History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa, Part 80

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 80
USA > Iowa > Bremer County > History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa > Part 80

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).

Colonel H. Greene is a son of John and Orphy (Slayton) Greene, and was born in Claybourne county, Tennessee, January 16, 1837. Two years after his birth, the family moved to Rockcastle county, Ken- tucky, where they lived about seventeen years, and then moved to Scott county,

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where the Colonel lived two years. He then moved to Owen county where he remained until the opening of the war of the rebellion. September 25, 1861 he - enlisted in Company K, Fourth Kentucky Infantry, and served until honorably dis- charged December 29, 1863, at Chatta- nooga, Tennessee. Upon returning to civil life he came to Bridgeport, Indiana, where he remained until 1864. In the spring of that year he moved to Piatt county, Illinois, where he engaged in general work until 1866. From there he moved to Bremer county, Iowa, and after- wards to Butler township, Butler county; and in 1873, he settled on his present farm on section 28 of Shell Rock township, where he now owns 160 acres of land. He was married in 1861, to Miss Susan A. Bassett. Seven children have been born to them, of whom four arc now living-Amanda, Mason, Adelbert and George P.

Charles Johnson was born in England, February 2, 1822. He came to America in 1840, and after spending two years in New York State, located in Walworth county, Wisconsin, where he bought 160 aeres of land and improved it. For some years afterwards he engaged in freighting between Milwaukee and Watertown. In 1851, he settled on the farm he had pre- viously purchased, and there lived for ten ycars. At the expiration of that time he moved to Sheboygan county, and, after living there four years, went to Chickasaw county, Iowa, and one year later came to Butler county, Iowa, and settled on section 23 of Shell Rock township, where hc lived until the fall of 1882, when he moved into the village of Shell Rock. In 1851, he was united in marriage with

Margaret Culbert. Three children-Wil- liam, Mary and Ella-have been born to them.

Washington Tharp was born in Indiana, October 24, 1831. He is a son of Andrew and Jane (Ryan) Tharp. His mother is a native of Kentucky, and his father was born in North Carolina, near Guilford Court House. Shortly after their son's birth the parents moved to Central Indi- ana; first located in Rush county; then moved to Henry, soon afterward to Han- cock, and then to Hamilton county. In the latter place his father entered somc land, and there they lived three years and then moved to Hancock county, where they remained some time, and then re- turned to Rush county and still later to Hamilton. In 1853 they came to Iowa and located in Bremer county. Here they lived on a rented place for a year and then purchased and improved a farm. Washing- ton remained at home until June 10, 1863, when he enlisted in Company G, Eighth Iowa Cavalry. He entered the army as a private, but was soon afterward promoted to commissary sergeant. He was taken prisoner at Newman, July 26, 1864, and carried to Andersonville, where he re- mained until September 15, 1864. He was then taken to North Carolina, where he was held prisoner until March 3, 1865. At this time he was restored to the Union army and was placed in a hospital on ac- count of sickness, where he remained until able to return home. He was honorably discharged at Clinton, Iowa, June 16, 1865. In the fall of 1866 he settled on the farm on section 13, Shell Rock township, where he now resides and owns 1353 acres. He was married March 1, 1866, to Miss Mary

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

Jane White, of Waverly, a native of Dela- ware county, New York. They are the parents of five children-Frank, Ezra W., Roy F., Leta Eliza and Ray. Mr. Tharp's mother died during the year 1863, and his father passed away February 6, 1878. He bought his farm in Butler county in 1854, and holds a patent from the government for his land in Shell Rock township.

John Christy, was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, October 15, 1827, and is a son of Henry and Margaret (Douglas) Christy, who were both born in Pennsylvania. He was reared on a farm and received a common school education in his native county. In 1855 he came west and located in DeKalb county, Illi- nois, where he lived five years, and then to McHenry county, for eight years. In 1868 he came to Butler county, Iowa, and settled on section 7, of Shell Rock town- ship, where he has since resided. He was married, February 23, 1860, to Miss Julia Ann Dugan, also a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1826. They have one child- Mary B. She is living at home. Mr. Christy was elected justice of the peace, but refused to serve. He has a farm of 120 acres of land. His father died in December, 1867, and his mother in 1858. Mrs. Christy's father died in 1851, and her mother in 1870 ..

Benjamin Robbins was born in Herki- mer county, New York, November 13, 1817, and is a son of Jacob and Lois (Mack) Robbins. His father was born in the State of Connecticut, and his mother in Massachusetts. Benjamin remained in his native county until he had attained his majority. He obtained a thorough educa- tion in the common schools of that section,

after which he entered Hamilton Insti- tute, Hamilton, New York, where he stud- ied for four years, and in that time fin- ished the academic and began the theolog- ical course, but was unable to complete the latter on account of his failing health. In 1839 he came west and located on a farm, in 'Trumbull county, Ohio, in the western reserve. This occupation he fol- lowed until the second year of the rebel- lion, at which time he enlisted in Com- pany D, Sixth Ohio Cavalry, as a con- inissary sergeant, and served until honor- ably discharged, in August of the year 1863. Upon returning to civil life, he came to Bremer county, Iowa, and settled on a farm of forty acres, in Washington township. Here he remained until 1868, and then settled on section 10, of Shell Rock township, where he now owns a farm of 80 acres. In politics, Mr. Robbins belongs to the republican party, and is a inember of the Christian Church. He was married, in 1842, to Sarah P. Leavitt, who died in 1852. Two children were born to them-Leavitt W., who is now living in Shell Rock township; and Lester C., who was killed at Atlanta, Georgia, September 4, 1864, while on picket duty, serving with the Twentieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Mr. Robbins was again married, in 1854, to Elizabeth Petitt. This union has been blessed with four children-Sarah, now the wife of Joseph Pease; Parintha A., now the wife of Robert Hunter; Frank W., and Burton B., who lives in Dakota. Frank W. was married, in November, 1881, to Nora Nettleton.

E. B. Corson is a son of Peter and Mar- garet (McCarty) Corson, and was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, Decem-

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

ber 11th, 1844. Two years after the son's birth, the father died, but the mother is still living. E. B. remained in his native county eleven years and then came west with the family and settled in DeKalb county, Illinois, where he was reared on a farm and grew to manhood. In 1869 he came to Butler county, Iowa, and settled on section 1 of Jefferson township. Here he remained eight years and then, in Oc- tober of the year 1882, settled on section 23, Shell Rock township. He lived in the village of Shell Rock three years previous to his settlement on section 23. Mr. Cor- son was married in January, 1871, to Miss Rachel Soach, who is a native of West- moreland county, Pennsylvania. They are the parents of four children-Milton M., Estella May, George Ellis and Pearl Belle.

John H. Meade was born in Saratoga county, New York, January 14th, 1828, and is a son of Charles and Abigail (Owen) Meade. His father was born in Vermont, and his mother in Massachusetts. When John was sixteen years of age, his parents moved to Oneida county, New York, where he received his education. Four years later the family moved to Wisconsin, She- boygan county, where he lived until the year 1870. In May of that year, he came to Butler county, Iowa, and settled on sec- tion 18 of Shell Rock township. There he lived for nine years and then moved to section 8, where he now owns 160 acres of land. Mr. Meade has held the office of township trustee, and has been a member of the school board. He was married in 1852, in the month of January, to Miss Sarah Albright, who is a native of New Jersey. Four children have been born to

them, of whom three are now living- George E., who lives in the village of Shell Rock; Amy E., now the wife of William Johnson, of Shell Rock township; and Mary E. Mr. Meade's mother died in 1869, and his father in 1882, in Wisconsin.

Elias Ressler is a son of Jacob and Es- ther (Roads) Ressler. He was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, August 27, 1823. He was reared on a farm, and his education was received in the common schools of his county. At the age of eighteen he began learning the black- *smiths' trade, and after his apprenticeship was served, he followed that occupation while living in that State. In 1865 he came west, and located at Sterling, White- side county, Illinois, where he remained six years. While there he worked in a machine shop. In 1871 he came to Butler county, Iowa, and settled on section 14, Shell Rock township, where he now owns forty acres of land. Mr. Ressler has held the office of school director. He was mar- ried, in February, 1852, to Miss Hannah Pennepecker, who is a native of Mont- gomery county, Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of Henry and Catherine (Horn- sher) Pennepecker, natives of the same county. Her mother died in 1859, and her father in 1875. Seven children have been born to them, five of whom are now living -Emma, Melinda, now the wife of Roland Nettleton, of Shell Rock; Franklin J., Charles, and Minnie May. Mary Eliza- beth died October 26, 1855; Thaddeus Stevens, died October 17, 1872. Mr. Res- sler's mother died in 1838, and his father, in 1880.

Gasper T. Husband was born in West- moreland county, Pennsylvania, June 27,

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

1829. He is a son of John and Margaret (Tarr) Husband, who, also, were natives of Westmoreland county. In 1857 he came to Washington county, Iowa, where he en- gaged in farming until the first year of the rebellion, when he enlisted in Company H, Second Iowa Infantry. He served in that company one year, and then served for two years in the Fourteenth Iowa Infantry, Company B. He was honorably discharged at Davenport, Iowa, November 16, 1864. Upon receiving his dismissal from service he returned to Washington county, and there remained until 1866. In the spring of that year he moved to Bremer county, and located in Summer township, where he lived until 1874. At this time he went to California, on a visit, where he spent one summer, and then returned to Iowa, and settled on section 6, of Shell Rock town- ship, where he has since resided. He was married, October 31, 1876, to Mary L. Hunt, who is a daughter of Samuel Hunt, of Trumbull county, Ohio.

Charles A. Jones is a son of Dr. Daniel and Mary (Barrett) Jones, and was born in Windsor county, Vermont, November 21, 1848. When he was six years of age the family moved to Bureau county, Illi- nois, where they were among the early settlers of that section of the country. While in school Charles used his time to the best advantage and thus was enabled, even in the frontier State of that country, to enter manhood's estate with a good ed- ucation. He was reared on a farm. In 1876 he came to Butler county, Iowa, and settled on section 6, Shell Rock township, where he now owns 800 acres of land. He was married in 1876 to Miss Nancy A. Hammer, who was born in Cook county,

Illinois. They are the parents of three children-Daniel, Louis and Joseph.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL .CLASS.

A class of this denomination was organ- ized in the spring of 1871 at Norton's Cor- ners, on section 32, by the Rev. L. Cooley. The first members were: William Bass and wife, J. R. Gibson and wife, G. W. Bunn and wife, C. S. Simonds and wife, C. S. Norton and wife, J. B. Ressler and wife, J. M. Knight and wife, and R. Hughes and wife. The first class leader was R. Hughes, who has acted in that ca- pacity ever since." The stewards are G. W. Bunn and J. R. Gibson. Services have been held every two weeks in the school house, and the membership has in- creased to thirty.

A Sunday school was also organized in 1871, with R. Hughes as superintendent, who held the position for six years. He was succeeded by G. W. Bunn, who was in turn by J. R. Gibson, and then R. Hughes again. They have an average at- tendance of thirty at the Sunday school.

SUNDAY SCHOOL ASSOCIATION.

The Shell Rock Sunday School Associ- ation was organized in June, 1878, with R. Hughes, president, and S. Rice, secretary. The presidents in sequence have been S. Rice, J. W. Phillips and R. Hughes. The object of the association is to advance the Sunday School work, its efficiency and interest. Meetings are held twice a year, alternately in the Baptists and M. E. Churches.

PLEASANT VIEW CREAMERY.

The starting point of this enterprise was a cheese factory which was commenced

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

and operated in 1879, by a stock company. In 1880, it was purchased by J. H. Kub- lank, who added the creamery machinery and commenced work in February, 1880. The enterprise is located upon section 17; both butter and cheese are manufactured. Mr. Kublank also manages a farm of 80 acres in connection.

MURRAY'S CREAMERY.

In the winter of 1882, W. W. Murray established this on section 9. It occupies a building 20x40 feet, one story high, and is propelled by a five-horse steam power.

ORGANIC.

When the county was first divided into townships, in February, 1855, the territory now comprising Shell Rock was made a part of Beaver township, which, at that time, embraced, in addition to its present limits, Shell Rock, Jefferson and Albion. In March, 1855, another division took place, and the township of Shell Rock was created as embracing its present limits and the town of Jefferson. In March, 1857, Shell Rock was made to comprise its present territory, Jefferson being created and organized.

At the November election, in 1882, the following officers were elected, and are the present incumbents: Justices of the peace,. E. Wilson and R. Hughes; township clerk, George Van Vleck; constables, C. H. Lan- ning and W. J. Reed; assessor, J. D. Branum; trustee, L. Howard.

TOWN OF SHELL ROCK.

This is the only town platted in the township. It is very pleasantly located on both sides of the Shell Rock, one of

principal streams in Iowa, and which fur- nishes an almost unlimited water power, and is almost ten miles from the junction of this stream with the Cedaf river.

The town is one of those points that seem to be indicated by nature for an im- portant commercial center, surrounded, as it is by an excellent farming country, - whose farmers are thrifty and in good cir- cumstances; and furnished by nature with one of the best water powers in Iowa, cap- able of propelling a vast amount of ma- chinery. The site for the town could hardly be bettered, and there is no reason why the future of Shell Rock should not rank it high among the inner cities of the great Hawkeye State. The Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railroad, and the Dubuque & Dakota Railroad, both run within easy reach of the main part of the town, and make it a good shipping point.

There has been, in the minds of many, even in the minds of some old settlers, the false impression that the town was platted in 1853, but the following entry on the books of the county court will set that right.

" March 29, A. D., 1855.

"On this day, George W. Adair and Elizabeth Adair presented the plat of the town of Shell Rock, in the county of But- ler, situated on the northwest quarter of section 11, in township 91, range 15, west of the fifth principal meridian, and having acknowledged the same as required by law, it was ordered that the whole be re- corded as the law directs.

JOHN PALMER, County Judge."

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

It is but just to say that some claim the town was platted in 1854, but the plat was not recorded until 1855. Additions which have subsequently been made, have cx- tended the town westward, until the west side of the river is the largest and has the greatest number of inhabitants.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

When the Carpenter brothers first came here, in 1850, and, in fact, when it passed into the hands of George W. Adair, the founder of the town, the site, and all along the stream, was covered with a heavy growth of timber, which was almost im- penetrable; but this belt of timber has been cut away even faster than time has cut away the first settlers that have so often crept beneath its shadows. A thrifty little city has grown up over its decayed roots, and all that is left of the giant for- est, is the scattering shrubs that shoot up- ward here and there, as if in defiance of the work of former years.

The first settlers here were Harrison and Volney Carpenter, above mentioned. Following them came Alexander Glenn; then George W. Adair. The latter plat- ted the town.

Among others of the early comers here were, the Newcomb brothers, Messrs. Hiram Ross, the Switzers, Cram, Eastman, Hitchcock, John Leverage and John L. Stewart.

O. L. Eastman was born in Orleans ,county, New York, January 10, 1836. He is a son of Jeremiah and Caroline (Dodd) Eastman. His father is a native of Ver- mont and his mother of New Hampshire. In 1838 his parents moved to Will county, Illinois, and here the son received a good

common-school education, and when old enough learned the trade of blacksmith- ing. In October, 1855, he came to Cedar Falls, Iowa, and in the spring of 1856 re- moved to Shell Rock and opened a black- smith shop. In this business he has since been engaged, with the exception of three years spent in farming and sheep raising. In 1867 Mr. Eastman added agricultural implements to his business, and now occu -. pics himself with the two branches of trade. He was married in 1860 to Miss Constansia A. Scobey, who is a daughter of Dr. John Scobey, of Shell Rock. They have been blessed with one child-Maud -who is now the wife of C. S. Eastwood, of Spirit Lake.

J. L. Stewart is a son of William M. and Ann (Laughlin) Stewart, and was born in Bond county, Illinois, February 28, 1824. Here he remained until 1832, when his parents moved to Putnam, Illi- nois, where they remained until May of the year 1839; they then moved to Musca- tine connty, and afterward to Johnson county, Iowa. In this latter county Mr." Stewart's mother died, in 1848. His fa- ther still survives her, and is now living in Washington Territory, and on the 24th of April, 1882, he reached his eighty- eighth year. J. L. remained in Johnson county until 1844, and then moved to Linn county, where he lived for about nine years. In 1853 he came to Shell Rock, Iowa, and worked at mill-wrighting, on the old saw mill. However, he did not move his family here until 1855. He continued working in the mill until 1870, when he opened a wagon shop, and since that time has been in business for himself. Mr. Stewart was a delegate to the conven-

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

tion that led to the establishment of the first mail route through the village. He was married in Johnson county, Iowa, September 22, 1844, to Miss Maria Ann McCorcle, who is a native of Piketon, Ohio. Only one child has been born to them, and it died in infancy. His father is a Presbyterian preacher. J. L. is a worker in the M. E. Church.

The first goods were sold by Mr. Cram, in a hotel building erected by him in 1855. O. S. Newcomb went into business at an early day and opened a stock of goods on the east side of the river, in the building where Mr. Town afterward resided. He is of the firm of Newcomb & Carter, and truly one of the pioneer merchants of Shell Rock. He was born in the town of Middlefield, Geanga county, Ohio, May 20, 1830, and is a son of Orin and Parmelia (Robinson) Newcomb, who are both na- tives of the State of Connecticut. Mr. Newcomb's youth and the first few years of his manhood were passed in the vicin- ity of. his birthplace. In 1855 he came to Iowa and settled in Shell Rock. Soon after his arrival he opened a store here, and has since been in trade at this point. In 1862 he enlisted in Company E, Thirty- second Iowa Infantry, and served until honorably discharged at Davenport, at the close of the rebellion. He was captured at Pleasant Hill, Lonisiana, during the battle there, and was carried a prisoner by the enemy to Camp Ford, Texas. Here he remained in prison for thirteen months and eighteen days, and his food consisted of corn meal and poor beef, withont salt, and no cooking utensils save a small kettle for fifty men. As soon as peace was de- clared Mr. Newcomb returned to his home

and business in Shell Rock, and since then has given his undivided attention to his chosen branch of trade. While in prison he became a convert to religion, and has since been a member of the Disciple Church. He was married in 1855 to Miss Huldah C. Carter, a native of Parkman, Geauga county, Ohio. They have been blessed with five children, of whom Fred- erick O., Minnie C. and Mabel Estella are now living. Frederick O. is financial manager of the Iowa City Republican, and . a graduate of the State University. Min- nie C. is now the wife of Thomas S. Ken- yon, of Grundy Center.

George W. Adair erected a small log house on the east side of the river, and moved his family in during July, 1853. During the summer of that year he erected a saw mill, the millwright being Hiram Ross, which stood the sunshine and tempest for twenty-five, and was then-in 1878 -- torn down. George W. Adair also built the first dam at this point, in 1853. This was partially washed away in 1855, by a freshet, and soon afterward the present dam was constructed by George W., and William Adair.

FIRST THINGS.

The first house in Shell Rock was erected in the spring of 1853, and was a little log structure on the east side of the river. The first frame house was built in 1854, by Elias Walter, and also stood on the east side of the river.

The first store was opened by R. D. Cram, in a room of the building now owned and occupied by E. Town, on the east side of the river. This took place early in the fall of 1855.

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

O. S. Newcomb came at about the same time, and erected a small building, for store purposes, on the same side of the river, and, on the 1st of October, 1855, opened up a small stock of general mer- chandise. This building is now occupied by Jerry Evarts, as a dwelling. Mr. New- comb remained there until the spring of 1859, when he removed to the west side of the river, and opened up in a log school louse. In the fall of that year he moved to the present location of Newcomb & Carter. He then took T. G. Copeland as a partner, and, in 1860, J. H. Carter pur- chased that gentleman's interest, so that the firm has since been known as Newcomb & Carter. They do a large business, and are among the "solid" men of Butler county.

The first birth was Frank Walter, a son of Elias Walter and wife, and was born in January, 1855. He is now living at Waterloo, Iowa.

The first marriage was Elias Walter to Miss Rachel Billhimer, at the house of the bride's parents.

The first wagon-maker to locate at Shell Rock was John L. Stewart, who opened up for business near the site of his present shop in 1854.

The first blacksmith was John S. Rob- bins, who opened a shop on the east side, where Ralph Town's residence now stands, in the fall of 1854. He sold to George Hawker in 1855. Hawker died in 1863.

The first shoemaker was T. G. Copeland, who opened a shop on the west side in Newcomb & Copeland's store, in 1859. He remained one year, and is now at Willoughby, in this county.

The first furniture store was established by L. F. Bristow.

The first drug store was opened by Dr. E. L. Thorp.

In 1859, Philip Bemler opened the first hardware store in town, and after remain- ing two years he moved to Cedar Falls.

The first photograph gallery was estab- lished by Henry Apfel. He was born in Sultz, France, on the first day of April, 1838. Two years after his birth, his par- ents came to the United States, stopping at Syracuse, New York for a short time, and then settling in the city of Chicago, where his father formed one of its early settlers, and he continued to live there un- til his death, which occurred in 1879. Henry grew to manhood in the city, and when old enough, learned the trade of photography in E. L. Brand's studio. He continued to make Chicago his home until 1870, when he came to Iowa and located at Waverly, during which time he lost his property by the Chicago fire. Here he remained four years and then returned to Chicago, where he lived for one year, and again came to Iowa, and settled in Shell Rock, where soon after his arrival, he opened his present business. He was married in 1865, to Miss Minnie Toll. They are the parents of four children- Walter, Alfred, Elmer and Robert.

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History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa, Part 80

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