USA > Iowa > Butler County > History of Butler County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 22
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Henry Atkinson settled at Clarksville in 1855, entering the employ first of Daniel Mather and later R. T. Crowell. He is noticed at length in the biographical chapter of this work, as are also John Hickle. W. A. Riden, Thomas Hunt and W. H. Moore.
OFFICIAL ORGANIZATION
The first election in Butler township was held in a log cabin owned by George W. Poisal, situated on the corner where the Butler County Bank now stands. The first township officers elected were : trustee, Jeremiah Perrin ; justice of the peace, Alfred Elam. At this time Butler township was practically coextensive in its boundaries with the county, no definite sub-division of the townships in the county having been made. In 1855 County Judge
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John Palmer divided the county into four townships and set the limits and bounds of Butler township as consisting of congres- sional townships 92 and 93, range 15, and township 92 and east half of 93, range 16. Butler township by this act comprised the territory later forming Fremont, Butler, Jackson and the east half of Dayton township. This territory remained a part of But- ler township until 1858, Jackson township having first been set off on the 11th of March, and the others soon after that date. The first constable whose name is found on the records is Joseph V. Hicks, and the first township clerk, Benjamin H. Shafer.
EDUCATIONAL
The first school in the township and in the county was taught in a little log cabin in Clarksville, in 1855, by Miss Malinda Searles.
As the township became more thickly populated provision was made for the education of the children by the organization of the district township of Butler. No records are available showing the date of the establishment of the different schools. However, by 1865 the township was divided into seven sub-districts.
Provision was made at the ammal meeting for electors of the district township of Butler in 1860 for the sale of the schoolhouse in sub-district No. 4, now the Lowell district, to the highest bidder and the board of directors were empowered to dispose of the prop- erty within six months from date. This motion was later rescinded and it was voted to repair the schoolhouse in this district.
In the meeting of 1867 it was voted to build a schoolhouse in sub-distriet No. 3. now the Riden district. It was voted to hold eight months' school in the entire township-four months' sum- mer term and four months' winter term.
Provision was made in 1869 for building a schoolhouse in dis- triet No. 7, now known as the Shell Rock Valley district.
In 1870 an appropriation was made for the erection of a school- house in district No. 5, directly north of Clarksville. This con- tract was let to J. R. Jones, and specifications are given in full in the records of the district township. This was built of stone 22x28 feet in dimensions, walls one foot thick and nine feet high between floor and ceiling, with six windows and one door. Black- board 10 feet long, extending from the top of the windows to a point three feet from the floor, to be placed in one end. It was to be seated with walnut double seats and desks securely fastened to
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the floor. The seats were to have two coats of ochre colored paint. These specifications are carefully drawn and indicate the electors of Butler township at that time desired to give their children the benefits of the best possible instruction. This building, if con- structed according to specifications, would form a better school- house structure than many in which the children of Butler county are still in attendance.
The school building in distriet No. 2, now the Union district, south of Clarksville, was first provided for at the annual meeting in March, 1870. This, however, was not built immediately, as at the November meeting of 1871 a committee was appointed to locate a site for this building and ereet a building on said site. Henry Atkinson and W. J. Gregg were appointed as a committee. In the end it was found necessary to resort to condemnation pro- ceedings in order to secure the site for this school. The records contain the formal notice of condemnation and assessment dam- age at $15 as compensation for the acre of land taken for this pur- pose. Provision made at this meeting for repairs and repainting in districts No. 4 and No. 6 indicate that the buildings in these dis- triets had been in use for some time. The contract for the build- ing of the schoolhouse in sub-district No. 2 was let to W. S. Smith, who is still a resident of the district and has served as its secre- tary for a number of years.
Another entry of interest in these early records is as follows: "On motion, the books recommended by the county convention for general use in the district schools were adopted towit: Independ- ent Series Readers and Speller, Monteith and McNally Geog- raphy, Ray's Arithmetic, Burt's Grammar, Swinton's U. S. History."
Among the names of teachers in these schools of the township of the early days appear those of H. F. L. Burton, I. E. Lucas, Eliza Fasset, W. H. Moore, Thomas F. Heery and S. E. Bement.
The change of the boundaries of the sub-districts of the town- ship was made November 16, 1872, by which the boundaries of the independent district of Clarksville were determined as at present and a section and a half of land lying directly north of this was set over for school purposes into Jackson township, to which it has been attached ever since. The boundaries of the other districts were at this time fixed as at present with the exception of the districts on the east side of the township at that time divided
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between sub-districts Nos. 6 and 7 instead of in three districts as at present.
These sub-districts were divided and a new district, No. 9, created in 1873. A contract for building a schoolhouse was let in the same year. The schoolhouse site in distriet No. 7 was moved to its present location at the same time.
The school buildings in this township so far as the records show, were erected at a uniform cost of $700.
At a meeting held in the schoolhouse in district No. 8, now the Central school, on September 21. 1874, the affairs of the district township were closed up, the funds of the district distributed and school property equalized and divided so far as possible among the eight independent districts, which had been formed in accord- ance with the vote of the people of the township at a previous election. Having transacted this business the board adjourned sine die and the district township of Butler ceased be a corporate body.
The independent districts formed at this time had substan- tially the same boundaries and names as at present with the exception of No. 7, which is now called Shell Rock Valley school and was then called the Leavens district. Since this date new school buildings have been constructed in Prairie Valley district and the school site has been changed and a new building con- structed in Burr Oak district. The other buildings remain sub- stantially as they were at that time, among the few remaining relics of the departed generation.
In the list of officers of the district township of Butler there are a number of names frequently met with in the history of Butler county. Among the presidents may be noted Jeremiah Perrin, J. R. Jones, W. A. Riden: among the secretaries, Asa Lowe, W. E. Burton and Henry Atkinson. Thomas Hunt served as treasurer throughout the greater part of this period.
POPULATION
1856, 722; 1860, 963; 1863, 996; 1865, 871; 1867. 941: 1869, 1,274; 1870, 1,329: 1873, 1,387; 1875, 1,506; 1880, 1,532; 1890, 1,496: 1900, 1,527; 1910, 1,471.
TOWN OF CLARKSVILLE
As before related, Thomas and Jeremiah Clark, with others. were the original owners of the land upon which Clarksville now
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stands. That portion of the land on section 18 selected for the town site was surveyed and platted in the month of August, 1853, and soon thereafter additions were laid out, one on the east by Daniel Mather and one on the south by Seth Hilton. All in all, the plat consisted of seventeen blocks. As originally laid out and with the additions it was filed for record with the county recorder.
Clarksville is the premier town of Butler county and the only one in the township. As a trading point it probably has no superior in the bailiwick, being set down upon a beautiful prairie, with a scope of farm lands encircling it for many miles, all drawn upon by the busy and enterprising mer- chants, who make the place a vantage point for their business activities. Two railroads add very much to the natural advan- tages of Clarksville, giving the surrounding farms a ready market for their large contributions of cereals and live stock, and the merchants access to the great marts of the world, thus enabling them to procure merchandise readily and at a minimum cost for transportation. It is needless to add that these two lines of rail- road, one belonging to the great Rock Island system and the other a trunk line known as the Chicago Great Western, afford quite satisfactory accommodations to the traveling public, to which Clarksville contributes no insignificant share.
To Seth Hilton, one of the original owners of the town of Clarksville, is given the distinction of being the first person to start things moving in the embryo town. He it was who built the first structure, a log affair, and it is presumed the first house was put up in 1853, although no record is extant giving authority for the statement.
On the site of the Tremont House Abner Clark erected a build- ing in 1853, in which he placed a stock of general merchandise. Here Abner Clark, the first merchant of Clarksville, held forth in barter and trade the next two years, and then sold his stock of goods to JJohn Palmer, who removed his purchase into another building on the west side of the courthouse square, where the second store opened its doors under the management and proprie- torship of Palmer & Moneton. The Clark store building was converted by the proprietor into a hotel and for some years gave shelter and bodily comfort to many a traveler. Then one "Billy" Brandon was "mine host." and was followed by his son, Henry, who, in the year 1874, tore down the old structure and in its stead erected the present Tremont House, a square frame building,
LUNCH
MAIN STREET LOOKING NORTH, CLARKSVILLE
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MAIN STREET, LOOKING SOUTH. CLARKSVILLE
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
almost, if not quite, ready for the scrap pile. In this building Henry Brandon remained as landlord one year and at its expira- tion turned it over to a renter, one Ravenscroft, who finally pur- chased the property and rented it to a Mr. Younger. But why, give in detail the various managers of this old hostelry? Let it suffice to say that the building has stood still, while the town has been making steady, onward strides, so that a more modern cara- vansary is justly due a trading point having the size and impor- tance of Clarksville.
The third business house in Clarksville was that of the firm of Eichar & Dollison, located on Main street. This firm was in exist- ence about six years and then disposed of its stock of goods in the lump. In the building vacated by Eichar & Dollison the firm of Davis & Griffin opened the first hardware store in the town.
The first blacksmith was John Hardy, who opened a shop in a log house, which stood on the corner formerly occupied by the old Peet House and now the site of the handsome Auditorium build- ing. Mr. Hardy, being of an enterprising turn of mind, also kept a hotel on the same lot.
Clarksville has the distinction of being the home of the first newspaper established in Butler county. This happy consumma- tion took place in 1858 and the paper was named the Butler Transcript by its founders, Messrs. Palmer & James.
On the corner opposite Hardy's blacksmith shop J. Gilbert opened a drug store in 1858 in a one-story frame building. He remained in the trade a long term of years.
The first physician to locate in Clarksville was Jeremiah Clark. coming to the place in 1853. He was followed in 1854 by Dr. James E. Walker.
One of the most energetic and progressive business men of the early days was Henry Newman. He came here in 1856. opened a very pretentious general store and remained in the business many years. He also dealt extensively as a cattle buyer and before removing to the state of Oregon built several houses in the town. His removal was considered a serious public loss.
James Hazlet was another settler in Clarksville of an early day, who for a number of years ran a large grocery establishment. He subsequently took up his residence in Boone.
The Central House was a landmark in Clarksville for many years. The building superseded the Peet House, already men- tioned, and was presided over by George Riley Peet, who came
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here in 1856, purchased the Peet House and eventually tore it down and erected the Central House. Mr. Peet became a leading man in the community and was the popular landlord of the Cen- tral until 1879, when he met an umtimely death in a railroad acci- dent.
John Bartlett started the first lumberyard here in 1870 and conducted the business three years, when he sold his stock to Samuel McRoberts and C. H. Ilgenfritz. The enterprise was con- tinued two years under the firm name of McRoberts & Company, when McRoberts withdrew and A. J. Ilgenfritz became a member of the firm, which took the title of Igenfritz Brothers.
Among other early business men of Clarksville may be men- tioned Charles Buleken, who started a creamery in 1881; Henry Ilgenfritz, furniture, in the '60s: T. E. and J. E. Kephart, black- smiths, 1875; John Hartness, carpenter. 1857; M. B. Wamsley, live stock, 1878: Jeremiah Perrin, capitalist, settled near Clarks- ville in section 17, in 1851 : M. M. Trumbull, attorney at law. early in the '50s: W. A. Riden, blacksmith, 1855; C. G. Schellinger, hardware, 1868: Wamsley & Horton, merchants, 1877: Jerome Shadbolt, carpenter, 1855; J. M. Houston. grocer, 1861; Elias Walter, mason, 1853.
POSTOFFICE
The Clarksville postoffice was established in 1853 and was kept by A. G. Clark, the first postmaster, in a small log cabin that stood just south of the public square. At that time mail was received irregularly from Clear Lake by carrier, who made his trips back and forth by horseback. The second postmaster was A. J. Lewellen, who gave way to J. R. Fletcher. His successor was A. J. Thompkins; then came C. W. Wheelock, Webster Bart- lett, and in 1872, Mrs. C. M. Mitchell, widow of Wellington Mitchell, who lost his life while serving his country in the Civil war. She continued in the position under several administra- tions. The present incumbent is Ed Madigan, a former editor and proprietor of the Clarksville Star.
SCHOOLS
Clarksville always has had good schools and today the Clarks- ville school building is one of the finest and most commodious in
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HIGH SCHOOL, CLARKSVILLE
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
the county. Miss Malinda Searles taught the first school in the town, beginning her duties in the spring of 1855 in a little log cabin. Her immediate successor was Miss Jane Clark. The log house was used for school purposes four or five years and then abandoned for a more modern and convenient building, which was constructed of concrete and stood north of the Dubuque & Dakota (Chicago Great Western) railroad track. When the county seat was taken from Clarksville the courthouse was prepared for pupils and teachers and used as a school building until the present handsome structure was built on the spot, which confidently had been expected would always be the site of the county's capitol. But the old courthouse was torn down in 1903 and in its place a modern brick building was erceted at a cost of $12,500.
Since the opening of the big farms in the northwest section of this great country and the establishment of immense elevators and flouring mills in the cities contiguous thereto, the mills of the Middle West gradually have been going into, to use the expres- sion of Grover Cleveland, innocuous desuetude. Untold numbers of them are standing idle, their machinery rusted and worthless, and their foundations and walls decaying. But in the pioneer days a local mill was a stern necessity. The settler was in abso- lute need of corn and flour for the household and it was the rule to set up a mill of some description in a new community as soon as possible. This condition and consummation obtained in Clarks- ville as early as 1856. It was in that year that J. J. Eichar and George Dollison, pioneer merchants heretofore mentioned, formed a copartnership with C. A. Strong under the firm name of Eichar, Dollison & Strong, and erected what was long known as the Clarksville Mill, the first industrial concern of its kind in Butler county. The mill was built for three rim of stone, which were run by water power. The building, a frame 42x32 feet and three stories in height excluding the basement, stood on the east bank of the Shell Rock river, in section 19.
CLARKSVILLE INCORPORATED
The village of Clarksville continued to grow slowly, but in a measure, satisfactorily, to all concerned, and upon the approach of the year 1875 had approximately seven hundred in population. In 1874 the long nurtured hope of her citizens reached a gracious fruition, when the district court acted favorably upon a petition
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for incorporation and on the 21st day of September, 1874, the first municipal election was held, which completed the organization of Clarksville as an incorporated town. The offices tilled at this initial election and names of incumbents follow: Mavor, John Palmer; clerk, E. A. Glenn; trustees, S. M. Townsend, H. Ilgen- fritz, H. F. L. Burton, T. Shafer and Edwin Fowle. The coun- cil met in the private office of Mayor Pahner and qualified, with the exception of E. A. Glenn, who had declined to accept the office of recorder. Thereupon the council appointed H. F. L. Burton recorder pro tem. Hiram Newman was appointed marshal, but failing to qualify, E. F. Duncan was chosen for the position.
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. Bontin. 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 Slimner, 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 Lonis Slimmer & Company was the depos- itory for funds of the commity. In 1891 a building was erected on the corner of Main and Poisal streets, which was the home of the bank umtil 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 lowa 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: Lonis 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 condneting its affairs. The first officials were: J. H.
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
Hickle, president; F. H. Brockmann, vice president ; George A. Stewart, cashier. Mr. Hickle retired from the presidency in Jan- mary, 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 commodions huikdl- 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, MeKee, 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
3.6
Methodist Episcopal Church
German Lutheran Church
CHURCHES OF CLARKSVILLE
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
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.
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