USA > Iowa > Butler County > History of Butler County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 20
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35
EDUCATIONAL
The first school in the township was taught in the summer of 1855 in a log house belonging to Baldwin Lewis, on section 38. The teacher was Miss America Taylor.
The second school was taught by Charles Ensign in New Hart- ford, in the winter of 1856-7.
The first schoolhouse was erected in New Hartford and used for both school and church purposes. Its erection occurred in 1859.
At present the school affairs are in the hands of nine directors, one elected from each sub-district. Sub-districts Nos. 6 and 10 include most of the territory north of the West Fork and east of the central part of section 4. Sub-districts Nos. 4 and 9 include the territory in the northwestern part of the township. District No. 7 includes the major portion of the Beaver Grove territory. It is the largest school in attendance in the township. District No. 2 is known as the Grady district. Sub-district No. 3 is the largest in extent, containing nearly six sections. The schoolhouse stands on section 15. District No. 5, the "Corwin district," consists of five sections in the extreme southeastern portion of the town- ship, and No. 8 the southwestern portion. The independent dis- trict of New Hartford occupies a central position on the south side of the township. A project is being agitated looking toward the consolidation of the districts whose territory lies between the rivers. It is probable that such action will be taken at an early date, as the conditions for the establishment of such a district seem unusually favorable.
BUTLER RAPIDS
On April 7, 1858, a plat of the town called Butler Rapids was filed with the county judge, A. Converse, and placed upon record. This projected town was located on what is now called Jerusa- lem Hill sitnated in section 7, Beaver township, just east of the West Fork. The land is now known as the Bolton place. The
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land on which Butler Rapids stood was entered by Thomas Mars- lin and transferred by him to Moses Chapman, or Chapin, of Blackhawk county, by whom Butler Rapids was platted. A. dam was constructed across the West Fork just west of the town site and a sawmill built on the western bank. This town was first known as New Jerusalem. It made a very promising be- ginning and at one time contained a store and a number of resi- dences. The establishment of Willoughby, about a half mile west across the river, sapped the vitality of Butler Rapids and eventu- ally brought about its extinction. The greater part of its popu- lation removed to Willoughby or elsewhere, its houses were torn down or moved away, or left to rot on their sites. Twenty-five years ago, as the writer is informed by an old resident of the county, nothing remained to mark the site of Butler Rapids but the empty cellar excavations garnished by an assortment of old tin cans to mark the site of this village. At this time cottonwood trees eighteen and twenty inches in thickness were growing from the cellars, showing that the decay of the town dated back a number of years. The very fact of its existence has been for- gotten or is unknown to the vast majority of the citizens of But- ler county.
WILLOUGHBY
The village of Willoughby was laid out in the spring of 1855. Its plat occupied the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 9. This plat was recorded on the minute book of the county court, September 9, 1856. The proprietors were two men named Cameron and MeClure.
The first house in Willoughby was built by Cameron and McClure in 1855 and was occupied as a dwelling by G. W. Daniels. This building stood until 1862. when it was torn down.
In the fall of 1855 a store was opened in Willoughby by Corn- well Brothers, who carried a stock of general merchandise. They remained here until 1864, when they sold the stock of goods to a man in Clear Lake, who moved it to that place. The building was divided and part of it sold to O. W. MeIntosh, who used it for a hotel, and the remainder to B. Haskins, who ocenpied it for some time as a residence. This portion was afterward burned. Corn- well Brothers also started a blacksmith shop here in 1856.
The first school in Willoughby was taught by Miss Hannah Ensign in the winter of 1857-8 at the residence of Mr. King. The
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first school building was erected in 1861 and continued to be used for about a quarter of a century.
In the fall of 1870 an organization of the Methodist church was effected. Two years later this church was disbanded.
In the summer of 1856 a hotel was built by the Cornwell Broth- er's, which continued under their control until 1860, when it passed into the hands of J. B. Gordon. Subsequent to this date it was managed in turn by Robert Olmstead, O. W. McIntosh and H. D. Burnett. The latter gentleman continued its management until 1872, when it was finally closed. This hotel was a regular stopping place on the route from Cedar Falls to Algona and enjoyed a lib- eral patronage in the years before the railroads penetrated the county.
A postoffice at Willoughby was established in 1855. The list of postmasters include the names G. W. Daniels, A. Cornwell, B. Haskins, O. D. Olmstead. R. Stanley. George Burnett, David Diltz, Samuel Fetters and H. D. Burnett. In its later years the office received mail twice a week from Butler Center. It was dis- continued some years before the establishment of the rural mail routes.
There is one house still standing on the Willoughby town site, a portion of a store building, which was the last place of business here. A schoolhouse also stands on the village site but it is now a sub-district schoolhouse. It is called the Willoughby schoolhouse, thus perpetuating the name of the town that once stood here.
NEW HARTFORD
The village of New Hartford is located on section 33. Beaver township. Beaver creek wends its sinnous way on the north. The country surrounding this bustling little town is peopled by well- to-do, energetic farmers, who have become prosperous, by cultivat- ing some of the most fertile land in the state and contributing to the world's production of live stock no inconsiderable portion. The town has witnessed a steady and substantial growth and holds a place of prominence in the county.
The land upon which New Hartford is so pleasantly located was preempted by a Mr. Chapman, in the spring of 1854, and in the early autumn of the year he built a log cabin on a spot now within the corporate limits. Titus Ensign and S. B. Ensign came on from the state of New York and upon looking over the imme-
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diate country, were greatly impressed with the beauty of the land- scape, fertility of soil and healthful climate. They made arrange- ments to build a mill here, and before returning to their eastern home bought the east half of section 33 and received permission from Chapman to make entry of their purchase, which gave them precedence and ultimate title to that part of Chapman's claim. In January, 1855, the Ensigns returned to Butler county, and in conformity with their previous plans, built a mill on the bank of Beaver creek ; near the present school building they also put up a log house for a habitation. That same summer Titus Ensign caused the land on section 33 to be surveyed into town lots, com- posing twelve blocks including a public square, and on the 4th day of June, 1856, the plat of New Hartford was filed for record.
The Ensigns built the first house in the village of New Hart- ford in the autumn of 1855. This was a log cabin, already men- tioned.' It was occupied by the pioneers as a bachelors' hall until early in the following year, when Titus Ensign brought his family from Waverly and installed the members thereof in their new prairie home. The following spring S. B. Ensign erected a resi- dence on lots 1 and 3, block 11. G. W. Ensign came with Titus and S. B. Ensign and in the spring of 1857 put up a building on block 6. Here he installed machinery and ran a shingle mill five or six years. The building was then moved to lot 8, block 12, and con- verted into a stable for Dr. W. H. H. Hagey.
R. Shaw arrived in the village in 1857 and built a house on lots 2 and 4, block 11. About the same time. E. L. Shaw built on lots 2 and 4. block 10: E. M. Shaw on lots 6 and 8, block 10: Nelson Childs on lots 5 and 7. block 8: Dr. Joseph Casto on lots 2 and 4, block 8. E. M. Shaw also put up a blacksmith shop on lot 7. block 11. E. O. Stevens bought the S. B. Ensign house and moved into it. Shortly after William Jones occupied the property. Early in the fall he erected a building, in which he conducted a saloon for a while.
The first store in New Hartford was established in August. 1856, by Martin Bailey, who came from Cedar Falls and had a new building ready for occupancy at the time above mentioned. Mr. Bailey and family were prominent in business and social circles of the place until 1860, when they removed to a farm near Butler Center.
D. N. Root and Elijah Root, of New York state, located here in 1856. They purchased the west half of the northeast quarter of
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seetion 33 of Solomon Lashbrook, which was surveyed and platted as Root's addition to New Hartford. Having purchased the build- ing erected by E. L. Shaw, on lots 2 and 4, block 10, D. N. Root enlarged and arranged the structure suitably to a hotel, and he conducted the first "stopping place" for travelers in the township.
The advent of the Root brothers proved a great benefit to the town. They were energetie, enterprising citizens. After giving the town an addition in territory, D. N. Root spent some time in the east, where he disposed of a considerable number of lots, and it is presumed, directed some immigration to this locality.
E. Bourquin, of Dubuque, located in New Hartford in August, 1860. and opened a general store. He was the only merchant in the place at that time, Martin Bailey, the pioneer storekeeper, having closed his business in the spring and taken up farming. Bourquin became the first permanent merchant in New Hartford, although he almost lost the distinction by selling his store to a Mr. Welsh in 1861. But the new man became dissatisfied and in the fall of the year Bourquin was again back of the counter, sell- ing goods at the old stand. He became one of the most prominent business men in the southern part of Butter county and the splen- did Bourquin brick business building, on the main thoroughfare, is a monument to his industry and thrift. He was the local post- master for a period of eighteen years.
Several attempts have been made to permanently establish the liquor traffic at this place, but the sentiment of the community was not, collectively, sufficiently strong to encourage the traffic. H. S. Burch was rudely awakened from his dream of an easy life as a saloon man, when he was disturbed by a deputy sheriff in 1857. He destroyed his stock of liquor and left the town. So did M. J. Coon, who was an ostensible guest of the Root hotel in 1859. He was discovered "boot legging" and his arrest followed. Had he been left to the frenzied citizens, most likely his career would have been prematurely brought to an abrupt ending. He was prac- tically run out of town. It is needless to add that New Hartford is still a "dry" town.
A creamery was started in New Hartford in 1877, by a stoek company. In the spring of 1880 Eugene Bourquin purchased the property.
A grain elevator was built on the line of the Illinois Central Railroad in 1876, and was managed by the grain dealers, J. Paul- ger & Son. Previous to this the grain firm of Root & Beckwith
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had erected a grain warehouse and after running it about six years, sold out the business to Eugene Bourquin. Eventually it drifted into the hands of E. Paulger & Son.
The Wick Brothers' firm established the first drug store at New Hartford in the fall of 1880; the lumber firm and hardware busi- ness of J. Paulger & Son were established in 1882; and J. R. Fi- field's furniture store was first opened in 1873. Early in the '60s. L. L. Smith became proprietor and landlord of the Exchange Hotel and in January, 1868, was inducted into the office of sheriff.
THE POSTOFFICE
The first postoffice established here was named Beaver Grove, in 1855. S. B. Ensign was appointed postmaster. About this time an office was established at Taylor's Hill, a little over a mile south of the village and in view of this fact. supplies were discon- tinned and the Beaver Grove office was practically abandoned by the authorities. Mail was then brought to the office from Cedar Falls by private conveyance.
The New Hartford office was established in 1858. Dr. Joseph Casto was the first commissioned postmaster, but the office was left in charge of a deputy, D. N. Root, who kept the office at his hotel. This was made a money order office August 15, 1881. The first money order was issued to David Diltz, and the one cashed had been issued in favor of Dr. William H. H. Hagey. The names of postmasters succeeding Dr. Casto are here given: C. H. Cham- berlin, Dr. J. A. Guthrie, J. P. Wood, E. Bourquin, J. S. McEl- wain, Thomas Houlihan, H. G. King. Lee Caulfield, H. G. King and Clarence Sprague.
NEW HARTFORD INCORPORATED
The town of New Hartford was incorporated and became a separate organization from the township in 1884. An election was held and officials elected, but the minute book of the recorder is missing and no detailed account can be given by the writer of the early proceedings of the town trustees. It is known, how- ever, that John Paulger was mayor in 1884, and M. J. Pierce, recorder. The names of successors to these offices follow: Mayor -L. L. Smith, 1891-2; F. W. Paulger, 1892-5: J. W. Phummer, 1895-6; G. M. Bronson, 1896-9; L. L. Smith, 1899-1904; L. E.
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Bourquin, 1904-12; E. H. Will, 1912-13; by appointment to fill vacancy, Dr. J. G. Evans, February, 1913-14. Clerks-M. J. Pierce, 1884-99; Charles L. Booton, 1899-1904; N. P. Elwell, 1904- 12; C R. Harmon, 1912-14.
WATERWORKS SYSTEM
The little city of New Hartford owns a system of waterworks that meets all the requirements of her citizens. The water is of a splendid quality, there is plenty of it and the pressure through the mains is amply sufficient to throw a stream of water over any building in the town. The question of building waterworks and issuing $3,000 in bonds, was submitted to the decision of the elect- orate and was most favorably passed upon by that ruling body in 1896. In the same year the works were built and completed. Driven wells furnish an almost inexhaustible supply of water, which is pumped into a tank elevated on a steel tower 80 feet in height. This reservoir has a capacity of about 40,000 gallons.
ELECTRIC LIGHTS
In the fall of the year 1913 Ray Dodd and George Courtright, two energetic and progressive citizens, built a small electric light plant, more as an experiment and for their own convenience than as a business venture. They builded better than they knew and as a consequence are receiving numerous applications for service. Several of the business houses and residences are using the elec- tric lights and it is now anticipated that the plant will be enlarged in the spring of 1914.
NEW HARTFORD STATE BANK
About the year 1889, Eugene Bourquin, F. W. Paulger, E. C. Bellows, J. A. Cousins and A. E. Bourquin organized a private banking company, taking the name of the New Hartford Bank, and began business in a brick building which they had previously erected for the purpose. In 1900 the bank was incorporated as the New Hartford State Bank, with a capital of $35,000, by the original owners. The first officers of the State Bank were: Eugene Bourquin, president : J. A. Cousins, vice president ; F. W. Paul- ger, cashier. F. W. Paulger resigned his position in 1906 and L.
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E. Bouquin assumed the duties of the office left vacant: at the same time A. F. Perrin was elected vice president. Engene Bour- qnin died in 1908. This brought about other changes. A. F. Per- rin became president and August Critzman, vice president. L. E. Bourquin left the office of cashier vacant in 1911 and R. L. Farns- worth since then has filled the position very acceptably. The bank's last official statement shows the following: Capital, $35,- 000; ndivided profits, $17,500; deposits, $187,500.
In 1911 F. B. Miller, Roger Leavitt and H. S. Gilky incorpo- rated the Farmers' Savings Bank, with a capital stock of $25,000. The officers were: F. B. Miller, president; R. E. Wick, vice presi- dent; G. M. Bronson, vice president; R. A. Gage, cashier. The institution ran along for two years with indifferent success and little encouragement for its continuance, so that in the fall of 1913, all the stock was secured by the New Hartford State Bank and the two banks combined are much stronger and give more efficient service than two could render in a town the size of New Hartford, whose population is now about 500.
THE SCHOOLS
Charles Ensign, one of the pioneer settlers at New Hartford, taught the first school in the place. This was held at his home in January, 1857. Being unable to finish the term planned, Mr. Ensign turned over his pupils to Mrs. Sarah Dean, who taught the little class of boys and girls at her humble home.
Before the close of the year 1857 a modest schoolhouse was erected and answered all purposes measurably well until 1867, when a two-story frame structure was built, to meet the increas- ing demands for more room. Later, a one-story frame school- honse was built, to accommodate children in the first four grades. The larger building remained in use umtil 1897, when it was moved on to another lot and recently converted into an automo- bile garage. On the old site a modern two-story brick school building was erected the same year, at a cost of $4,000. In this latter building are four teachers: in the little frame, two instruct- ors are employed.
RELIGIOUS
The first religious service held in New Hartford was by Rev. Nathan Ohnstead and Harvey Smith, at the home of Charles En-
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sign, who at the time had also converted his home into a school- house. The settlers who at this time formed a class, were of the Protestant Methodist faith and chose for their class leader Nel- son Childs. The class was a small one, composed of E. M. and Robert Shaw, with their wives, Nelson Childs and wife and Charles Ensign and wife. The society existed until 1870, but never erected a house of worship.
BAPTIST CHURCH
The Baptist church was organized in 1857 and among the names of the first members the following are remembered: Joseph Col- lins and wife, E. H. Collins and wife, Eber Dunham, Lois Dun- ham, Joseph Casto, Norman Devoe, S. B. Ensign and wife, Lewis Hammond and wife and Daniel Pickett. The first minister was Rev. I. R. Dean.
In May, 1857, the Sunday school was established in the school room at the home of Charles Ensign and the premier school teacher was chosen superintendent. A church building was erected in 1866, at a cost of $5,500, and was the most pretentious building belonging to any church society in Butler county. It stood the Baptist people in good stead for many years, but eventually be- came inadequate and was superseded in the year 1903, by a hand- some buff pressed brick structure, erected at a cost of $8,000. The society is prosperous, has one hundred members and an aver- age attendance at the Sunday school. The names of all the pastors follow: Revs. T. R. Dean, Gibbs, A. Orentt, William Wood, E. G. O. Gront, D. P. Maryatt, Rev. Cox, Judson, H. D. Weaver, L. D. Lamkin, William M. Simmons, William C. Pratt, 1882-5; Ar- thur F. Howell, 1887-94; W. E. Adams, 1894-7: C. W. Ileady, 1897-1904: J. F. Wood, 1904-06: C. H. H. Moore, 1907-09: Harry A. Essex, 1909-14.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
There being deemed a sufficient number of the Methodist faith to associate themselves formally into a class, an organization was effected in 1857. by E. S. Maxwell, as class leader, and his wife. Robert Shaw and wife, and a Mr. Childs and wife. Meetings were held every two weeks in an old log schoolhouse, but the first ser- mon heard in the town was delivered by an itinerant preacher. Vol J-16
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at the home of Charles Ensign in 1856. In 1871 a neat and com- modious church building was erected at a cost of $3,000 and in 1907-8 the building was remodeled to comply with present day demands. The first regular pastor was Rev. Taylor and those who have followed liin are herein mentioned, namely: Revs. George Murphy, Glassner, Ward, McGee, Burgett, McKim, Mc- Gee, W. Ward Smith, J. R. Cameron, 1885-87; E. R. Leamen, 1887-89; B. H. Flemming, 1889-90; Horace Foote, 1890-93; W. N. Brown, 1893-95; W. E. Ross, 1895-98; J. D. Perry, 1898-1900; J. H. Hayward, 1900-02; Stuart C. Bretnall, 1903-05; Jesse Smith, 1905-06; F. X. Miller, 1906-07; Il. W. Halter, three months ; E. E. Clements, 1908-09; Thomas Maxwell, 1909-10; Henry Allshouse, 1910-11; J. C. Davis, 1911-12; W. A. Faris, 1912-14.
The membership now numbers one hundred and thirteen.
ROMAN CATHOLIC MISSION
For some time previous to the year 1897 the ordinance of mass was formally observed in New Hartford, by visiting priests in a non-sectarian building. But in the year mentioned Father Lynch built a church edifice for the mission established here and since that time this people have been attended by clergymen of the church resident at Parkersburg. Father O. Leary is the present pastor; a young man but lately arrived from Ireland.
FRATERNAL ORDERS
The fraternal bodies established in New Hartford have af- forded the good people an outlet for their surphis energies and afforded a means of whiling away many pleasant and profitable hours of an evening. Oswegatchie Lodge, No. 20, T. O. O. F. was the first one organized, coming into existence October 23, 1884. The woman's auxiliary, Banquet Lodge, No. 343, Daughters of Rebekah, was organized October 23, 1896.
Beaver Lodge, No. 472, A. F. & A. M., was organized Jume 2, 1886, by F. B. Bolton, August Critzman and L. L. Smith. The membership now numbers ninety-three.
New Hartford Camp, No. 838, Modern Woodmen of America. was organized February 16. 1889, with eleven members. Robin- son Camp, No. 3786, Royal Neighbors, was organized some years later, with twenty-four charter members.
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Some time in the '80s the veterans of New Hartford and vicinity organized a post of the Grand Army of the Republic, but owing to the rapid passing away of their comrades the surviving members have become too few in numbers to give them any fur- ther interest in holding stated meetings. The Woman's Relief Corps, No. 228, organized February 18, 1891, still keeps up its organization and regular meetings.
CHAPTER XX
BENNEZETTE TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE OF AREDALE
The township of Bennezette occupies a position in the north- western corner of the county. It is bounded on the north by Floyd county, on the west by Franklin county and corners on the northwest with Cerro Gordo county. According to the con- gressional survey it is township 93 north, range 18 west of the fifth principal meridian. The land in general is more level than in many other sections of the county. There are fewer marked elevations of land and less natural drainage. As a result, the soil is a rich black loam. Originally a considerable portion of the township was so lacking in facilities for natural drainage as at times to be too wet for cultivation. Of recent years the establishi- ment of several drainage districts and the construction of a number of large drainage ditches, together with the tiling of the land by individual owners, has rendered this one of the most fertile and productive portions of Butler county.
Coldwater creek enters the township from the north in sec- tion 5 and flows eastward through the northern tier of sections. The extreme southwest portion is drained by the North Branch of the West Fork, and another small stream has its origin in the south central portion of the township. None of these streams are of any size and during the dry seasons they practically cease to, flow.
For a number of years after the organization of the township it had no town within its borders. In 1900, however, the con- struction of the line of the Northwestern Railroad through the western portion of the township led to the establishment of the town of Aredale, an unincorporated village, situated at the center of sections 29, 30, 31 and 32. Dougherty, a village in Cerro Gordo, county, is the trading point for farmers of the northwestern por- tion of the township, and Greene for those of the northeastern section. The southeastern portion is served as a trading point by
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the town of Bristow. The township is now thickly settled by a progressive class of farmers whose industry and energy are see- ond to none in the state. The township takes its name from the town of Bennezette, Pennsylvania, the native home of William P. Woodworth and Samuel Overturf, who were pioneers here.
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