History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa, Part 142

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 142
USA > Iowa > Bremer County > History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa > Part 142

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in this vicinity, and such was the great confidence placed in his integrity and abil- ity, that he was asked by the three compa- nies, raised in this county, through their captain's, Captain Beebe, Captain Tink- ham and Captain Avery, to take charge of, and pay over to the several families of these companies, all of the money paid to them by the government. This request was made by these companies without a single dissenting voice. Although crowded with business, private and public, Mr. Reeves accepted this 'trust, and faithfully distributed to all of these families, during the war, over $10,000, in money, and, let it be said to his credit, that he did it with- out receiving one cent for his trouble, and never received an unkind word from any of the families, save one. During the sanitary fair, held at Dubuque, for the ben- efit of the sanitary commission, Mr. Reeves donated twenty-one barrels of flour, to- gether with a premium of $40.00, which was paid him by the fair, for the largest. amount of flour furnished by any one firm in the State, making upwards of $400, do- nated by him at that time, to the sanitary commission. Mr. Reeves has a stack of letters and papers, all of them complimen- tary to him, which if compiled, would make a volume the size of the one before you. But time and space does not admit of more, but suffice it to say, that Mr. Reeves has a war record that he and his friends may be justly proud of.

C. H. Barrows, Superintendent of the Waverly Telephone Exchange, was born in Rockford, Winnebago county, Illinois, on the 6th day of November, 1843, and is a son of Hamilton W. and Lucy (Marsh) Barrows. His father removed to Winne-

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bago county, Illinois, in 1841, making the journey on foot. At his arrival in Chi- cago, he purehased a ham and some crackers, and started for Roekford. After his settlement there, he built and operated the firstferry on Rock river. Subsequently he entered so,ne land, which he improved and built upon, and it still remains in the possession of the family. Mr. Barrows died in Rockford, at an advanced age. His wife was born in Canada, but came by team to Rockford, when quite young. She, with her people, living in their wagon for many weeks. The subject of this sketeh was reared and edueated in Winne- bago county. During the first year of our late Rebellion, he enlisted in Company "G," Forty-fifth Illinois Infantry-eom- monly known as Washburn's Lead-mine regiment, and under Gen. Smith. The regiment participated in the attacks on Forts Henry and Donelson. Also the siege and eapture of Vicksburg, Big Platt and Jacksonville, and one battle at Corinth. He served until the elose of the war, and during the time was in twenty-two engage- ments. After being mustered out of the service, he returned to Roekford, and en- gaged in the livery business. In 1865, he was joined in wedloek with Miss Emogene Buchanan, a daughter of Alexander Buch- anan, and a native of Beloit, Wiseonsin. Mr. Barrows is a member of the G. A. R., Post 124; also, a member of the Soldiers' Reunion of Bremer county.

Patrick Byrnes-seetion boss-is a na- tive of County Tipperary, Ireland, and was born in 1831. In 1850, he left his native country for the purpose of finding a new home and building up his fortune on American soil. He first located in Kane

county, Illinois, where he was employed on a farm. Two years later he began railroading, and for the last thirty years, has been in charge of a corps of railroad hands. His first experience was on the Beloit and Madison braneh, thence to the Raeine and Mississippi railroad, where he continued until 1869. His marriage with Miss Sarah MeClossen, a daughter of John McClossen, of Elkhorn, Wisconsin, oc- curred in 1859. Eight children bless the marriage-Michael, John, Thomas, Ellen, Maggie, Joseph, Willie and Sadie. Mr. Byrnes owns a fine residenee in Waverly. The family are members of the Catholic Chureh.

L. C. Haase, son of L. F. and Caroline (Steinwarth) Haase, was born on the 3d of May, 1850, at Dundee, Kane county, Illinois. His parents came from Hanno- ver, Germany, to the United States, in 1848. They lived at Chicago about two years, when they moved to Dundee, engag- ing in the milling business. In 1865 they came to Iowa, settling in Jefferson town- ship, Bremer county, where they resided on a farm until 1870. The subject of this sketch received a common school education. He moved to Waterloo, Iowa in 1870, where he engaged as a miller, forming a partner- ship with his father. In 1873 he came to Waverly, Iowa, buying an interest in the East Side grist mill, which he run, with his father, until 1878, when they sold the mill, and he bought an interest in the groeery firm of John Eifert, under the firm name of Eifert & Haase, buying the interest of John Eifert the year following, and is now engaged in the groeery, and boot and shoe business. In 1873 he was married to Miss Pauline Rodeck, a native of Saxony, Ger-

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many. They have three children-Her- man, Fred, and Edwin. Mr. Haase is a member of the board of trustees for Wash- ington township.

Frank A. Lee, druggist, was born in New York, October 3, 1854. He is a son of Spencer and Mary (Fortner) Lee, and re- moved to Illinois with his parents, when two years of age: His mother was a daughter of Thomas Fortner, an early settler of Bremer county, Iowa. In the fall of 1856, Spencer Lee, with the family, removed to Iowa, and settled in Franklin township, Bremer county, where he purchased a farm of 250 acres. For sixteen or seventeen years, Mr. Lee, Sr., made this farm his home, then removed to Oldwine, Fayette county, and, in 1878, removed to DesMoines, where he still re- sides. He had a family of eight children, six sons and two daughters, all of whom are still living. Frank A. was brought up on a farm, and accustomed to hard work. Hc was educated at the Upper Iowa Uni- versity, and at the Hopkinton Lenox Col- legiate Institute; also, attending the Ames Agricultural College, where he graduated, and then returned to Waverly. During his attendance at the Agricultural College, his principal study was chemistry. In the meantime, he had kept books for T. C. Aldrich for somctime. In the fall of 1878, he became a partner of Dr. O. Burbank, in the drug business, under the firm name

of Burbank & Lee, and they shortly after- ward erected the building which Mr. Lee now occupies. In the fall of 1879 he pur- chased Dr. Burbank's interest, and still owns and conducts the establishment. F. A. Lee was married to Miss Carrie L. Bur- bank, daughter of Dr. O. Burbank, his former partner, December 31, 1879. They have one child-Edward B., born July 6, 1881. Mr. Lee is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and is secretary of the Bre- mer County Old Settlers' Association. Politically, he is a republican.

The following sketch should have ap- peared in connection with the history of Albion township, in Butler county, but was received by the historian after Albion had been printed:

Rev. Oliver H. Sproul was born in Corn- wall, Canada, March 19, 1846, and was ed- ucated in Dundas. The early years of his life were devoted to teaching. He was converted October 15, 1869, joined the Wesleyan Methodist church, and came to Iowa the same year. He entered the min- istry of the M. E. Church in the fall of 1872. He married Miss Chole A. McNairn, of Canada, June 11, 1873. Mr. Sproul was ordained Elder in 1876. In 1873, he was appointed to Parkersburg, and, for eight years, was a resident of Butler county. At present he is pastor of the church in Geneva, Franklin county, Iowa.

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

CHAPTER XXXII.

MISCELLANEOUS.

" Gather up the fragments that nothing be lost," is a divine injunction. In this chapter are presented several matters of more or less interest to the general read- ers, and worthy a place in this volume.

BREMER COUNTY BIBLE SOCIETY.

This society was organized in 1857. The Waverly Republican gave the follow- ing aceount of its organization:

"Our citizens were favored on Sunday, October 25, 1857, by a very able sermon from the Rev. R. W. Keeler, President of Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, after which the agent of the American Bible Society, Mr. S. P. Crawford, made a brief address on the subject of his agency, and proceeded to organize an Auxiliary County Bible Society, by the adoption of a consti- tution and the election of the following officers: Giles Mabie, President; J. Glass- ford and Thomas Downing, Vice-Presi- dents; H. S. Hoover, Secretary; A. S. Law- rence, Treasurer; G. S. Hamilton and H. K. Swett, Executive Committee.

COUNTY TEMPERANCE SOCIETY.

A county Temperance society was or- ganized Monday evening, April 26, 1858. The society adopted the following pledge:

"I solemnly promise, on my sacred word and honor, that I will not use intoxicating liquors, henceforth and forever, as a bev-

erage; and I further promise that I will use my best efforts to discourage the manu- facture, sale and use of alcoholic bever- ages."

The first officers elected were as fol- lows: W. P. Harmon, president; O. Bur- bank, M. D., vice-president; H. S. Hoover, recording secretary; C. T. Smeed, corres- ponding secretary; Giles Mabie, D. P. Daniel, John Glassford, Matthew Rowen, S. D. Bryant and Lyman Nutting, execu- tive committee.

The society, for some time continued to do active work, but was finally aban- doned. Temperance efforts were not, however, abandoned, and, during the exciting canvass in 1882, for the prohiba- tory amendment, a strong effort was put forth in its behalf, and a large vote was given for it.

It is said that men will drink, and that all efforts for the suppression of the drink- ing custom will be without avail. The following is said to have taken place in Waverly some years ago.

A drunken "bummer" in Waverly was once arrested by a German saloon keeper and sued for unpaid drinks. He scorned the advice of council or assistance of at- torneys, and delivered himself for the edifi- cation of the court, of the following in- genious plea :

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

"May it please your honor! To borrow is the first principle of nature. Does not the river borrow from the brook, and the ocean from the river? Does not the clouds borrow from the air, and the earth from the clouds? Does not the moon borrow her light from the sun, and the night borrow it again from the moon? Was not man taken from the earth, and his frau formed from his side? Since then all nature has established this grand sys- tem of universal credit, why should not man made in the image of God, have a natural claim on the credit system. And since the mighty ocean is not ashamed to borrow of the running river, why then should not a lean "bummer " borrow from a fat bar keeper? Now, your honor knows the feeble sighted moon never returns the borrowed light of the sun? Why then should a poor beer drinker pay a rich beer seller? It is contrary to national laws- it is an absurdity. But what does the river do when it has borrowed too much from the brooks and streams? It runs away. Nature, then, has set me an exam- ple. I will follow it and run away." And before the officer could reach him he had cleared the court room and was out of reach.

HONORED DEAD.

Jacob Chapin was born in the town of Heath, Franklin county, Massachusetts, on the 29th day of May, 1828, and was there- fore over fifty-three years of age at the time of his death. In the fall of 1828, he removed, with his parents, to Nunda, Livingston county, New York, and from there, in the fall of 1838, to Geneva, Wal- worth county, Wisconsin. He was mar-

ried, to Annie Hudson, March 9, 1846. In 1855, in company with his brother, Jolın, he went to California, returning in 1854. In 1855 he came to Bremer county, bought a farm, and moved his family to it in 1860. In the spring of 1861 he experienced relig- ion, united with the Baptist Church, and was a devoted, faithful and consistant christian, always ready to give a reason for the hope within him, which he felt to be an anchor to the soul, both sure and stead- fast. He died, at his residence, in Free- mont township, March 4, 1875.

Oran Faville was born October 13, 1817, at Manhein, Herkimer county, New York. He was brought up on a farmand educated at the district schools, but having access to a small library he was enabled to gratify a taste for reading, and was prompted to higher things. He commenced teaching in 1834-5, and was engaged the following winters, until 1833, when he removed to Ohio, here he spent two years in teaching and in preparatory study at Granville College. He afterwards studied two years at the Fairfield Academy, in his native county, with intervals of teaching, and entered the junior class in Wesleyan Uni- versity, at Middletown, Connecticut, in 1842. After graduating, he taught two years in the Oneida Conference Seminary, at Cazenovia, New York, six years in the Troy Conference Seminary, ' at West Poultney, Vermont, and the next year in McKendree College, at Lebanon, Illinois. In 1853, he took charge of the Wesleyan Female College, at Delaware, Ohio, but ill-health compelling him to resign his profession, he removed, in 1855, to Iowa, and commenced frontier life as a farmer in Mitchell county. Subsequently was

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elected county judge of the same county. In October, 1857, Mr. Faville was elected Lieutenant-Governor and ex officio Presi- dent of the State Board of Education, then newly organized. At its first session, in December, 1858, the board adopted the main fixtures of the present system of public instruction. In April, 1863, he became the acting secretary of the board, and in January following was appointed its secretary, by the Governor. In March, 1864, he was elected by the legislature, Superintendent of Public Instruction, the. board of education being abolished. He was re-elected by the people in October, 1865. In 1867, he resigned on account of ill-health. From 1863 to 1867, was editor of the Iowa School Journal. In 1868, he removed to Waverly, Iowa, where he lived a retired life. He was married July 24, 1845, to Miss Maria Peck, of DeWitt, New York. In addition to his educational labors in the schools and in public office, Mr. Faville delivered various addresses at teachers institutes and associations, several of which have been published. Oran · Faville died some years ago.

Edward Tyrrell was born in West- meathe county, Ireland, April 20, 1819. In 1825 his parents came to America. He was a son of Nicholas and Ann (Highland) Tyrrell, both natives of Ireland. Upon arriving in America, they settled in Lower Canada, and afterward moved to Albany county, New York, where he grew to man- hood, receiving a good common school cducation. He was married in August, 1839, at Rochester, New York, to Eliza- betlı Worthington, who was born in Irc- land, December 21, 1822. She came to America with an uncle, John Worthing-

ton, and wife, in 1824, they settling in Renssellaer county, New York. After mar- riage, Mr. and Mrs. Tyrrell remained in that State one year, and then came west to McHenry county, Illinois, where they set- tled on a farm and remained until 1854, when they came to Bremer county, first settling in Lafayette township, on a farm which he improved. Six years later they moved into Waverly, where he was elected justice of the peace. In 1861 he enlisted in Company "G," Ninth Iowa Infantry, as a private. At the Battle of Pea Ridge, he was promoted to first lieutenant of that company, and was shot at the Battle of Vicksburg, May 22, 1862, dying on the battle field. Mrs. Tyrrell has since been a resident of the county, and now lives in section 31, Warren township. They were blessed with seven children-Frank, now engaged in farming in California; George, engaged in mining in Montana; Jane, wife of James S. Conner; William, editor of the Republican; Clarence, now a resident of Warren township; Charles, who is teaching school in their home district, and Effic, who was married November 19, 1882, to Dr. H. S. Strickland, of Kirksville, Mis- souri. Mrs. Tyrrell's father's name was Thomas Kennedy, and John Worthington was a brother of Mrs. Tyrrell's mother, but she was named Worthington, and, nntil her marriage, always bore that name. Her father died when she was a child. Her mother died in this county, in 1875, at the age of seventy-six. Frank Tyrrell, their oldest son, went into the army in 1861, in Company K, Third Iowa Volunteer In- fantry, and was wounded at the battle of Shilolı, and taken prisoner at the same time. He remained in prison for about

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three years. After that long time he made his escape to Little Rock, Arkansas. All this time he was thought, by the fam- ily, to be dead, but returned home and is now in California. Edward Tyrrell was a member of the Masonic Lodge and was one of the officers of the lodge for several years.

Henry Morehouse was born in Saratoga county, New York, and was about sixty- eight years old when he died. About 1840, he went south and spent several years teaching writing school in Alabama. While in the sonth he was converted, and in 1848, moved to Plato, Kane county, Illinois, and entered actively upon the work of the ministry, in which he contin- ued for about seven years. In the summer of 1855, he removed to Janesville, Bremer county. His first few years in Janesville was buying and selling land. He after- ward embarked in merchandizing. A few years later misfortune over took, him and he failed. His immense weight pre- vented him from active duties of any kind. For several years his standing weight was 350 pounds. After coming to Janesville he did not preach regularly, and as far as can be learned, did not attach himself to any conference. Hc would often fill 'ap- pointments for others. In the pulpit, Elder Morchonse was a host. Few men surpassed him in powers of eloquence and scope of knowledge of scripture. Elder Morchouse was always highly esteemed by a very large circle of acquaintances. His strength and clearness of mind made him a formidable opponent in a discussion of any kind. His piety was unquestioned at all times and under all circumstances. He died at Janesville, Tuesday, February 3,

1875, leaving a wife and two daughters to mourn his loss .- Waverly Republican.

John Elliott, one of the pioneers of Bre- mer county, some years ago with his fam- ily, settled on the prairie about four miles north east of Waverly. By patient toil he had made for himself a home there, of which any man might feel proud. Just as he was beginning to enjoy the comforts of prosperity,he was stricken down,and passed away from the contemplated joys forever. Mr. Elliott was widely known and respect- ed in the county. Of late years he had paid considerable attention to the improve- ment of fine stock in the county, and with good success. The farming community lost a valuable worker, the county a - good citizen, and his wife and family a husband and father, whom they revered and loved, and mourn as only a good man can be mourned. He died at his home in Lafayette township, October 16, 1876.

James F. Lyman was born in Southport, ( hemung county, New York, Oc- tober 8, 1845. When he was a year old, his parents moved to Warren, Bradford county, Pennsylvania. There he lived the greater part of the time until he was nincteen, when he came west to Bonus Prairie, Boone county, Illinois, where he worked at farming. He was married in Boone county, May 28, 1856, to Miss Lydia E. Case, and moved to Bre- mer county, November 17, 1856, and set- tled near Horton, where Mrs. Lyman died, December 5, 1860. Mr. Lyman enlisted soon after the war broke out, and served with his company until after the taking of Vicksburg, when he was taken sick and died, October 4, 1863, at Carrolton, Loui- siana, where his body lies buried. His

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wife was born at French creek, Chautau- qua county, New York, October 6, 1835, and moved, with her parents to Illinois in the fall of 1854. They had but one child, a daughter, Ella M. .

BREMER COUNTY IN 1858.

The following interesting review was published in The Republican, at the date mentioned:

This county lies in about the same lati- tude as Rochester and Buffalo, and about one hundred miles west from Dubuque. Waverly, the county seat, and principal town, is about eighty miles from the Mis- sissippi river, at the nearest point of land- ing, there being but little difference in distance between this and Guttenburg or McGregor.

The business of the county is princi- pally done at Dubuque.

The county includes twelve townships of land, which, for fertility of soil, if equalled, is unsurpassed by the same number of acres in any one body in the west.

WATERS.

"The county is watered by the Cedar river, which traverses the western tier of townships from north to south.

This river rises in Minnesota, and, with its tributaries, which are all fed by con- stant springs, drains one of the finest valleys, on the globe.

Its waters are always, with the excep- tion of freshets, clear, bright and silvery, running over a sandy, pebbled bottom. Its banks are high, but seldom bluffy, and the bottom lands are generally so elevated as to be above the highest rise of water.

This river and its tributaries furnish an immense amount of water power, which is constant, never-failing in the dryest season, and seldom interfered with by the water rising and backing upon the mills.

The next stream in importance,is the main Wapsipinicon, which rises also in Minne- sota. The eastern portion of Mitchell, the Western portion of Howard, and the cen- tral part of Chickasaw counties, are drained by branches of this stream, which unite in the north tier of townships of this county, from which it pursues a southeast- erly course, crossing the southern line of the county some three miles west of the southeastern corner. This, as well as the Cedar and all other streams of the county, being fed by springs, never run dry or fail of having a constant flow of water. The banks of the Wapsipinicon, are not so high, and the bottom lands are more subject to being overflowed, than those of the Cedar. This stream furnishes considerable water power, which is constant and reliable. Five, of the twelve townships, are inter- sected and watered by it. The little Wap- sipinicon rises in Chickasaw county, crosses the northeastern township of Bremer county, into Fayette county, but soon re- crosses into Bremer, and again into Fay- ette, continuing near the line, and falling into the main Wapsipinicon, in Buchanan county.

Buck creek takes its rise in Chickasaw county, running southwardly through the eastern tier of townships, falls into the little Wapsipinicon.

Cam creek rises near the north line of the county, west of the main Wapsipini- con, and runs nearly parallel with it across

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the county, uniting with it in Black Hawk county, and at the same time giving a speedy drainage for all surplus. The south- western township is crossed by the Shell Rock river, as beautiful a mill stream as ever was run, and on which, in the edge of Butler county, is the beautiful town of Shell Rock, at which there is an excellent flouring mill, hotels, stores, etc. Excel- lent water is obtained every where in the county, by digging at an average depth of about twelve feet.

TIMBER.

Equal to the soil and water is timber. Few counties in Prairie countries, possess , so much and so excellent timber as well distributed as this.

The lower big woods which contain twenty-six thousand acres of heavy oak, ash, maple, elm, linn, locust, Kentucky coffee, black walnut, butter nut, aspen, etc., each variety of the best quality, and the largest growth lies entirely in the county on the east side of the Cedar river, near to the south line. From this body north, the cedar is skirted on either side nearly all the way to the north line, by large groves of fine timber. The Wapsi is skirted with timber the entire breadth of the county, and at some points extends to several miles in width, which will supply the prairies east and west with fuel,lumber and timber. Wilson's grove lies on the little Wapsi, and is partly in this and partly in Fayette county, and contains sev- eral hundred acres of timber. · Between the Wapsi timber and the big woods on Crane creek, are several groves.

A fine grove, called quarter section, lies near the center of the county.

Trumbo grove also occupies a central position.

Near the cedar timber is Smith grove, which contains about 320 acres of splendid timber. This grove is intersected by a small, never-failing stream, which runs so circuitous as to water every one of the several farms surrounding the grove.

Several communities of beavers still hold possession of the artificial ponds, created by dams erected across the Cedar by these ingenious and persevering arti- ficiers. During the autumn these animals lay away their winter store of food by felling the aspen trees, and cutting them into logs which they carry or roll into their ponds and sink. Great ingenuity is displayed by them in cutting such only as will fall towards the pond, and then such parts only are cut up as they can roll into the water. They often cut trees two feet in diameter.

Six mile grove, a very extensive one, lies further north, and two miles from the Cedar timber.

The Shell Rock has much good timber on its banks. Thus it will be seen that every portion of the county has timber at convenient distances within its own limits.

FACE OF THE COUNTRY.

From what has already been written, it will be seen that the county has a south- ern declivity, as all the streams run south. The country along the Cedar is perhaps rather too rolling at some points, but no where so rough or broken as not to be susceptable of cultivation, if we except some very limited spots where the rock lies too near the surface. In all other por- tions of the county the land lies as fair as

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land can lie. Just sufficiently undulating to drain handsomely.

SOIL.

The county possesses every variety of good soil, from the sandy river bottom to the rich clay sub-soil grass land of the Wapsi; which, while it is admirably adapted to grass, and pasturage is equally well adapted to the cultivation of corn and the cereals. The rolling clay sub-soil upland is deemed the best for all purposes.

PRODUCTS.

Every kind of farm product which is cultivated in this latitude, grows to per- fection here-wheat, corn, oats, beans, peas, millet, timothy and clover grow remarkably well. Potatoes, turnips, onions and all the esculent roots make very heavy crops of the finest quality.

FRUIT.

Too little attention has been paid to the cultivation of fruit. As is generally the case in all new countries far removed from nurseries, trees, without reference to adap- tability, are procured and carelessly, and often. negligently planted, and then left to care for themselves, are the first abortive attempts at fruit raising.

CLIMATE.

Being in the same latitude as the in- terior of New York, the climate would be the same if there were no modifying causes. The absence of great bodies of water, or high elevation of land, is also an absence of the cause of great and sud- den atmospheric changes.

That the winter of 1857, was severe is too true, but the severity was only general,

and cannot be urged against this locality. The present winter, 1882-83, which is said by those best acquainted with the matter, to be an usual Iowa winter, has been as favorable as could be desired for comfort or business.

A little more snow at times would have been acceptable,there having been not more than three inches at one time. The cold weather here is steady, the air bracing and invigorating, producing an exuber- ance of musclar energy and activity seldom or never experienced in low latitudes. The prevailing northwest winds, from the vast expanse of unbroken country north and west, although in the winter they bring cold, or rather they carry off the caloric, are full of life and health, and in summer time, modify the temperature. The atmos- phere is as pure as can be had in any lat- titude. Fogs or excessive humidity in the atmosphere rarely happens. The absence of great irregularities of surface secures a uniformity of atmospheric currents, and as a legitimate consequence an equal dis- tribution of rain. Severe drouths are sel- dom experienced.

HEALTH.

This is usually conceded to be a re- markably healthy region, entirely free- with very limited exceptions-from any local disturbing causes. The entire ab- sence of miasmatic poison, leaves it entirely free from billious diseases, and consequent debility.

SETTLEMENT.

It is thirteen years since C. McCaffree, the first white-face, located himself in the county. Its present population

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is from seven to ten thousand, well distrib- uted. The western portion, near the Cedar, being the more densely settled. In north- eastern and southeastern portions, along the Wapsipinicon, are fine settlements.

SOCIETY.

The settlers are mostly from New Eng- land, New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, with representatives from various other States, and are an enterprising, intelligent, and reading people. Religious societies and schools are established in almost every neighborhood throughout the county.

LANDS.

Very little or no land remains unentered, but large scopes are in the hands of non- residents, and can now be purchased at rates far preferable to settlers, taking into consideration the advantages of settle- ments, schools, roads, bridges, mills, etc., to any wild land now offered by the Gov- ernment. The purchaser, with cash, can buy at a very trifling advance above Gov- ernment price, and, sometimes, for even less.

TOWNS.

Waverly is the county seat and princi- pal town. It is in the southwest corner township, on both sides of the Cedar, in the western skirts of the Big Woods.

The county seat was located here in June, 1853. The county was organized in August of the same year. Waverly was laid out the following fall, when it con- tained two houses and a saw mill. It now contains from nine hundred to a thousand inhabitants.

Sixty-six substantial buildings were erected in 1857, among which was an ele-

gant court house, 43x73 feet on the ground, and three stories high, mounted by a handsome dome. The basement or lower story is of stone, and is designed for a jail and dwelling for the jailor. The other stories are of brick. The second ap- propriated to county offices, in which there is a fire proof vault, for the preservation of the records in case of fire. The court room is on the upper floor, and is 40x50 feet in the clear.

The building was commenced in June, and is now nearly completed, Its cost was about $24,000. The timber, the lumber, the stone, the lime, the sand and bricks with which the court house was erected, could have been obtained within one mile of its site. Among the business establishments are three large general stores, one hardware, tin and agri- cultural implement store, one grocery store and several less trading places. A good flouring mill with three run of burrs; two saw mills with siding and lath mills attached; one cabinet and chair manufac- tory, in which a number of hands are con- stantly employed, and a carding machine, all driven by water. Only a portion of the available water power is yet employed. A rotary steam saw and siding mill has re- cently been added to the lumbering facili- ties. A shingle cutting machine, driven by horse power, furnishes roofing material.

The mechanical pursuits are represented by four smith shops, two wagon shops, a reaper shop, a cooper shop, a jeweler, a milliner, saddle and harness shop, a boot and shoe shop, news and job printing office, besides carpenter and joiner shops. There are two good hotels here. A large two

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story stone school house is occupied most of the time with a good school.

The religious societies, ' the Episcopal Methodist, the Baptist and New School Presbyterian, are organized and hold stated meetings.

Two brick yards, three lime kilns and five stone quarries, are among the facilities for furnishing building materials.

Janesville, is located on the east side of the Cedar river, near the south line of the county. It has four hundred inhabitants, and some very fine residences.

A large flouring mill, at this date, November, 1882, is in process of erection on the Cedar river. A good hotel and three or four stores and a smith shop, etc., are among the business places.

Horton is located on the east side of the Cedar river, ten miles north of Waverly. It has a good hotel, a store and steam saw mill.

Syracuse is on the west side of the Cedar, two miles above Horton. It has a hotel and water power saw mill.

Martinsburg is on the west side of the Wapsipinicon river, about twelve miles from Waverly. It has a store, a hotel and steam saw mill, a siding and shingle mill, smith shop, etc.

Bremer is east of the Wapsipinicon, about sixteen miles from Waverly. There is a store and a steam saw mill, located at that place.

Jefferson is at the eastern point of the Big Woods, eight miles from Waverly. It has a steam saw mill.

BREMER COUNTY OF TO-DAY.

It has been but a little over a third of a century since Charles McCaffree erected his rude log cabin in Bremer county. Then all was a vast wilderness. To-day cities and villages are upon every hand. The railroad crosses its borders in dif- ferent directions, the shrill whistle of the engine giving its warning of approach, where once the trail of the red men passed," and their wild yells were repeated in a thousand echoes. In schools, churches manufactories, public and private edifices, Bremer county shows unexcelled enter- prise and remarkable greatness. News- papers make their way into every home, giving information of the thousand and one events of daily and weekly occurrence. Change is written upon every hand, and changes are daily being made, and the end is not yet.

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History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa, Part 142

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