History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa, Part 84

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 84
USA > Iowa > Bremer County > History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa > Part 84

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).

734 HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

Iowa. He bought land in Washington township, section 4, where he now lives. He married, in 1856, Miss Mary J. Flans- burgh, a native of Schoharie county, New York. They have been blessed with nine children-Julia C., Eva M., Ada E., Frank E., Alfred W., Elizabeth, Tina B., Daniel J., and Ethel May.

Harrison Combs is a native of Pennsyl- vania, born in Tioga county, March 10, 1827. His younger days were spent in school, and later he worked on the farm during the summer season and lumbering in winter. In 1854 he went to Wisconsin prospecting. He spent the summer on the Wisconsin River, and in the fall he returned to Pennsylvania, In 1856 he moved to Wisconsin and engaged in the lumber business. He rented a saw-mill for a few years. He built a saw-mill that was run by water power, at a place now called Merrill, in Lincoln county. In 1875 he bought a farm in Washington township on section 24, and erected a large brick house. In 1880 he inoved here with his family aud now makes this his home. He has now 600 acres of land in this town- ship. In 1882 he built a barn 36x92, with a stone basement, on section 14, also a frame house. He has now a hundred cows on this farm. He was married in 1851 to Miss Elvira Niles. She bore him three children-Helen J., William H. and Al- bert. Mrs. Combs was born in Pennsyl- vania, October, 1829, and died in Wiscon- sin, October, 1872. His second wife, Mrs. Dora Stickler, widow of Jacob Stickler, bore him one child. She was a sister of his first wife, born in Pennsylvania, Sep- tember, 1842; and died in Wisconsin, Feb- ruary, 1877. She had one child by her

first husband-William. His third wife was Annie L. Showers; they have had one child-Jerome B.

Robert Martin came to Washington township in 1870, from Lafayette county, Wisconsin, where he had lived since 1855. He was born in Crawford county, Penn- sylvania, June 29, 1828, where his younger days were spent in school and on the farm. He made his home there until his removal to Wisconsin. He lived but two years in Washington township, on section 22, when he removed to the Clayton farm, in Mon- roe township, and lived there one and one- half years; then back to Washington town- ship, where he lived nine months, on sec- tion 32; then moved to the Greene farm, in Madison township, where he lived seven years. In 1881 he bought a farm on section 2, Washington township, and moved there in April of the same year. He was married in 1857, to Miss Ziza Fulp, a native of North Carolina. They have five children - Mary, James V., Charles R., William W., and Cora.

Roby R. Parriott was born in Tyler county, Virginia, February 2, 1808. In 1827 he emigrated to Vermilion county, Indiana. He was married to Miss Abigail Howard, in 1831, by whom he had eleven children-nine sons and two daughters- six of whom are now living, He removed to Porter county, Indiana, in 1836, and from thence to Stephenson county, Ill., in 1840, where he remained until 1854, when he located in Washington township, But- ler county, Iowa. He was the first post- master in this part of the county. He lodged the passengers on the stage that made the first trip west of Waterloo. He was the owner of the present site of the

N. M. Early.

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

city of Ackley, and conveyed to the Du- buque and Sioux City Railroad Company one half of the town site, or every alternate lot. The Company conveyed their interest to William J. Ackley, of Waterloo, hence the town derived its name. He was, at one time the owner of 2,500 acres of land in this part of the county. He gave to the Dubuque and Sioux City Railroad the right of way through his entire tract of land, and worked earnestly for the estab- lishment of the road. He was also liberal in donating to the Iowa Central Railroad Company.

Richard, his oldest son, was born in Vermilion county, Indiana, in 1829. He married Miss Lillie M. Caldwell, July 10, 1856. In 1859 he moved to Illinois and settled in Henderson county. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company G, Eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, went south, and was killed at the battle of Murfrees- boro, Tennessee, December 1, 1863. He left a wife and two children to mourn his death.

Anthony, his second son, was born in Vermilion county, Indiana, in 1830. He married, August 7, 1856, Miss Melinda Spangler, and settled in Ackley. He moved to Sac county in 1870, where he died December 28, 1878, leaving a wife and eleven children to mourn his death.

Owen, the third son, born in Indiana, was never married. He died in 1872 at his brother Wesley's. He enlisted in the army in 1864 and served until the war closed.

Newton, the fourth son, was born in Porter county, Indiana, February 14, 1837. He married Miss Margaret Vance in 1865. She lived but a few months. His second

wife was Miss Susanna Sharpe, who was a native of the North of Ireland, born May 13, 1847. She came to America in 1871 and lived for a while with her cousin in Washington; went to Franklin county and was married December 9, 1873. She now occupies the farm of her late husband on section 32, Washington township.

Lucinda, the oldest daughter, who first married G. M. Caldwell, is now the wife S. B. Findley, and lives at Aplington.

Roby, the fifth son, returned to Illinois in 1860. In 1861 he enlisted in the Elev- enth Illinois Cavalry, and re-enlisted at the expiration of his time, serving through the war. After his honorable discharge he settled on section 32, Washington township, and lived there until 1882, when he moved to Laverne, Rock county, Min- nesota, where he is dealing in grain.

Marion, the sixth son, was born October 10, 1841. He made his home with his parents until 1860, when he went to Illi- nois. He enlisted in the Seventy-first Illi- nois, Company B. He was honorably dis- charged at the expiration of his term, and came to Iowa on a visit. He then went to Wisconsin, where he engaged in farming for one year, and then returned to Butler county. He was married February 15, 1871, to Miss"Cordelia Galloway, of Can- ada. They have been blessed with four children-Byron, Clarence, Bertie J. and Edith P. He settled on the farm that he now occupies in November, 1873. He now has 218 acres of land. He built the house in which he now lives in 1882.

Louisa, the youngest daughter, was mar- ried April 12, 1870, to George Huey, a native of Edinburg, Scotland. He died January 19, 1873. She married her second

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

husband, R. R. Horr, October 9, 1878. Has two children-Jennie E. and Annie E.

Jasper enlisted July 12, 1862, in the Thirty-second Iowa, Co. E. He was killed in the battle of Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, April 9, 1864.

Wesley now lives in Hamilton county, where he is engaged in farming.

William enlisted in the regular army in 1867, and served three years. He now lives in Ohio.

A man named Craw, generally called "Doc" Craw, also came in the spring of 1854, and made a claim on sections 24 and 25. In the spring of 1855 he sold the im- provements to Robert Howard, a native of Ohio, who came from Henderson county, Illinois, in company with J. M. Caldwell and others, who settled in Monroe. Mr. Howard improved the land on section 24, until 1863, when he sold out, and removed to Johnson county, Nebraska, where he now lives.

These were about all the settlers of 1854. Early in 1855, William, the eldest son of Charles Stockdale, a native of Scotland, made his appearance, and planted his stakes on the southeast quarter of section 23, where he built a log house, and im- proved the land. In 1862 he enlisted in the Thirty-first Iowa Regiment, and died, while in the service, at Mound City, Illi- nois, on the 31st of March, 1864, at the age of thirty-nine years. His remains were brought back, and interred in the Apling- ton cemetery.

Charles Stockdale, Sr., one of the early settlers of Washington township, was born in Scotland, in 1802. When but two years of age his parents moved to the northern part of Ireland. He was married there, in

1822, to Miss Margaret A. Sharpe. They were blessed with eight children-Wil- liam, Thomas, James, Eliza, Margaret A .. Steward, Jane, and Charles. In 1854 he emigrated to America, and settled in On- ondaga county, New York, where he lived until 1856, when he came to Iowa, and set- tled in Washington township. He made his home with his son, William, until the time of his death, which occurred Decem- ber 9, 1859, aged fifty-seven years. Mrs. Stockdale died June 14, 1871, aged sixty- eight years. The oldest son, William, who settled here in 1855, enlisted in the service, in 1862, and died, while in the service, at Mound City, Illinois, March 31, 1864, aged thirty-nine years. Eliza died September 24, 1861, aged twenty-nine years; Stew- art died April 15, 1860, aged twenty years; Margaret died April 12, 1858, aged twenty- four years. Thomas, James, and Jane now live in Franklin county. His youngest son, Charles, was born in 1846. He came to Iowa with his parents, where he received his education in the district schools. He attended the first school taught in this township. In 1871 he married Miss Lydia F., daughter of G. B. Smith. They have six children-Mary F., Charlotte J., Charles J., Archie E., and Grace and Guy, twins. In 1870 he built the house in which he now lives, on section 26. He has been a very successful farmer, and now has 850 acres of land. He has been quite an extensive dealer in live stock. He has taken quite an interest in township affairs, and has been repeatedly elected to offices of trust in the township. James married in 1864, Sarah F. Liddy, a native of Pennsylvania. He lived in Washington township until the summer of 1873, when he removed to

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

Franklin county. His wife died in 1866. He was again married in 1871, to Eliza- beth Sharpe. They have five children.

Jonathan Gee, a native of Tennesee, also came in the spring of 1855, with the company from Henderson county, Illinois, the most of whom settled in Monroe town- ship. He laid claim to a farm on section 23 and 24, and erected a log house besides making other improvements, but sold his claim the following year without proving up. He now lives at Biggsville, Illinois. . Morris F. Whitney was another settler of 1855. He was a native of New York and placed his sign manual upon papers for a place in section 24. He was a school tcacher by profession and divided his time between teaching and farming. In 1870 he sold his place and went to Cherokee county, but has since died at Waterloo.

In 1856 Charles Stockdale, a native of Scotland, came from New York with his family. He and his son James entered a farm on section 23, He made his home with his son William, who is mentioned above until the time of his death in De- cember, 1859. His son James now lives in Franklin county.

James Gray came here from Illinois, in 1856, and bought out Jonathan Gee. . He soon sold that place and lived in various parts of the township until he finally re- moved to Missouri where he now lives.

Wesley Long, a native of Ohio, came from Davenport, this year and settled on section 23, on land lic had traded for.

Alfred Munson, a southerner, came here in 1858 and boarded with R. R. Parriott. He owned large tracts of land in the west- ern part of the township and built a house on section 31. He went south about the

time the war broke out and served in the rebel army. He has since disposed of his land here.

HISTORICAL EVENTS.

About the first birth in the township was that of Genevra, a daughter of An- thony and Melinda Parriott, who was born on the 19th of May, 1857.

On the 19th of December, of the same year, Sarah Florence, a daughter of Rich- ard and Lillie M. Parriott, was born. She died on the 9th of May, 1860, in Hender- son county, Illinois,

The first marriage in the township, united the destinies of Anthony J. Par- riott and Melinda Spangler, and dated Au- gust 7th, 1856. Mr. Parriott died in Sac county, Iowa, December 28, 1878, leaving a widow and eleven children to mourn his loss. The widow now lives in Webster City.

Lycurgus P. Hazen was married to Miss Sarah Quinn, in March 1857, and they now live in Brown county, Kansas.

The first death in the township occurred in the fall of 1853, and was an infant child of Elery Purcell. It was buried on his farm. This was among the first deaths in the county.

The second death was that of Sarah Ann Howard, daughter of Robert Howard, who departed this life July 3, 1857. The rc- mains were interred in Aplington cemc- tery, it being the first burial therc.

Margaret, a daugliter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Stockdale, died on the 12th day of April, 1858, aged twenty-one years. She was buried in the Aplington cemetery.

Another death occurred this year, in June, and Sarah, daughter of Robert and ...

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

Jane Howard, paid the debt of mortality. She was also buried in the Aplington cem- etery, Elder John Connell officiating.

The demise of Charles Stockdale, Sr., was another early death, occurring in De- cember, 1859, he being fifty-seven years of age.

ALGONQUIN POST OFFICE.

This office was established in 1855, with R. R. Parriott, who is mentioned promi- nently in early settlement, as postmaster. The office was kept at his hotel. In 1857 the office was removed to Aplington and the name changed.

OFFICIAL.

According to the first division of Butler county into townships, the territory now comprising Washington was made a part of Ripley township. This division took place in 1855. In March, 1856, another division occurred, and Washington was thrown into the organization of the new township of Monroe. In 1857, under the judgeship of Alonzo Converse, it assumed its present boundaries. It was organized by Wesley Long. The first officers elected were: Robert Howard, justice of the peace, and Silas Beebe, constable.

· The last annual election was held at the school house of District No. 8, in Novem- ber, 1882, and the following officials were chosen: Town clerk, Robert Waudby; trustees, David Wheatman, Frank Parker and Leonard Crosby; justice of the peace, Robert Waudby; constables, John Clark and Thomas Waudby; assessor, John Ken- nefick; clerk of school board, Hugh Scal-

RELIGIOUS.

The first religious services in the town- ship were held at the house or hotel of Roby R. Parriott, during the winter of 1854-5, with Elder Crippin, of Hardin county, as preacher. A society was organ- ized in 1855, by Elder Stewart, from Hazel Green, Hardin county, with Robert How- ard as class leader. They afterwards held meetings in Anthony Howard's log stable, which had been fitted up for school pur- poses. This society now worship at Ap- lington. An interesting anecdote of one of the early meetings of this society is given in connection with the history of Monroe township.

The German Reformed Church of Wash- ington was erected in 1881, and was dedi- cated on the 25th of November, of that year, by Rev. Mr. Decker. Rev. Paul Schüelke is the present pastor. Services were formerly held in Madison township.

EDUCATIONAL.

The first school in the township was taught by Mrs. Chichester at Morris Whit- ney's house on section 24, in the summer of 1857, and was a select school. The next school was kept in Anthony Howard's log stable, and S. B. Decker was the teacher. This was in the winter of 1857-8. The first school house was built in 1863, in the northwestern corner of section 25. David Washburne was the first teacher in the school house. This was in what is now District No. 1.

The first school in District No. 2 was held at a private house on section 31. The school house was erected, on the same sec- tion, in 1869, and Mary McGill was first to call school to order in the new house.

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

741

The first school in District No. 3 was held, in 1870, in William Kenefick's gran- ary, and his daughter, Nellie, was the first to teach. The school house was put up, in 1872, on section 19, and here Miss Cynthia Bird was first to handle the ferule.

There was a board shanty put up in Dis- trict No. 4, on section 7, about 1868, which was used for school purposes until 1873, when the present house was erected on the same section.

District No. 5 was formerly a part of No. 1. In 1869 the district furnished lum- ber, and the citizens of the northern part of the district put together a small board shanty on the line of sections 11 and 12, where Miss Martha Clark taught the first term of school. In 1872 the present neat frame house was erected, on the north- eastern part of section 11, at a cost of about $840. E. A. Whitcomb was the first teacher in the new house.

The school house in District No. 6 was erected, in 1876, on section 27, and Miss Emma Wright was the first instructor.

The school house in District No. 7 was built in 1878, on the northeastern part of section 10. During the summer of 1878 school was held in a board shanty on the hill south of where the school house now stands. Miss Anna Ford was teacher.

District No. 8 erected their school build- ing in 1880, and Miss Bertha Brace was the first teacher.

BLACKSMITH SHOP.

The first, and we believe the only black- smith shop ever started in the town- ship, was in 1857. A man named Shaw, from Waterloo, was the proprie- tor. R. R. Parriott furnished him with logs with which to build a shop, and he put them together on the northwestern part of section 25. He did not stop long, as he did not find much work to do. This shop was afterward used for school pur- poses, and Samuel Burke and Augusta Arnold, of Iowa Falls, were among the first to teach in it.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

WEST POINT TOWNSHIP.

This township is surrounded by Cold- ! water, Ripley, Jackson and Pittsford, re- spectively, on the north, south, east and west. It embraces township 92, range 17, and contains an area of about 23,040 acres.

The general surface is rolling, sloping toward the south. Its soil is of a dark loam, under laid with a sub-soil of clay. There is no native timber within the bor- ders of West Point township, but there are

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

many fine domestic groves, which the far- mers have set out and cultivated. The nearest natural timber is Boylan's Grove, which touches the western boundary. There is no stone to speak of and no lime stone-at least none has been quarried. As the soil is of such a nature, it was orig- inally inclined to be wet, but as the case in all such localities, cultivation makes it drier, and as it progresses, will eventually be all subject to the plow.

There is but one stream passing through West Point township, called Dailey Creek, which finds its source on sections 9 and 10, and takes a southerly course, leaving by way of section 33, to make a junction with the West Fork in Ripley township. Though running water is not plenty, good water can be found in nearly all portions at a reasonable depth from the surface. The peculiar adaptability of the soil to in- digenous grasses, renders stock raising a most profitable business, and already far- mers are turning their attention to it ex- tensively with good success. Most of the farmers have excellent meadows of tame grass. There are many fine farms-West Point territory making some of the best agricultural land to be found in Butler county.

There are two towns in West Point -township, Allison, the county seat, and Bristol, which will receive due attention further on. They are both situated on the line of the Dubuque & Dakota Rail- road, which was graded through here in 1875 by the Iowa and Pacific Railroad Company. The iron was laid by the pres- ent company in 1879.

EARLY SETTLERS.

The earliest settlement of West Point township commenced in the western part, in the vicinity of Boylan's Grove.

Isaac Boylan came here in 1852, settling just over the line in Pittsford township. A number of the Boylan brothers-John, James and Asa-camne about the same time. The Grove was named in honor of them.

Mr. Parks came here in 1856 and took a claim in the western part of the township, near Bristow.

Isaac Boylan resides on section 18. He is one of the earliest settlers of Pittsford township, having settled there in 1852. But two families-those of his brother John and James M. Park-had preceded him in that township. The former now lives in Oregon and the latter in Kansas. Mr. Boylan was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, in 1823, but removed with his parents to Fulton county, Illinois, when he was a boy. His father, William Boy- lan, resided in Fulton county until his deatlı. Isaac Boylan entered his land on section 24, Pittsford township, walking all the way to Des Moines to accomplish it. The country was very sparsely settled at that time, and he met only a few settlers on the route. He resided in Pittsford township about ten years, when he ex- changed for his present farm with his brother-in-law, James M. Park. Four of the Boylan brothers, with their mother, settled in Butler county. John came in the fall of 1851, Isaac in 1852, and the mother, Jane Boylan, with three sons, came several years later. The mother has been dead for several years. The sons who came with her were Asa, now in Kan-

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

sas; James, in Pittsford township, and William, who died in the army during the rebelliou. Isaac Boylan has been twice married. His first wife was Catherine Demoss, who died in 1871, and his- present wife was Mrs. Jane Morris, sister of his first wife. He had six sons and three daughters by his first wife and a son and daughter by his second. His daughters by the first wife are all dead. Mr. Boylan belongs to the Church of the United Brethren.

Louis Kilson was also an early settler, residing on section 29. Hc was born in the District of Bergen, Norway, October 30, 1807. He received the advantages of cducation in his native land, which were common in those days. Mr. Kilson was confirmed in the Lutheran Church; married in June, 1838, and came immediately to America, landing in New York City the first day of the following September, soon after starting for Cincinnati, a journey which was a great undertaking in those days. His route was via the Hudson river to Albany; to Buffalo by the Erie canal; to Cleveland by boat on Lake Erie; thence by the Ohio canal to Portsmouth on the Ohio river, and to Cincinnati on a flat boat. Soon after reaching Cincinnati le was sick for about three months. On his recovery he started for Quincy, Illinois, going by water. He settled in Adams county, where he lived about twelve years. In 1851, he went to Dane county, Wisconsin, remaining about one year, thence to Mc- Henry county, Illinois. In 1855, he came to Butler county, and has been a resident of West Point township. Hc entered 240 acres of land, which still constitutes a part of his homestead. Mr. Kilson, losing his

first wife at Quincy, Illinois, was married in Dane county, Wisconsin, to Carrie Nel- son, in 1852. She died November 10, 1881. Mr. Kilson had six children by first wife, only three of whom are living-Anna L., now wife of Silas F. Woodworth, residing in Placer county, California; Albert M., living in Kansas, and Martha M., wife of John Wilkes. He had five sons and one danghter by second wife, of whom four sons and one daughter are living-Frank- lin S., George E., Charles G., Walter Louis and Alice L. The name of the de- ceased son was Albert Oscar. Mr. Kilson's farm contains 320 acres; he has also 43 acres of timber land in Pittsford township. Mr. Kilson has been an extensive reader, and is possessed of much general informa- tion. He has always been a student of history, and excells in a knowledge of the history and literature of his native land.

Ancil Durand came about the same time, and landed in Pittsford. He was elected county judge, and is noticed in that con- nection.

John Hewitt, Philip Miller, Mr. Daily and Mr. Surfus are four more pioneers of West Point. They all know the struggles of pioneer life in a wild country.

John Hewitt is living on section 20. He was born in Marion county, Ohio, in 1827. His father, Thomas Hewitt, was a native of Pike county, in that State, but for many years a resident of Indiana, who came to Linn county, Iowa, in 1854, and to Butler county, the following year, settling in West Point township. He and his wife now live in the village of Bristow. They have five children, two sons and three daughters, all of whom are living in But- ler county, except the youngest, who re-

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

sides in Kansas-Catherine N., wife of C. L. Jones; Jane C., wife of John Moots; Mary, wife of Thomas Boylan; John, and Levi. Mr. John Hewitt's first settlement was on section 19, in the fall of 1858. He settled where he now lives in 1865, buying his farm of W. F. Early. He married Elizabeth Early, a daughter of Henry A. Early, who settled in Pittsford township in 1854, a native of Kentucky, and one of the well kuown early settlers of the town- ship. Mr. and Mrs. John Hewitt have nine children, two boys and seven girls-Ed- ward L., Edith M., Ida L., Elsie V., Alta L., Ocea A., Myrtic I., Riva L., and Charles F. Their farm contains 120 acres; they also have another farm containing a quar- ter section. . Mr. Hewitt has held most of the township offices; has been township clerk for several terms, township trustee, and assessor for the township the second time after organization.

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History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa, Part 84

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