History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa, Part 103

Author: Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 1316

USA > Iowa > Butler County > History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa > Part 103
USA > Iowa > Bremer County > History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa > Part 103

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

assessor and supervisor, and also for the past four years, township clerk. He owns and farms 390 acres-10 acres under timber. He is a member of the Liberal League of Northern Iowa, and is politically an out and out greenbacker.

In the fall of 1872, A. H. McCracken was elected clerk of courts, and served so acceptably that lie was twice re-elected, serving six years, from January, 1873, to January, 1879. He is a lawyer, living at Waverly, and is noted at length in the chapter npon the Bar of Bremer county.

C. H. Cooper, the present incumbent, succeeded Mr. McCracken as clerk of the courts. He was first elected in October, 1878; re-elected in 1880, and 1882; and is now serving his third term, making one of the most accommodating and competent officials the county has ever had.

C. H. Cooper was born in Shoreham, Ad- dison county, Vermont, on the 4th day of November, 1833. He is the son of Asa and Lydia (Rehern) Cooper. When C.H. was four years old his parents emigrated to Bridgeport, in the same county, remain- ing there until he was twelve years old, when they moved to Stephenson county, Illinois, where he grew to manhood. In 1848 his mother died, and in 1849 his father removed to Racine county, Wiscon- sin. The subject of this sketch was mar- ried, March 23, 1856, to Miss Esther E. Harwood, a daughter of Francis and So- · phronia Harwood, natives of New York. In June, 1861, he enlisted in an Illinois Regiment, from Tazewell county, as a private; but before the company left the State, was promoted to Orderly Sergeant. Among some of the prin- cipal engagements he participated in

were: Fort Donalson, Fort Henry, Shiloh, siege and capture of Vicksburg, first and second battles of Corinth, Missionary Ridge, and Atlanta. The regiment was discharged at Nashville, and he proceeded to Bremer county, where his family had preceeded him. Iu Bremer county he turned his attention to farming, which he followed up to 1873, when he entered the office of the clerk of district court, as deputy. Mr. and Mrs. Cooper are the parents of four children, two sons and two daughters -Ernest, now filling the office of deputy clerk; Julia E., Mary S., and George C.

SHERIFFS.

The first sheriff Bremer county ever had was Austin Farris, who was elected in August, 1853, He moved to Kansas and remained there until about 1879, when he came back to Bremer and died in Jefferson township.

Farris resigned before his term was out and Daniel Lehman was appointed sheriff, ' and filled out the term. Daniel Lehman, an early settler of Bremer county, was born July 12th, 1829, in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania. At the age of fourteen he began learning the trade of a mason, and followed that occupation for thirty years. In 1851 he emigrated to Stephenson county, Illinois, and while there became acquainted with and married Miss Martha Wilson, a native of Kentucky, born in 1830. In 1855 he removed to Bremer county, Iowa, locating in Waverly. Mr. Lehman settled here when this county was one rough, unbroken waste of land, and has seen it develop into one of the finest farming counties in the northwest. In 1859 he settled on his beautiful farm in

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

Jackson township. It consists of 102 acres of cultivated land, valned at $50.00 per acre.

In August, 1855, Joseph G. Ellis was elected sheriff, and was twice thereafter re-elected, serving from August, 1855, until January, 1862. He was elected as a dem- ocrat, and still holds to that faith.

J. H. Eldridge was the next sheriff of Bremer county, and served from January, 1862, until January, 1864. He still lives in Horton, where he did at the time of his election.

J. H. Eldridge, a pioneer of Bremer county and one of the enterprising men of Polk township, was born in Washing- ton county, New York, October 21, 1810. He is a son of James D. and Nancy (Woodworth) Eldridge, who were also natives of New York State. About two years after his birth, the family moved to Madison county in the same State, where the son grew to manhood. His last school days were passed at Hamilton Academy, but at the early age of fifteen he was ob- liged to cease his studies and begin life for himself. In 1822 his mother died, and he, being one of the eldest of eight children, was compelled, a few years after, to earn his own living. Therefore, upon leaving school, he began learning the fullers' trade and subsequently worked in wollen manufactories in different parts of the State, until nearly forty years of age; after which he followed farming a short time, and was also engaged in the grocery trade. During the year 1833 he was married to Miss Sarah Youmans, who was born in Oneida county, New York, but was reared in Madison county. In 1853 he turned his steps westward, and, after

spending about two years in Lake county, Illinois, came to Bremer county, Iowa, and first located on a farm in Douglas town- ship where he lived five years, and then came to Horton. It is said of him that he knew nearly every man in the county. In 1864, he returned to Horton and turned his attention to farming and general merchan- dising. However, for several years past he lias lived a retired life. Mr. Eldridge has been one of the leading, and is also one of the most respected men in Bremer county. Thirteen children have been born to them, eleven of whom are now living-Nancy Madaline (wife of Adel- bert G. Lawrence, a lumber dealer of Mot- ley, Minnesota); Lydia Louisa, (wife of Adrian Nutting, of Sioux Falls, Dakota); J. R., who now lives in Kokomo, Colorado; Mary E., (wife of Lavinus Phelps, and liv- ing at Appleton, Minnesota); John W., now living at Horton; Frances Eugene, now living in. Dakota; Sarah E .; (wife of Albert G. Lawrence, of Nashua, Iowa); William Y., now in business at Horton; Helen Annette, (wife of-E. B. Hayes, of Dallas, Texas); Herbey, now living at Horton; Emma D., (wife of James Mc- Donald, and now living in Dakota).

N. M. Smith succeeded Eldridge, and served two terms, from January, 1864, to January, 1867. Mr. Smith was a republi- can, and was an early settler of Warren township. He only remained in the county a few years after the expiration of his term of office. He went to Missouri.

D. W. Cown, the next sheriff, was a soul- in-law of Mr. Smith; he served one term and went to Missouri with Smith.

In October, 1867, C. M. Kingsley was elected sheriff. In 1869, he was re-elected,

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

and served until 1872. He was a staunch republican, and was quite an early settler in Washington township, where he lived at the time of his election. He now lives in Verndale, Minnesota, but has a brother living in Lafayette township, Bremer county.

James A. Conner, who succeeded- Mr. Kingsley, was born in Clark county, Kentucky, May 25, 1832. He is the second son of James and Pauline (Sharp) Conner, both natives of that State. In 1851, his parents removed to Will county, Illinois, and in 1856, to Lafayette township, Bremer county, where James entered 240 acres of land on section 19, which he im- proved and sold in January, 1872, when he took possession of the office of sheriff of Bremer county. In 1876, he settled on his present farm of 80 acres, one mile west of Waverly, In 1881, he was elected county supervisor. In politics he is a republican, and cast his first presidential vote for Abra- ham Lincoln. Mr. Conner is a Master Ma- son, and a member of Tyrrell Lodge, No. 116, of Waverly. He is also a member of Jethro Chapter R. A. M. of Waverly. In 1862 he was married to Miss Jane A. Tyr- rell. They have been blessed with six children, five of whom are still- living- Edith, Elizabeth J., Earl, Ruth and Edna P. His father died in March, 1863, and his mother in 1874.

L. S. Hanchett was the next sheriff, being elected in the fall of 1877. In 1879 he was re-elected, and served until Janu- ary, 1882. He was then elected a member of the lower house of the General Assem- bly, and is noted at length in that connec- tion.

The present sheriff, James Adair, suc- ceeded Hanchett, having been elected in the fall of 1851. He makes an efficient and careful officer. Politically he is a democrat. James Adair was born in Ire- land, where he was educated partly in his native country, and in Chenango county, New York. When twenty years of age. he emigrated to New York, and located in Chenango county, where he turned his attention to farming, which occupation he followed for eight years. He was married to Miss Eliza Stewart, by whom there were six children born, four of whom are living -Maggie, Jennie, Stewart and James. In December, 1856, he settled in Bremer county, Iowa, purchasing eighty acres of land in Washington township, and made a farm. Mrs. Adair died in Bremer county May 29, 1871. He again married in 1874 Miss Sarah Clark. She was born April 18, 1850. One child blessed this union- Reane. In politics, Mr. Adair is a demo- crat, and is the first county officer elected by that party for twenty years, overcom- ing a republican majority of 300 votes. Mr. Adair came to Bremer county a poor man, but by close application to business has accumulated a comfortable property and home; has 91 acres of land under cul- tivation, valued at $40 per acre.

SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS.

The various gentlemen who have officia- ted in this capacity and also that of school fund commissioner, are treated at length in the chapter upon educational matters, to which the reader is referred.

COUNTY ATTORNEY.

A short time prior to the organization of Bremer county, this office was created by an

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

act of the General Assembly. The first to fill it was William P. Harmon, founder of the city of Waverly. He was elected in August, 1854, and served until August, 1856.

Phineas V. Swan succeeded Mr. Harmon, but for some reason only served for a few months, when G. C. Wright, the present proprietor of the Waverly Democrat, was appointed to fill the vacancy, and served until April, 1857.

At this time George W. Ruddick was elected, and served until the office was abolished by law, and that of district attorney taking its place.

SURVEYOR.

The first surveyor of Bremer county was Israel Trumbo, who was elected in August, 1853. Mr. Trumbo came from Morrow . county, Ohio, in company with his family, William Baskins, and Joseph Kerr, in 1850. He was a man of moderate education, and good, common sense; having that social, genial disposition which makes men popn- lar. He is well remembered by the old settlers as a man of much integrity and honor. He held the office of surveyor from August, 1853, until August, 1857, and was also one of the first justices of the peace in the county. About the time the war broke out he went to Dakota, and died a few years later.

H. S. Hoover was the next county sur- veyor, and served at this time one term.

He was succeeded by A. S. Funston, who also served one term, from January, 1860, to January, 1862. He was a democrat, and lived in Leroy township at the time of his election. He is noted in the Bar chapter.

Succeeding him, H. S. Hoover was again elected, and re-elected for four successive terms, serving from January, 1862, nutil January, 1870.

In 1869, S. H. Wallace was elected surveyor, and served part of a term. He had been teaching school in the county, but has now gone to parts unknown. He was a very conscientious man, in fact it is stated that his delicately framed conscience would not allow lim to survey the grounds of a church which in creed opposed the one of which he was a member. M. E. Billings was appointed to fill the unexpired term. In October, 1871, H. S. Hoover was again elected, and, having been re- elected from time to time, is the present incumbent.

H. S. Hoover was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, on the 17th day of December, 1827. He is the son of J. Hoover, who in early life learned the trade of a blacksmith, which he followed for some time, afterwards turning his attention to farming. In politics he was an old linc whig, and was an active worker in the campaign of General Harrison. He married Miss Catherine Stouffer, by whom there was four children, three sons and one daughter, all of which are living at the present time. They were married in 1819, and lived together for sixty years, save a few months. Mr. Hoover being the first dcatlı in the family. The sous are all liv- ing, married, and but two deaths have oc- curred in all the families. Mr. Hoover died December 18, 1878, at the advanced age of eighty, Mrs. Hoover following April 30, 1879. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, receiving his education principally in his native county. When

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

seventeen years of age he commenced teaching school, which he followed for a number of years. In the fall of 1856, lie left his home in Pennsylvania and came to Iowa, locating in Waverly, where he was soon after employed in book-keeping for the firm of Hazlett & Company. In 1856, he was appointed a deputy county surveyor. In August, 1857, was elected to the office which he has held since with the exception of four years. In the fall of 1859, he returned to his native State, when he married Cecilia Child, a daughter of Wm. and Susan Child. By this union there are three children, one son and two daughters-Elmer E., Miriam C., and Kate. In politics Mr. Hoover is a republican, tak- ing an active interest in all the issues of the day. He is also an ardent supporter of the temperance cause. The family are members of the Episcopal Church.

CORONERS.

While this office was already in exis- tence, at the time Bremer county was or- ganized, for some reason it was not filled at the first election. In August, 1854, the second election was held, and A. A. Case was elected the first coroner of Bremer county, receiving 89 of the 125 votes polled. He served just one year, when his successor qualified. Mr. Case was a native of New York and was a brother of Louis Case, well known in Bremer county. He came to the county in the fall of 1853 from Monroe, Wisconsin, where he had stopped on his westward march for several years. He brought his family with him and set- tling, erected the first house on the west side of the river in Waverly. About the time the war broke out, he moved to Mis-

souri, and was there pressed into the Rebel service, but escaped and made his way to Bremer county, this time remaining three or four years. He finally returned to , Carthage, Missouri. He was a cabinet maker by trade, and was a man of honor and integrity.

Robert D. Titcomb was the second county coroner, and served from August, 1855 to 1856. He was an early settler in Fremont township, and was elected as a republican. He left the county years ago, and now lives in Waterloo.

A. T. Owen succeeded Titcomb, and served from August, 1856, to 1857. He was a native of Vermont, and settled in Waverly at an early day, engaging in the mercantile trade. He only remained three or four years.

In April, 1857, H. F. Beebe was elected coroner, but almost immediately resigned. He was a contractor and builder, and set- tled in Waverly about 1855, remaining until 1866, when he followed his brother- in-law, A. A. Case, to Carthage, Missouri. When the the war of the rebellion broke out, Mr. Beebe raised a company and went into the army as a lieutenant. He was soon promoted to captain, and before the close, he was honored with the promotion to major.

L. B. Ostrander was appointed to fill the vacancy in the coroner's office, occasioned by Mr. Beebe's resignation, and served from May until August, 1857. He was a. democrat and resided in Lafayette town- ship, but has long since left for parts un- known.

John Acken, who still lives at Waverly, next filled the office, serving from August, 1857, until January, 1859.

Herman Rush

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

L. F. Goodwin was next elected, but not qualifying, W. W. Norris was appointed to fill the vacancy, and served until Au- gust, 1860.

At this time, John Mohling, of Fremont township, was elected and served until January, 1862.

John S. Jenkins succeeded Mr. Mohling to the coronership, and served until Janu- ary, 1864. He was a citizen of Jefferson township, where he had been justice of the peace for many years. He died three years ago.

Matthew Rowen was. next elected; his term expiring in January, 1866.

J. J. Merrill came next, and held the office two years. , He was a republican and a citizen of Polk township.

G. W. Nash succeeded Mr. Merrill, his term commencing January, 1868, and ex- piring January, 1870.

Dr. C. O. Paquin came next, and held the office for two years.

Dr. J. M. Ball was elected to succeed Paquin, and held it during 1872. He is now at Waterloo, Iowa.

Dr. Horace Nichols was elected in the fall of 1872, and re-elected his own suc- cessor in 1873, 1875 and 1877: He is noted at length in the medical chapter.

WV. S. Mickle succeeded Dr. Nichols, and served for one year.

The present coroner, Dr. J. N. Wilson, was elected in 1880 to fill the unexpired term. In 1881 he was re-elected for the term he is at present serving. ·

DRAINAGE COMMISSIONER.

This office is a very unimportant one in this county, and has not been filled by an officer much more than half the time.

Edward Tyrrell was the first drainage commissioner. He was elected in April, 1854, and served for one year.

Rufus C. Gates, then of Jefferson town- ship, was next qualified, and served until April, 1857.

Lafayette Walker succeeded Gates. He was at the time a resident of Fremont township, and served from April, 1857, till January, 1860.

J. N. Bemis came next, and served two years.

He was succeeded by William P. Har- mon, of Waverly, who filled the office until 1864.

Allen Smith, of Polk township, was elected in the fall of 1863, and served till January, 1866.

E. J. Messinger succeeded Mr. Smith, and served until January, 1868. He was the last drainage commissioner Bremer county has ever had.

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

CHAPTER XII.

THE PRESS.

There is no instrumentality, not even excepting the Pulpit and the Bar, which exerts such an influence upon society as the Press of the land. It is the Archime- dian lever that moves the world. The talented minister of the gospel on the · Sabbath day, preaches to a few hundred people; on the following morning his thoughts are reproduced more than a thousand fold, and are read and discussed throughout the length and breadth of the land. The attorney at the bar, in thrill- ing tones, pleads either for or against the criminal arraigned for trial, often causing the jury to bring in a verdict against the law and the testimony in the case. His words are reproduced in every daily that is reached by the telegraphic wire, and his arguments are calmly weighed by unpreju- diced men and accepted for what they are worth. The politician takes the stand and addresses a handful of men upon the politi- cal questions of the day; his speech is re- ported, and read by a thousand men for every one that heard the address. Sud- denly the waters of one of our mighty rivers rise, overflowing the land for miles and miles, rendering thousands of people homeless, and without means to secure their daily bread. The news is flashed over the wire, taken up by the Press, and known and read of all men. No time is lost in

sending to their relief; the Press has made known their wants, and they are instantly supplied. "Chicago is on fire! Two hun- dred millions worth of property destroyed! Fifty thousand people rendered homeless!" Such is the dread intelligence proclaimed by the Press. Food and clothing are hastily gathered, trains are chartered, and the immediate wants of the sufferers are in a measure relieved.

The power for good or evil, of the Press, is to-day unlimited. The short-comings of the politician are made known through its. columns; the dark deeds of the wicked are exposed, and each fear it alike. The con- trolling influence of a Nation, State or county, is its Press; and the Press of Bre- mer county is no exception to the rule.

The local Press is justly considered among the most important institutions of every city, town and village. The people of every community regard their particu- lar newspaper or newspapers as of peculiar value, and this not merely on account of the fact already alluded to, but because these papers are the repositories wherein are stored the facts and the events, the deeds and the sayings, the undertakings and the achievements, that go to make up final history. One by one these things are gathered and placed in . type; one by one the papers are issued; one by one these

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

papers are gathered together and bound, and another volume of local, general and individual history is laid away imperish- able. The volumes thus collected are sifted by the historian, and the book for the library is ready. The people of each city or town naturally have a pride in their home paper. The local Press, as a rule, reflects the business enterprise of a place. Judging from this standard, the enterprise of the citizens of Bremer county is indeed commendable. Its papers are well filled each week with advertisements of home merchants, and of its business enterprises. No paper can exist without these advertise- ments, and no community can flourish that does not use the advertising columns of its local Press. Each must sustain the other.

BREMER COUNTY HERALD.

The first newspaper in Bremer county was entitled the Bremer County Herald. It was established upon a very doubtful foundation, at Janesville, in 1855, by Phineas V. Swan. It soon ceased to exist. In November, 1856, it was revived by D. P. Daniels, but again lived only a few weeks. Mr. Swan, the first editor in the county, was a practicing attorney from Vermont, and was the first lawyer admitted to the Bar in Bremer county.

BREMER COUNTY ARGUS.

This was the name of a paper established at Waverly, in January, 1860, by Colonel William Pattee, which advocated and labored to advance the democratic doc- trines. Mr. Pattee was an able writer, and in those days a man of considerablenote, hav- ing been Auditor of the State of Iowa, and

holding other prominent positions. Prior to this time the politics of the county had been largely democratic, but this was just on the eve of the war, and the sentiments were undergoing a radical change. For a few months the Argus prospered; but then the retrograde set in, and after a year of gradual decline the publication was per- manently abandoned.

THE WAVERLY REPUBLICAN.

This is the oldest established newspaper in Bremer county, and in fact, in this part of the State, and its many years of useful existence has placed it among the fore- most republican newspapers. Its founder was Heman A. Miles, who, although not being a practical printer, saw the need of a newspaper in Waverly, and took steps to fill that need. He had been the most prominent man in arranging and perfect- ing the organization of the county, and was at the time, one of the best informed men in this part of the State. The first issue of the paper made its appearance, March 5, 1856. Mr. Miles in this issue made the following remarks, embracing a short his- tory of the county:

Salutatory.

In commencing the publication of our sheet, we frankly acknowledge that we have enlisted in an enterprise of which we have had little ex- perience, but hope that by close application, dilligence and perseverence, we shall become more and better acquainted with the business in which we have engaged, and thereby be enabled to conduct it in a manner that will add credit to the young and flourishing town in which it is published, and deserve merit ourselves.

We shall labor under some inconveniencies at present, as we have but one mail per week, and are entirely dependant upon that for news, but

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

we hope for a speedy increase of mail facilities, as the interest of this, as well as other northern counties of Iowa much demand it; and by dili- gence and perseverance we hope soon to obtain it. We shall spare no pains iu endeavoring to make the Republican a useful and interesting sheet, hoping that the citizens of this and ad- joining counties may contribute liberally to its support, and that we may succeed in our under- taking.

We shall be confined to no party or clique, whatever, but express our views calmly and' in- dependently upon all topics of the day, ever aiming to advance the interests of this and ad- joining counties.

Having been one of the early settlers of Bre- mer county, we have experienced many of the hardships and privations which are attendant to the settling of a new country. We have also had the pleasure of turning over the sod of many acres of its rich and beautiful prairies, while we have at the same time witnessed its rapid growth in population and wealth, which has far exceedcd our most sanguine anticipations. We do not wonder at the rapidity with which it has settled up with enterprising and intelligent inhabitants when we look around and see its rich and beauti- ful prairies, interspersed with the choicest groves of timber and beautiful streams of water unequalled in the State of Iowa. In the spring of 1851, it had about twenty log cabins, destitute of stores and mills of all kinds and description, and the settlers were compelled to go from forty to fifty miles to mill, and fifteen miles to a store. The first store was established here by Messrs Hunter & Leverick, in the spring of 1852, at Janesville, a new town there just laid out by John T. Barrick, Esq.

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History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa, Part 103

Author: Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company Number of Pages: 1316

Author: Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 1316