USA > Iowa > Butler County > History of Butler County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 28
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Soon after the platting of the town an auction was held by the Town Site Company, at which a sale of lots in Kesley was made. The opening of a lumberyard by Reints & De Buhr, who later organized the Bank of Kesley, marked the beginning of the actual transaction of business in Kesley. Bode Brothers of Austinville, and F. Traisman of Aplington, immediately opened general stores and the Northern Grain Company and the Nye-Schneider- Fowler Company built elevators along the right of way. H. E. Perry, of Swanton, opened a blacksmith shop: Bode Brothers, of Parkersburg, a drug store, and Ludeman and De Vries a hard- ware and furniture store. J. H. Brandenburg built a two-story brick hotel, which he operated for some time. A creamery had been in operation about a half mile north of the site of Kesley for some time previous to its founding. This may now be con- sidered one of the industries of the town of Kesley. Mr. H. Pat- terson succeeded James P. Johnston in the creamery business here.
Kesley now has about one hundred and twenty inhabitants, has two general stores, drug store, a hardware and furniture store, an
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implement establishment, lumberyard, bank, two elevators, meat market, hotel, barber shop and pool hall, harness shop, milk depot and two blacksmith shops.
An independent school district was formed by Kesley and the immediate contiguous territory some years ago. There are at present two departments in the school, with an attendance of about forty children. The school building is a substantial two- story frame structure.
CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS
The German Baptists organized a church here through G. C. Engelmann. This society was later disbanded.
The Monroe Reformed Church was organized June 14, 1885, with a membership of thirty-four families, and built a neat church building which is used by this organization. This church is located three miles south and a half mile east of Kesley. The first pastor called to the charge was Rev. Fr. Schaefer, who after a service covering twenty-three years abandoned his work here, August 2, 1908. Since November, 1909, Rey. E. K. Russmann has had charge and the congregation now numbers seventy-three families.
This denomination has a church building in Kesley, in which regular services are held. A Union Christian Endeavor Society also holds its meetings here.
FINANCIAL
The Bank of Kesley is managed by Herman N. Reints, cashier, and is owned by Reints & De Buhr, of Aplington. Its capital stock is $20,000: surplus, $7.500. Its location in an excellent farming and dairying country makes this financial institution an important one, as the community which it represents in a finan- cial way enjoys a splendid trade from the surrounding territory and has come to be one of the most important shipping points for hogs and poultry in the county.
CHAPTER XXVI
MONROE TOWNSHIP AND TOWN OF APLINGTON
Monroe township lies in the southern tier of the townships of Butler county, just west of Albion. It is bounded on the north by Ripley, on the west by Washington, and on the south by Grundy county. In its general characteristics it is very similar to the townships to the west and east. It is drained by the same stream, Beaver creek, and several minor branches. The surface in gen- eral is rolling with a rich, loamy soil which is highly productive.
There is comparatively little natural timber and this is chiefly along the Beaver. At an early date the water power of this stream was sufficient to be utilized for manufacturing purposes. Of recent years, however, the flow of the stream has been so reduced and the cost of steam power has become so essentially cheaper and more satisfactory as to render the use of this stream for com- mercial purposes needless. The Illinois Central Railroad furnishes the only means of transportation of persons and commodities of the township.
The town of Aplington is situated wholly within the limits of the township and a portion of Parkersburg also. These two towns are the central trading points, trade extending well beyond the limits of the township in every direction. The Hawkeye Highway, which has been mentioned previously, connects Parkers- burg and Aplington, furnishing a satisfactory route for antomo- biles and other wheeled vehicles.
In an early day wheat was the principal product of this township, the vield often reaching forty bushels per acre. This wheat was principally marketed at Cedar Falls, at that time the nearest milling point. Comparatively little wheat is raised at the present time, corn, oats and hay constituting the chief crops. The township is particularly adapted to dairving and the growing of beef cattle and hogs. The farms are well improved and many of them are occupied and farmed by their owners-a
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condition which operates to maintain the natural fertility of the soil and develop its resources to the fullest extent.
The central portion of the township was formerly considered, too wet to be of value for farming purposes. The undoubted change in climatic conditions as well as the introduction of tile draining and a greater absorption of moisture by the tilled lands. all have resulted in removing to a large extent this condition. At present there is practically no waste land in Monroe township.
EARLY SETTLEMENT"
Walter Clayton, who has been mentioned as the first settler in Albion township, also has the honor of being enrolled as the pioneer of Monroe. Mr. Clayton was a native of New York, com- ing to Albion township from Wisconsin. The claim which he took up there was, to use the language of the period, "jumped" by Thomas Mullarky of Cedar Falls, owing to Mr. Clayton's ignor- ance of or neglect to comply with the provisions governing the formal entry of land in the western states.
In April, 1854, Mr. Clayton moved west across the Albion line and located a new home on sections 21 and 28, Monroe township, about a mile east of where Aplington now stands. Here he erected a log house in the northwest quarter of section 28, cover- ing the roof with shakes. These shakes were made from hewn oak timbers, about sixteen inches long, from which shakes, in form somewhat similar to the modern shingle, were split with a tool designed for this purpose. They were very frequently used in the construction of buildings in pioneer days. The floor was laid with basswood boards hewn from the native logs.
In this cabin the first white child in Monroe township was born. It was also the first hotel in this part of the county. It was called the Half-Way House, being so named because of its location mid- way between Cedar Falls and lowa Falls. A basswood board, with the name Half-Way House written upon it with red chalk was nailed to a stake in front of the house. It is said that often as many as twenty travelers were accommodated in the one room of this little shanty, where on account of the low ceiling the guests were obliged to kneel while dressing.
In 1856 he built another log house with two rooms on the ground floor and two above. The same year a stage route was established past his hotel and this became a regular station on the
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route. It was known thereafter as Elk Horn Tavern, from an elk horn which he had procured and suspended over the approach at the entrance. This tavern was in continuous use until after the railway was constructed through the township.
Clayton made considerable money in the management of this hotel. In 1868 he built a large frame house where he lived until his death in 1870.
It is said that the money which he received for the improve- ments on his Albion township claim, amounting to about one hundred and fifty dollars, he entrusted to the care of a young man to take to Des Moines to secure the entry to his new claim in Monroc township. The man, however, ran away with the money. Mr. Clayton then managed to save up the sum of $353 by keeping travelers and this was stolen from him. He still per- severed, however, and in the end achieved a high degree of pros- perity.
No entries of land in Monroe township were made until 1854. The first of these is dated July 29, 1854, when J. V. Hogaboom entered a claim on section 19. L. L. Pease the same year entered a claim on section 23, and on the 11th of October Walter Clayton, mentioned above, entered his claim on section 21. During this year of 1854 claims were also entered by P. M. Casady and R. L. Tidriek, on sections 19 and 29, respectively.
The year 1854 is marked by the addition of Solomon Cinna- mon to the settlers of Monroe township. Cinnamon took a claim on section 36 but lived there only a few years and later removed to Nebraska. J. M. Caldwell and Thomas Nash also belonged to the list of settlers in the township this year. Mr. Caldwell was a native of Georgia. He came to Towa from Illinois in September, 1854, and located a claim in section 30, Monroe township. Thomas Nash took up portions of sections 19, 29 and 30.
In October Messrs. Caldwell and Nash returned to Illinois. disposed of their real estate there, bought stock and in 1855 returned to Butler county with their families. With them came quite a colony of pioneers, among them Anthony Howard and his son Robert, J. G. and George W. Caldwell, Silas Beebe and Jonathan Gee. The party made the journey with three horses and five ox teams. The trip took about sixteen days. These all settled in Monroe and Washington townships.
The number of pioneer settlers was largely increased in the year 1855. Among the first of these was Nathan Linn. He
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located first at what was then called Carpenter's grove, in Shell Rock township, in the fall of 1854, where he spent the winter. The following spring he pushed his way westward into Ripley township, whence, after a brief sojourn, he came to Monroe, locat- ing on section 2. In 1879 he sold his farm in Monroe township and removed to Jefferson township, where he resided for a nun- ber of years. Daniel Peterson, like Nathan Linn a native of Maryland, located a short time afterward on section 1.
Peter MeMahon, who settled in the township this year, came from Pennsylvania. From Chicago they came overland by team. When they reached the vicinity of Butler Center they endeavored to find a place where they could be accommodated over night. They were at first unable to find a place to stay .until they by chance heard that Nathan Linn, at that time hardly settled in the township, sometimes kept travelers. Pushing on from Butler Center they arrived at Lin's claim, where they found the family living in a little log house without a floor. In the absence of a door, a blanket was hung to keep out the wolves. Here they were heartily welcomed. Mr. McMahon located a claim on section 4, and rented a cabin in Butler Center where his family lived until he was able to complete a cabin on his own farm. Among other arrivals about this time were Lycurgus Hazen, R. R. Horr, Wells A. Curtis, Joseph Embody, M. S. Wrightman and James Gillard.
This year also is marked by the settlement of Thomas Conn and his three sons, Joseph, Moses and Samuel, together with Joseph, William and Alexander Hoplev. Thomas Con located a claim on the southwest quarter of section 1, which he later sold to his son Joseph. Samuel located on section 12 and Joseph and William Hopley on sections 2 and 3. Moses Conn is mentioned in connection with the history of Albion township.
Among the settlers in the township in 1856 were Benjamin Tmman, Sammel Gillard and J. H. Kerns. In the years subse- quent to the Civil war the township was rapidly settled. As is the ease with most of the other townships of the county, Monroe township in the early 'SOs became the home of large numbers of German emigrants who themselves and their children today are found among the leading citizens of their communities.
GENERAL ITEMS
The first birth in the township was Winfield Scott Clayton, a son of Walter and Rachel Clayton, who was born June 10, 1855.
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The first marriage was that of Richard Parriott and Lilly M. Caldwell, who on the 10th day of July, 1856, plighted their faith. The bridegroom was later killed in the battle of Murfreesboro in 1863.
Two deaths occurred on the 14th of October, 1859-Catherine, the wife of Samuel Bisbee, aged twenty-two; and Sarah, the wife of Anthony Howard, aged seventy-two. They were both buried on the same day in Aplington cemetery.
OFFICIAL ORGANIZATION
Monroe township was at first a portion of the township of Ripley, being so assigned by order of the county court, February 5, 1855. On March 3, 1856, Monroe township was organized of the two congressional townships, now Monroe and Washington. Washington township was separated from Monroe on the 3d of September, 1860, since which date both townships have had their present boundaries. The township name was suggested by J. M. Caldwell. whose middle initial stands for Monroe. Whether he had his own name or that of the president of the United States is unknown.
The first election in the township was held at the home of J. M. Caldwell in April. 1856. At this election an oyster can was used for a ballot box, and the following officers were elected : Thomas Nash and J. M. Caldwell. trustees; Jonathan Gee, clerk : L. P. Hazen. assessor: Daniel Peterson. constable: and Joseph Embody, justice of the peace.
EDUCATIONAL
Monroe is one of the eleven townships of Butler county enjoy- ing township district organization for school purposes. It was so organized from the beginning in 1856.
The first school was held during the winter of 1856-7 in a log shanty belonging to J. M. Caldwell. on section 19, with L. P. Hazen as teacher.
The second school. held in the following winter at the resi- dence of Walter Clayton, was taught by Morris F. Whitney.
In 1859 there were two schoolhouses erected, one in Parriott's grove on section 30, and the other in the eastern part of the vil- lage of Aplington. The latter was not completed until about 1861. W. C. Garrison was the first teacher here.
Vol. 1-22
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
By 1883 the township had been divided into six sub-districts. The first school in district No. 1 was taught in Joseph Com's house on section 1, Thomas Conn being the teacher. A school- house was erected about 1863 on section 2. In 1865 a schoolhouse was erected at the northwest corner of section 15, at what was then known as sub-district No. 2. This schoolhouse stood on the present station of Eleanor. A schoolhouse was erected in 1872 in the western part of section 8 for district No. 3. About 1872 a schoolhouse was erected near the southwest corner of section 27. School was first held in this part of the township in section 34. The first school in the southeastern portion of the township was taught by Wells A. Curtis at his house on section 25, in the winter of 1858-9. The following winter the school was taught at M. S. Wrightman's house by George Russell. In 1861 a schoolhouse was located in the northeastern part of section 26, where M. F. Whitney taught the first school.
At the present time the township is divided into seven sub- districts. In educational matters the township is one of the most progressive and enlightened in Butler county. They have adopted a definite plan of rebuilding their rural schoolhouses, construet- ing one each year, beginning in 1911. In this year a new building was erected in sub-district No. 1. In 1912 a new school building was erected on the southwest corner of section 5 for sub-district No. 3. This building is the first rural school in Butler county to be furnished with a basement and a furnace for heating purposes.
In 1913 a school building was erected in district No. 7. a mile and a half east of Aplington, which in all respects is the finest rural school building in the county. A new site for the school was purchased at the southeast corner of section 28. The building is heated by a basement furnace, is unilaterally lighted and has an adequate system of ventilation. It is seated with the best desks obtainable, is provided with slate blackboards and has practically every essential of modern schoolhouse construction. The cost of this building was in the neighborhood of $2,100. It is planned to continue the rebuilding of the schools of the township in the future, one being constructed each year. If this plan is adhered to, within a comparatively short time Monroe township will be equipped with a set of rural school buildings that will be second to none in the state of Iowa.
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EARLY RELIGIOUS SERVICES
The early religions services were held in a building put up for a stable. The quarterly meetings were held in Mr. Cald- well's barn. The first, or one of the first sermons ever delivered in the neighborhood is a reminder of the old dissenters who posted their sentinels among the rocks. The good women of the neigh- borhood, having long been denied the privilege of hearing the word of God, proposed to their husbands to have a sermon from some source. The religious enthusiasm of the men had been over- come by a pressing necessity for active physical labor. A min- ister to perform regular service every Sabbath could not be supported, consequently a discourse from a minister from Hardin county, who could come no other time than through the week, was agreed upon. Mr. Parriott mounted a horse and hied him- self off for Rev. Mr. Crippin. The signal for his return on the following day was to be a blast from the dinner horn of Mrs. Par- riott's, in order to call in the hands, busy at work in the fields. The sound of the horn on the following afternoon apprised the settlers that their messenger had appeared in sight. Oxen and horses were turned to graze and rest, while the barefooted, ragged and dusty yeomanry assembled to hear the word of the Holy Que expounded. Such a luxury could not often be indulged in, conse- quently the more appreciated. It is merely a single instance among thousands of a similar character which oceny in the first settlement of a country.
POPULATION
1856, 135; 1860, 203; 1863, 151; 1865, 190: 1867, 407: 1869, 516; 1870, 644: 1873, 645: 1875, 692: 1880, 891: 1890, 1,088; 1900. 1,388; 1910, 1,362.
APLINGTON
In the summer of 1857 the village of Aplington was laid out and platted by the proprietors, Thomas Nash, R. R. Parriott, Zenas Aplington and Theodore A. Wilson, on section 29. At the time one house stood on the traet of land, which had been erected and occupied by Charles Savage, a New Englander, a settler of short duration. The town was incorporated in the '80s and has
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grown to be a lively and thriving trading point of five hundred people. No better soil or finer farms lie out of doors than those contributing to the wealth of this community and with the Iowa division of the Illinois Central Railroad good transportation facili- ties appreciably add to the desirability of Aplington as a place for business activity and easy communication with the ontside world. The town was named by its promoters in honor of one of their number, Zenas Aplington, a resident of Illinois, who never lived here. He owned part of the land, however, and took a lively inter- est in the town's welfare until his death, which occurred while serving his country in the War of the Rebellion.
The first building erected in Aplington was built by Zenas Aplington in 1856. He also furnished a stock of general mer- chandise. The building stood on the south side of Parriott street, and the first Aplington merchant, George W. Hunter, sold goods over the counters here about one year for Mr. Aplington. He was succeeded by Chester Stilson, who ran the store eighteen months; then it closed its doors. However, in 1864, Isaac Hall opened a general store in this building. He sold his stock to C. S. Price, who a year later closed out at auction.
The father of Charles Savage was an early settler in this part of the county and set up a blacksmith forge in a roofless sod house. This was the first smithy in the southern part of Butter county. William Bisbee came here in 1857 and opened a blacksmith shop for Zenas Aplington and managed it one year for that enterpris- ing non-resident. He then engaged in the trade for himself and continued therein for many years.
Mrs. Rachel Quinn built and presided over the first hotel in 1858. E. Y. Royce bonght the property in 1866 and sold it to Edward Bourns in 1867, who contimed the hotel a few years. The building was then purchased by Hemy Kerns and used as a residence. The present hotel is an old frame structure showing the wear and tear of the elements. Yet the traveler is well taken care of and given a good, generous meal by the proprietor.
The first grain elevator in Aplington was built by Alonzo Me Key, at the time of the coming of the Illinois Central Railroad in 1865. Among the several managers was C. M. Mead. The next was built by the firm of Wright Brothers and run by the fin until 1877. Several persons have been in charge of the busi- ness since then. The third elevator was built by S. L. Kommerer in 1872. He sold the property to A. M. Whaley in 1876. In 1879,
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a fourth elevator was built. The firm of Chrystie & Prince, pro- prietors, disposed of their interests to Mr. Willis.
Aplington was early noted for its mills and creamery. Edward Ililler would have built a mill in the '60s, but being unable to seenre on reasonable termis the right of way for a tail race, he gave up the project. However, John Matthews & Son, of Jack- son county formed a stock company, with a capital of $14,000, in 1872. A mill was built, but before its completion certain of the stockholders refused to meet their obligations on stock issued them, which retarded the industry for a while. The Matthews finally turned over their interests to William Dobbins and the latter disposed of a controlling amount of the stock to A. L. Morris & Son, who had the mill running in September, 1877. After this the mill had several owners.
Spring Hill Creamery began operations in the spring of 1881, on section 20. The proprietors at that time, Markley & Dodswell gave employment to a number of men and consumed vast gnanti- ties of milk, which were delivered from the surrounding farms. One of the largest and most lucrative industries of this seetion of the county is dairying.
POSTOFFICE
The Aplington postoffice was established in 1858 and the first postmaster was Chester Stilson, who kept the office at his store. Harvey Quinn was the next appointee. He removed the office to his hotel and while in the army his sister, Maria Quinn, distrib- uted the mail. Others who have held the position of postmaster here are: Alexander Chrystie, E. A. Gihnan, C. J. Fitzpatrick, A. M. Whaley, C. G. Whaley, Dick Voogd.
Charles S. Prince located in Aplington in 1865, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits of a varied nature.
Mention has been made of the building of the Illinois Central Railroad through Aplington in 1865; it also should be added that a depot was not built until two years later. In the meantime A. MeKey, agent for the railroad company, maintained an office in his store room.
A. MeKey, the first station agent, came to Aplington in 1865. He not only opened a general store, but also erected a warehouse and bought grain.
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Alexander Chrystie was early in the field of business at this point. In 1868 he opened a general store, his stock consisting of groceries, dry goods, boots, shoes, ete. Mr. Chrystie became one of the prosperous and influential men of the place.
The firm of Lynd & Wright started a general mercantile busi- ness in 1868, having for headquarters a building on Parriott street. In 1869 these busy men built a business house on Tenth street where they installed a stock of goods, which was sold out in a lump within a year and moved away.
Doctor Whitfield opened the first drug store in 1868. Within a few months thereafter he sold out to Charles Prince and formed a partnership with Doctor Waterbury, which lasted but a short time. Lynd & Wright were the next proprietors of the stock of goods, then A. M. Whaley got hold of it and in 1873 disposed of his bargain to L. M. Swan.
In 1869 A. S. Burnham entered the furniture trade and at the expiration of a year's time took into partnership his brother, J. J. Burnham.
A wagon shop was established in Aplington in 1877, by George Lefever: Joseph Kellogg had a hardware store in 1875; E. Y. Royce opened a real-estate agency in 1868. Arends & Rans, hard- ware, 1878; H. Reints & Company, groceries, 1880; Dreyer Brothers opened up a grain and lumber business.
APLINGTON INCORPORATED
Aplington long has been an incorporated town, but the exact date of its separation from the township was not obtainable for this article. After diligent search among the records in the court- house nothing was found pertaining to the court proceedings nee- essary and antecedent to incorporation. Further, the carly minute books of the recorder of Aplington are missing, so that, with these handicaps a connected history of the municipality is not possible at this time. However, the town held its initial elec- tion, the officials were properly indueted into office and the busi- ness of Aplington as an incorporated town has gone steadily onward without any serions interruptions. It is true the central part of the town was practically wiped out by fire in 1891. But the community survived the heavy loss entailed and the business part was rebuilt in a more substantial and expensive manner than ever. As a matter of fact, the business houses of Aplington rank
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