1889 the present house of worship was completed and occupied. Since then the building has under- gone alteration and to the west end of it an additional room has been attached. In this building Rev. George Devol was the first to preach as resident pastor. The names of his successors fol- low: Reverends Hodkinson, Platt, Rich, Rama, Johnson, Adams, Hollett, Nicols, America Sea (now Mrs. Holzschuh) and the pres- ent minister, T. H. Smithers, who came in the fall of 1913. All these clergymen have administered to large congregations at this place. At one time the church was one of the strongest in the county, having at times from four hundred to five hundred mem- bers. Even now the membership is in the neighborhood of three hundred.
UNITED BRETHREN
The United Brethren church was organized at Clarksville in 1887 by H. M. Galer, Mrs. William Warner and others, and was
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the outgrowth of a society formed in the country, which held serv- ices in the Excelsior schoolhouse, six miles north of Clarksville. Some time after the church was organized here the society bought the old Christian Union church, a frame building, where the mem- bers, now numbering twenty-six, have since attended services. Rev. H. M. Galer was the first pastor and ended his ministra- tion in one year. The names of his successors follow : Reverends Branson, one year; Job Baskerville, one year; A. King, two years. The first year of Reverend King's ministrations is notable from the fact that during a series of revival meetings held in the church, forty-seven members were added to the rolls. M. A. Moffett followed Reverend King as pastor, who remained two years. Then came Reverends Benson, one year; S. T. Beatty, one year; S. E. Long, one year; Blackburn, one year; W. M. Bundy, two years; W. M. Stice, two years; Rev. Mrs. Talbott, six months; Rev. Mrs. Nudigate; Varse, six months; Jennings, one year; F. J. Zike, one and one-half years; W. M. Hutchins; and A. F. Polk, in the fall of 1913.
GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH
The data necessary to prepare a sketch of the Lutheran church could not be secured in time for preparation for this work. However, it is known that the members are of the best citizens in Clarksville and some years ago erected a handsome house of wor- ship. At this time there is no regular pastor and the spiritual needs are being ministered to by a clergyman of the faith from Waverly.
LYNWOOD CEMETERY
A beautiful burial spot is that of Lynwood cemetery, situate just over the line in Jackson township. The lots and drives are laid out on a plan consistent with uniformity and the grounds are kept up in a manner satisfactory to the community at large. This sacred, silent city was dedicated for cemetery purposes according to an ordinance made and provided by the town council, which is recorded in its archives. The first body to be interred here was that of Daniel, a son of Dr. A. F. Tichnor, April 3, 1878. Lyn -. wood cemetery covers a space of forty-three acres and was pur- chased of Louis Slimmer for the nominal sum of $1,000.
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PUBLIC LIBRARY
The library now patronized by the people of Clarksville came into existence in a small way many years ago and was taken over by the Library Association of Clarksville, organized in 1877. The first officials were: President, J. R. Jones; vice president, Mrs. C. M. Mitchell; secretary, J. P. Reed; financial secretary, Mrs. E. A. Glenn; treasurer, Hettie Laus. At first the books were only accessible to members, who paid a certain initiation fee and annual dues. The institution is now conducted on a more liberal basis and maintains a large collection of standard and popular books. The patronage is gratifyingly large, which means that the people of Clarksville have inclinations for literary pabulum that must be liberally served.
FRATERNAL ORDERS
Butler Lodge, No. 94, A. F. & A. M., was organized June 3, 1857, and is the oldest association of men in the county. The lodge has held together all these years and its history would make interesting reading if given in detail, as many of the prominent men of Clarksville have been initiated into the mysteries of its tenets and work. Names of the charter members and first offi- cials follow: A. J. Lewellen, W. M .; Thomas Clark, S. W .; Robert T. Criswell, J. W .; J. F. Newhard, Treas .; John Palmer, Sec .; G. W. Poisal, S. D .; J. R. Taylor, J. D .; A. Brown, steward; A. G. Clark, tyler.
In the history of Butler county published in 1883 mention is made of an Order of the Eastern Star having been organized December 27, 1873, and gave the following initial officers: John Palmer, W. P .; Mrs. Sue R. Caswell, W. M .; Mrs. E. C. Newman, A. M .; Mrs. Margaret S. Butler, treasurer; Mrs. M. E. Burton, secretary; Mrs. M. S. Glenn conductress; Mrs. A. B. Jones, associate conductress; Mrs. L. E. Roberts, warden; E. A. Glenn, sentinel; Mrs. Anna A. Ilgenfritz. Adah; Mrs. M. J. Burress, Ruth; Mrs. True J. Neal, Esther: Mrs. Estha Baker, Martha; Mrs. Charlotte T. Baker, Electa. However, on the lodge room walls hangs a charter, which indicates that the chapter must have lapsed at a certain period and was compelled to secure a new charter in order to revive its activities. The new lodge is Clarksville Chapter, No.
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144, and was organized October 3, 1894, by Mrs. H. Newman, Mrs. Nellie Shaw, Mrs. Hattie Copeland, F. J. Carr, Mrs. G. W. DeGraw, Lydia A. Hickle, J. P. Martin, Rosa Rhoades, L. Schel- linger, E. E. Tennyson, Ada B. Warren; Messrs. A. Newman, H. E. Copeland, Clark Carr, G. W. DeGraw, Thomas J. Hickle, J. P. Martin, C. G. Schellinger, J. W. Shaw, William Tennyson, Fred W. Warren.
Clarksville Lodge, No. 351, Independent Order of Odd Fellow- ship, was organized October 19, 1876, and is one of the strongest fraternal bodies in Butler county. The charter members were: J. P. Reed, Thomas Hunt, Charles Fitch, Dan McDonald, Albert Burtch, Peter Poisal and John Palmer. The first officers were: Charles Fitch, N. G .; Thomas Hunt, V. G .; J. P. Reed, P. S .; Albert Burtch, secretary; John Palmer, treasurer; Peter Poisal, warden; Dan McDonald, conductor. The lodge is prosperous and has a membership of eighty. An auxiliary code, the Daughters of Rebekah, was organized in February, 1914, with thirty charter members.
Clarksville Camp, No. 1976, Modern Woodmen of America, was organized May 8, 1893, and at one time was one of the largest and most progressive fraternal bodies in Butler county. But dissensions have arisen, mainly caused by the policy of the grand lodge, and at this time the Modern Woodmen of America stand upon uncertain ground as an organization. Names of the char- ter members follow: Hugh A. Boyd, George H. Clark, Charles S. Ford, R. Poisal, Byron L. Poisal, Charles E. Phillips, Willis E. Riden, William C. Smith, Allen G. Smith, Cyrus S. Vance.
Some time in the '80s a post of the Grand Army of the Repub- lic was organized in Clarksville, with a healthy list of members. But death has thinned the ranks of the Civil war veterans until they now can barely muster a corporal's guard. Their number has dwindled away to that extent, that for some years past the post has ceased to meet as a body. The Woman's Relief Corps, however, meets regularly at stated intervals in the lodge room of the Masons, and its members are quite active in looking after the interests of the surviving members of the post.
Vol. 1-18
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CHAPTER XXII COLDWATER TOWNSHIP AND TOWN OF GREENE
COLDWATER TOWNSHIP
Coldwater township is in the northern tier of townships in Butler county, bordering on Floyd county on the north. It is township 93 north, range 17 west, under the congressional survey.
It is drained by Coldwater creek, which flows through the township from west to east, and by the Shell Rock river, which crosses the extreme northeastern corner. Both Coldwater creek and Shell Rock river are bordered by timber and there are sev- eral other natural groves within the limits of the township.
Outcroppings of lime rock in the northern and eastern parts of the township give the soil a somewhat different character from that of other sections of the county. There is, however, prac- tically no waste land within its limits. Its farms are in a high state of cultivation and its production of crops is second to none.
From a scenic point of view the portion of the Shell Rock valley, which is included within the limits of Coldwater and Day- ton townships, is the most strikingly beautiful of any portion of the county. The river is in some places bordered by ledges of rock and heavily wooded bluffs, giving to .it a natural beauty that is unknown at other portions of its course where it flows through comparatively level prairie country. In the west- ern part of Coldwater township there is a range of hills, the highest point of which is called Mount Nebo. This rises rather abruptly above the surrounding country and although not the highest point in the county, is the most striking elevation of land within its borders. Tradition tells of the existence of a cave underneath Mount Nebo, of which a local writer has given a rather circumstantial description. The attempt to explore this cave is said to have been made in 1875. The account is as fol- lows :
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"This cave has been known for several years, and there are some legends connected with it. One is that it was once used as a place of habitation; another is that a mysterious well of great depth exists somewhere within its bounds. A few days ago a party went down to explore it, but all backed out but J. Dexter and Mr. Barker, whose curiosity was greater than their caution. The place of entrance was small, but they soon found rooms in which they could stand erect, and some from eight to twelve feet high. Passages from one room to another were usually small, some so small that the explorers found difficulty in passing from one to another. After visiting numerous rooms in search of the well and proceeding three or four hundred feet from the entrance, they returned without finding it. In several places there were supporting pillars, and along the walls resemblances to stalac- tites. The limits were not reached, and there is still room for adventurers to gratify their curiosity."
The only line of railroad penetrating Coldwater township is the Rock Island, which passes through the city of Greene, run- ning almost exactly diagonally through section 1 from southeast to northwest. The southern portion of the township is reached by rural mail routes from Bristow and Allison. For the rest of the township Greene is the only market and commercial outlet.
EARLY SETTLEMENT
For the accounts of the earliest settlements made in Coldwater township the historian is almost wholly dependent upon pure tradition. It is said that in the fall of 1852 two brothers-in-law named Lacon, or Laken, and Bennett settled on the banks of Coldwater creek, on section 13. Like many other nomadic pion- eers, these men remained in this location for only a year or so. All of them sold their claims to John Hardman and J. H. Miller and moved on to regions unknown.
In the spring of 1852 John Fox and his brother-in-law, Lum Coleston, located with their families in the vicinity of section 12. These claims were later sold to John M. Hart and John V. Boggs. John M. Hart was the first permanent settler of the townhip, locating on a farm in section 11, in 1853. On July 1st, 1854, Mr. Hart made the first entry of land in the township. On the same day John V. Boggs made an entry of land adjoining the farm of Mr. Hart which he held until January, 1856, when he sold it for
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SCENE ON THE SHELL ROCK RIVER, GREENE
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what was then the remarkable price of $16 an acre. Mr. Boggs purchased a farm in Dayton township, upon which he resided for a number of years.
James Griffith came to this section of the county in 1852, set- tling on claims in section 13, Coldwater, and 18, of Dayton. His cabin, however, was built just across the township line in Dayton township, so he missed by a few rods the privilege of being accounted the first permanent settler of Coldwater township. Mr. Griffith was the first county school fund commissioner. His son, W. A. Griffith, was a well known newspaper man in the early his- tory of the county. The latter has given the following account of the Indian scare of 1854 in this section of the county :
INDIAN SCARE OF 1854
"One stormy night in the month of June, 1854, when the rain was pouring in torrents and the thunder shaking the very earth, James Griffith, in Coldwater township, was aroused by a cry of distress, warning himself and family to flee for their lives, as the cruel Sioux were rushing on toward him, massacreing and scalp- ing his neighbors as they advanced. William Choate, his inform- ant, told him that he had no time to lose or his scalp, with those of his family, would soon be dangling from the belt of the savage warrior. Mr. Griffith, having no team by which to save his fam- ily, concluded to take them to the cabin of John H. Miller, who, being absent from home that night, had left his folks in Mr. Grif- fith's charge. On getting to Mrs. Miller's he found his neighbors all gathered there, preparatory to fleeing the country; but Mr. Griffith, having two families on his hands, persuaded them to halt, and there those brave men decided to face death, defend their wives and little ones, and sell their lives as dearly as possible.
"They stood guard all night, hourly expecting to hear the hideous yells of the unmerciful demons and the breaking in upon them, until at length, after a night of deathly terror, the welcome dawn appeared, when, still as the silent grave, the men gathered their loved ones, ready to flee a country where every bush. appeared to hide a lurking enemy, to a place of safety. John M. Hart, John V. Boggs and James Griffith decided to stand their ground and not run, but their neighbors told them if they wanted to expose themselves to certain death, they did not, and the greater part of the residents of Coldwater left-some of them
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never stopping this side of the Mississippi line, and some of them, I fear, are running yet, for they never came back. In the morn- ing John H. Miller, having returned home in the meantime, and James Griffith determined to risk their lives, ascertain the dan- ger and see to what extent the savages had devastated the country. They went up the river as far as 'Beelar's grove'-now Marble Rock-and found the citizens still in bed, unconscious of their danger; so they came back home and went down the river as far as 'Coon's grove'-now the village of Clarksville-for the pur- pose of organizing a band for self-protection, and just as they were about to return home M. M. Trumbull, now Colonel Trum- bull, of Dubuque, arrived from the frontier, greatly excited, and on being interrogated about the locality of the Indians he could not tell the exact locality, but that they were not far off. Some one asked, 'Are they at Rock grove?' His reply was, 'Nearer than that.' 'At Beelar's grove?' 'Nearer than that!' 'At Cold- water?' And his reply was, 'Gentlemen, I was on an Indian trail and saw their fires this side of there!' Horror! Think of our Coldwater friends! What agony arose in their breasts, to think that their homes were destroyed and all they held near and dear cruelly butchered or carried away captive. They accord- ingly mounted their horses and ran them home. When north of Flood creek they discovered the fires and marched straight to them; they proved to have been built by Mrs. Levi Burress and girls, who were washing on the banks of the Shell Rock river. They then came home and found everybody alive and well, which greatly relieved our heroes.
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