History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa, Part 113

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 113
USA > Iowa > Bremer County > History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa > Part 113

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

sin. He soon returned to this county, where he has since lived. In the fall of 1874, he purchased a farm of forty acres on section 8, in Douglas township, where he moved his family. Mr. Walker was mar- ried in Portage City, Wisconsin, March 19, 1868, to Miss Mary Ann Elizabeth Dif- fee, a native of Utica, New York, born on the 25th of January, 1849. Three chil- dren have been born to them-Myrtie, Ione, Gertie May and Guy Prentiss. Mr. Walker opened a store in December, 1880, and has since kept a good assortment of general merchandise.

W. A. Robinson was born in Boone county, Illinois, on the 6th of September, 1846. He therc received a common school education, and grew to manhood's estate. In October, 1868, he came to Bremer county, Iowa, and settled in Douglas town- ship. He first purchased a farm on section 4, where he spent a year and a half, and then bought 80 acres in section 5, where " he now resides. He was married in Hor- ton county, on the 4th of July, 1870, to Miss Margaret Ann Reed, of Douglas -township. She is a native of Washington county, Missouri, born on the 15th of Oc- tober, 1856. They have had three children two of whom are now living-Mary Ellen, born November 29, 1871; Leon Ray, born November 23, 1878; Elizabeth A. was born October 7, 1875, and died August 15, 1877.

John Harker, a native of Yorkshire, England, was born June 10, 1842. When he was about two years of age, his parents emigrated to America and settled in Grant county, Wisconsin, where John grew to manhood and received a common school education. He engaged in farming in Grant .county until the spring of 1869,

when he came to Bremer county and pur- chased a farm on section 23, Douglas town- ship. Here he lived until the winter of 1878-9, when he moved to the farm on which he now resides, located on section 14. He was elected a member of the board of trustees in the fall of 1881, and still serves in that capacity. He was mar- ried in Grant county, Wisconsin,. April 7, 1866, to Miss Ruth Slack, of that county. They have been blessed with thrce chil- dren-George William, born January 11, 1867; James Louis, born January 24, 1872, and Lydia Ann, born April 13, 1877.

Charles Alcock was born in Yorkshire, England, on the 27th day of October, 1819. He there passed his youth, and four years of manhood, and then came to America, locating in Grant county, Wisconsin, where he engaged in mining until the spring of 1869. At this period he came to Bremer county, Iowa, and purchased the farm on which he has since resided. His land lies in sections 14 and 23, and consists of 240 acres. He was married in Yorkshire, England, on the 20th day of March, 1845, to Miss Elizabeth Peacock, who was born in 1826, and is a native of that place. Mrs. Alcock died at their home on the 3d of November, 1870, and was buried in what is known as the "Alcock Cemetery." She had borne him nine children, eight of whom are living. Their daughter, Han- nah L., died November 21, 1870, aged nineteen years, four months and twenty- one days.

L. E. Losec, a native of DeKalb county, Illinois, was born July 1, 1845. He there received a common school education, and when old enough, learned the carpenter's trade, which occupation he has since fol-

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

lowed in connection with farming. In May, 1872, he came to Bremer county, Iowa, and bought a farm in Douglas town- ship, upon which he has since resided. He has been assessor of the town for one term, and also secretary of school district num- ber two, for three years. Mr. Losee was married in Boone county, Illinois, Septem- ber 15, 1870, to Miss Fannie A. Jones, a native of Hillsdale county, Michigan, born on the 6th day of September, 1845. When she was eight years of age her parents moved to DeKalb county, Illinois, where she grew to womanhood. They have been blessed with four children-Clayton, born August 6, 1871; Harry, born August 4, 1874; Edith, born October 17, 1877; Lyn- des, born April 22, 1879.

T'homas McCracken, a native of county Down, Ireland, was born in August, 1853. He grew to manhood's estate in the coun- try of his birth, continuing to reside there until the fall of 1877, when he came to America, and took possession of his father's farm, in Douglas township, Bremer county. Thomas' father, John McCracken, came to America soon after the former's birth. He first spent one or two years in Pennsyl- vania, then came west to Iowa, and settled in Douglas township, Bremer county. Here he lived with his brother Robert, who had come to America a year or two earlier, and located in the northeastern part of the township. The brothers- Robert and John McCracken-were among the early settlers of Douglas township, and together owned about 700 acres of valuable land, which they held until Robert sold his farm one year ago. Thomas now owns 240 acres of land on sections 12 and 14, and 140 acres in the township of Frederika.

The Wapsipinicon river runs through his farm, and along its banks is a valuable supply of timber.

J. F. Jeffers was born in Seneca county, New York, on the 14th day of May, 1814. While a child his parents moved to Wayne county, where he received a common school education. When grown, he farmed in this county until 1850, when he moved to . Will county, Illinois, where he lived for five years. In 1855.he came to Iowa, locat- ing in Blackhawk county, being one of the early settlers. He remained there until 1871, when he came to Douglas township, and purchased a farm lying on section 9, upon which he has since lived. Mr. Jeffers was married in Wayne county, New York, February 19, 1833, to Miss Hannah Rine- hart, born July 13, 1813, in Columbia county, Pennsylvania. They have had twelve children born to them, eight of whom are now living; have married and formed homes of their own.

Alexander Stephens was born in Corn- wall, England, on the 4th day of March, 1842. When about seven years of age he came, with his parents, to America. The family located in Lafayette county, Wis- consin, where Alexander grew to manhood, on a farm. In his youth he attended the district schools of Lafayette county. In the spring of 1879 he came to Bremer county, and purchased the farm in Douglas township, where he has since lived. He was married, in Platteville, Grant county, Wisconsin, on the 8th day of February, 1868, to Miss Mary Ann Alton, of that county. She is a native of England, born in 1841. Nine children have been born to them, eight of whom are now living.

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

William Early, a native of the county of Essex, Canada, was born on the 13th day of January, 1823, and there grew to manhood on a farm, about twenty-five iniles east of Detroit. In 1846, in com- pany with his parents, . he moved to Boone county, Illinois, where he followed agricultural pursuits untill 1880. In Oc- tober of that year he came to Douglas township, Bremer county, and purchased his farm of 80 acres lying in section 4, where, with his family, he resides. Mr. Early was born in Boone county, Illi- nois, September 25, 1850, to Miss Sarah Janc Whiting, a native of Maine, born on the 9th day of December, 1830. Four children have been born to them-Ed- ward, born December 19, 1851; Horace, born July 4th, 1861; ~ George, born Feb- ruary 8, 1866; Effie, born December 25, 1870.

C. D. Ried was born in Scotland on the 18th day of March, 1831. When he was eighteen years of age, he left his home in the old country and crossed the waters to America. Upon his arrival, he settled in Ogdensburg, New York, where he re- mained for five years, and then removed to Chicago, Illinois, which city he made his home until the fall of 1876, when he came to Douglas township and purchased the place on which he has since lived. · His farm is located on section 5, and con- sists of 72 acres of good land. He was married in Lake county, Illinois, July +, 1857, to Miss Margaret Steele of that county, born December 25, 1839. While a resident of Chicago Mr. Ried was fore- man of a lumber-yard for Swan, Clark & Co., furniture manufacturers, for nine years.

----

D. E. Perkins was born in Courtland county, New York, on the 25th of October, 1840. He there lived with an uncle (his mother having died in his infancy) until he was ten years of age, when he removed with the family to Waukesha county, Wisconsin. On the 2d of November, 1861, he enlisted in Company H, Thir- teenth Wisconsin Infantry, and served until honorably discharged, December 27, 1865. At the close of the war, he came to . Iowa and located in Buchanan county, where he lived four years. He then came to Douglas township, Bremer county, lo- cating on the farm where he now resides. His land lies on section 6 and consists of seventy-five acres. He was married in Douglas township, on the 7th of May, 1871, to Miss Martha Marsh, of Polk township, but whose birth place is DeKalb county, Illinois, where she was born July 4th, 1850. Seven children have been born to them --- Lucia E., born March 10, 1872; Marcia L., born May 10, 1873; Carrie I., born August 9, 1874; Grace M., born May 31, 1876; Edna J., born June 3, 1878; Sholto M., born February 29, 1880; Olive M., born December 13, 1881.

Luther Whiting was born in Boone county, Illinois, on the 28th of November, 1841. Hc received a common school edu- cation and grew to manhood's estate in that county. In his 19th year he entered the army, enlisting at Belvidere, on the 15th day of September, 1861, in Company A, Twelfth Illinois Infantry. He served the Nation faithfully for four years and three days. At the close of the rebellion he was mustercd out of service, at Benton Barracks, Missouri, on the 8th of Septem- ber, 1865. Upon returning to civil life,

(Yours Truly e, Cadwallader

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

he followed farming in his native county until the fall of 1880, at which time he came to Bremer county, Iowa, locating in Douglas township, where he purchased a farm of 240 acres on section 8, and ten acres of timber land in sections 1 and 5. Mr. Whiting was married in Winnebago county, Illinois, May 28, 1866, to Miss Mary E. Sabin, a native of Schenectady county, New York, born on the 28th of May, 1846. Four children have been born to them-Nellic, born May 2d, 1868; John HI., born October 24, 1870; Ira, born Au- gust, 18, 1875; Frank, born May 22, 1882.

A. A. Dickinson was born in Orange county, Vermont, on the 19th day of De- cember, 1840, and grew to manhood on a farm in his native place. In 1862, he enlisted in Company B, Sixth Vermont Volunteers, and served until the close of the war. After returning to civil life, he conducted his farm at his former home for seven years. In November, 1872, he came to Bremer county and settled in Douglas township, on section 8, where he lived for a short time, and then purchased 80 acres of land on section 30, where he has since resided. Mr. Dickinson was married in Williamstown, Orange county, Vermont, on the 7th day of September, 1862, to Alice A. Briggs, who is a native of that place. This couple have one adop- ted child-Mary D., born on the 14th day of July, 1869.

T. H. Brainard was born in Lower Can- ada, on the 8th day of August, 1837. When he was two years of age his parents moved to Massachusetts, and in that State he passed ten years of his life. The two years following he lived in the State of Vermont, and in Canada. In 1851, his

family moved to Wisconsin, and located in Black Earth, Dane county, which place was his home until 1870. In the fall of 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Eleventh Wisconsin Infantry, commanded by Cap- tain D. E. Hough. He served until the close of the war; and among other engage- ments in which he took part, was the siege of Vicksburg and the fall of Mobile. In the fall of 1870, he came to Bremer county, Iowa, and made Horton village his home for two years. He then returned to Wis- consin where he remained until 1879. In the fall of this year he returned to this county. He was married in Dane county, on the 21st day of August, 1866, to Miss Hannah Hollis, of the town of Black Earth. Mr. and Mrs. Brainard have had four chil- dren, two are now living- Alice M., deceased; Edna J., Edgar, deceased, and David R.

ORGANIC.

The first election in Douglas township was held at the house of Asa Adams, June 28, 1858. John Acken, James P. Good- win and Albert Stannard were chosen judges of election; G. T. Sayles and L. F. Goodwin, clerks. The following persons were elected: Township clerk, L. F. Good- win; justice of the peace, G. F. Sayles, and William Blackwell; trustees, A. Stannard, N. A. Sanford, and Simon George; consta- bles, Thomas Lashbrook, and Horace Spaulding. Whole number of ballots cast, twenty-three.

The officers for 1882, were: John Sherlie, Jolın Harker, and Diedrick Kierchhoff, trustees; James Ayres and R. C. Link, justices of the peace; N. G. Moore, clerk; Fred. Scheuam and J. Jeffers, constables.

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

The officers for 1883 are: Trustees, J. W. Shirley, John Harker, and Augustus Hoppinworth; clerk, Marvin Potter; con- stables, A. Hoppinworth, and L. Bergman; Justices of the pcace, L. Whiting and Fred Scheuam; assessor, Jacob Alney.

FIRST THINGS.

The first death in the township was that of Stephen D. Goodwin, a son of James P. Goodwin. He was a lad ten years of age. Seventeen days after the arrival of the family, and while they were still living in their wagons, he attempted to get a rifle from the wagon to shoot some chickens. Reaching in he caught the gun by the muzzle, and drawing it toward him it was accidentally discharged, the ball entering his chest, and lodging under the skin on the back of his neck. Death was almost ilistantaneous. This occurred on Friday, June 20, 1856. He was buried, the Sab- bath following, in the township of Fred- erika.

The first marriage was that of Orvile McGinnis to Miss Mary Goodwin, October 4, 1854, at the residence of the bride's father, James P. Goodwin, by Elder Terry, of Polk township.

The first birth was that of Walter Good- win, son of Benjamin Goodwin, on section 4, in March, 1857.

POSTOFFICES.

Phillipston postoffice was established on section 25 in January, 1880. Philip Bur- gess was commissioned postmaster. It was discontinued in May, 1881.

Pony postoffice was established Febru- ary 15, 1882. W. S. Robinson being the postmaster. It is located at his place on

section 9. Mail is received three times each week.

MERCANTILE.

In 1879-80 Philip Burgess opened a small store in connection with the Philip- ston postoffice. He only continued in the business a short time. Mrs. A. E. Walker established a store on section 8, with a stock of general merchandise. This store is still in operation.

CEMETERIES.

There are three cemeteries in the town- ship, one on section 14, called "Alcock Cem- etery" and one on each of the church lots in the southeast part of the township. The first burial in Alcock cemetery was the re- mains of Mrs. Charles Alcock, during the fall of 1871.

EDUCATIONAL.

Helen J. Acken, daughter of John Acken, taught the first term of school in a log house formerly used as a dwelling by the Acken family, on section 12. There are now eight public schools and two de- nominational schools in the township.

TERPSICHOREAN.

Lovers of the dance have good oppor- tunity in this township to trip the "light fantastic." Not only this township but the surrounding country attend in large numbers at " Leaman's Hall," located on section 8, which is the scene of frequent gatherings of this description, adding much to the good social feeling that gen- crally prevails in this community.

HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

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RELIGIOUS.

The first serviees of a religious charae- ter were conducted by Mr. Newell, a free- will Baptist, in the spring of 1856, at what was then known as the Aeken school house, on seetion 12. These meetings were eon- dueted regularly for about three months, when they were discontinued. In June, 1857, Elder Terry, of Polk township, who is now living in Waverly, a regular Baptist, began to hold meetings at the residenee of James P. Goodwin. These meetings were continued at that place for about one year. The first regular religious or- ganization was effeeted, however, by the German Lutherans in the southeast part of the township. This society, called St. Paul's Evangelieal Lutheran Church, was organized in 1872, the Rev.August Engelke officiating, with a membership of about thirty-two. The first officers of this ehurch were-Fred. Hildebrand, Charles Hop- penworth and Henry Hopper. The pas- tors who have been successively in charge are Rev. Baumibaeh, Rev. Frederick Kuthe and Rev. August Albert, the pres- ent pastor, who has been in charge sinee the fall of 1878. The present offieers of the church are-Trustees, Fred Scheuam and Henry Hopper; secretary, August Hoppenworth; treasurer, Win. Sehwartz; sextons, Adolph Hoppenworth and Charles Miller. Until 1878 serviees were held in the schoolhouse in district No. 6. In June of that year, their ehureh building was erected at a eost of about $1,050, not in- eluding a large amount of work furnished gratuitously. The structure is 24x36 feet. , There is also a parsonage which was erected in the fall of 1870, at a eost of $300, to which an addition has been made

costing $250. . Here the pastor teaches a day sehool during five months of each year, having an average attendanee of about twenty-five. Rev. August Albert, the present pastor, organized a Sabbath Sehool in July, 1881, which is still con- tinued and has an attendanee of about twenty-two families.

St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized by Rev. G. Hageman, of Amboy, Lee county, Illinois, in April, 1874, with a membership of twenty-two families. Rev. David Kurz was the first pastor, and remained in charge until Oeto- ber, 1880; he is now located at Sigourney, Keokuk county, Iowa. He was formerly from Freeport, Illinois. Rev. G. Beeker sue- eeeded Mr. Kurz, he eame from Princeton, Illinois, and remained a little more than one year. The present pastor, Rev. John M. Rosenthal eame in January, 1872. The parish building is 30x45 feet, and was built in 1874, at a cost of $2,000. It is used for church, school and parsonage. The pastor teaches a six months term of sehool each year, and has an average attendanee of about forty. Rev. Rosenthal organized a Sabbath Sehool in June, 1882. This school is now in a prosperous condition with a membership of forty. The ehureh is in a flourishing condition-nearly out of debt-and has a membership of thirty- seven families. The first officers were Henry Berzman, John Shanneman, D. Kierehhoff, Henry Moller and Joe Buls. The present offieers are Fred Bergman, John Prop, William Knolte, Fred Gerbert and William Kappinyer.

The Methodist Episcopal Church, under the direction of Rev. Isaae Barnard, effec-

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

ted an organization in the fall of 1876, at the Lehman School House. Mr. Barnard remained one year, and was followed by Rev. Bailey, from Frederika township;

he in turn by J. M. Beall, who conducted the services for three years. In Septem- ber, 1881, the meetings were discontinued. There had been about sixty members.

CHAPTER XVIII.

DAYTON TOWNSHIP.

Dayton is the center of the eastern tier of townships, and was first settled in 1854. In the spring of that year, Isaac Brandt, John Book and Mr. Alshouse, located on the east side of the Wapsipinicon river, Brandt entering the southeast quarter of section 32, and Book the southeast corner of section 29. By mistake Brandt erected his shanty on the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 32.

During the summer and fall of 1854, several other families came in, among whom were Isaac Guard, Simeon Peck and his sons William M. and A. S., and Wil- liam Gibbs. The latter together with Mr. Peck and sons, located on section 33. Isaac Brandt remained but a short time when he sold out to William M. Peck. His present whereabouts are unknown.

Mr. Alshouse, who also located on sec- tion 32, subsequently sold his farm to Eli- jah Grinnell, and left the country.

John Book remained here about fifteen years and then removed to Missouri. His farm was purchased by Fred Mohlis, who is still the owner. Samuel Peck died here in 1855.

Another settler of this year was George Watts, Jr. He is the son of George and Elizabeth Watts, and was born in Somer- setshire, England, May 27, 1823. When about twenty-six years of age, he decided to come to America, leaving the country of his birth; on the 1st of May, 1849, he landed in New York City, Immediately after his arrival he started west, first locat- ing in Lake county, Illinois, where he re- mained five years, then removing to Iowa and locating on section 2, in Fremont township. He there entered eighty acres of land on which he lived about two years, and partially improved it. He then settled on section 31, Dayton township, where he has since resided (with the exception of twelve years passed in Frederika town-

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

ship, in the old town of Tripoli.) Mr. Watts now owns 300 acres of land in the county. He has filled nearly every town- ship office, and has also held a number of school offices. In the year 1853, he was married to Miss Rebecca Orledge, who was also born in England. They have had five children, four of whom are now living -Robert O., Susan, Martha, (now the wife of William McCumber,) and Hattie.

Among those who settled in the town- ship in 1855 were John Develin, Jacob Glattley, Albert McCumber, John Zim- merman, John Koch, Theodore Link, John Hill, Ira Allen, H. N. Miller and A. Dallen.

John Develin located on the north half of the northwest quarter of section 28.

Jacob Glattley on the south half of the southwest quarter of section 27.

John Zimmerman made claim to the northwest quarter of the sontwest quarter of section 28.

John Koch selected the east half of the southwest quarter of section 28.

Theodore Link located on the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of sec- tion 28.

W. V. Curtis was another settler of '55, a son of Newman and Ann Maria (Van Bergen) Curtis and was born in the town of Dalton, Berkshire county, Massachu- setts, August 7, 1825. Shortly after his birth the family settled in Orleans county, New York, where he received his educa- tion and grew to manhood. When twen- ty-six years of age he came west and lo- cated in Rock county, Wisconsin, and in the spring of 1855 came to Bremer county and settled on a farm on section 36, Day- ton township, where he now resides, and owns 120 acres of land; he also owns

30 acres in Fayette county. Mr. Curtis has held the office of trustee and also sev- eral minor offices. He was married in the fall of 1852 to Miss Salena Dodge, who was born in New York State. They have four children-Herman, Harriett, Ann Maria and Newman.

Albert McCumber, already mentioned, . was born in Ellisburg, Jefferson county, New York, September 1, 1818. He is the son of James and Mercy (Pool) , McCum- ber, who, also were born in New York State. He received his education in the district schools of his native county, where he remained on his father's farm until twenty-seven years old. On the first day of May, 1845, he was married in the town of Levi, Jefferson county, New York, to Miss Achsa M. Peck, daughter of Simeon Peck, who was one of the first settlers of Dayton township. After their marriage the couple came west and lo- cated in Belvidere, Illinois, where they lived two and one-half years and then returned to Jefferson county and remained there until 1855, when they came to Day- ton township and located on the northeast quarter of section 33, where they lived for fifteen years. They then moved to sec- tion 31, where they now reside and own 160 acres of land. Mr. McCumber has held nearly all of the township offices and has held the one office of trustee for about ten years. Nine children have been born to them, seven of whom are now living- Orin A., who now lives in Dayton town- ship; Marquis C., who lives at home; Wil- liam Henry, who lives in Dayton town- ship; Ida Jane, wife of William M. Rob- ins of Douglas county, Minnesota; Albert, E., Charles and Mary.

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

John Hill erected his cabin on the north- east quarter of the southeast quarter of section 20.

J. G. Williamson, James H. Yerton, B. J. Allen, Elijah Grinnell and George White became residents in 1856.

James H. Yerton was born in the town of Howard, Steuben county, New York, on the 23d day of November, 1818. He is a son of Henry N., and Catherine (McDowell) Yerton. His father was born in Germany, and his mother in New York State. When James was ten years old the family moved to Oswego county, New York, and one year later to Madison county, in the same State. During the year 1838 James re- turned to Steuben county, and there mar- ried. He engaged in farming until 1854, when he moved to Marion, Lee county, Illinois. In the spring of 1856 he came to Dayton township, and located on sec- tion 16. He built a small cabin upon what he supposed to be section 16; but on sur- veying his farm found the house to be on section 9. Nine years after his settlement he sold his farm, and then moved to his present location, on section 15, where he now owns 165 acres. Mr. Yerton has held the office of trustee several years, and also the office of justice of the peace, two years. On the 10th day of March, 1846, he was married to Miss L. M. Smith. They have one child living-Eveline, wife of R. L. Dibble.

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History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa, Part 113

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