USA > Iowa > Butler County > History of Butler County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 19
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THE EARLY PASTORS
According to the quarterly conference record found at New Hartford, recorded by C. Spicer, recording steward for several years, the regularly appointed pastors of Beaver valley circuit in
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their order are: Rev. J. Connell, who served two years, then Rev. William Sibley, followed by Rev. B. F. Taylor, who served one year; Rev. George Murphy, one year. In the fall of 1862 came Elijah Kendall and during the fall of the following year the name of the circuit was changed to the New Hartford circuit and the territory was enlarged to include the country about Par- kersburg. Elijah Kendall was continued as preacher in charge for another year. In 1864 Rev. William Fawcett came on the charge and remained two years. Then came Rev. J. G. Wilkin- son.
CHANGE IN CIRCUIT
About this time, Oct. 13, 1866, it was planned to have the New Hartford circuit include Parkersburg as one of the regular preach- ing places. They had Methodist preaching once in four weeks. This plan was continued in the Illinois Central railroad depot and in the schoolhouse until the church was built in 1870. Rev. J. G. Wilkinson was pastor one year.
CHURCH IS INCORPORATED
On the 3d day of December, 1866, articles of incorporation of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Parkersburg, Towa, were duly made, and the following persons were elected as first trustees : of the society : J. L. Johnson, J. Dimmick, Cyrus Spicer, Joseph Hopley and J. L. Kemmerer. At this time there were eight appointments on the New Hartford circuit with preaching by the regular pastor only once in four weeks, but the local preacher often preached in these various places.
According to official records, the first quarterly conference of the Methodist Episcopal church ever held in Parkersburg was on June 8, 1868. Rev. E. Smith acted as chairman of the meeting. At that time Rev. E. Skinner, of Waterloo, was then presiding elder of the Cedar Falls district.
In the fall of 1868 Rev. W. A. Glassner was appointed to the charge, and the county history records show that in March, 1869. he organized the Methodist Episcopal class of Parkersburg, with the following members: J. L. Johnson, James Gillard, D. Jay, Cyrus Spicer, O. O. Spicer, E. B. Lamb, R. Daniels, C. Kemmerer, B. Bentley, F. C. Burdick, Jesse Owens, J. Goodale and others.
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The first officers were F. C. Burdick, James Gillard, J. L. John- son, C. Spicer and J. Goodale.
At the annual conference of the fall of 1869, which was held at Independence, Parkersburg and Aplington were constituted a separate charge, with Buck Grove and Daniels schoolhouse appointments. Rev. J. A. Kerr was appointed as pastor. At the beginning of the year the membership of the circuit numbered eighty-four.
FIRST CHURCH BUILT
The first Methodist Episcopal church was built in Parkers- burg during the summer of 1870 at a cost of $3,000. It was a good substantial frame building 56 feet in length and 36 feet wide. The Methodist Sunday school was organized in the summer of 1870 with J. Goodale as superintendent.
FULL LIST OF PASTORS
The pastors who served the Parkersburg charge from the time of building the first church until the present in regular succession are: J. A. Kerr, one year ; J. N. Platte, one year ; W. J. Mitchell, one year ; H. S. Bargelt, one year: George Elliott, one year; S. Sherrin, one year; A. H. Spronl, one year; J. G. Wilkinson, two years: J. M. Hedger, two years ; W. F. Barclay, two years; G. W. Ballou, one year: J. S. McIntyre, two years; H. B. Long, two years; W. H. Doner, three years: J. H. Hoskin, one year; J. G. Eberhart, one year: Walter Piper, three years; W. M. Lemen, four years; S. R. Ferguson, three years; N. F. Norton, three years: E. G. Hunt, 1906-11: Dr. A. M. McIntosh, 1911 to the present time.
During these thirty-five years since the erection of the first church building, the Methodist society has had a reasonable degree of prosperity. In 1871 Parkersburg was made a station with only one out appointment at Daniels' schoolhouse, since which time there has been regular preaching morning and evening. After two years the Aplington appointment was again added to the charge as an afternoon appointment and continued in this way until 1899, when it was dropped. Since that time Parkers- burg has been a single station. In 1875 a small frame parsonage was built at a cost of about four hundred dollars, which with improvements continued to be the pastor's home until 1894.
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ERECT OTHER BUILDINGS
While Rev. W. M. Lemen was pastor the old parsonage was sold and a new one built at a cost of about two thousand dollars. The church building was repaired and remodeled from time to time, but although it was made of good material and very well built, the society felt the need of a new church. During the pas- torate of W. S. Piper, from 1896 to 1899, an effort was made toward the erection of a new church. It failed because of the lack of funds. Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Wolf in 1901 realized that Parkersburg was greatly in need of a new Methodist church, as well as a public library. They were especially friendly to the Methodist church from the fact that Mr. Wolf was the son of a Methodist preacher. Accordingly, Mr. Wolf made the following proposition to the pastor and congregation :
WOLF'S MUNIFICENT OFFER
"We, C. C. Wolf and Mary Wolf, agree to pay to the Meth- odist Episcopal church of Parkersburg, Iowa, through its trustees the sum of $8,500 when the citizens of Iowa shall have subscribed and paid to the said trustees a like amount for the purpose of building a church and library as herein set forth, and further conditioned that no mortgage or encumbrance of any kind shall ever be placed on said property, and when site is selected and deed given, the said deed is to contain the said mortgage and encumbrance clause named above.
"(Signed) C. C. Wolf and Mary Wolf."
REV. N. F. NORTON'S GOOD WORK
Rev. S. R. Ferguson met with some encouragement, but on account of ill health and for other reasons the project was aban- doned. In the fall of 1902 Rev. N. F. Norton was appointed to the Parkersburg charge with the expectation on the part of the presiding elder and conference that a new church would be built. Soon after the arrival of the new preacher a new church building was talked by some of the members, but for several months the pastor said but little. It was felt by all, however, that something must be done soon. The old elmich was cold and leaked badly. It was evident that the old building must be repaired at considerable cost or a new one erected.
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Upon consultation with Mr. Wolf it was learned that his propo- sition held good for another year. In March, 1903, a meeting of the trustees was called at the parsonage and by unanimous vote it was decided to accept the generous offer made by Mr. and Mrs. Wolf. A committee composed of the pastor, J. Knipe, and M. F. Edwards was appointed to secure the necessary subscriptions on the part of the church. The work was commenced at once, although the weather was inclement and the roads muddy. At the end of two months it was found that the amount subscribed exceeded $8,500, and steps were taken at once to secure plans and specifications for the building, including $2,000 for books and reading matter for the library.
PLANS ARE SELECTED
Several architects submitted plans and finally the ones pre- sented by J. H. Prescott, of Marshalltown, Iowa, met with the approval of the building committee, consisting of Jacob Knipe, S. A. Foote, C. C. Wolf, M. F. Edwards and the pastor, N. F. Norton.
A notice for bids was published and on the 23d of September, 1903, the contract was awarded to Charles W. Skemp & Son, of Dubuque, to construct the building for $12,720. The work of excavation was commenced in October, 1903. About the 15th of that month workmen began tearing down the old temple, much to the sorrow of the many who had long worshipped there.
The foundation walls of the new church were laid during the fall of 1903 and in March, 1904, work was resumed and the build- ing nearly completed December 14th of that year. About this time the building committee were informed that the church was to have a fine pipe organ and in January, 1905, this was put in place. The cost of the building, including the furniture, is about twenty-three thousand dollars, and about two thousand dollars was expended for books for the free public library connected with the church. This makes a complete cost in round figures of $25,000. Thousands of people attended the dedicatory services which took place April 16, 1905.
DESCRIPTION OF BUILDING
The church building is a fine modern, up-to-date temple and probably is not excelled in beauty or convenience in this section
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of the state. The outside dimensions are 68x93 feet. The first floor contains a library, consisting of one large reading room and two private reading rooms, with stack room for books back of the library office. The first floor also has large praver meet- ing rooms, ladies' parlor, dining room, kitchen, boiler and coal rooms. The second floor has an auditorium, lecture or Sunday school room. several class rooms, hallways, choir and organ rooms, pastor's study and a gallery. The seating capacity in sight of the pulpit is about seven hundred. Music is furnished from a fine pipe organ worth $2,500, which was donated to the church.
Nearly all the floors above are of white maple with white pine in the library. The frescoing decorations are very fine and were made by Mr. Peters, of Chicago. The art glass was furnished by Giles & Company. of Minneapolis, and cannot be surpassed in beauty. One needs to see this beautiful building to fully realize its grandeur.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
The Congregational church of Parkersburg was organized in 1869 by Rev. I. N. Williams. Its first religious services were held at the depot of the Illinois Central Railroad, and subsequently in the old schoolhouse. In 1870 the present church edifice was erected at cost of $3,500. The building has since been remodeled. The church was organized by Rev. T. N. Williams, who became the temporary pastor.
The first regular pastor, Rev. R. S. D. Boynton, accepted a call April 25, 1870. The following ministers successively accepted calls to the pastorate: H. II. Robins. H. M. Amsden, Alexander Parker, G. W. Dorsey, John Gray, H. M. Sly. J. P. Richards, W. B. Sanford, J. P. Clyde. C. A. Chambers, J. J. Jones. A. S. Hock. W. P. Begg. W. B. Pardun, and Rey. J. W. Bonnell, the present pastor, accepted a call November 1, 1911.
The first officers of the church were: Deacons. Edwin Fisher, Ensign Baker; trustees, N. T. Manly, J. Beemer. E. Fisher, C. K. Tanner, R. R. Horr: clerk. N. T. Manly.
The church is free from debt and in a prosperous condition. The membership is fifty: Sunday school attendance, fifty.
BAPTIST CHURCH
The Baptist people of this community organized a church on the 27th of October, 1870, with the following members: A. Prigry
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and wife, M. S. Miller and wife, Samuel Conn and wife, James Hall and wife, John Hall, H. Twining, George M. Cooper and wife, Ruth Cooper, Mrs. S. Lynn, Mary Coryell, W. L. Laurence. The first pastor was Rev. T. H. Hudson, who remained one year, and was succeeded by Revs. E. P. Baker, C. Spragg, F. Il. Judson, A. E. Simons, J. B. Edmonson and others. Services were first held in the Congregational church, in a hall near the depot and schoolhouse. Then Union hall was used until the completion of the church building in October, 1880. A Sunday school was organized in 1870 and for a number of years the church pros- pered, but for the past several years the society has not been in evidence and has practically ceased to exist.
GERMAN BAPTIST CHURCH
On the 27th day of April, 1895, John Muntinga and wife, John Arends and wife, John A. Smith and wife, Kort Smith and wife, William Reichenburg and wife, Ibling Iblings and wife, Mrs. O. Voogd, Okke Van Hauen and wife, Mr. Vosburg, M. G. Brungers, Pete DeNene and wife, and Juke Polderboer and wife met at one of their homes and organized the German Baptist church. Unfortunately the name of the first minister could not be obtained for this article. Meetings were first held at the schoolhouse and finally, in 1901, a church building was erected, at a cost of $4,000. About two years later a parsonage was built, costing $2,000. The names of pastors since and including 1901 follow: Reverend Jolinson, 1901; Reverend Engelman, 1901-03; Rev. Jacob Pfeffer, 1903-07; Rev. John Miller, 1907-11; Rev. G. R. Mayhack, 1911-13. The church now has a membership of fifty-seven, but at present it is without a pastor.
CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
Among the Germans a Christian Reformed church was organized April 6, 1891, with fourteen families, among whom were Fritz Tammen, Geert Orends, Haite Roelfs and Harm Sap. The members of this society first met in their homes and for some time held services in the Methodist church. In 1892 a house of worship was erected and in the following year a parsonage close by. Both buildings are substantial frame structures. The mem- bership had increased to thirty-six families by the month of Vol 1-15
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February, 1914. Pastors who have served this charge: Rev. H. Portgeter, October, 1892 to May, 1896; Rev. H. C. Bgote, candi- date, June, 1896 to March, 1897: J. Plesseher, July, 1897 to May, 1912; Rev. H. Ahins, November, 1913.
FRATERNAL ORDERS
The Masonic Lodge began its first work under a dispensation from the Grand Lodge, May 26, 1868, and during the year Harley Day was worshipful master. June 2, 1869, Compass Lodge, No. 239, A. F. & A. M., received its charter, and at the first meeting the permanent organization was completed, and Harley Day was chosen worthy master; M. I. Powers, senior warden; G. W. East- man, junior warden. There were eight other charter members. The lodge is now one of the best in the county and in November, 1913, moved into beautiful quarters, specially arranged and pre- pared, in the pretentious new Temple building. The lodge has a membership of sixty.
Compass Chapter, No. 159, Order of the Eastern Star, was organized Oct. 3, 1894. There are now sixty members. Those whose names appear on the charter are: Lillie Seherling, C. May, Rose Archer, Hattie Byerly, N. G. Baker, Clara Courtright, S. Foote, Jennie G. Heartl, C. Howenstein, May Morgan, Sarah Meade, M. Parker, Essie Parker, Carrie Porcupile, Julia Striker, Wealthy Strout, M. Smith and Brothers, A. O. Strout, Charles Archer, C. B. Byerly, O. B. Courtright, George Meade, James Ray and John Scherling.
JOHN BRADEN POST, NO. 242, G. A. R.
John Braden Post of the Grand Army of the Republic, was organized at Parkersburg, November 28, 1894, and at one time had a large membership. Death has menaced the old veterans of the Civil war and decimated their ranks yearly, until now they are becoming conspicuous by their inability, in many places to muster a quorum at their meetings. Many of the posts throughout the United States have gone out of existence and vearly charters are being surrendered by reason of diminishing numbers in member- ship. This is the condition of Braden Post. No longer do the old soldiers here meet in regular muster. There are not enough of them to make it interesting and those who remain are daily and
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hourly being reminded of Time's passing and the results of hard- ships endured while in the service of their country. Names of the charter members are here given: J. M. Groat, Phil Wemple, F. M. Perkins, N. Goodale, Alex Christie, R. Wood, L. Stevens, S. W. Shipman, L. E. Crosby, Thomas Hauck, J. M. Kennedy, H. W. Babcock, E. A. Gilman, W. W. Parker, I. W. Camp, G. W. Bill- ings, W. H. Coggins, P. S. Bass, W. N. Hund, G. G. Codner, G. L. Barnard, John Knapp, Joseph Burroughs, G. W. Archer, Oscar Lawrence, J. H. Porcupile, Thomas Wendby, F. F. Voeltz.
John Braden Relief Corps, G. A. R., No. 14, was organized December 2, 1884, with the following charter members : Phoebe A. Wade, Leila Owen, Emma Younker, Hattie Byerly, Barbara Kem- merer, Nora Knapp, Nellie Parker, Lena Kennedy, Josephine Barnes, Matilda Charles, Mary Franke, Carrie Porcupile, Wealthy A. Strout, Nellie Wood, Maggie Wilson, Mary Truesdale, Melissa E. Lawrence, Sarah Perkins, Annie M. Filer and Mercy Bass.
Lodge of Yeomen, Beaver Homestead, No. 214, was organized October 25, 1899, with forty-one charter members.
CHAPTER XIX
BEAVER TOWNSHIP, BUTLER RAPIDS, WILLOUGHBY AND NEW HARTFORD
BEAVER TOWNSHIP
Beaver township is located at the southeastern corner of the county. It is bounded on the east by Blackhawk county, on the south by Grundy, on the west and north by Albion and Shell Rock townships.
Its surface is considerably more uneven than that of most of the other townships of the county, due to the fact in part, at least, that it is traversed by two streams-the West Fork and the Beaver creek-both of which have by the time they reach the borders of this township attained respectable size. The West Fork traverses the northern portion of the township, entering on the western side of section 6 and flowing eastward to the point where it passes into Blackhawk county on the eastern side of section 12. Its valley is a broad, alluvial plain, with sandy loam. In the spring of the year this portion of the township is subject to frequent overflows, making it difficult to cross the West Fork valley. The Beaver creek flows through the southern portion of the township from east to west, paralleling in its main course that of the West Fork to the northward. This stream received its name from the fact that in early days its waters were the home of large numbers of beavers.
The timbered area of Beaver township probably exceeds that of any other township in the county, both streams being bordered by tracts of standing timber, and in addition there being a large grove known as Beaver grove, which extends from section 28 westward into Albion township. This grove follows in the main the rise of land known as Beaver ridge, which rises more or less abruptly on the northern side of the Beaver valley and stretches in a westerly direction for three or four miles. The land to the
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north and east of Beaver ridge is extremely hilly. Practically all of it, however, is at the preesnt time either under actual cultiva- tion or being utilized for grazing purposes.
The Illinois Central Railroad crosses the township from east to west, its entire course being within less than a mile of the southern line of the township. The "Hawkeye Highway," an interstate automobile road, passes through the township, entering from Grundy county on the south side of section 35 and passing through New Hartford and thence along the line of the Illi- nois Central Railroad west to Parkersburg. The territory north of the West Fork is largely tributary to Shell Rock in a commer- cial and industrial way. The rest of the township is served as a market center by the town of New Hartford, which is the only town or village within its limits.
EARLY SETTLEMENT
The earliest settlements in Beaver township antedate by several years those in any other township of the county except Shell Rock and Butler. As in the case of the latter townships, hunters and trappers at a very early date pushed up along the creek from the Cedar valley and established themselves tempo- rarily at points along its banks. Its proximity to the settlements established at an earlier date in Blackhawk county account for the fact that as early as 1851 permanent settlement of this section of the county began.
In 1850, on December 21st, George Kittle made an entry on a claim in section 31, of Beaver township, in the general land office at Dubuque. In point of time this is second only to the entry made by John Heery in November of the same year. It ranks therefore as the second entry of land in Butler county.
The third man in the county to make a Government entry also located his claim in Beaver township. This was Jesse Morgan, who on April 10, 1851, recorded his location of a claim on section 36. Neither Kittle nor Morgan, however, appear to have located permanently within the township limits.
The honor of being the first permanent settler in Beaver town- ship is by common consent ascribed to Barnett Grandon. Mr. Grandon came to Butler county from Linn county in the fall of 1851. He settled on a farm in section 30, which remained in possession of his family about forty years. His entry of this
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land was made on the 4th of October, 1851, and was the third to be made in Beaver township.
On the 19th of December, 1851, Adna Thomas recorded a claim on section 29. In the spring of 1852, Clinton Thomas came and also settled on section 29. Adna Thomas made a permanent settle- ment on his claim in the fall of 1852.
In 1853, Nicholas Hartgraves, who is mentioned as a pioneer settler of Madison township, located on section 30, where he remained for several years.
Rev. Nathan Olmstead was another settler in the year 1853. Mr. Olmstead came from DeKalb county, Ill., and settled on sec- tion 18, Beaver township, in 1853. He had acted as a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church before leaving Illinois and had also been ordained a deacon. In 1858 he was ordained an elder. He preached the first sermon in Beaver township on the Sunday following his arrival, and soon afterward organized a church.
The year 1854 saw the arrival of a number of men who were thenceforward leaders in the activities of the township. Among these were S. Hazleton, Aaron Ohnstead, Peter Rude and J. F. Bolton. Other settlers came in rapidly, among them the follow- ing: James Collar, George E. Fitch, Charles Knight, John Hart- graves, Titus Ensign, Charles Ensign, Samuel Fetters, T. G. Copeland, C. R. Harmon, E. S. Maxwell, Baldwin D. Lewis, Jacob M. Knight, L. L. Smith, Nelson H. Whipple, S. S. Courtright and August Critzman.
Among other early settlers were Alonzo Converse, Patrick Flinn, Daniel Martin, David Twohig, Michael Rude, H. T. Mor- ris, William Rosebrough, L. B. Corwin, Peter Gunnison, Cassell Churchill, C. S. Root, J. B. Hare, Ash Cornwall, Lorin Cornwall, H. H. Weaver, Nelson Dowd, George Daniels, Robert Stanley and James Williams.
GENERAL ITEMS
The first marriage ceremony performed in the township was between William Dodd and a Miss Dowd, which occurred in 1857.
The first death was that of the wife of Joseph Casto, in 1856.
The first postmaster was S. B. Ensign, the office being located on the present site of New Hartford. Shortly thereafter another postoffice was established at Taylor's Hill, in Grundy county,
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about a mile and a quarter south, and for a time the New Hart- ford postoffice was discontinued and its citizens were compelled to go to Taylor's Hill for their mail, or provide for its transporta- tion from Cedar Falls by private conveyance.
The first religious services were held at the house of Adna Thomas, May 29, 1859, by Nathan Olmstead. An organization of the Protestant Methodist church was effected at this time, the first members being Jacob Brown, Mrs. Adna Thomas and Alonzo Olmstead. Services were continued at the house of Mr. Thomas until the establishment of a church of the same denom- ination at New Hartford, when this organization was merged with the New Hartford church.
The first manufacturing plant in Beaver towship was put up in 1855 by a man named Marslin. This mill occupied a site on section 29. It was finally torn down. The second sawmill was erected by the Ensign brothers on section 28. A steam sawmill was erected in an early day on section 30, by Alonzo Norris. An- other steam sawmill was erected on section 29 by James Williams. It was moved a number of times to different points in the town- ship and finally was transported to Webster City.
OFFICIAL ORGANIZATION
The term Beaver township at first ineluded within its limits what are now Shell Rock, Jefferson, Albion and Beaver town- ships. At the first election held in April, 1855, Lyman Norton was appointed judge. At this election John H. Smith and M. Hollenbeck were chosen justices of the peace; Marshall Kelley and Asa Chance, constables; George Dewey, assessor.
In March, 1856, the upper half of what constituted Beaver township was organized as Shell Rock township and thereafter Beaver included the present township of Albion within its limits until the 5th of October, 1857, when it was again subdivided and Albion and Beaver townships both given their present limits. The first election in the township with its present boundaries was held in the village of Willoughby. At this election Charles Ensign, James B. Hare and Lewis Hammond were chosen trustees: Alonzo Converse, clerk.
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POPULATION OF THE TOWNSHIP
1856, 430; 1860, 546: 1863, 606; 1865, 754; 1867, 868; 1869, 934; 1870, 1084 ; 1873, 989; 1875, 1017 ; 1880, 975 ; 1890, 1074; 1900, 1349; 1910, 1223.
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