USA > Iowa > Butler County > History of Butler County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 27
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As noted elsewhere, the county judge failed to make the removal of his office and the records pertaining thereto as soon as was deemed fitting by the board of supervisors. He was there- upon ordered to make the move at the earliest possible date. His compliance with this order completed the removal of the county seat from Clarksville to Butler Center.
An early county historian says: "Attracted by the probable permanency of the county seat, and the flattering prospects for the future, lawyers, doctors, editors, dentists, representatives of the different professions, exponents of various religious creeds, and other necessary elements of civilization, came together and formed a settlement and it seemed for a time that Butler Cen- ter was certainly destined to become the 'future great' of Butler county, but now (1883) how changed. The deserted streets, empty houses, vacant lots, dilapidated fences, signs of dissolution and decay, present themselves on every hand, speaking of things that were, suggesting things that 'might have been.'" Today, as suggested above, few even of these signs of its departed greatness remain.
For more than twenty years, from 1860 to 1881, Butler Center remained the seat of justice of Butler county.
The first store in Butler Center was built by O. S. Levis, who on the 4th of July, 1856, opened his doors to the public, presenting
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for their approval a stock of general merchandise. Mr. Levis managed his business alone for a few years and then took in a partner, Dan Mason, to whom he afterward sold.
In 1857 Thomas Bird arrived, built a store and opened up a stock of general merchandise.
The first hotel in Butler Center was built by H. H. Margretz in 1856. Mr. Margretz conducted this hotel until the date of his enlistment in the army. He was killed in battle, and the building in which his hotel had been conducted was later torn down.
The second hotel was built by George A. Richmond and was first used as a residence. Mr. Richmond was the first lawyer in the town of Butler Center. He arrived in 1857 and purchased a half interest in the town site. He was for a number of years an influential citizen of the town and county. He later removed to Dubuque.
The third hotel was built by F. Digman, who first settled in the town in 1857. He purchased a building from Joe Santee and opened a shoe shop. To this he afterwards made additions and put in a general assortment of dry goods and groceries. The hotel which he built later, a substantial, two-story frame struc- ture, was conducted for the accommodation of the general pub- lie until the county seat was moved to Allison, when the build- ing was moved with it. It still stands on Main street in Allison and was until the erection of the present fine hostelry used as a hotel, under the name of the Digman House. Mr. Digman died in Butler Center in 1879 and thereafter the hotel was conducted both in Butler Center and later in Allison by his worthy wife.
The first practicing physician in Butler Center was Doctor Shaw, who arrived in 1857.
Joe Santee and Enoch George were carpenters and builders who were located in the town.
The first dentist was H. H. Marsh, who arrived in 1856, his residence being the third built in the place. Mr. Marsh later removed to Cedar Falls.
The first house was built by Joe Santee, the second by a Mr. Pennock.
Hugh Mallarky, who has been mentioned in connection with the township history as one of the pioneer settlers, located in Butler Center in JJanuary, 1855. The Mullarkys were the first owners of the town site.
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Thomas Thompson came to Butler Center in 1857, opening a shoemaker's shop. One of his daughters became Mrs. Henry Trotter, and another Mrs. James Trotter. Noble A. Thompson, mentioned elsewhere, was a son of Thomas Thompson.
Orson Rice was the first lawyer to locate in Butler Center. He is mentioned at some length in connection with the history of the bar.
Julius Hale, later county treasurer, also located in Butler Center early in its history.
After the establishment of the county seat at Butler Center there was naturally a large increase in the population, a num- ber of county officers and professional men settling there. Most of these were identified with other sections of the county and receive detailed mention in connection with these localities.
In its palmy days Butler Center had several saloons. Before the removal of the county seat, however, the township and the town abolished the saloon and none has been opened there since that time.
The first blacksmith in the town was one William Wright.
The Butler Center steam sawmill was erected by Charles Stewart in 1856. Andrew Mullarky was the proprietor. The mill was managed for a number of years by Mr. Stewart, who later sold it to some parties who moved the machinery to Cerro Gordo county. The building was later used by Sam Williams for a stable and eventually sold for taxes, I. W. Camp being the pur- chaser.
POSTOFFICE 1
Butler Center postoffice was established in 1856, mail being received by carrier from Cedar Falls, once each week. The first postmaster was H. H. Margretz. He was followed in order by Hugh Mullarky, W. A. Lathrop, J. H. Playter and H. N. Walker, who continued in office until Butler Center ceased to have a post- office. Mr. Walker purchased the stock of goods owned by H. C. Playter in 1871 and was appointed postmaster in the same vear. He continued to conduct his store for some years after the county seat was moved to Allison. Later his family moved to Dubuque, where they still live.
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CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS
Religious services by ministers of different denominations were held in Butler Center from the beghming. Among these Rev. Richard Merrill, who is mentioned elsewhere, was an active and earnest worker. Mr. Merrill served for some time as county superintendent of schools during the period while Butler Center was the county seat. He is more nearly identified, however, with the history of Pittsford township.
About 1864 the first organized Sabbath school was established in Butler Center. The first superintendent was George M. Craig. This Sabbath school continued for several years after the town had begun to deray.
The first church organized was that of the Presbyterian denomination and was formed in 1873 by the Rev. William Smith. The first members of this church were JJames Barlow and wife, James Hunter and wife, W. C. Thompson and wife, Mrs. D. J. Merrill, Miss Emma Thompkins, James Robbins and wife, Dun- van McGregor and wife and Duncan Stewart and wife. I 1875 Rev. John Gourley succeeded to the pastorate. The society never had a church building, meetings being held in the court room. At the period of its largest membership the number of members was about twenty-five.
The Methodist society held meetings in Butler Center at inter- vals for a number of years before they secured a regular appoint- ment. Later a regular resident pastor was assigned to Butler Center and additional services were also held at Hopley school- house. The records of the Methodist society in Butler Center are not obtainable at the present time but among the resident pastors may be mentioned Reverends Faucett, Cooley, Robinson and Rowan. Presiding Elder Ingham also is mentioned among the Butler Center pastors of the Methodist church.
EDUCATIONAL
The first school in Butler Center was taught by Alzina Waters in the Lovis building. Later Martha Niece taught in the house built by Enoch George, who boarded round among his patrons. After Butler Center became the county seat a two-story frame school building was erceted with two rooms. The average enrollment in this school during the period of the town's pros-
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perity was about sixty. This schoolhouse was one of the last buildings to be demolished in Butler Center. It was finally torn down and removed from its site a few years ago.
GENERAL ITEMS
The first sermon was delivered in Butler Center by Nathan Olmstead in the sawmill in 1856.
The first birth was a son to Martin Bailey.
The first death was a daughter of Charles Stewart, who died and was buried in the cemetery a mile east of town in the sum- mer of 1857. This was the first interment in the Butler Center cemetery.
COSTER
For a number of years mail was regularly received at Coster, where Isaac Hall conducted a store in connection with his resi- dence. Mr. Hall was postmaster. This office was abolished on the establishment of the rural mail routes. Coster at the present time has a creamery and general store conducted by O. F. Cour- bat. There are also two church buildings in the vicinity, one belonging to the Methodist denomination and the other to the German Evangelical. The latter is situated a little over a mile north.
Vol. 1-21
CHAPTER XXV
MADISON TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE OF KESLEY
Madison is one of the four townships forming the western tier of Butler county. It is bordered by Franklin county on the west and by Pittsford, Ripley and Washington townships on the north, cast and south, respectively. The West Fork passes through the extreme northeastern portion of the township. Mayne's creek flows through its central portion from west to east.
The soil in the valleys of these streams and for some distance on either side has a tendency to be sandy. The surface of the rest of the township is a rolling plain, with a rich, dark, loamy soil, which is especially adapted to the raising of the cereal crops that make this section of Iowa one of the richest agricultural regions of the world.
The only extensive timbered tract in the township is what is known as Bear grove, which has been referred to in an earlier chapter. This grove covered originally a tract of land about two miles in length from cast to west and a mile in width from north to south. It is situated chiefly in sections 26 and 27 and portions of 34 and 35 north of the creek, which drains the southern por- tion of the township.
Kesley is the only village within the limits of the township. Until 1900, when the line of the Northwestern Railroad was con- structed through the eastern portion of the township, it had been entirely without railroad facilities. Kesley forms the market point for the southeastern portion of the township. Dumont on the north, Ackley on the southwest, and Austinville also consti- tute commercial outlets for the products of the township.
EARLY SETTLEMENT
The settlement of Madison township began in 1854. The first entry of land was made by Adam H. Sarber on October 2, 1854,
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
consisting of claims in sections 1 and 2. On October 27th James M. Caldwell and Thomas Nash entered a claim on section 26. These were the only entries of land made in 1854.
In this same year occurred the earliest settlements in Madison township, which was made, according to the best information obtainable, by Nicholas Hartgraves, a native of North Carolina, who came to Iowa from Indiana in 1844. His settlement in But- ler county dates from 1852, when he located at Beaver grove. Two years later he pushed his way farther westward and settled on section 17, of what is now Madison township. In the follow- ing year his brother, Noah Hartgraves, arrived in Madison and located a claim on section 18. These claims were not entered in the government land office until some time later.
Several other pioneer settlers located in the township in 1855. Among them were Ephraim Hizenton and his son William, from Illinois. They located on sections 14 and 15. The son died in 1858 of hydrophobia. The father did not prove up on his claim. He lived on his son's place for a few years and then moved out of the township after his son's death.
William Mason and Fred Moffatt, natives of England, settled in the township in the same year. Abijah Stacy. a native of Indiana, located here in the spring of 1855. He died in the fol- lowing November, his death being the first recorded in the town- ship.
In 1856 James Wilkerson, an Englishman, settled upon a farm in section 16. He remained here for about two years and then moved to Hancock county.
Jacob Yost first settled in Madison township in 1857, his claim being located on section 16. He lived here for a few years and then moved across the line into Ripley township, with the history of which township he and his family were prominently identified.
Peter Coyle, for a number of years a member of the board of supervisors from Madison township and its chairman for the most of the period of his service, settled in the township in 1858, coming from Illinois. He was accompanied by Thomas Gal- lagher and wife. Mrs. Gallagher was a daughter of Mr. Coyle. They made the journey from Illinois with ox teams, taking about two weeks for the trip. Peter Coyle lived on a farm in section 10 until 1875, when he moved to Ackley. His repeated election as supervisor from the township and the honor conferred upon him by his choice as chairman of the board indicate better than
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
any mere words of praise could do the character and ability of the man. His son, Edward Coyle, succeeded him in the manage- ment of the home place.
Elisha Scott is also mentioned as a settler of the township at an early date. Detailed information regarding the date or loca- tion of his settlement is lacking.
The distance of Madison township in early days from market prevented its rapid settlement. In the years immediately pre- ceding the Civil war, and during its progress, few additions were made to the list of settlers. After the war the township filled up rapidly.
Among the settlers subsequent to the Civil war were Amos E. Hartson, Samuel B. Gordon, Solomon Harvey and Walcott Wat- son. The Watsons are among the most prominent citizens of the township and are still identified with its progress and develop- ment.
Kesley Green, for a number of years the largest land owner in . the township, settled here in 1865. The village of Kesley was platted on his land and is named for him.
Thomas Faint, a native of England, settled in Bear grove in the early '70s. Mr. Faint's family of four daughters and three sons were all raised in the township. The daughters have all been prominent in educational work in this and other parts of the state, Mary A. Faint having served two terms as county superin- tendent of schools.
The settlement of the township was finally completed very largely by people of the German nationality, who came in the late '70s and early 'SOs and took up by purchase unoccupied land in the western and southern part. Among these may be men- tioned Charles Borneman, John Rewerts, Arend and J. S. Essman, Paul J. Gerdes. The Ludermann, Baumgartner, Rademacher and Stock families also are numbered in this list.
W. S. Austin, of the family of Austins, prominently connected with the early history of Washington township, purchased land in section 10, Madison township, in recent years, where he now conducts the Oak Glen Stoek Farm.
James P. Bannon is a native son of Madison township, his father, James Bannon, having settled upon the farm where James P. now lives, in 1866.
George Lupkes and G. D. R. Kramer are also large landown- ers in the township at the present time.
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
OFFICIAL ORGANIZATION
Madison township was originally a part of the township of Ripley, being so organized February 5, 1855. It continued to con- stitute a part of the civil township of Ripley through the series of changes that took place in the township organization down to Sep- tember 3, 1860, when by order of the county court it was given a separate organization. The name Madison was proposed by Peter Coyle and was ratified by a meeting of the board of supervisors.
The first election was held at the house of Jacob Yost on sec- tion 16. The following officers were chosen : Dr. George Sprague, Peter Coyle, trustees : Peter Coyle, justice of the peace ; and Peter Coyle, assessor. Jacob Yost was elected to some office but exactly what it was is not recorded.
Madison township is the only township in the county which has a town hall, in which its elections and official meetings of the board and other official business are carried on. Its town hall is located on the schoolhouse grounds in sub-district No. 5, at the geographical center of the township, on the northwest corner of section 22.
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GENERAL ITEMS
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The first birth in Madison township occurred March 1, 1855, when a son, Marvin, was born to Nicholas and Sophia Hartgraves.
The first death was that of Abijah Stacy in November. 1855. He was buried withont any funeral service.
The first marriage ceremony in the township after its separate organization was celebrated at the house of Peter Coyle, at which time Elisha Scott and Miss Sallie Taylor were united in marriage. It is said that the wedding had been arranged and dinner pre- pared, guests arrived and everything in order for a good time. When the hour for the ceremony arrived, however, the bride did not put in an appearance. The guests who were present, together with the minister, proceeded to make way with the feast which had been provided and the party then dispersed. It later devel- oped that the sister of the bride, who was opposed to the marriage. had persuaded her not to go to the wedding. One of the friends of the contracting parties visited the bride and succeeded in get- ting her to change her mind again. The next afternoon, with the prospective bridegroom, she proceeded to Justice Coyle's, where
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
a ceremony was finally performed. Mrs. Scott was drowned nine years later in West Fork, while attempting to cross it at the time of high water. Her husband was with her, but escaped. This was undoubtedly the first marriage ceremony performed in Madi- son township. The records of the office of county clerk, however, record an earlier marriage between residents of this township when it was a part of Ripley. The contracting parties were Jacob Yost and Evaline Scott. The date of this marriage was February 28, 1857.
The first religious services of the township were held at the house of Peter Coyle, and presided over by a Catholic clergyman, Father Shields, of Waverly. A child, John Cunningham, was baptized at this time.
The Methodists held services in the township as early as 1867 in the schoolhouse in district No. 4. A Rev. Mr. Williams, of Ackley, was the first clergyman of this denomination to hold service in the township. So far as is known, no definite organiza- tion was effected.
The first blacksmith shop was started in a building which had formerly been used as a schoolhouse. Albert Schmitz purchased this building and moved it and started a blacksmith shop which he conducted for about a year. Later he moved to Dumont.
EDUCATIONAL
The first schoolhouse in the township was erected in 1860 on section 14. This was used for school purposes until 1870, when it was moved away. In 1872 a board shanty was erected and used for several terms for school purposes and its place was taken by a schoolhouse built in 1873 in the southeast corner of section 13. This district was then known as No. 1. A Miss Carpenter was the first teacher in the township.
A second sub-district was organized in 1868. Helen Slaid was one of the first teachers in this district.
The second schoolhouse in the township was erected in the southeast part of the township in the early '60s. In 1881 this building was sold to K. S. Green and was thereafter used by him as a tenant house. Its place was taken by a school building erected on section 26. in 1881.
In 1875 another distriet was created. A schoolhouse was erected on section 8. in 1876, for the pupils of this district. Mary
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
Johnson, Alice Hurley and George Pahner were among the first teachers in this schoolhouse.
The third schoolhouse erected in the township was con- structed in 1865 on section 16. In 1868 this building was moved to the southwest corner of section 17-its present location-and a new building was erected on the southeast corner of section 16. The latter school site was changed at a later date to the northwest corner of sertion 22.
Thomas W. Smith was the first teacher in the Clutterville schoolhouse. In 1870 a frame schoolhouse was erected on sec- tion 32. Thomas Butler was one of the first teachers.
Since that date three additional schoolhouses have been erected in the township, which now has nine school buildings within its limits.
When the Northwestern Railroad was constructed through the township it was surveyed through the schoolhouse site in school district No. 1, necessitating its removal. Considerable difficulty was experienced in securing a satisfactory site for this school building and some litigation resulted. In the end the schoolhouse was located about a mile north of its first site. In recent years the population of this sub-distriet has been so small that no school has been held there. The district still owns the former schoolhouse site.
The schoolhouse in sub-district No. 2, known as the Eisen- trager school, stands on the northwest corner of section 10, just two miles south of Dumont. Borneman school, in district No. 3, is located in the southeastern corner of section 6. Sub-districts Nos. 4 and 5 are known as the West and East Clutterville schools respectively. No. 5 is the central school of the township. Sub- district No. 6 is located about a mile and a half north of Kesley. The schoolhouse in district No. 7 stands in Bear grove and is known as the Bear Grove school. Schoolhouse No. 8 is in the northeastern corner of section 33 and that in No. 9 in the south- western corner of section 29.
POSTOFFICE
The first postoffice established in the township was called the Island Grove postoffice and was located at the residence of Dr. George Sprague, on section 35. This postoffice was continued from 1858 until 1868. It was on the mail route between Cedar
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
Falls and Hampton first and later on the route from Aplington. A postoffice was also located at Clutterville near the southwest- ern corner of section 17 at an early date. The exact dates of its establishment and discontinuance as well as the names of the postmasters are unknown at present.
POPULATION
1863, 66; 1865, 55; 1867, 157; 1869, 211; 1870, 293; 1873, 386; 1875, 401; 1880, 475; 1890, 604; 1900, 679; 1910, 755.
TOWN OF KESLEY
In the '50s a stock company was formed in Ohio, known as the Ohio Stock Breeding Association, the members of the associ- ation being John K. Green, of Cincinnati; R. W. Musgrave and Luther A. Hall, of Tiffin city; Doctor Sprague and others. Through Doctor Sprague, the originator of the plan, the company purchased some six thousand acres of land, mostly in Madison and Ripley townships. Doctor Sprague was made the manager of the farm and came to Butler county about 1858, bringing a splendid herd of shorthorn cattle with him. He located on sec- tion 35, in Madison township, and commenced the construction of buildings for the accommodation of the stock and a house for the men connected with the enterprise. For various reasons the attempt was nnsuccessful.
After several years Doctor Sprague gave up the struggle, the company was dissolved and the land divided among the stoek- holders. Doctor Sprague obtained some of the land, which remained in possession of his family for a good many years. John K. Green secured the largest part of the real-estate holdings- some three thousand seven hundred acres.
Subsequent to this time Doctor Sprague went to Des Moines and started the Towa Homestead, a farm journal of wide reputa- tion and success, which he continued with the help of his sons for a number of years.
Kesley S. Green, a son of John K. Green, came to Madison township in 1865 to take charge of his father's land there. From that time to the present he has been the largest landowner in that section of the country. Of late years he has retired from active participation in business affairs and his son, John K. Green, has taken his place.
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
When in 1900 the line of the Northwestern Railroad was pro- jected through this section of the county, a plat of land was secured by the Iowa & Minnesota Town Site Company, upon which a town was platted and named Kesley for Mr. Green. Although still unincorporated, the village at present is an important trading center for the farmers of this section of Butler county.
The plat of the town of Kesley was filed for record on June 15, 1900, by W. E. Brice, representing the Iowa & Minnesota Town Site Company. This was just before the completion of the line of railroad which was then being built from Belle Plaine, Iowa, to Fox Lake, Minnesota. The name of the railway line during contsruetion was the Iowa, Minnesota & Northwestern. The pro- moters were the same men who were interested in the Town Site Company. This railroad was later sold to the Chicago & North- western Railway Company.
Before the town was organized a postoffice had been main- tained for a number of years at Hitesville, several miles to the east. After the town of Kesley came into being this was dis- continued and a postoffice was established at Kesley. The post- masters here have been as follows: John Bode, Henry De Vries and John Wessels.
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