History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa, Part 78

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 78
USA > Iowa > Bremer County > History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa > Part 78

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).

I. M. Nichols handles all kinds of agri- cultural implements.

A. L. Bickford, stock buyer.

D. Richmon is the shoemaker.

Robert Schmitz, justice of the peace and collection agent.

M. S. Needham is the accommodating landlord of the hotel and gives good satis- faction.

Nick Huss and William Schulnborg, saloons.

O. S. Rowley is depot agent.

W. R. Jamison was the first lawyer here. T. A. Dumont, M. D., was the first doctor.

The first death in the village was the demise of Mrs. Sarah F. Townsend on the 3d of January, 1880, aged eighty-nine years.

The first birth was of a child of Nick Huss, early in 1880.

A neat school building was put up in the fall of 1882, at a cost of about $1,000, although the district only had to pay about

$800 of it, S. B. Dumont furnishing the balance.

Samuel Beekman Dumont was born Sep- tember 14, 1823, in Somerset county, New Jersey, near the village of Harlingen. His father, Abraham I. Dumont, was born in the same county in 1799, and for a number of years was engaged in mercantile pur- suits. Subsequently, he was judge of the county court, and held other prominent , positions in the county, until he removed to Philadelphia, in 1843. His grandfather, Abraham Dumont, was also born in the same county, near the town of Somerville, on the Rariton river. The family origin- ally came from France, and were Hugenots. Mr. Dumont's mother, whose maiden name was Ann Ten Brock Beekman, was the youngest daughter of Captain Samuel Beekman, whose ancestors were among the original settlers of New York City, then called New Amsterdam. The branch of the family to which Captain Beekman belongs left New York and settled in Somerset county, New Jersey, in 1720. The Captain was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Her mother, the grandmother of S. B. Dumont, was a Ten Brock, also one of the old Hollander families who first settled in New Amsterdam. The old homestead which was built before the Revolutionary War, in 1760, near Haring- ton, in which S. B. Dumont and his mother were born, is still standing and in a good state of preservation, and has many marks In its doors from bayonet thrusts and musket shots, made during the Revolution- ary War, when this house was attacked by the Hessians after the battle of Trenton.

At the age of fourteen years-in 1838- S. B. Dumont left home for New York

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

city, and was then a stranger in a strange land. He commenced life in that city as errand boy in a store. New York at that day was not the New York of to-day. Bleeker street was up town, Union Square was out of town, Stewart's was opposite the park, near the Astor House; Captain Cornelius Vanderbilt ran a steamboat from New Brunswick to New York. New Brunswick was then the terminus of the railroad, from whence you took a stage to Washington and Philadelphia. What a change in forty-six years! It is scarcely to . be realized, yet nothing, compared to what has taken place, in one-half of that time, in the West. S. B. Dumont left New York in 1843, and settled in Philadelphia, where he lived until 1856, except the years 1846 and 1847, during which time he was in business in Salem, New Jersey, where he became acquainted with Caroline F. Towns- end, daughter of Captain Jonathan Towns- end. They were married, on June 28, 1847. Mrs. Dumont was born in Philadelphia, - January 26, 1829. They have two children. Their daughter, Matilda, is married to A. L. Bigford, and lives in the town of Du- mont. Their son, Thaddeus A. Dumont, also lives in Dumont, where he is practic- ing as a physician and druggist. The mother of Mrs. Dumont-Sarah Fries- was born in Salem county, New Jersey, and belonged to the old Holland stock of Fries, the first settlers in the county, near Alloways town.

S. B. Dumont moved west with his fam- ily and landed in Dubuque in April, 1856, where he engaged in mercantile business until 1864, when, his health giving way from long-continued close confinement to business, he was compelled to try out-door

life. He chose Butler county, Iowa, as his future home, and moved there with his family and mother-in-law. He had about all the advantages and disadvantages of a pioneer life. He settled on section 28, township 92, range 18, west of the fifth principal meridian, on raw prairie land. The beautiful grove which now surrounds his prairie home was planted by himself and son, Dr. T. A. Dumont. Here the family have since resided, Mr. Dumont engaging in farming until 1879, at which time the Dubuque and Dakota Railroad was built and the town of Dumont located on his farm. Since 1879 he has devoted his time and means to build up a prosper- ous town and a successful lumber business. Mr. Dumont has frequently been honored by his fellow citizens with offices of trust, serving the township of Pittsford in several positions. For four years he was a member of the county board of su- pervisors, three years of which time he was chairman of the board. He was a member of the House of Representatives from the Sixty-first district, composed of Butler and Grundy counties, in the Twelfth General Assembly, and also of the Thirteenth General Assembly, when Butler county comprised a district. He was again a member when the new code of 1873 was adopted. Mr. Dumont has been a successful man in life, his success being brought about by push, perseverance and energy.

S. McMannes, who is mentioned prior - to this, is comparitively a late settler in - Pittsford. He was born in Mearsville, Crawford county, Pennsylvania, but was brought up in Mercer county of that State. His residence in Iowa dates from 1849,

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

when he came to Dubuque, and from thence to Grant county, where he engaged in mining. He has been a resident of this township since 1874, and is at present en- gaged in the furniture business, having served an apprenticeship at the cabinet business in his native town, and followed that business while in Dubuque. Upon coming to Pittsford, he purchased a farm on section 29. He now owns one on section 28. He was married to Mary Kline, of Pennsylvania, and they have five children -James N., Margaret A., Mary J., John W. and Bertha.

Hon. Henry C. Brown, of Dumont, has been a resident of Pittsford township since March 1867. . He was born in Belknap county, New Hampshire, in 1831, January Ist. He was reared to the occupation of farming. He served during the last year of the rebellion in the First New Hamp- shire Heavy Artillery. Before locating in Butler county, he spent a short time in Black Hawk county, where he purchased land, locating here as before mentioned, in March, 1867. Mr. Brown is chiefly engaged in agricultural pursuits. He is a large land owner, possessing the whole of

section 33, in this township; 200 acres in another part of the township. He owns altogether about 1,500 acres in this county. Mr. Brown is one of the prominent citizens of Butler county. He was one of the county supervisors for five years- from 1871 to 1876. He is the present mem- ber of the legislature from this district, having been elected to the General As- sembly in the fall of 1881. Mrs. Brown was formerly Miss Mary F. Bickford, daughter of Arthur Bickford. They have two children-George S. and Anna. They lost their youngest child, Clara.

Philip Pfaltzgraff is another of the bus- iness men of Dumont. He is a native of France, where he was born in 1852. His father, Frederick, emigrated to this coun- try, from France, in 1854, and settled in Chicago. He came to Butler county in 1869, and settled on section 23, in Madi- son township, where he purchased a farm of Henry and N. Daniel. When the town of Dumont was started, Philip came to the new town and engaged in the hardware business. His wife was Anna, daughter of Henry Miller.

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

CHAPTER XXX.

RIPLEY TOWNSHIP.

The sub-division of Butler county bear- ing this name, lies adjoining West Point on the north, Jefferson on the east, Mon- roe on the south and Madison on the west. It embraces the territory known as town- ship 91, north, range 17, west of the fifth principal meridian.

The area of the township is abundantly watercd. The West Fork, one of the principal streams of the county, enters on section seven, making confluence with Dutchman's Creek within half a mile of the town line, and taking an easterly course, bearing to the south, crosses the town and makes its exit on section 24, en- tering Jefferson township. Right here however, an abrupt southward curve is made, and the stream, bearing to the west again enters Ripley, to leave on section 25. On section 23, it is joined by Bates' Creek, a stream which rises in West Point town- ship, takes a southerly course, enters Rip- ley in section 4, and finally makes a junc- tion with the West Fork as above stated.

The natural timber, in a body, follows these streams. The general inclination of the surface is rolling, but a large area of it lies along the West Fork bottoms, which is rather low and wet, yet it furn- ishes plenty of pasturage, which is covered with a heavy growth of nutricious indige- nous grasses, for the stock grower of whom

there are a number. The soil is princi- pally a black loam with a clay sub-soil. Some good stone is found and excellent water is plenty within a reasonable depth.

This is wholly a farming community, and has no town or village, no railroad, and only one post-office. It is probably best adapted to stock raising, yet it is be- ing rapidly brought to a cultivated state. A considerable amount of wild land owned by non-residents is found, but is fast being transferred to those who will put it under cultivation.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The honor of the first settlement in the township belongs to George McConnell, who in May, 1854, pushed his way within the limits of Ripley, and planted his pio- neering stakes around an excellent farm on section 15. He remained for somc time, and then sold, removing from the county. He afterwards returned, how- ever, and was called from earthly labors in 1862 or 1863, while at the house of Na- than Linn, in Monroe township. The land which he claimed now belongs to H. C. Mead. Mr. McConnell was for ycars known far and near as the "Old Bach," and his house was headquarters for every- body, no matter who, that came in search of land.

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

The second settler in the township was James Hunter, who settled in November, 1854, spending the first winter with Mr. McConnell, and in the spring of 1855, tak- ing up a claim on section 13. He arrived here on the fifth of April; from Waterloo, after making the third attempt to reach the town, but failing each time on account of high water in the streams. He still lives in the township, and is the oldest living settler.

In July, 1855, came J. C. and Christian Hites, and were among the first to cast their lot here for a home. J. C. Hites made a claim on section 20, where he still remains, a prominent and · well-to -- do farmer. Christian Hites settled on section 28, where he remained until 1861, when he was called from earthly labors.

During the month of August, in 1855, Andrew Hesse settled where he yet lives, on section 20, in comfortable circumstances.

Nathan Linn was the third settler of Ripley, coming during the summer of 1855, and locating on section 14. He remained for about six years, when he inoved to Monroe, and now lives in Jefferson town- ship.

About the same time Michael Consodine. with his family, came from Nova Scotia, and located on section 9, upon land now owned by Edwin Kincaid. Soon after- ward a Mr. Ulery, coming from Boone county, Illinois, took up a claim upon the land now owned by O. Porter. Ulery is now living in California.

In September, 1856, section 4 received a settler. This pioneer was John G. Moore- head, who now resides on section 9. He is one of the earliest settlers in the town- ship.

J. G. Moorehead, one of the early set- tlers of Butler county, was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1820. When twenty- seven years of age he came to America, and after engaging in lumbering, at St. Johns, New Brunswick, for two years, removed to New York city, where he engaged in railroading for some time, and then farmed in that State for about two years. Upon leaving there, he removed to Philadelphia, where he continued to live until 1854. At that date he came west, and after spending two years in Cedar county, Iowa, came to Ripley township, and settled on section 4, where he now lives, and owns 360 acres of land. Mr. Moorehead has held the offices of assessor, trustee, and school director. He was married, in June, 1850, to Miss Martha Taylor, a native of Londonderry. Three children have been born to them, of whom one-William G .-- is now living. Charlotte died on the 28th day of January. 1872, and the other died in infancy.

Geo. W. Stoner came to this township in 1855. He died several years since. His sons are now living on the place.

In 1856, Geo. Monroe made his appear- ance, and settled about two and a half miles from Butler Center.

About the same time a Mr. Elmore, hav- ing a tract of land near the creek, sent his brother-in-law, Mr. Fortner, to his place, furnishing necessary means to carry it on. Fortner engaged to a limited extent in the manufacture of Limburger cheese. He did not prove to be a success, and in a short time sold his brother-in- law's team, and pocketing the proceeds, went to California.

In 1857, Daniel Haynes selected section 16, moved his family on to it, but was

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

drowned out by the repeated overflow of the West Fork, and purchased another place in the southwest part of the township. He went into the army; has returned to his family a number of times, but not to remain permanently. His wife and boys carry on the farm with success, and are highly respected by the entire community.

Edwin Kincaid, who has been mentioned heretofore, is a son of James and Hepsey (Pierce) Kincaid, and was born in Somer- set county, Maine, April 25, 1825. He passed his youth on his father's farm, and lived in that county until twenty-three years old. When of sufficient years, his winters were spent in the pineries of that State. In 1848, he removed to Illinois, locating in Winnebago county, where he engaged in teaming; and after some years located in Juneau county, Wisconsin, where he followed farming. During the year 1860, Mr. Kincaid came to Butler Center, Iowa, and in April, 1862, settled on his farm on section 9 (which farm was known as the Consodine place), and now owns 540 acres in Ripley township. He has held the office of township trustee. In the year 1848, he was married to Miss Catherine Kershner, who also is a native of Somerset county, Maine. They have nine children living --- Lewis, Aurilla, wife of Charles Yost; William, Myrta, wife of William Reed, and now living in Benne- zette township; Jessie F., wife of John Randolph, of Washington Territory; Eugene, Laura, wife of William Moorhead; Clara and Ella.

One of the prominent early settlers was Henry Trotter, born in County Farmauch, Ireland, March 20, 1824. When nineteen years old he joined the constabulary, and .

after serving nine years resigned and crossed the ocean to America. Soon after arriving in New York he entered the em- ploy of Holstead, Haines & Co., dry goods merchants. At the end of three years, however, he was obliged to resign that po- sition on account of failing health, after which he came west and located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, where he built a small house, and during the summer of 1855 made a claim on section 14 of Jefferson township. The following year he settled on this claim, camping out until he could get his breaking done and a house erected. After improving that piece of land Mr. Trotter moved to Ripley township, Butler county, and settled on section 24, where he now owns 166 acres of land. He has held nearly all the town offices, and is at pres- ent justice of the peace. He also was one of the supervisors of the county at an early date. During the year 1849 he was joined in wedlock with Miss Elizabeth Thomp- son, who is also a native of Ireland.

Joseph L. Santee was born in Steuben county, New York, October 8, 1827. Five years after his birth the family removed to Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, where they lived but a short time, however, and then continued west until reaching Ohio. There they settled, and Joseph remained at home.until 1855, at which time he came to Butler county, Iowa, settling in Butler Center, where he built the first house in the village and also assisted in erecting. the steam mill of that place. In 1859 he removed to Ripley township, locating on section 8, where he lived for about two years, and then settled on section 19, where he now resides and owns 270 acres of land. Mr. Santee has held the office of

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

justice of the peace for several years. In 1858 he was married to Mrs. Jane Moore- head. They have five children-George A., James N., Charles B., Robert A. and Carrie M. The subject of this sketch was one of three to stake out the road from Butler Center to Shell Rock, July 4, 1855.

Jacob Yost was born in York county, Pennsylvania, on the 9th.day of October, 1809, and is a son of Jacob and Mary Ann (Kauffman) Yost. During his youth he learned the shoe-maker's trade, of his fa- ther, and when nineteen years old, re- moved to Maryland, where he remained a short time, and thence to Crawford county, Ohio, locating in Bucyrus, the county seat, where he followed his trade until 1853. In June of that year, he came to Iowa and settled in Linn county, twelve miles east of Cedar Rapids, and engaged in farming. The following year he removed to Toledo, Tama county, where he worked at his trade two years, and thence to Franklin county, where he resided one winter, and then removed to Madison township. In August of 1865, he settled on section 8, of Ripley township, and now owns 120 acres of land. Mr. Yost has held the office of school director. In 1857 he was joined in wedlock with Miss Eveline B. Scott, a na- tive of Jefferson county, New York. Ten children have been born to them, eight of whom are now living-Jacob Butler, who lives in West Point township; George W., Elmer Elisha, Sherman Sheridan, William Lincoln, Luther Henry, Cornelius Ezra, and Rachel May. Mr. Yost has also four children, by his former wife-Mary Ann. Josiah W., Sarah Jane, Charles Kauffman, and Sherlania E.

Robert McKernan, a native of county Tyrone, Ireland, was born in the year of our Lord, 1827. When twenty years of age he came to America, and after remain- ing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, one year, engaged in draying, removed to New Jersey, where he followed farming. In March of the year 1868, he came to Iowa, and settled on section 10, of Ripley town- ship, Butler county, where he now lives and owns a fine farm of 120 acres. Mr. McKernan has held the offices of presi- dent, secretary and treasurer, of the town- ship schools. He was married in the state of New Jersey, during the year 1867, to Miss Mary Maloney, a native of county Shigo, Ireland. They have one child- Margaret.

Geo. W. Monroe, Jr., an early settler of Butler county, was born in Ithica, New York, March 2d, 1840, and is a son of George W. and Caroline S. (Ryan) Mon- roe, who are also natives of New York State. About the year of 1846, his par- ents removed to Albany county, New York, where they lived until 1850, and then located in the State of Ohio. During the year of 1855, they came to Butler county, Iowa, settling in what is now Mon- roe township; where his father entered land. George W., Jr., received a good common school education, supplemented by an attendance at an academy in New York State. In 1869, he removed to sec- tion 15 of Ripley township, where he has since resided, with the exception of ten years spent in Knoxville, Illinois, and Dav- enport, Iowa. His farm consists of 135 acres of excellently improved land, on which are comfortable buildings. During the year of 1877, he was united in mar-

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

riage with Theresa Matthew. They have one child-George Frederick. Mr. Mon- roe's parents are residing in Jackson, But- ler county.

FIRST THINGS.

The first white child born in the town- ship was Allen, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Hunter, who was born on the 2d of August, 1856. Allen now lives in Jefferson town- ship. The first death in the township was a child of Samuel Kimmel, in the fall of 1855. The remains were deposited in the cemetery on section 29.

The first couple to be united in marriage was Richard Davenportand Miss Susaunah Kimmel. The ceremony was performed at the house of the bride's parents, Sam- uel Kimmel, by J. J. Criswell. This took place in the fall of 1859; the parties now reside at Parkersburg.

The first bridge across the West Fork, in Ripley township, was built on section 15, in 1860. There are now two bridges across this stream.

The first election held in the township was at a sod house, owned and built by Moffatt and Mason. They were factory men from New York. There were not, at this time, settlers enough to fill the offices, and one man was obliged to bear the honors of two or three.

John Hites was the first township clerk. The present town officers of Ripley are: Clerk, Jerry Margretz; trustees, A. C. Stoner, Jonathan Hites, and Joe Santee; assessor, Ed. Crosier.

RELIGIOUS.

The first religious services in Ripley were held at the school house on section 15,

by the Rev. Richard Merrill, in September, 1860. Mr. Merrill was of the Presbyterian faith, and was quite a prominent man in the county. He was county superintendent of schools for several years, and is noticed at length in that connection.

A Methodist Episcopal Church was or- ganized, by Rev. J. Rowen, in 1868, in a school house, then on section 20. Among the first members were, Minnie and Mag- gie Moorehead, Jerry Needham, J. J. Cris well, wife and daughter. The church continued, in a flourishing condition, for some years, services being always held in the school house mentioned. . The organ- ization is still in existence, but has no reg- ular preacher. Among the ministers who have officiated here, are, the Reverends Cooley, Embrey, S. G. Smith, Henry Bor- gelt, O. H. Sproul, George Murphy, L. Winsett, and W. S. Robinson.

HITESVILLE POST OFFICE.

This post office was established in July, 1871, and J. S. Margretz was appointed the first postmaster, the office being located at his house on section 19. It was then on the mail route from Aplington to Bristow. It remained as such while the route was changed from Aplington to Hitesville. Mr. Margretz has since held the office and is the present postmaster. The office took its name from the Hites family or fami- lies, there being several of them among the first settlers of this part of the town- ship.

J. S. Margretz was born in Union county, Pa., September 29, 1838, and is a son of Her- man H. and Sarah (Stumpff) Margretz. During his early life he learned the mill- er's trade in his native county, and while

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

there was also engaged in clerking for some time. In 1856 he came to Butler county, Iowa, passing the first summer in Albion township, and the following win- ter removing to Butler Center, where he worked in the steam saw-mill. On the 27th day of September, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Twelfth Iowa Volunteers, and served until mustered out, January 20, 1866. At the battle of Shiloh, April 6, 1862, he was wounded in the left arın and also taken prisoner by the confederates. After remaining in different sonthern prisons until October 17, 1862, he was ex- changed and returned to his regiment. Soon after Mr. Margretz's enlistment he was appointed corporal and afterward ser- geant. Upon again entering civil life he returned to Butler Center, where he farmed for one year, and then came to his present location on section 19, where he now owns 160 acres of land. He has held the office of town clerk for eleven years, and has been justice of the peace three years. In 1879 he was appointed post- master of Hitesville, and still retains that office. Mr. Margretz was joined in wed- lock, December 5, 1869, with Miss Mary. E. Dunson, a native of Shelby county, Ohio. Five children-Herman E., Guy C,, Lotta B., Ella E. and Lloyd R .- have been born to them.

CEMETERY.

A cemetery is located on the northwest corner of the northeast quarter of section 29. This was used for this purpose at a very early day. The first interment was of the remains of a deceased daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Kimmel, in October, 1855.

FIRST SCHOOLS.

The first school in the township. was taught in a building, erected for the pur- pose, on section 20, by Miss Susanna Kim- mel, during the summer of 1858. Miss Kimmel is now the wife of Richard Dav- enport.

· The next school was taught in the sum- mer of 1859, by Miss Charlotte Levis, in a frame building, erected for the purpose, on section 15; James Hunter donating an acre to the district. Among the first scholars were the children of James Hunter, and George McCoy.

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History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa, Part 78

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