History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa, Part 74

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 74
USA > Iowa > Bremer County > History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa > Part 74

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.

in 1855, and has four children -Peter, George, Joseph and Annie.

HISTORICAL ITEMS.

The first birth in the township was a son-Winfield Scott-to Walter and Rach- el Clayton, on the 10th day of June, 1855. He died February, 1871.

Burt, a son of Joseph and Annie Em- body, was born on the 22d of August, 1856. The last heard of him he had gone west with his parents.

Peter F., a son of Peter and Hannah McMahon, was the next birth, born August 29th, 1856. He is still living at home.

About the next birth occurred on the 10th of August, 1858, a son-Harvey Nash-to Thomas and Isabell Nash. In January, 1879, he was married to Miss Maggie Car- ney. They have had one child.

The first marriage in Monroe township was celebrated on the 10th day of July, 1856, and united Richard Parriott and Lil- lie M. Caldwell. The bridegroom enlisted in the Union Army and was killed at the battle of Murfreesboro, on December 1st, 1863. They had three children, two of whom are still living. His widow is now the wife of Lewis McDaniel, who lives in Washington township.

On the 16th day of November, 1856, the second marriage ceremony was performed, the contracting parties in this case be- ing George W. Caldwell and Lucinda Parriott. The year following their mar- riage they moved to Illinois, where he en- listed in the Thirty-second Illinois Regi- ment in 1863, and was killed .on the 19th of October, 1863, at the battle of Lookout Mountain. His widow is now the wife of S. B. Findley, of Aplington.

On the 14th of October, 1859, there were two deaths in Monroe township- Catherine, the wife of Samuel Bisbee, aged twenty-two years; and Sarah, wife of Anthony Howard, inther seventy second year. They were both buried on the same day in Aplington cemetery.

The next death occurred on the 27th of November, 1859, when Adelia, the wife of M. S. Wightman died.

ORGANIC.

This township was organized in 1856, and included what is now Monroe and Washington townships. James Monroe Caldwell proposed the name of Monroe, which was adopted at the first town meet- ing held in his house. At that meeting, an oyster can was used for a ballot box. The following persons were elected as the first officers of the township:

Robert Howard, justice of the peace; Jonathan Gee, clerk; J. Monroe Caldwell, constable; Thomas Nash, supervisor of roads; R. R. Parriott, Peter McMahon and Robert Howard, trustees.

The last annual meeting was held at the Tremont House. The officers for 1883 are as follows: Peter McMahon, Charles Caul, John P. Ahrens, trustees; Charles Fitzpatrick, clerk; Dr. E. L. Blackmore, secretary of school board; E. A. Gilman, justice of the peace; Edwin McFarland, assessor.

EDUCATIONAL.

This township was organized as a dis- trict township in 1856. The first school was held during the winter of 1856-7, in a small log shanty that belonged to J. M. Caldwell, on section 19, with L. P. Hazen

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

as teacher. The next school was held during the winter of 1857-8, at the resi- dence of Walter Clayton, which had for- merly been used as a hotel; Morris F. Whitney being teacher.

In 1859 there were two school houses erected, one at the point of Parriott's grove, on section 30, and the other in the eastern part of what was the village plat.

The one in the village was not com- pleted until about two years later, and W. C. Garrison was the first teacher. In a few years the house was too small for the in- creasing attendance, and the primary class mlet in the-bar room of Quinn's Hotel for several terms; after that, over one of the stores. The present school house at Ap- lington was erected in 1877. It is a com- modious structure, situated on a rise of ground, in the southern part of the village, between Ninth and Tenth streets. Wil- liam Hunter was the first principal in this house, with Miss Jessie Hemenway assist- ant. The old school house is now owned by L. M. Swan, and is used as a granary.

The school house which was erected on section 19, was used as a school house but a few years, when it was sold to Whitney & Streeter, trustees, for the Methodist Episcopal Church; but the society would not accept it, and it was afterward bought of Mr. Whitney and moved to Aplington, where it is now used as a private resi- dence.

The districts in the township number from one to six, the number of the village districts being four.

The first school in District No. 1 was taught in Joseph Conn's house, on the southwest quarter of section 1, by Thomas Conn. The school house was erected in

1863, or '64, on section 2, and a Mr. Haw- kins taught the first school in it.

In District No. 2 the school house was erected in 1865, on the northwest corner of section 15, and Miss Sarah Smith was the first teacher. An addition was made to the house in 1877.

District No. 3 erected its house in 1872, on the western part of section 8. George C. Mead was the first teacher in the dis- trict.

The first school in District No. 5 was held in a little shanty on section 34, and next in Mr. Miller's house, on section 27. Mrs. Miller taught the first school. The school house was erected on section 27, in 1871, or 1872.

The first school in District No. 6 was taught by Wells A. Curtis, at his house, on section 25, in the winter of 1858-9, there being quite a large attendance. The following winter the school was taught in M. S. Wightman's house, by George Rus- sell. In the spring of 1861 the school house was erected on the northeastern part of section 26, where M. F. Whitney taught the first school.

RELIGIOUS.

The early religious services were held in a building put up for a stable. The quarterly meetings were held in Mr. Cald- well's barn. The first, or among the first, sermon ever delivered in the neighbor- hood is a reminder of the old dissenters who posted their sentinels among the rocks. The good women of the neighbor- hood, having long been denied the privi- lege of hearing the word of God, proposed to their husbands to have a sermon from some source. The religious enthusiasm

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

of the men had been overcome by a press- ing necessity for active physical labor. A minister to perform regular service every sabbath could not be supported, conse- quently a discourse from a minister from Hardin county, who could come no other time than through the week, was agreed upon. Mr. Parriott mounted a horse and hied himself off for the Rev. Mr. Crippin. The signal for his return on the following day, was to be a blast from the dinner horn of Mrs. Parriott's, in order to call in the hands, busy at work in the fields. The sound of the horn on the following after- noon, apprised the settlers that their mes- senger had appeared in sight. Oxen and horses were turned to graze and rest, while the barefooted, ragged and dusty yeoman- ry assembled to hear the word of the Holy One expounded. Such a luxury could not often be indulged in, consequently the more appreciated. It is merely a single in- stance among thousands of a similar char- acter which occur in the first settlement of a country.

As early as 1856, he house of Thomas Nash, on section 30, was used for religious services.

In 1860, the society that had been organ- ized at the residence of R. R. Parriott, met at the school house in Aplington to worship-Father John Connell being the preacher. In 1869, Elder Gossard started the project of building a church, and solicited subscriptions in the fall of that year. He was succeeded by Elder Kerr. Mr. E. Y. Royce donated land, and the church was erected in 1870. It was dedi- cated to the worship of God, on December 18th, of that year, by Elder Kindig, of Dubuque, who came here for that purpose;

Rev. Platt being the pastor in charge at the time, and Llewellyn House and Solo- mon B. Findley, class leaders. The church is located in Aplington, on the corner of Howard and Ninth street. The present officers are as follows: H. Barglet, S. G. Smith, O. H. Sproul, George Elliott, S. Sherin, J. G. Williams, J. M. Hedges and W. F. Barclay. Rev. G. W. Ballou is the present pastor. This society belongs to the Upper Iowa conference, and helps make up the Parkersburg circuit.

PRESBYTERIAN SOCIETY.

This denomination effected an organiza- tion in 1868-9, with the Rev. Mr. Boaz for pastor. The first elders were G. B. Smith and Julian Winnie. Meetings were held in the school house at Aplington. Rev. Doolittle was the last pastor, having charge in 1880.

CATHOLIC CHURCH.

Father Shields was the first priest to celebrate mass within the limits of Monroe township. He was located at Waverly, and had under his charge quite a number of counties in this region, where he held mass. Services were held at Peter Mc- Mahon's and other private houses. In 1872, E. Y. Royce donated to the society two lots on which to erect a church edifice. The subscription paper for the building was started by Father Murphy, and the same year the building was erected on the corner of Eleventh and Nash streets. The first mass was said in it by Father Murphy, in December, 1872.

GERMAN BAPTISTS.

The followers of this faith have at various times held services in the school

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

house of District No. 3. Elder Schroder, of Washington township, officiated, in 1874, and was the first minister. At pres- ent the members of this society attend at the Pleasant Valley church, in Grundy county, but are about to build a church in Aplington, on lots donated them by E. Y. Royce. Rev. John Engleman is the pres- ent pastor in charge.

APLINGTON CEMETERY.

This burial ground was laid out in 1857, the land being given for that purpose by Thomas Nash. It is located on section 19. The first interment here was of the re- - mains of Sarah A. Howard, of Washing- ton township, in July, 1857.

TOWN OF APLINGTON.

This is the only town in Monroe town- ship, and is situated a little west of the center, on the Beaver creek. In is on the line of the Iowa division of the Illinois Central Railroad, and is surrounded by a good farming country. It does a thriving trade.

The village was platted in the. summer of 1857-8, and recorded on the 2d of February, 1858, by the proprietors, Thom- as Nash, R. R. Parriott, Zenas Aplington and Theodore A. Wilson. There was at this time, one house on the site, which was put up by Charles Savage, a New Eng- lander, who stayed but a short time.

The first store in the village was opened in 1856; Zenas Aplington put up the build- ing and furnished the goods. It stood on the south side of Parriott street, between Ninth and Tenth. . George W. Hunter ran the store for Aplington for about one year, when Chester Stilson, who is now

recorder of Black Hawk county, succeeded him, and clerked for about cighteen months, when the store was closed. In 1864 Isaac Hall opened a general merchan- dise stock, in the same building, which he had moved. He continued until 1866, and then sold to C. S. Prince, who, in less than a year, sold out at auction.

The railroad was completed this far in the summer of 1865. A. McKey was the first station agent, with the office at his storc. In 1867 the company erected a de- pot building, a part of which is now used for freight.

Mr. McKey came here in September, 1865. He erected the first warehouse in the village, and engaged in buying grain. In 1860 he made an addition to the ware- house and put in a stock of goods, which, after running a few months, he sold to James Dobbins. He kept the building until 1870.

In April, 1868, Alexander Chrystic opened a store on Ninth between Ellis and Parriott streets, and in 1870 moved his goods to a building on Parriott between Ninth and Tenth streets, and in 1872 he removed to his present location, on the corner of Ninth and Parriott streets. He keeps a general stock of dry goods, boots, shoes and groceries.

In June, 1868, Lynd & Wright opened a general merchandise stock in the old building on Parriott street. In 1869 they erected a building on Tenth between Ellis and Parriott streets, but sold out within a year, and the stock of goods was moved away.

Dr. Whitfield opened the first drug store in 1868. He ran it a few months and then, sold to Charles Prince, who soon formed a

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

partnership with Dr. Waterbury, but it was soon dissolved. Mr. Prince sold a part of the stock to Lynd & Wright, who moved the goods to their store on Tenth street. A. M. Whaley was the next pro- prietor. In 1873 he sold the stock to the present proprietor, L. M. Swan, who has added a stock of general merchandise.

In 1869 A. S. Burnham started a furni- ture and hardware store, and during the following year his brother, J. J. Burnham, joined him. In 1872 J. J. withdrew from the firm, and in 1873 A. S, sold the estab- lishment to James Dobbins, who finally closed out.

William Bisbee was one of the first to enter into business in Aplington. In 1857 he opened a blacksmith shop for Zenas Aplington, working for that gentleman about one year. Since then he has run a business for himself, except the time spent in the army. At present there are three blacksmith shops in the village.

George Lefaver opened a wagon shop here in 1877, which he still runs.

Joseph Kellogg established a hardware store here in 1875, which he sold the same year to William R. Cotton, The store is now run by C. M. Cotton.

In 1868 E. Y. Royce opened a land office here, which he still continues.

In 1878 Arends & Raus opened the hardware store which is now under the proprietorship of John P. Arends.

Mr. Farland opened his grocery store in 1882. The large store of H. Reints & Co. was opened in 1880, on Parriott street. The company formed consisted of H. W. Reints, N. H. Reints, Henry and Harmon Dreyer. The Reints brothers have charge of the store, in which they keep a large

stock of general merchandisc. The Dreyer brothers have charge of the grain and lum- ber business and-have an extensive tradc.

As stated above the railroad was com- pleted through Monroe township in 1865, and A. McKey was the first station agent. To show, by way of comparison, the in- crease of the business transacted by this office, we present a few items, For the month of January, 1868, the tariff on freight forwarded from Aplington amount- ed to $165.32; during the same time the tariff on freight received amounted to $15.85. Ten years afterward, for the month of January, 1878, the tariff on freight forwarded amounted to $6,341.46, and on freight received, $619.15. W. G. Bolser is the present station agent, tele- graph operator and is also agent for the American Express Company. His assist- ant is C. A. Bozarth.

FIRST BLACKSMITH SHOP.

A blacksmith shop was erected in the village by the father of Charles Savage, and was the first in this part of the coun- ty. The shop was built of sod and had no roof, but the old pioneer withstood the weather for a short time and forged the first iron in the Beaver Valley.

HOTELS.

The first hotel in the village was built in 1858, by Mrs. Rachel Quinn, on Nash street, between Sixth and Seventh streets. In 1866 she sold to E. Y. Royce. Edward Bourns bought it in 1867, and run it a few years. It was always known as the Quinn Hotel. It is now owned by Henry Kerns, and occupied by him as a private resi- dence

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

Luther Finney remodeled a store build- ing, on Tenth street, in 1872, and opened a hotel. It changed hands two or three times, when, in 1878 or 1879, Edward Bourns bought it. His widow now runs it; it is the only hotel in the place, and is called the Tremont House.

POST OFFICE.

The post office was established in 1858: Chester Stilson was appointed postmaster, and kept the office at Aplington's store. In 1859 Harvey Quinn was appointed, and the office was moved to Quinn's hotel. He enlisted in 1861, and his sister, Maria, was appointed to fill his place. Isaac Hall. who succeeded her, was succeeded by A. McKey, and he by James Dobbins, who was succeeded by the present postmaster, Alex- ander Chrystie, in 1869. The office is at his store, on Parriott street.

ELEVATORS.

The first elevator in the village was erected in 1865 by Alonzo McKey, and usually goes by the name of the "Old Elevator." It is now run by C. M. Mead.

The next was erected by Wright Broth- ers, and has a capacity of 8,000 bushels. It was run by them until 1877, and has since changed hands several times. The Dreyer Brothers are the present propri- etors.

The third was built by S. L. Kemmerer, in 1872. having a capacity of 10,000 bush- els. A. M. Whaley, the present proprie- tor, purchased it in 1876.

Chrystie & Prince erected the fourth and last elevator in 1879. In 1880 they sold to Mr. Willis.

APLINGTON MILLS.

A number of years ago Edward Hiller came to Aplington from Hardin county, with plans laid for the erection of a mill. He bargained for forty acres of land of J. M. Caldwell, on section 20, and com- menced digging a tail race; but not being able to secure the right of way on reason- able term, he finally gave up the scheme.

In 1872, John Matthews & son, of Jackson county, came here with the inten- tion of erecting a mill. They formed a stock company, with a capital of $14,000, fixing shares at $25 each. Matthews & Son took $4,000 worth of the stock, and the balance was mostly disposed of in the neighborhood. The present mill building was erected and enclosed, its size being 32x40 feet, three and one-half stories high, with a stone basement. Before it was completed some of the stock-holders refused to pay assessments, and operations were blocked for a time. The Matthews finally sold their interest to William Dobbins, who secured a controlling interest in the stock, and then sold to A. L. Morris & Son. This firm put in three run of burrs, three reels, and a purifier, and had the mill in running order in September, 1877. They continued until September, 1880, when they sold to Dr. E. L. Blackmore and J. M. Groat; the latter sold his interest to the former; and Dr. Blackmore is still proprietor. He has added two reels, a separator, a new smutter, and a cockle machine. The mill does custom and mer- cantile grinding.

SPRING HILL CREAMERY.

This enterprise was started early in the spring of 1881, by Markley & Dodswell,

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

and is located on section 20. It is con- veniently arranged, and employs in the busy season, three teams to gather cream; tlie routes extending through Butler, Har- .din and Grundy counties. During the year ending December 31, 1881, 65,840 pounds of butter were churned; and for the year 1882, amounting to 100,000 pounds.

VILLAGE NAME.

The village was named by its propri- etors, when laid out, in honor of Zenas Aplington. The gentleman was never a resident of the village, but was interested financially in its welfare and growtlı. He was a native of Illinois, where he lived. He was a soldier in the war of the rebell- ion, losing his life in the service.

REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

Here are presented the personal sketches of a few of the representative men of Ap- lington, and the matter will be found of much interest to all readers:

William Bisbee, an early settler in Ap- lington, was born in Herkimer county, New York, August 29, 1828. When quite young his parents moved to Delaware county. At eighteen years of age he commenced to learn blacksmithing, and worked at that trade in Delaware county until 1856. In the spring of 1857 he came to Aplington, where he was engaged to run a blacksmith shop. At the breaking out of the rebellion he responded to the first call for troops. He was mustered into the service in August, 1861, in the Ninth Iowa Regiment, Light Artillery, as chief artificer. He served through the war, participating in many engagements;

was honorably discharged in October, 1865, and returned to Aplington, where he has since been engaged at his trade. He was married in 1867 to Miss Maria Quinn. They have had three children-Clara L., Edith M. and Frank A. Edith May died in infancy.

Alexander Chrystie, a prominent citizen of Aplington, was born in Franklin county, Vermont, October 4, 1830. He received his education in the district scliools. When a young man he learned the carpenter's trade of his father. In the spring of 1850 'he came west, locating at Portage, Wiscon- sin, where he worked at his trade until fall, when he went to California, and there worked at his trade. In the following spring he returned to Wisconsin. In 1861 he raised a company of volunteers, of which he was elected Captain. He was dis- charged, in April, 1864, and engaged in mercantile business. In 1865 he returned to Wisconsin. In 1866 he came to Water- loo, and engaged in mercantile business for two years. In 1868 he came to Aplington, and opened his store. He was appointed postmaster in 1869, an office which he now holds. He has taken a lively interest in county, as well as town affairs. He was elected county commissioner in 1870, an office which he held nine years. He mar- ried, in 1855, Miss Elizabeth Hogan. They have five children-Alice, Eliza, John A., Isabelle May, and Clara A.

Solomon B. Findley, a prominent mem- ber of, and class-leader in the Methodist Church was born at Green, Monroe county, New York, Aug. 25, 1837. His father, whose name also was Solomon B., was a practicing physician. He was born at Tolland, Conn., Sept. 13, 1788, and gradu-

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

ated from the Hartford Medieal College, at Hartford, Conn. He eommeneed prae- tiee in Livingston county, New York; from there he came to Monroe county, where he died, June 6, 1843. Solomon B., Jr., made his home with his mother until 1857, when he went to Illinois. He at- tended Marengo College eight months; he then entered the Garret Biblical Institute, at Evanston, Ill., to study for the ministry, but his health failed and he went to Un- ion, III., where he engaged in mercantile business, until 1865, when he sold out and eame to Iowa, engaging in the same busi- ness at Tipton, Cedar county, until 1869, when he again sold out and came to Aplington. He bought land in Grundy county, near Aplington, which he has improved. He has since bought prop- erty in Aplington and has bought and im- proved land iu Butler eounty. He was married June 13, 1876, to Mrs. Lneinda Caldwell. They have had three children. The oldest one-Lizzie P .- was born Dec. 1877, and died Jan. 26, 1882, of diphtheria. Mr. Findley's mother made her home with her son at Aplington, until the time of her death, Oct. 29, 1877, at 77 years of age. His sister Polly makes her home with him.

Charles S. Prinee was born in Cumber- land county, Maine, seven miles from Portland, July 7, 1828. When but two and one-half years old his father died, and when four years old his mother moved with her children to Franklin county, where he lived until eighteen years of age, when he went to Lowell, Massachusetts, and found employment in the Middlesex Mill for eight months. He then engaged in the Lowell Machine Shops one year,

when he went to Virginia. He was there employed as overseer on plantations, ex- eepting in the winter seasons, when he en- gaged in getting out ship timber. In 1853 he went to California via the Nicaraugna route. He there engaged in mining and fluming in Tuolumne county for four years, when he returned to Maine and was mar- ried there, February 9, 1858, to Miss Eliza- beth Allen, of Franklin county. The next fall he bought a saw mill there, which he ran for two years. He then sold it and engaged in buying stoek and shipping it to Portland until 1865, when he came to Iowa and settled in Aplington. He bonghit real estate, engaged in mercantile busi- ness for a short time, and built several houses which he has sinee sold. In 1878 he built his present residenee. Mr. Prince has been quite a prominent man, and has filled offices of trust in the town. He has two children living-Birdie S. and Eva. Mr. Prinee met with great trouble, which was keenly felt, in the loss of his only son, Walter, who was a promising young man. Walter H. was born in Franklin county, Maine, December 28, 1860, and died in Aplington, November 24, 1877. Their first child, Cora, died in infaney.

G. B. Smith was born in England, No- vember, 1805, where he received a good education. He studied medicine with the intention of practicing. When about twenty years of age he came to America, and settled in New Jersey, where he en- gaged in teaching .. He was married there to Miss Eliza Prall. They had seven ehil- dren, six of whom are now living-Sheri- dan, Sarah M., Jane H., Mary P., Lydia F., and Charlotte A. His children were all teachers. The daughters are now married,

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

and live in Butler county, while the son is engaged in mercantile business in Traer, Tama county. In 1851 Mr. Smith returned to England, and visited the world's fair at London, returning to New Jersey, after an absence of about six months. In 1853 he moved to Madison, Wisconsin, and taught there in the city schools. In 1861 he moved to Illinois, living in Lee and Ogle counties until 1866, when he moved to Aplington, where he has since been en- gaged in teaching and practicing medicine. Mrs. Smith was born in Hunterdon county, New Jersey, August, 1809; died in Ap- lington, in June, 1882. Mr. Smith makes his home with his children.

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History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa, Part 74

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