USA > Iowa > Butler County > History of Butler County, Iowa: a record of settlement., Volume 1 > Part 34
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YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION
In January, 1914, a Young Men's Christian Association was organized at Shell Rock by Vernon Neal and Earl Johnson. The new society has secured rooms in the old News block and later on will complete its organization by the election of officers.
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GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC
Shell Rock Post, No. 262, Grand Army of the Republic, was organized at Shell Rock in 1883, with twenty-eight charter mem- bers. The old veterans held meetings for some years but, by rea- son of death in the rank and file, removals and other causes the membership dwindled away until scarcely a corporal's guard could be gathered together. This led to the disintegration of the society and about twenty years ago regular meetings were dis- continued. The first officers of the society were: J. F. Wright, commander; E. M. Dudley, vice commander; J. W. Walter, Jr., V. C .; W. W. Murray, Surg .; B. Pierce, Chap .; L. H. Meade, Q. M .; W. J. Re, Officer of the Day; George Adair, Officer of the Guard; J. R. Gibson, Serg. Maj .; J. A. Morrison, Q. M. S .; L. T. Bristol, Adjt.
MASONIC
Escallop Lodge, No. 261, A. F. & A. M., was organized April 22, 1869. The first officers were: Asa Lowe, W. M .; Julius Preston, S. W .; G. C. Hawley, J. W .; E. W. Metzger, Treas .; J. G. Scoby, Sec .; O. S. Eastman, S. D .; Charles Hitchcock, J. D .; Alonzo Coastes, Tyler. This is one of the strong lodges of the town and has a good working membership. Its hall is nicely located and well appointed and the paraphernalia is quite an expensive one.
ODD FELLOWS
Shell Rock Lodge, No. 270, I. O. O. F., was organized January 26, 1874, with the following officers: F. Mason, N. G .; R. D. Prescott, V. G .; L. F. Bristol, Sec .; J. D. Powers, Treas .; J. Mul- len, O. G .; J. H. Meade, I. G. This lodge is also in good condition as to its finances and membership.
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS
Imperial Lodge, No. 283, Knights of Pythias, was organized August 13, 1891, with the following charter members: F. O. New- comb, William Ross, William H. McGregor, George E. Tabor, Will F. Brown, Jim Carter, F. M. Mansfield, E. L. Jones, H. E.
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Fourtner, O. C. Miner, all of whom were the first officials: T. L. Williams, E. J. Moyer, George A. McIntyre, I. W. Morris, F. E. Thorp, W. H. Smith, George E. Hammonds, William H. Jenks, T. S. DeWitt, W. C. Thompson, J. H. Carter, Phil Pray, George E. Meade, J. W. Wheat, V. L. Olney, Robert Richardson.
Harmony Temple, No. 30, Pythian Sisters, was organized August 10, 1893. The first officials were: Carrie Mansfield, Hat- tie Tabor, Ella Smith, Sadie Nelson, Parthena Hammonds, Lil- lian Carson, Kate Jenks, Mary Bement, Kate J. Carter, and in addition to these, other charter members were: Minnie Jones, Minnie Wilcox, Celesta Carson, Julia Cain, Lillian Wheat, Nettie Meade, Emma Miner, Baldwin Cain, C. M. Carson, J. H. Carter, W. F. Brown, W. H. Jenks, George W. Jones, C. P. Bement, George Hammonds, E. D. Wilcox, Jim Carter, F. M. Mansfield, George Meade, William Wheat, W. H. McGregor, W. H. Smith, W. L. Nelson.
MODERN WOODMEN OF AMERICA
White Oak Camp, No. 2418, Modern Woodmen of America, was organized July 28, 1894, with the following charter members: Robert S. Connor, Mayrand R. Farr, Abb Medders, Pat McCoy, Francis K. McCague, John H. Poorman, Emil Sebastian, William A. Willis, De Witt C. Fyler, Wilhelm Vosburg, William C. Wil- son, Charles Winchell.
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CHAPTER XXX
WEST POINT TOWNSHIP AND BRISTOW
West Point township is one of the four central townships of the county and contains the present county seat. From an agri- cultural point of view, it is one of the most desirable portions of the county, there being no marked differences in the elevation of land. Its surface is rolling and there is practically not a foot of. soil that is not available for cultivation. A small stream known as Kilson's creek, rises just a little north of the center of the township and flows south into the West Fork. Another small creek rises in section 23 and drains the extreme southeastern part of the township.
Near the southern line of section 36 in this township along the banks of this creek there are several mineral springs, situated in a sort of peat bog. The water of these springs has been analyzed and is said by experts to be of a quality equal to that of the famous Colfax springs. The land on which these springs is located was formerly a part of the Iowa Central Stock Farm and at one time the Messrs. Stout, of Dubuque, owners of this farm, seriously con- sidered the advisability of developing the resources of these min- eral springs. Nothing, however, came of that project. These springs were discovered by accident through the miring down of a horse, ridden by an employe of the stock farm. Later these springs were boxed in and the water was piped to several large tanks, which were used for watering cattle in the pasture in which they were located. Since that time no further effort has been made to utilize the water of these springs and at the present time nothing remains to mark their location, except the rotted tanks and enclosures of the springs. They are easily located, however, by the sulphurate deposits which are found in the . stream near at hand. It is possible that at some time advantage will be taken of the presence of these mineral springs.
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The soil of West Point township is a rich black loam, with a clay sub-soil. Originally there was no native timber within the limits of the township. At present, however, the township is dotted with artificial groves in such numbers and profusion as to make it appear almost like a naturally timbered country. Refer- ence has already been made to the grove of artificial timber on the Iowa Central Stock Farm. There is also a fine artificial grove known as Walnut grove on sections 21 and 22.
A person traveling through West Point township will be impressed by the large number of magnificent farm homes, evi- dencing better than anything else could the excellent quality of the soil of this section of the county. The towns of Allison and Bristow are both situated partly within the limits of this town- ship. They are connected by the Chicago Great Western rail- road, which furnishes a commercial outlet for the products of the township. The western side of the township approaches within a short distance of what was formerly known as Boylan's grove. This was, as has already been stated, the location of the first settlement in this part of the county. As a result, the earliest set- tlement of West Point township commenced in this district in the western part.
EARLY SETTLEMENT
The first entry of land in the township was made by H. P. Early, on May 2, 1854. Other early entries were as follows: Samuel Moots, August 21, 1854; W. W. Willingham, August 21, 1854; W. H. Sarber and Adam H. Sarber, October 2, 1854; and Elizabeth Rush, November 1, 1854. All these entries were made in sections 18 and 19.
Philip Miller and George Lash were the earliest settlers of West Point township. They were brothers-in-law and came to the county in the fall of 1854. Mr. Miller preempted eighty acres of land on section 20. He is the father of W. P. Miller, at present a resident of Allison, and owner of the Pilot Rock Stock Farm, in section 22.
Samuel Moots first located on section 19. Later he became a resident of Pittsford township. John Lash, William and Adam Sarber, mentioned above, and Seth Strong were among the set- tlers in the township in the year 1854.
In 1855 Lewis Kilson and John Hewitt located in the town- ship. Mr. Kilson was a native of Norway and came to America in
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1838, landing in New York city on the first day of September. He came west by way of the Hudson river to Albany, Erie canal to Buffalo and by boat across Lake Erie to Cleveland, by the Ohio canal to Portsmouth, and on the Ohio river thence to Cincinnati on a flatboat. From Cincinnati he went after some months to Quincy, Illinois, by water and settled in Adams county, Illinois, where he remained for about twelve years. After a short resi- dence in Wisconsin, he returned to Illinois and in 1855 came to Butler county. He entered two hundred and forty acres of land in West Point township, upon which he lived to the time of his death. Several children, among them Frank S. and Charles G., are still residents of the county.
John Hewitt settled on section 19. He had several children and was related by marriage with the Moots, Boylan and Early families, all of them early settlers.
In 1856 Charles V. Surfus came to the township from Indiana. He first settled on section 18 and later removed to section 30, on a farm which still remains in possession of the family.
Among other early settlers were Robert Smith, William Gough, George Trindle, Hiram Bell, Charles Thompson and Joseph N. Neal.
William Gough first settled on a farm in Dayton township in 1853. Later he removed to a farm on section 4, in West Point township. Mr. Gough was a native of England and was well known as an early preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Two sons, Joseph J. and Thomas A., are still residents of the township and are noted at length in the biographical volume.
Hiram Bell is the father of Walter S., John A. and George H. Bell, all of them still residents of the township.
Charles Thompson, a native of England, was for several years the superintendent of the Iowa Central Stock Farm. Later he purchased a farm on section 33, where he resided to the time of his death. His sons, Charles H. and R. E., are at present residents of Allison. Another son, Will, resides on a farm in the town- ship.
Joseph N. Neal was at one time the owner of over one thou- sand acres of land situated on and near section 16.
TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION
West Point township was originally a part of Ripley, which at the time of its formation included the greater part of the western
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half of the county. In 1856 West Point township was organized including at first the present boundary of Pittsford township. In 1858 Pittsford was given separate organization and West Point assumed its present limits. John Lash was duly authorized to call an election in West Point township, as now bounded, on the 5th day of April, 1858. The name of Seth Strong appears as judge of election at this time. John Hewitt was elected township elerk, C. L. Jones, constable, and Seth Strong, justice of the peace.
GENERAL ITEMS
The first birth recorded in the township was that of Orrin Lash, son of George and Mary Lash, born in November, 1855.
The first marriage occurred in January, 1856, between Seth Strong and Miss Mary Cannon. Justice of the Peace W. R. Jami- ยท son officiated on this occasion. The death of Mrs. Strong was the first recorded in the township.
The first hotel was kept by John Lash, in a log house built by him in 1854. This was near the present site of Bristow.
IOWA CENTRAL STOCK FARM
This stock farm, which at one time comprised more than two thousand acres of land and was one of the best known farms in the state, was originally owned by R. A. Babbage, of Dubuque. It included all of sections 35 and 36, West Point township, and section 1, Ripley, and portions of a number of adjoining sections. This land was purchased originally as a matter of speculation by Mr. Babbage, who sent Charles Thompson out to open it up and put the land on the market. Later Mr. Babbage decided to make a stock farm of it.
Mr. Thompson remained as superintendent of the farm until 1871, when he was succeeded by Ira Stimson. About this time a village called Maudville, in honor of a daughter of Mr. Babbage, was platted on sections 35 and 36. A store and blacksmith shop were built here and sold to M. B. Hendricks, of Butler Center, who commenced building on it but never finished. The build- ing was later removed to Butler Center and finally to Allison. A newspaper, the Maudville Times, was published here for about a year, having been moved to this location from Parkersburg,
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where it was conducted under the name of the Butler County Times.
Later Mr. Babbage failed in business and the Iowa Central Stock Farm passed into the hands of H. L. Stout, a Dubuque capitalist and lumberman. Mr. Stout, in January, 1875, secured the services of Irving M. Fisher as superintendent. Mr. Fisher remained as superintendent of this farm until it was finally sold in 1891, at which time he purchased the half section, upon which most of the farm buildings were located. Mr. Fisher is still resid- ing upon this farm.
During the period of the ownership of the farm by H. L. Stout and his son Frank D., who was associated with his father in busi- ness, the farm became famous as the home of the finest strains of blooded stock. It has sometimes been termed the "Lexington of the Northwest," for upon this farm there were developed a num- ber of famous trotting horses that were known throughout the country.
For many years before the establishment of the town of Allison this farm furnished a market for much of the grain that was raised by surrounding farmers. One of the most interesting features of the farm was a deer park, consisting of a number of acres of artificial woodland, in which a number of deer were kept. This was for a number of years a favorite resort for sightseeing parties and picnics. This herd of deer was sold after the disposal of the farm to Austin Corbin, a New York banker, and by him transported to his preserve in Vermont.
EDUCATION
Originally the western half of West Point township was united with the eastern half of Pittsford township in a single school district. The schoolhouse was located in Boylan's grove. There were at that time no settlers in the eastern part of the township and no necessity of providing school facilities. Later when the township was given separate organization the whole township constituted a school district. The first school in the township was taught during the winter of 1859-60 at the house of Thomas Hewitt, by Miss Mary A. Rich, with an attendance of about fif- teen scholars. The schoolhouse at that time stood about a mile east of what is now Bristow.
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The first division of the township was made on September 16, 1867, when it was resolved by the board to divide the township east and west into three equal parts, making them two miles wide and the whole length of the township and numbering them in order from north to south. During the succeeding winter, how- ever, only one school was maintained-that in district No. 2 in the building already in use for that purpose. The proposition to appropriate $800 for building a schoolhouse in district No. 3 was defeated by the board in March, 1868. In May, 1868, the first term of school in district No. 1 was held, with M. A. Park as teacher. The sum of $16 a month was paid for teacher's service. This school was held in a rented room for the purpose.
In March, 1869, the electors voted at the annual meeting to tax the township for the purpose of building a schoolhouse in district No. 1. A schoolhouse for district No. 3 had previously been pro- vided by action of the board in September, 1868. The contract was let to Isaac Boylan and the building was constructed on one- fourth of an acre secured from C. L. Jones, on section 30. The first school in this district was taught in January, 1869, by Ed F. Jones. In February, 1869, sub-district No. 3 was divided and a new district known as sub-district No. 4 was formed from sections 25, 26, 27, 34, 35 and 36. This action was taken in accordance with a petition signed by Charles Thompson and others. The first school in this sub-district No. 4 was taught by Richard Gon- zales, in the winter of 1870-71.
In September, 1869, a site for a schoolhouse in sub-district No. 1 was obtained from Robert Smith on section 7. At the same time sub-district No. 2 was divided and a new sub-district, No. 5, formed of the eight sections of the eastern end of the former dis- trict. The annual meeting, however, in the spring of 1870, defeated the proposition to build a schoolhouse in sub-district No. 5. They, however, appropriated the sum of $600 for erecting a schoolhouse in district No. 4, previously formed.
In April, 1870, a contract for erecting a schoolhouse in dis- trict No. 1 was let to Ancel Durand for the sum of $530. This building was completed and accepted August 22, 1870.
In September, 1870, sub-district No. 1 was divided by setting off the four sections on the west to be known as No. 1 and the balance-eight sections-forming a new sub-district known as No. 6. The first school in district No. 6 was opened on the 24th of April, 1871, with Carrie A. Gough as teacher.
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The records of the annual meetings would seem to indicate that the electors were loath to tax themselves for school building purposes. As a result no school was held in sub-district No. 5 until November, 1872, when H. R. Burtch was employed as teacher. District No. 4, being without a school building, was without a session of school from July, 1871, to December, 1874.
On September 16, 1872, a new sub-district known as No. 7 was formed between districts Nos. 3 and 4, consisting of four sections. The first school in this district was taught by Susie Trindle, in the winter of 1874-5.
On September 21, 1874, the four sections of the eastern end of sub-district No. 5-sections 13, 14, 23 and 24-were set off and numbered as sub-district No. 8. The first teacher in district No. 8 was Frank A. Turner.
A final sub-division of the township into nine districts, each consisting of four townships, was made on the 20th of September, 1875. At that time the sub-districts were renumbered in order, beginning with No. 1 in the northwestern part of the township, and numbering south. According to this former district No. 7 became No. 4; No. 4 became No. 9; and a new district formed of sections 1 and 2, and 11 and 12, was numbered 7. The name of the first teacher in the new sub-district No. 7 is not given. The organization of the township into independent sub-districts was continued until 1877, when by vote of the electors of the township the sub-district system was abandoned and nine independent dis- tricts, with the same boundaries as the sub-districts, were formed under the following names: District No. 1, Pleasant View; No. 2, Bristow; No. 3, Pleasant Grove; No. 4, Pleasant Valley; No. 5, Walnut Grove; No. 6, Brushy Mound; No. 7, German; No. 8, Richland; No. 9, Maudville.
The last entries in the record book of the secretary of the district township were made on the 17th of February, 1877, at which time he reported the final distribution of the funds of the school township among the independent districts into which it had been divided.
At a later date the Bristow district was expanded to include a portion of Pittsford township. After the establishment of the town of Allison, the Maudville district was incorporated in the independent district of Allison. The other independent districts of the township remained without change in their boundaries to the present time.
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POPULATION
1856, 230; 1860, 111; 1863, 131; 1865, 155; 1867, 155; 1869, 235; 1870, 320; 1873, 437; 1875, 516; 1880, 800; 1890, 1,033; 1900, 1,506; 1910, 1,439.
BRISTOW
A tract of land containing ten acres was laid out and platted in 1855 by Henry Early and George Lash. The name chosen for the coming village was West Point. The name was subsequently changed to Bristow.
Bristow is located on the south part of section 18 and the north part of section 19. The town is very pleasantly situated, being in the midst of a fertile farming section and has two rail- . roads, the Chicago Great Western and the Chicago & Northwest- ern. The population is 550, about sixty of whom live in that part (small) of the town lying in Pittsford township.
Julius Huffman erected a small frame and log building in the new town in the year 1860, in which he placed a small stock of general merchandise. He was Bristow's pioneer merchant. Mr. Huffman, after a two years' experience, concluded the place was too slow in a business way, which led him to pack up his chattels and move to Cedar Falls.
James Butler was the successor to Julius Huffman in the business activities of Bristow, embarking in the sale of groceries, dry goods and other necessaries which he displayed in a small residence building purchased in 1866. He also remained but a short time, selling his stock of goods to H. J. Playter in June, 1868. Playter conducted the store until 1871 and then removed to Butler Center, at one time the county seat, a town planned and platted for a metropolis, but now extinct. After his hopes failed of fruition at Butler Center and at Aplington, Mr. Playter returned to Bristow in 1875 and again engaged in business. But the fates seemed to be antagonistic, for in 1877 he made a final deal which terminated for all time his business career at this point. Eventually, H. J. Playter became station agent for the Dubuque & Dakota (now Chicago Great Western) railroad, and continued as such several years.
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The firm of Colvin & Arnold opened a general store in 1872. Mr. Colvin withdrew his interests in the venture in 1874 and
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started a similar establishment for himself. He sold out in 1880 and removed to Plainfield, in Bremer county. His former part- ner became associated with L. L. Hatch and the firm of Arnold & Hatch soon acquired a large and remunerative trade from the surrounding country, which was then becoming quite thickly set- tled.
Doboys Brothers was the name of a general merchandising firm which began business in 1878, but could not make arrange- ments with its creditors. The stock of goods was placed in the hands of an assignee and sold to satisfy a moiety of debts incurred.
E. M. Havens opened a store with a variegated stock of goods and made a success of the undertaking. He remained in busi- ness many years and became an important factor in the affairs of Bristow; so did H. A. Wheeler, in 1882. He was for a long while engaged here as a general merchant and attained a fair degree of success in the business.
The first persons to engage in the manufacture and sale of harness comprised the firm of Kocher & Lichty. The business was started in 1878, when Mr. Lichty retired and Mr. Holz took his place as a member of the firm; another harness and saddlery concern about this time was that of Hoffman & Laster, which came from Waverly and remained two years; then the firm of Hultz & Connelly was formed in 1880, which carried on a harness shop until C. L. Jones superseded Hultz, when the firm name was changed to Jones & Connelly.
The hardware firm of Kocher & Kocher, father and son, came into existence in 1879: D. F. Ellsworth opened a drug store in 1880; a Mr. Hepner opened the first blacksmith shop and remained until 1865, being followed by Barnett Neal, who remained one year; one Wagoner was here a short time; then came James Con- nelly from Canada in 1869, who plyed his forge until 1882, when he sold his shop to G. G. Coonley, who had been kept busy in another shop since 1876; Henry Underkafer opened a shop in 1879. The two last named artisans became permanent fixtures.
W. P. Smith was the pioneer lumber dealer here. He sold his stock of lumber to the firm of Dubois & Kenison in the fall of 1881. Horace A. Wheeler was a general merchant of 1882.
The "Farmers Home" was opened in the fall of 1863 and the host, George Trindle, entertained the traveler until 1870, selling
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his property that year to Joseph Merrill and removing to a build- ing on section 31.
John Weeks opened a tavern in 1865, in a log building erected by George Lash in 1856. Weeks disposed of the property to F. A. Jones in 1869, who catered to his patrons until 1878. In the latter year Jones put up a better and more commodious building, which took the name of the Jones House. The hostelry was rented to F. A. Newberry, who was its landlord for many years.
The Eagle House was built and opened by E. J. Stoddard in the autumn of 1878. In 1880 William Refsnider became pro- prietor. Stoddard took back the hotel in 1880 and in 1882 closed its doors to the public.
BRISTOW INCORPORATED
The district court issued an order on the 16th day of Novem- ber, 1881, appointing and directing a commission composed of H. J. Playter, S. B. Wyrick, R. B. Lockwood, James Connelly and L. L. Hatch, to call an election in which the voters of the village of Bristow should decide by their ballots the question of incorporation. Pursuant to instructions the commissioner called the election for December 15, 1881, at which time a majority of the local electorate cast their ballots for the innovation. On the 10th day of January the first regular municipal election was held for the selection of officers of the new legal government and the choice of the voters fell upon the following named persons: T. E. Newberry, mayor; W. F. Early, recorder; J. N. Kocher, treas- urer; S. Kenison, marshal; John Boston, street commissioner; William Arnold, J. W. Kocher, James Connelly, A. W. Hitch- cock and S. Gibson, trustees. It is said a tie developed in the vote for mayor, the contestants being Mr. Newberry and Mr. Durand. The unusual problem was solved by a mutual agree- ment between the interested persons in the following manner: An unknown number of apples was placed in a box and, as decided upon, the last apple remaining and taken therefrom settled the matter; so it may be said that an apple decided the election of Bristow's first chief executive.
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