History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa, Part 111

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 111
USA > Iowa > Bremer County > History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa > Part 111

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Eli Eisenhart,

James Adair,

Adin Terry,

John Elliott,

E. Wattenpaugh, D. P. Waiting,

J O. Buckman, Henry Harmon,

J. L. Kerr,

C. R. Hastings,

W. H. Cook,

Louis Case,

John Aiken, John McRea,

David Beebe,

James A Skillen,

J. B. Kerr,

W. R. Bostwick,

O. C. Harrington,

C. C. Cook,

J. M. Elles,

S. H. Curtis,

J S. Conner,

George Kimball,

Henry Laso, Jr.,

A. T. Martin,

S. W. Kung,

J. M. Gross,

Elmer Flood,

Robert Brodie,

George F. Harwood,

John Franklin,

John Swale,

Henry Reddington,

J. M. Sturdevant,

G. W. Ruddick,

A. S. Funston,

John E. Brown,

George Watts, Jr.,

Bernhart Brin,

C. M. Kingsley,

Daniel Chittenden.

The following named were elected offi- cers for the ensuing year :- M. F. Gillett, president; J. O. Buckingham, first vice- president; John McRea, second vice-presi- dent; W. V. Lucas, secretary; James A. Skillen, treasurer.

W. V. Lucas, G. C. Wright and O. C. Harrington, were appointed a committee to prepare constitution and by-laws to govern the association.

The following preamble and resolution was presented, on the death of Daniel Walters: .

WHEREAS, since our last annual meeting, the hand of death was laid upon our esteemed and valued friend, Daniel Walters; therefore

Resolved That we recognize in his death the loss of one of Bremer county's old pioneers, an honest man and good citizen; but in submission to the will of the Ruler of the Universe, we offer this tribute of honor to his memory, and sympa- thy to his family.

Thomas Downu,

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

FOURTH ANNUAL MEETING.

This meeting was held at Tripoli, June 24, 1876, and was called to order by the president. Music by the Tripoli glee club, and prayer by Norris Felt.

Short addresses were made by Hon. Louis Case, James Fletcher, of the Wa- verly Tribuue, Hon. D. P. Walling, and Dr. Oscar Burbanks.

On motion, the former committee on constitution and by-laws was discharged, and the following named appointed: Louis Case, O. C. Harrington, and D. P. Wal- ling.

On motion, the time of membership was extended to July 4, 1857.

The following officers were then chosen: J. K. Head, president; O. C. Harrington, first vice-president; D. P. Walling, second vice-president; Lonis Case, secretary; Charles Hastings, treasurer.

FIFTH ANNUAL MEETING.

The fifth annual meeting was held at Horton, June 16, 1877.

After being called to order, and an ad- dress of welcome made by J. K. Head, president, the Horton glee club sang "America." Invocation by Rev. S. George.

The following named were added to the membership:

J. H. Eldridge, came November, 1855, from Madison county, New York.

Simon George, came November, 1856, from Richland county, Ohio.

Allen Sewell, came August, 1852, from Hamil- ton county, Ohio.

Allen Showalter, came October, 1856, from Preble county, Ohio.

Robert Skillen, came January, 1855, from Che- nango county, New York.

John Runyon, came June, 1853, from Chenan- go county, New York.

George R. Dean, came June, 1857, from Sara- toga county, New York.

Mrs. G. R. Dean, came June, 1857, from Ot- sego county, New York.

J. K Head, came September, 1855, from Pem- broke, New York.

Mrs. J. K. Head, came September, 1855, from Pembroke, New York.

David Beebe, came June, 1857, from Brown county, New York.

Martin Hurlbut, came October, 1856, from Chautauqua county, New York.

J. P Peape, came August, 1856, from Catarau- gus county, New York.

John Crane, came May, 1857, from Isle of Man, England.

Felix Cook, came May, 1855, from Berks county, Pennsylvania.

F. Coddington, came September, 1853, from Chautauqua county, New York.

The following constitution was adopted:

CONSTITUTION.

ARTICLE I. This society shall be known as the Old Settlers' Association of Bremer County.

ART. II. The object of this association shall be to obtain and keep a record of all the old set- tlers of Bremer county, that we may know who the first settlers were; also those that are still spared to meet together annually from time to time, may know who the old settlers are that still remain.

ART. III. It shall be the duty of every mem- ber of this society to attend all the annual meet- ings of this association for a social visit, and to become better acquainted.

ART. IV. It shall be the duty of all members of this society to attend the funcral of those who will be called from our number, so far as con- venient to attend, and form in procession and follow the remains of ou" departed ones to their last resting place.

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

ART. V.> The officers of this association shall consist of a president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer.

ART. VI. It shall be the duty of the president to preside at all meetings of the association, to preserve order, to perform all duties ap- pertaining to such office, and to sign all orders drawn on the treasury.

ART. VII. It shall be the duty of the vice- president, in the absence of the president, to pre- side at the meetings, and to perform all duties of that office; also to assist on all occasions.

ART. VIII. It shall be the duty of the secre tary to keep the minutes of all the meetings of this association; register the names of the mem- bers in a book kept for that purpose, and to re- cord deaths of members and date of same; to issue all notices required; to do such corre- spondence as may be necessary; sign all orders, and at the end of his term of office turn over all papers and books in his possession, belonging to the society, to his successor in office.

ART. IX. It shall be the duty of the treasurer to keep an account of all monies, from what source received and for what expended, and re- port the same to the association at its annual meeting; to turn over to his successor in office, all monies and effects belonging to the associa- tion.

ART.' X. Each of the above officers shall hold his office for the term of one year, and until his successor is elected.

ART. XI. This constitution can be changed or amended at any annual meeting of the associa- tion by a majority vote of the members of the society.

The regular address was delivered by Hon. George W. Ruddick, followed by remarks from Hon. E. J. Dean and Allen Sewell.

After the speeches were made, the fol- lowing named were elected officers for the ensuing year: Allen Sewell, president; George R. Dean, vice-president; Oscar

Burbank, secretary; William P. Harris, treasurer.

Thanks were tendered Judge Ruddick for his address; W. M. Davis for the use of his park and for the pains taken by him to prepare it for the occasion; the musi- cians and the officers of the association, and citizens of Horton, who did so much for the entertainment of all.

SIXTH ANNUAL MEETING.

The sixth annual meeting of the associa- tion was held June 15, 1878, at Moore's Woods, near Waverly. The secretary in his report said:

"Good roads, sunshine over head, and sunshine in the hearts of the old settlers, made this one of the largest and pleasantest meetings ever held by the society.

After the meeting was called to order, prayer was offered by Rev. James Skillen, an early settler, and eighty years of age.

An invitation was then given for mem- bership, and the following named were added:

James and Lorinda Milburn, 1853; from Cedar Rapids.

Thomas J. and Margaret Sewell, 1853; from Boone county, Indiana.

A. J. and Julia A. Case, 1855; from De- Kalb county, Illinois.

Sally M. Daily, 1854; from Boone county, Illinois.

Mrs. Margaret Starr, 1855; from Lycom- ing county, Pennsy lua

Edwin H. Tyler, 1868; from Ogle county, Illinois.

Mary M. Tyler, 1855; from Richland county, Ohio.

Mrs. S. Diana Merrill, 1853; from Boone county, Iowa.

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

Joseph and Mary Wade, 1855; from London, England.

Abram Wade, 1854; from Huntington- shire, England.

Martha Ann Wade, 1854; from Cook county, Illinois.

George A. and Sarah Brown, 1854; from Washington county Maine.

James and Sarah E. Andrews, 1856; from McHenry county, Illinois.

S. F. Sheppard, 1850; from Madison county, New York.

Mrs. S. W. Sheppard, 1851; from Boone county, New York.

Harriet C. Coddington.

After all had signed the constitution who desired, David Clark, one of the earliest settlers of the county, took the stand and delivered the regular address. When the speaker came to this county there were not a road or bridge, store or postoffice, mill or mechanic, lawyer or minister, teacher or doctor. Log cabins of one room capacity were the fashion. They were shelters from the rains and the storms, but were unfavorable for spark- ing. Mails came from Cedar Rapids; flour and meal from Anamosa, or Cedar Falls.

The following named were elected offi- cers for the ensuing year: Matthew Far. rington, president; Henry Boyd, vice-pres- ident; H. S. Hoover, secretary; W. P. Harris, treasurer.

James M. Sturdevant exhibited a pitch- fork, jug, cup and saucer, and tomahawk, family heirlooms over one hundred years old.

Mrs. Daniel Chittenden exhibited her inother's finger ring, eighty years old.

John Miller exhibited cup and saucer one hundred and seventy years old.

A seventy year old blue ribbon jug also invited attention.

Oscar Burbank, who signed himself "de facto Secretary," in his report of the occa- sion, said:

"The president gave notice that the dinner was ready. Under the trees on the green sward, family after family, group after group, with invited friends and strangers, exhibited and strongly contras- ted camping out thirty years ago, with to- day.

"All things have an end, so did our din- ner. We naturaly gravitated around the speaker's stand, when, on being many times called, Father Skillen went on the stand and gave a little of his personal ex- perience. He was over eighty years old; emigrated here when the country was new, eat his corn bread, broke the prairie, preached the gospel, Sundays, mauled rails week days, had done what he could to con- vert sinners, and had been bitten by mad dogs; yet he was alive and here, and hoped to meet us all again on this earth, if not, in the one to come.

"After much calling, Matthew Farring- ton took the stand. He wished to speak of one of the earliest settlers, who came here thirty-three years ago. He referred to Charles McCaffree. At that time three- hundred Indians lived in the big wood on section 22. None of Charles McCaffree's descendants are with us to-day. Mr. Far- rington now spoke of the change that the last thirty years had wrought-a change that hard working men and women had made, a change that had filled our houses with plenty and with happiness, a change

OH.Cooper.

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

whose basis was not capital or education, but hard work.

"William Jay, E. J. Dean, Silas Bryant and some others, gave short speeches.

"On motion, a vote of thanks was ten- dered Alpheus Moore for the use of his beautiful grounds; to David Clark for his able address, and to the band."

SEVENTII ANNUAL MEETING.

This meeting was held in the grove of Mr. Blazier, in Jefferson township, on Sat- urday, June 21, 1879. The following is the report of the secretary, Dr. Burbanks:

"The day was warm and fair. The grate- ful shade of this old forest was all that heart could desire. The committee of ar- rangements had bountifully provided every- thing to make the meeting a success.

"The president, Matthew Farrington, called the meeting to order, when the ex- ercises of the day commenced with music by the Janesville cornet band, followed by a song by native young men and maid- ens, with organ accompaniment. Invoca- tion by Rev. James Skillen, eighty-one years of age.

" O. C. Harrington, in a short address, told us that he did not belong to the kid- gloved aristocracy, but was a good sample of that class upon whom the curse had been pronounced, 'In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread till thou return unto the ground, for out of it thou wast taken; for dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return.' He suggested that the curse might be so amended as to except the untaxed bond-holders. He then gave us some of his personal history for the twenty-three years he had been here, of the improvement made, of fishing in the

Wapsie, of the grand jury of 1858, when he first made the acquaintance of those . old settlers, Judge Favies, Jenkins, Har- ris, Tyrrel, Blackwell and others; also the political campaign of 1856, where and when William P. Harmon and G. C. Wright worked side by side in the know- nothing party. The defeat of that party sent Harmon into the Republican party and Wright into the democratic party."

The following named were added to the membership of the society: Mrs. Maria Repp, 1858; Alonzo and Lydia O. Gleason, 1854; Abram and Mary Starr, 1855; A. G. and Maddie Lawrence, 1856.

Matthew Farrington exhibited the rec- ord of the first election ever held in Bre- mer county, which was held at the house of John Messinger.

The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: David High, president; Isaac Barrick, vice-president; Oscar Bur- banks, secretary; William P. Harris, treas- urer.

After the election of officers, C. Krech was loudly called for. He prefaced his re- marks by singing "Pat Malloy " in Ger- man, and then relating one of his inimit- able stories.

Elias Messinger, Jolın Messinger, Allen Sewell and Rev. James Skillen related their experiences of pioneer life. B. W. Johnson also amused the audience with a relation of his early exploits and efforts.

Mrs. Charles McCaffree came upon the stand and was introduced by the president as the first white woman in Bremer 1 county.

The meeting was largely attended, and one of the most enjoyable ever held in Bremer county.

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

EIGHTH ANNUAL MEETING.

The meeting was held June 19, 1880. From the minutes of the secretary, Dr. Burbanks, the following extracts are taken:

"The week was unfavorable for busi- ness. Terrible wind and rainstorms, with great disturbance of the electrical element, had done much damage t property and life. In many fields of corn, the rainy weather had kept the corn plows idle, so that the hope of a fair day for the old settlers' meeting, was a faint hope in the hearts of many.

"At last, Saturday, June the 19th, came. We were looking for it in the spirit of scientific prophecy, as it had been fore- told by the wise men, the magi of our day, the scientist who had foretold the very second when it should be ushered in.

"It came in glory, and found us in peace and plenty. No cloud obscured the sky. The morning was cool and fresh. Peace and happiness seemed over all, as if a grand benediction from the Infinite Father had come down upon the whole earth, without respect to persons, or things, or previous condition of servitude, or poverty, or riches, or election, or free grace.

"The grounds at Janesville, where we assembled under the direction and inspira- tion of the president, David High, was just a splendid sylvan bower of old trees, and grass and sodded earth, that neither time, nor caprice, nor want had been able to in- duce the owner to efface, but stands to-day a memento of the early settlers of Bremer county. Here, in this delightful, cool and shady spot, on June 19, 1880, at 10:30 o'clock, A. M., the Old Settlers' meeting was called to order by the president.

"Music by the Janesville band, and invo- cation by Rev. James Skillen.

"The annual address, by Hon. Matthew Farrington, met expectations.

"After the transaction of some necessary business, dinner was next in order. In the shade, under the trees of the old forest, as the dew in the morning upon the broad oak leaves, from the attractions of its par- ticles, resolves itself into drops greater or smaller, so this vast, moving, floating audience, by affinity, by natural attraction, divided, separated, dissolved into groups of near acquaintances, of friends and fam- ilies to partake of a picnic dinner beyond measure or need, illustrating the wisdom and forethought of those early settlers who had the true grit and sand to hold on and hold out. Here we hunted up old friends, and renewed the acquaintance of those who belong to us by the grace of blood or mat- rimony, or the descendants of those who came with William the Conqueror, to sub- due the prairies, improve the water powers, and build the towns for the use of men, according to the civilization of to-day; men and women who had staying qualities, and in whose veins flowed the bluest blood of man's nobility.

"Shaking hands, greeting 'and being greeted, swiftly wore away the time, when the sound of music and of song suggested that half past one o'clock was here and waiting. Coming to order at the call of the president, we had the pleasure of list- ening to a solo entitled, "Olden Days," by Miss Florence Rowen.

"Balloting for officers for the ensuing year resulted in the election of the follow- ing named: James M. Sturdevant, prest- dent; William Basking, vice-president;

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

Oscar Burbanks, secretary; William P. Harris, treasurer.

"The president gave notice to all who wished to join the association. The fol- lowing named were added:

"Frank A. Lee, came to the county Sept. 10, 1857, from Kane county, Illinois.

"Carrie L. Lec, came to Waverly in 1854. "O. C. Harrington exhibited some Con- tinental money about one hundred years old, which he said was a regular old set- tler in the money line, of these United · States. This was fiat money which the United States promised to redeem in Spanish milled silver dollars, but owing to the poverty of the country, the money was never redeemed, but the government allowed those of its citizens who had given their property for it, to bear the whole burden of its depreciation.

"Professor McIntyre, of Janesville, being called on for a speech said that, having a big voice, some people were simple enough to suppose that his big voice had a patent attachment of big ideas, and of course he could talk at any time, and upon any subject, just as easy as nothing. He said this was a mistake-he had been over estimated. He had always been in sympathy with the hardy pioneers of civi- lization, for they were the ones who laid the foundations of society, and a large debt of gratitude was due them for the enterprise, toil and suffering that had made such a day as this a possibility in this new fair land.

"Parker Lucas came upon the stand after much calling, and said that he would not make a speech, that he had never learned to sing in the scientific way, but he could sing a little by rote; so he sang an

old war song entitled 'General Jackson,' which was loudly applauded.

"Being called for, Father Skillen said that he was neither an orator or a politi- cian, but many years ago while he was on his way to Cedar Falls with a load of wheat, he met a man on horseback who inquired the way to Fort Barrick. Then he told us how a body of armed men marched up the Shell Rock river to exter- minate the scalping red skins, and how they saw a smoke by the side of the river where an emigrant's wife was doing her washing quietly by the river's side, and fearing an ambush from the Indians, re- treated to a safe place, where, instead of shedding their blood for home and loved ones, they shed something out of a jug.

"This allusion to the Indian scare brought upon the stand many of the actors, spectators and frightened ones of that time. A diversity of views was expressed among the speakers, but only one senti- ment prevailed relative to the protection of loved ones and home.

"Mrs. Jennie Maxfield said that twenty- four years ago, the 4th of July was cele- brated here upon these very grounds, and that the officers and singers and the orator were all alive save one, whom we under- stood to mean her husband, Judge Maxfield.

"Robert Nussinger said that he had been here thirty-three years. Hc was a boy then, and the first public gathering that he went to was at his father's house, July 4, 1850. He had seen no one here to-day, save Isaac Barrick, who was pre- sent that day.

"William Mickle being loudly called for, came forward and said that he was not an old settler, but he felt thankful to

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

the men who had endured the hardships necessary to redeem this fair land from the useless and superfluous Indian, to cul- ture and to civilization. Its fertile soil, with its bubbling springs and crystal streams; its green prairies and sylvan groves, were all dotted over with happy homes -- farm houses and villages, where peace and plenty reign. The school-house was everywhere by law, and the church where faith and love, plants it. Where we need railroads and carriage roads, there they are. Bridges of iron or of wood are over every river and every brook. Cities and villages where commerce and manu- factures flourish, and where art and science build enduring homes. Who has done this great thing -- who has made this thing possible? The pioneers of Bremer county."

NINTH ANNUAL MEETING.

- The old settlers of Bremer county held their ninth annual meeting June 23, 1881, in the grove on the grounds and near the residence of James M. Sturdevant, in War- ren township.

The meeting was called to order by the president, James M. Sturdevant, and Rev. James Skillen addressed the Throne. of Grace, returning thanks for meeting so many old friends and familiar faces, and thanks for that living faith that triumphs over the ills of this life, and when all is over, opens to us a life of immortal glory.

The principal address was by H. H. Grey. The secretary says of this address: "Mr. Grey discussed man as a social being, asserting that if there was only two people on the face of the globe, they would manage some how to get together, and he thought this idea was sustained by the

history of the race. Mr. Grey being a na- tive and to the manor born, gave advice, history, suggestions, poetry and anecdote, illustrating the struggles of the early set- tlers.

The following named were elected offi- cers for the ensuing year :-- D. P. Walling, president; Marcus Gillett, vice-president; Frank A. Lee, secretary; William P. Har- ris, treasurer.

From the secretary's report the follow- ing extracts are taken:

"Matthew Farrington being called upon, said he thought it was against the rules to explode small fire-crackers in that crowd, and so he must be excused for attempting to make a speech.

"Rev. James Skillen said there was no speech in him, but he would show them a fool thing; it was how Ohio people made bull-frogs. They were solid as iron, and warranted to wear. But he would lay the fool thing aside, and say that he had a pleasant visit.in Ohio; visited Columbus, saw two of his brothers, and had a pleas- ant time with relatives and friends. He was thankful that at 84 he could stand be- fore his old friends once more before he passed over the rolling stream of time. He wanted them all to do well, and to do well was, to be prepared to pass safely through the valley of the shadow of death.

"A unanimous vote of thanks was ten- dered James M. Sturdevant and family for the great labor and pains taken by them to prepare the grounds; for the use of their house for the aged and infirm; and for the many courtesies and kindnesses shown to all."

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

TENTH ANNUAL MEETING.

The tenth annual meeting of the Old Settlers' Association of Bremer county, was held at Tripoli, on Saturday, June 24, 1882. The following is the report of the secretary:

"The uncertainty which had attended the weather, and the frequeney and sever- ity of storms during the whole month of June, had eaused it to be next to impossi- ble to seleet a day for the occasion with any eneouraging prospeet of escaping the disturbance of the elements. Arrange- ments had, however, been made with the D. & D. Railroad Company for excursions from Waverly and from Sumner, to the place of meeting, and all thought that if God and nature were only on our side, the meeting would still prove to be a suc- eess.

"The morning of the 24th dawned upon us with that sultry, oppressive heat, which so surely and peculiarly indieates the ap- proaeh of the storm king, while the black ominous elonds hung like a pall in the northwest; their slow but certain approach being heralded by the roar and deep-toned groanings of the distant thunder.

"The terrible and .heart-rending details of the eyclone which had visited the State but one short week before, which with its mighty and resistless power, had nearly destroyed the beautiful city of Grinnell, with its costly residences, its churches and colleges, together with the sacrifice of over fifty human lives, were still fresh in the minds of all. Besides this, a cyclone of like nature, but made fearful by its prox- imity, only two days previous to the meet- ing-so recently that full partieulars had not yet reached us-had passed through

our neighboring eity of Independence, un- roofing houses, tearing bridges, ete., with three or four human lives lost.

"With this record of devastation and destruction to contemplate, it was but nat- ural that there should be some hesitaney on the part of nearly all of us in starting ont in the face of such a storm as was threatened. Notwithstanding all this, however, about one hundred people, in- cluding about thirty-five ladies, started from Waverly, and althoughi for a few minutes a hard wind and rain storm pre- vailed, by the time we reached Tripoli all was pleasant and serene, and every one felt that it was good to be there. Soon old settlers from the surrounding country be- gan to arrive, and by the time the train was in from Sumner, a goodly number had as- sembled, and hearty hand-shakes, and cheerful salutations gave no trace of the difficulties of the morning. The rain had eaused the grounds, whiel had been pre- pared, to be unfit for nse; therefore the Free Will Baptist Society kindly threw open the doors of their new church, in which the exercises of the association were held.

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History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa, Part 111

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