History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa, Part 72

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 72
USA > Iowa > Bremer County > History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa > Part 72

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 BUTLER COUNTY.

cost of $600. The house is still in use. Miss Helen Slade was one of the first teachers in this district.

District No. 3 was set off in 1875, and in 1876 the school house was erected on sec- tion 8, at a cost of $425, including cost.of land, surveyor's fees, etc. Miss Mary Johnson, Alice Hurley, and Mr. George Palmer were among the first teachers in this house.

District No. 4 was set off from No. 2 in 1864, and a house was constructed, in 1865, on section 16, at a cost of $409. In 1868 the school building was moved to section 17, its present location. Thomas W. Smith was the first teacher.

District No. 5 erected their first house early in the "sixties." In 1881 this house was sold to K. S. Greene, and it is now used as a dwelling by some of his tenants. The present house was erected in 1881, on section 26, at a cost of $450. The first to teach in it was Miss Maggie Miscoll.

District No. 6 was organized in 1870, and the neat frame house was erected the fol- lowing year, on section 32. Mr. Thomas Butler was one of the first teachers.

ISLAND GROVE POSTOFFICE.

A postoffice under this name was estab- lished in Madison, in 1858, with Dr. George Sprague as postmaster, with the office at his house on section 35. It was on the mail route from Cedar Falls to Hampton, and later on the route from Aplington. The office was discontinued about 1868.

BLACKSMITH SHOP.

The industrial enterprises have not been very well represented in Madison. Some years ago Albert Schmitz purchased the

pioneer school house, and moved where he started a blacksmith shop, which he ran for about one year. Schmitz is now engaged in the mercantile .business at Dumont.

PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.

The Madison Grange, No. 214, was chartered on the 28th of February, 1872, with thirty-one charter members. The first officers were as follows: Edward Coyle, master; Walcott Watson, overseer; Jacob Brooks, lecturer; Jesse Baker, assist- ant; Frank Beack, secretary; J. B. Gordon, gate-keeper; Ella Harvey, Ceres; Mrs. E. C. Brooks, Pomona; Mrs. Julia Baker, Flora; Mrs. Emma Harvey, assistant steward.

The meetings were held at the school house on section 17, and for a time it was successful, the membership increasing to fifty. But interest finally began to wane, and on the 11th of February, they surren- dered their charter and sold the property at auction. *

The last officers were as follows: A. E. Hartson, master; A. B. Watson, overseer; J. O. Slade, steward; G. W. Watson, as- sistant steward; T. W. Smith, lecturer; W. Watson, treasurer; N. Long, secretary.

MADISON CEMETERY.

This cemetery was platted in 1873, by M. D. L. Niece, under the auspices of the Madison Cemetery Association. This association was composed of the leading citizens of the town, among whom were, W. Watson, J. Baker; S. Harvey, T. W. Smith, J. Brooks, M. Harvey, J. O. Slade, J. Kalabarer, A. Schmitz, Frank Beach, P. Long and P. Pfaltgraftz. The officers were, W. Watson, president; J. O. Slade,

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

vice-president; J. Baker, treasurer; T. W. Smith, secretary; and seven trustees. The first burial here was of the remains of Mrs. Jacob Kalabarer.

In 1881, the grounds were given to the township. There are now but three mem- bers of the association left in, the town- ship.

PROMINENT CITIZENS.

In this connection is presented the per- sonal history of a few of Madison's repre- sentative men. Of course, want of space forbids giving biographical sketches of all the citizens, even though it be the most interesting of all history; yet it is hoped that enough will be given to show the kind of men who are now the bonc and sinew of Madison.

Nicholas Hartgraves, a pioneer of But- ler county and the first settler in Madison, was born in North Carolina, August 18, 1817. When three years of age his father died; his mother soon married again. In 1827 the family moved to Indiana and set- tled in Washington county. In July, 1831, his mother lost her second hus- band. When he was twenty-one years of age he went to Kentucky and there engaged in farming for four years, when he returned to Indiana. In the summer of 1846 he came to John- son county, Iowa, living there until 1852, when he moved to Butler county, being the third settler in Beaver Grove. In 1854 he sold his claim and came to Madi- son, taking a claim on section 18, where he built the first house in the township. His present home is on section 17. He was married in March, 1844, to Miss Sophia Stacey, a native of Indiana. They

have had fifteen children; ton are now living-Delila, Clarissa, Marion, Melinda, Richard, Sinie A., Henrietta, Ellen, Es- tella, Virgil. Ulysses S. G. died in 1871, in his seventh year; the other four died in infancy.

Peter Coyle is a native of Monaghan 'county, Ireland, born Nov. 27, 1802. He married, Oct. 9, 1827, Mary McAntee, and in 1847, emigrated with his family to America. He entered a machine shop in Auburn, N. Y., living in that city until 1855, when he moved to Amboy, Illinois, and engaged in the same business. Herc he bought land and built a house. In 1858, he traded his property for land in Butler, Howard, Blackhawk and Chicka- saw counties. That summer he came to Butler county and settled in Madison, on section ten. In 1875 he moved to Ackley, having previously built a house there. He has eight children-Catherine, Ed- ward, Ellen, Rosa, Ann, Mary; two died in infancy. He was the first justice of the peace elected in the township. He was elected a inember of the board of super- visors in 1861, and was chairman of the board for five years.

Edward, son of Peter Coyle, was born in Monaghan county, Ireland, December 8, 1830, and was there reared to agricul- tural pursuits. In 1848 he came to America; landed at New York, June 13, going directly to Auburn, where his father had lived one year. He remained there un- til the spring of 1850, when he moved to Patterson, New Jersey, where he served an apprenticeship in the New Jersey Ma- chine Company's shops. In 1854 he went to Chicago, where he was engaged by the Illinois Central Railroad Co., working for

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

them in Chicago until 1856, and at Amboy until 1859. He then engaged with the Rock Island Railroad Co., one year; then with the Chicago and Northwestern, eighteen months. In July, 1863, he entered the governinent service as machinist, and went to Nashville. He was there at the time of the battle before Nashville. Just before that the machanics were called out to help throw up earthworks. He was discharged from the service, and returned to Chicago, where he engaged with the Illinois Cen- tral Railroad for a few months. In March, 1866, he started for Iowa, landing at Ack- ley the 21st of March. He went to Madi- son and settled with his parents, on section 10, and has since devoted his time to farm- ing. In 1874 he built his present frame house. He was married in 1877, to Miss Margaret Jordan. They have three chil- dren-Mary J., Charles F., and Edward Jordan.

Kelsey S. Green was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, October 1, 1843. When he was fourteen years old the family moved five miles into the country. In 1865 he came to Iowa, to take charge of the farm lately owned by the Ohio Stock Breeding Com- pany. He has already improved 2,000 of the 3,400 acres contained in the farm, which is the largest in the county. He has three hundred head of horned cattle, forty head of horses, and three hundred hogs. He has lately added to his stock two Clydesdale stallions, one of them being imported from Scotland. He was married in 1869, to Miss Ella Hageman. They have four children-Clara, John, Archie and Frank. The children are attending school at Cedar Falls.

Amos E. Hartson is a native of Penn- sylvania, born in Luzerne county, March 26, 1843. When he was five years of age his parents moved to Wisconsin, and set- tled in Randolph, Columbia county. In 1859, he went to Woodford county, Illi- nois, and there was employed in farming one year. He went trapping two years, on the Illinois river, and then returned to Wisconsin, where he engaged in the pine ries two winters. In the spring and fall he drove rafts down the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers, as far as Rock Island. The years of 1863-64, he made his home with his father, who still lives on his orig- inal claim. In 1865, he came to Iowa, and bought land in Madison township, on sec- tion 20. He now has 320 acres, and lives on section 17. He married, in 1876, Sa mantha, daughter of Solomon Harvey, and widow of Samuel Smith. They have two children-Bert and Minnie Belle.

Wolcott Watson was born in Middlesex county, Connecticut, July 11, 1821. When twenty-one years of age, he engaged on a vessel for a whaling voyage. He went to the Pacific ocean-was absent one and one-half years. In the spring of 1844, he engaged with the Middlesex Quarry Co., at Portland, Conn. In 1848, he moved to Columbia county, Wisconsin, and bought land in Courtland township, where he built a house. In 1867 he sold out, and came to Butler county, Iowa, buying land on section 21, Madison township. He has improved the land, and in 1867 built the frame house in which he lives. In 1880 he built a barn. In 1882 attached a stable, 14x32, and a shed 24x90. He now has a farm of 270 acres. Mr. Watson commenced farming by raising

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

wheat. He has now abandoned that, and turned his attention to stock raising. He has about thirty head of horned cattle, seven horses and about ninety hogs, and has as well appointed a place as any in the township. Mr. Watson was, married in September, 1845, to Miss Albatina Polly. They have six children-Gilbert N., Eliza- beth, Alvin B., Henry C., Frank W., Lev- eret O. Mr. Watson has been elected to offices of trust in the township, and is the present treasurer.

Wilhelm Stock, a native of Prussia, was born on the 6th of July, 1833. When seventeen years of age he engaged in a brick yard in Hanover. In 1866 he emigrated to America, and settled in Ogle county, Illinois, where he engaged in farmn- ing until 1869, when he moved to Iowa, and bought land on section 19. He has im- proved the land, and, in 1879, built his present home. He married, in 1860, Miss Franka Rippentrop. They have had three children but all died. in infancy. They have an adopted son of Mrs. Stock's sister, whose mother died when he was two weeks old. His name is Wilhelm. Mr. Stock has filled offices of trust in the town, and was a member of the last board of trustees.

Perry Long, a pioneer settler in Fillmore county, Minnesota, was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, February 5, 1827. In 1840 he moved to Alleghany county, Maryland, and in 1855 he came west to seek a home, and settled in the township of Preston, Fillmore county, Minnesota, where he took government land one mile south of the county seat. He improved the land, built a house, and lived there un- til 1869, when he sold out and came to Iowa. He bought 340 acres of land in Madison

township, on section 15, where he built a house. In 1872 he sold this farm, and bought 160 acres on section 20. He has improved this land. He married, in 1849, Miss Savilla Engle. They have seven children living - Norman, Simon, Cor- nelia, Marshall, Melissa, Laura, and Alvin.

Norman, son of Perry Long, was born in Alleghany county, Maryland, March 13, 1850. When but five years of age his parents moved to Fillmore county, Minne- sota. In 1869 they moved to Iowa, settling in Madison. Norman received his educa- tion in the district schools of Minnesota and Iowa. He married Miss Rebecca Eleanor Hazlett. They have one child- Perry Roland. He lived with his parents until 1875, when he moved to his farni on section 7.

Samuel Smith was born in Orange county, New York, February 2, 1838; died in Madison, Iowa, March 4, 1871. When quite young his parents moved to Pennsyl- vania, where they lived until he was sixteen years of age, when they moved to Columbia county, Wisconsin, He married in June, 1861, Miss Samantha Harney. They had three children-Willie, Fred and Cassius. In 1865, he came to Iowa and settled in Madison, buying land on section 3, which he sold six months later, and bought on section 22. In 1869, he moved to section 16, where he died after an illness of more than two years, leaving a widow and two children to mourn. his death. His widow married Amos D. Hartson, in 1876. The children lived with her.

Alvin, son of Walcott Watson, was born in the city of Columbus, Columbia county, Wisconsin, September 27, 1850. In 1867, his parents came to Iowa, and settled in

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

Madison. He married November 18, 1874, Miss Cornelia, daughter of Perry Long. They have two children-Clio S. and Jessie A. He now occupies his farm on section 8, and is the secretary of the school board.

George K. D. Kremer was born in Han- over, Germany, August 8, 1844. He gradu ated from the high school when eighteen years of age; then engaged as overseer on a large farm. In 1868, he came to America to view the country with the intention of settling. He came to Iowa and stopped at Ackley, where he had friends. In 1870, he took a trip to the Pacific Slope, visiting San Francisco, Los Angelos, Port- land, Oregon. Returning to Iowa, he bought land in Madison, on section 28, and has since made that his home. He mar- ried, in 1871, Miss Louisa Sonnema. They have six children-Anna, John, Sebo, Elise, Henry and George.

Fred Pfaltzgraff was born in Alsace, September 20, 1819, where he attended school. When twenty-one years of age he joined the French Army and served twelve years, the last ten as a musician. In 1852 he was joined in marriage to Miss Mag- dalena Schnelberger, and in 1854 left his native land to find a home in America. On landing at New York he went to Rochester, where he was engaged in a nursery two years; then removed to Illi- nois and engaged in farming thirteen miles south of Chicago. In 1869 he came to Iowa and bought land on section 23, Madison township, where he was engaged in raising grain and stock. In 1879 he built his present frame house, and two years later a barn. They have had eight children, seven of whom are now living

-Philip, George, Lizzie, Hellena, Fred, Charlotte and Jacob. One child died in infancy.

Friedrich Bomgardner, a native of Switzerland, born November 26, 1843. He attended school until twelve years of age and then entered a slate quarry. In 1861 he left his native land for America. On landing at New York he started for Wis- consin and rented land in Monroe, Greene county. In 1869 he came to Franklin county, Iowa, and in 1872 moved to Madi- son and bought land on section 8. He has improved the land, and in 1879 built the house in which he now lives. In 1869 he married Miss Fredrick Zell, a native of Germany. They have four children- John, Bertie, Amanda and Fred.

August Zell is a native of Germany, born December 7, 1834, where he attended school until fourteen years of age. In 1863 he emigrated to America. On landing at New York, he started directly for Wiscon- sin and there bought sixty acres of land in - Dodge county of an old settler who sold to remove to Iowa. He lived there until 1868, when he sold out and came to Iowa, buy- ing a farm near Ackley, where he lived two years, then sold out and went back to Wisconsin, buying a farm in Green Lake county. In 1876 he sold that and came to Madison township, buying land on sec- tion 5. In 1882 he built the farm house in which he lives. He married, in 1863, Miss Wilhelmina Miller. They have had one child which died when six weeks old. They have two adopted children-Mary and Herman.

Henry Messerschmidt is a native of Ger- many, born at Hanover, June 13, 1837. In 1867 he left his native land and came

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

to America. On landing at New York, he went directly to Freeport, Ill., where he engaged in farming, until 1876, when he came to Franklin county, Iowa. In March, 1882, he came to Madison and bought his present farm on section fifteen. He married, April 17, 1862, Louisa Hakot.

They have had four children-August, Li- sa, Augusta and Lena. Mrs. Messerschmidt died Febuary 18, 1879, of typhoid fever, after an illness of two weeks. He mar- ried his second wife, Louisa Liatirits, Feb- ruary 26, 1880. They have had two chil- dren-Ernst and Ida.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

MONROE TOWNSHIP.

This is one of the southern tier of town- ships of Butler county, lying within one of the western boundary. Grundy county lies on the south; on the north, east and west are the townships of Ripley, Albion and Washington, respectively. In this, as in all the sub-divisions of Butler county, the integrity of the government survey has been maintained, embracing the terri- tory of township 90, range 17, containing an area of about 23,040 acres.

Monroe is a prairie township, its sur- face is undulating. The soil is a dark loam, slightly mixed with sand; it is rich and well adapted for grazing, and all kinds of the cereals. Wheat formerly was the chief article raised, often yielding from thirty to forty bushels per acre, which was marketed at Cedar Falls. At present writing but little wheat is raised, corn,

{ flax and hay being the chief products. There are also a few good orchards. The farmers are engaged quite extensively in stock raising. The whole township is well watered, and adapted to stock rais- ing. Beaver creek crosses it from west to east, and, although it is generally a very moderate stream, sometimes it "gets on a tear" -- to use the expression of the settlers -- overflows its banks, and, in early days, it often forced the settlers to abandon their little log cabins, and seek safety on the high land. The banks of Beaver creek are skirted with timber, consisting of pop- lar, cottonwood, maple, walnut, ash, elm, and oak. A wet strip of land, known as Beaver slough, extends across the town- ship from west to east, and when filled with water, presents a formidable appear- ance to the traveler.

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The first settlementin this township was made in 1844, by Walter Clayton, a native of Saratoga county, New York. He had lived in Wisconsin for several years, when, in 1853, he started, with his family, for Iowa, with a wagon and yoke of oxen. After about three weeks' travel he reached Butler county, and took a claim on section 30, township 90, range 16, now known as Albion. He built a house and broke some of the land. Not understanding the law, he did not enter the land, but a man at Cedar Falls entering it notified him to leave, he, however, paid him $150 for his improvements. In April, 1854, he again started west, going about five miles, when he made a claim in town 90, range 17, now known as Monroe, on sections 21 and 28. He erected a log house on the northwest quarter of section 28, covering the roof with shakes, and, with an ax, split the boards from basswood logs to make the floor. In this humble abode the first white child in this township was born. This was also the first hotel in this part of the county. It was called the Half Way House, being half way between Cedar Falls and Iowa Falls. A basswood board, with the name "Half Way House" written upon it with red chalk, was nailed to a stake in front of the house. In 1856 he built another log house, with two rooms on the ground floor and two above. This was made a stage station that same year. Au elk horn was procured and put up over the porch, and this was known as the Elk Horn Tavern. He ran this tavern until the cars passed through. He made great improvements, and in 1868 built a large framne house, where he lived until his death, which

occurred in 1870. His family now occupy the homestead.

Walter Clayton was born in Saratoga county, New York, December 6, 1817, and died in Monroe, January 9, 1870. When quite young he married and moved to Wal- worth county, Wisconsin, being among the early settlers of that county. There his wife died, and he married his second wife, Miss Rachel Beals, of Oswego county, New York. They moved to Illi- nois, lived one year in Jo Daviess county, and then moved to Waupaca county, Wis- consin. In 1853 they came to Iowa and settled in Butler connty, first taking a claim in township 90 north, range 16 west. He lived there about a year, then sold his improvements for $150 and removed to township 90 north, range 17 west, making a claim on section 28. He sent $150 to DesMoines by a young man with which to enter the land, but he ran away with the money. They then saved $353, which they had made by keeping travelers, and that was stolen from them. But still they persevered and made money. He first built a log house, in which he kept hotel some years, and in 1868 erected a large frame house, where he lived until his death. He left a widow and eight chil- dren to mourn his death. The children were Henry C., Daniel W., Winfield S., Roxie A., Earnest G., Durilla R., Nettie L. and James W. Winfield S. was born June 10, 1855, and died February 6, 1871. Mrs. Clayton married Richard Clarke, Sep- tember 18, 1876.

Another settler of 1854, was Solomon Cinnamon, a native of Massachusetts. He took a claim on section 36, living there for

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

several years. He is now in Nebraska, and his family are in Parkersburg.

In September, 1864, James Monroe Cald- well and Thomas Nash, came from Hender- son county, Illinois, and took claims. Mr. Caldwell, a native of Georgia, selected for his future home a portion of sections 19 and 30. Mr. Caldwell was born in Troup county, Georgia, June 10, 1826. When but six years of age his parents moved to Tennessee, and lived in McMinn and Bradley counties. At seventeen years of age he was apprenticed at Cleveland to a tanner, one Isaac Low. He served three years, and then returned to Georgia with a drove of horses; there he engaged with Robert Shugart, in Troup county, and worked at his trade one and a-half years. He then returned to Cleveland; while there he was sick for some time. Upon recover- ing he went to Columbus, twelve miles distant, and there worked at his trade. In 1844, he started on horseback for Illinois, stopping in Henderson county, he engaged with'Anthony Howard to work at farming at twelve and one-half cents per day. He married, Angust 30, 1859, Miss Sarah How- ard. They made their home in Henderson county, Illinois, until 1855. In September, 1854, he came to Iowa, and made a claim in Butler county, town 90, north range 17 west, now known as Monroe. In October lic returned to Illinois, and there spent the winter,returning in the spring accompanied by his wife and some friends. He settled on his claim on section 30. He has im- proved the land, and erected a good house and barn. He is engaged to quite an extent in stock raising. Mr. Caldwell is a democrat in politics, and has been the can- didate of his party for the State Legislature.

Thomas Nash took as his claim portions of sections 19, 29 and 30. In October they returned to Illinois, sold their real estate and bought stock, and in 1855 started back to their new homes. In com- pany with them came qnite a colony of pioneers, consisting of Anthony Howard and his son Robert, Jefferson G. and George W. Caldwell, Silas Bebee, and Jonathan Gee. They came with three horse and five ox-teams, bringing their cooking utensils and camping on the way. Their trip took about sixteen days.

J. M. Caldwell settled upon his present farm, on section 30, where he has erected a good set of buildings, and is in comfort- able circumstances. He is one of the most prominent old settlers in the county, and we append to this a sketch of his life.

Mr. Nash settled also on section 30. In 1858 he sold his land to Zenas Aplington, and returned to Illinois; but his land, through some cause, fell back into his pos- session, and in 1861 he returned to Monroe township, and made this his home until his death, in 1865.

George M. Caldwell took a good farm on section 32. He was married in 1856, and .. in the following year sold out and returned to Illinois. In 1863 he enlisted in the Thirty-second Illinois Regiment, and in the battle of Lookout Mountain was slain among the thousand other heroes in blue.

Silas Bebee made himself at home on section 29. He made but a short stop, and is now at home in Henderson county, Illinois.

J. G. Caldwell did not make a claim.

This concludes the history of the little colony from Illinois that settled in Monroe

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

township. The others settled in Wash- ington township.

During the following year a number of pioneers swelled the little settlement thus started. Among the first was Nathan Lynn, a native of Maryland, who started from Illinois, in the fall of 1854, and soon reached the confines of Butler county. He first stopped at Carpenter's Grove, where he lived for a couple of weeks in his wagon; he then moved into a vacant log cabin, in the grove, and there spent the winter. In the following spring, of 1855, he pushed his way westward, and inade a claim in what is now known as Ripley township. Soon after that he came to Monroe township, locating on section 2. Here he erected a log house, and com- menced improvements. In 1879 he sold his farm and removed to Jefferson town- ship, where he now resides.

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History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa, Part 72

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