History of Cass County, Iowa; together with sketches of its towns, villages, and townships; educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of old settlers and representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races, and a brief review of its civil, political, and military history, Part 45

Author: Continental Historical Company, Springfield, Ill
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 918

USA > Iowa > Cass County > History of Cass County, Iowa; together with sketches of its towns, villages, and townships; educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of old settlers and representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races, and a brief review of its civil, political, and military history > Part 45

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).

after closing his connection with the army, Mr. Bradshaw rented his farm, then resumed that occupation and contin- ued it until the death of his wife, after which he moved into the village of Lewis. Previous to coming to the county he had been justice of the peace in Mahaska county. Soon after coming here he was made postmaster at Cold Springs, suc- ceeding John Pettingill, a Mormon, who was the first postmaster in Cass county. In 1880, he visited California. The sec- ond election held in this county took place at his house, which was the largest building in this vicinity. He was then elected county judge, the first one of the county. In those days be kept hotel and stage station. Mr. Bradshaw is a mem- ber of the G. A. R.

J. W. Benedict, on the retirement of Mr. Bradshaw, was elected to this office, and fulfilled the duties of the office. He left the county many years ago, and is supposed to have carried the records of his administration with him.

In 1855, W. N. Dickerson was elected to this office, and served in that capacity two years. Ile was the first to keep any correct record of his proceedings, and the decrees of the court.

Samuel L. Lorah, one of the best of the county judges, when they pos- sessed their greatest power, was elect- ed in 1857, and entered upon the d's- charge of his official duties. He held the place for a term of two years. Judge Lorah having served in the Legislature is already mentioned in connection with that office.

In 1859, at the fall election Henry Temple was chosen to fill this office, and

352

IIISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

entered upon the discharge of his official functions, January 1, 1860, and held the same until October 17, 1861, when E. W. Hall was appointed to fill the vacancy.

Henry Temple has held a variety of offices, and has the reputation of having faithfully discharged the duties of each, to the credit of himself and the honor of his constituents. Ile is a native of Frank- lin county, Massachusetts, and the son of Benjamin and Rebecca (Christie) Temple. He was born on the 20th of August, 1816, at the village of Heath, which is close to the line that separates Massachusetts and Vermont. He is English by descent, both of his grandsires having come over with Burgoyne's army of subjugation, and be- ing taken prisoners, never returned to their native land. Mr. Henry Temple was thrown upon his own resources at an early age, and when but twelve years of age, went to Hatfield and found employ- ment on a farm. He remained in that vi- cinity until he had reached the age of nineteen, working at hard manual labor. In 1835, with but five dollars in his pocket, he reached the town of Marietta, Ohio, on his way west. He remained there several years, attending the academic department of the College at that place, most of the time for four years, teaching school, or doing some farm work in the interim, to furnish himself with the necessary funds for his schooling. In the spring of 1840, Mr. Temple came to this state, locating at first at Fairfield, Jefferson county, where he read law with Judge Cyrus Ol- ney, and was admitted to the bar in 1842. The following year he removed to Ma- haska county, where after a season spent in farm work, he opened a law office in

Oskaloosa, the county seat, and remained in practice there until the autumn of 1858, when he removed to Lewis, then the seat of government of Cass county. IIere he was postmaster for four years, county judge one term, deputy provost-marshal of the district formed by the counties of Adair and Cass, and county recorder from 1864 to 1870. Ile removed to .the town of Atlantic, in 1869, where he still occupies a prominent place among the legal luminaries of that city, His marri- age occurred in Oskaloosa, January 18, 1846, at which time he was united to Miss Anne E. Wright.

Andrew Irwin was elected to the office of county judge in the fall of 1861, but did not serve, and on the 3d of June, 1862, the board of supervisors appointed E. B. Bell to fill the vacancy until the next gen- eral election. Ile entered upon the dis- charge of its duties, and in the fall of the same year the people ratified the choice, by.electing him to this office, for the un- expired year. He was re-elected in 1863, and served one year longer.

D. A. Barnett was the next to occupy this important office, having been elected thereto in October, 1864, and was re- elected the following year, serving until January 1, 1868.

L. L. Alexander was duly elected coun- ty judge in October, 1867, and entered upon the duties of the office with the be- ginning of 1868, and was the last to fill the office.

COUNTY AUDITORS.

In the winter of 1868-9, by an Act of the General Assembly, the office of county judge was abolished, and that of county auditor created. By this act, the incum-

353

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

bent of the former office, became ex-officio county auditor for the unexpired time of his term of office. Under this, L. L. Alexander became the first auditor of the county of Cass. At the election of 1869, he was again chosen for another term.and served until January 1, 1872, when he gave way to a successor.

Luther L. Alexander was a native of Irving, Franklin county, Massachusetts. Ile was reared and educated in the place of his nativity, but in early manhood re- moved to Michigan, where he remained until May, 1855, when he came to Cass county, and entered a farm in the north part of section 4, in what is now Atlantic township, and the south part of section 33, in Pymosa. He was at this time an unmarried man, and while he remained in the county, boarded with H. Whipple, and put up a cabin, which was occupied by his brother-in-law, K. W. Macomber, who arrived here about the same time or shortly after. Ile remained here but a short time when he returned to New York, where he resided until 1859, when he came to Cass county, for a permanent residence. He settled down upon his farm where he continued to live until in 1869, when becoming auditor, he removed to Lewis, the then county-seat, and in 1871 came to the city of Atlantic, on the removal of the seat of government to that place, to finish his term of office. He was united in marriage with Elizabeth Siggins, a native of Ireland, who is still a resident of Atlantic, by whom he had two children-E. L., a practicing physi- cian in Guthrie Center, Iowa, and F. M. the enterprising news and book dealer of Atlantic. L. L. Alexander died in Decem-

ber, 1879, mourned by all who knew him. He was a man of strict integrity, a chris- tian gentleman, ever ready to extend a helping hand to the needy wretch strug- gling for existence, if that striving soul was worthy. A most excellent business man, and an active worker; he made a fine officer, and conducted the business of auditor to the interest of the county and credit of himself.

Judge Alexander died in Atlantic December 29, 1879, on which occasion the following obituary appeared in the col- umns of the Telegraph:

"Judge Luther Loomis Alexander died at his home in this city about Il o'clock A. M., Monday, December 29, after an ill- ness of several weeks duration. His dis- ease was internal hemorrhage. Ile literal- ly died of over-work. During the past few years, no man in Cass county, no matter what his pursuit, worked harder. He was in his grocery store from an early hour in the morning until closing time in the evening, and then would carry his books home with him for the purpose of posting them. The deceased was born in Irving, Franklin county, Massachusetts, in the year 1819, and consequently was about sixty years of age. He resided at Iving a number of years, and was en- gaged in merchandizing. He lived three years at Champlain, New York, and came to Cass county, Iowa, in 1855, engaging for a number of years in farming. He served one term as county judge, and was holding that office when it was merged into that of auditor. His second term as auditor expired January 1, 1872. Since that time he has been dealing in groceries in this city. No man was more widely

354

IIISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

known in the county than he, and he was universally esteemed as an honorable man. He was a man of set purpose and firm conviction, and when he had an opinion it was a pronounced, positive and uncom- promising one. Ile will be greatly missed from the county and community. Ile was active in business and public spirited as a citizen, and zealous in the church. IIe leaves a wife and two sons to mourn his death, the sons being both at the age of maturity, or nearly so."

William Gardner was elected to the office of auditor, in the fall of 1871, and entered upon its duties January 1, 1872. He was re-elected in 1873, and again in 1875, and served, well and faithfully, for six years.

William Crisman, the next auditor, served in this office for six years. Ile was first elected in the fall of 1877, and so well did he perform his official duties, the people re-elected him in 1879, and again in 1881.

R. M. Murray, the present incumbent of this office was elected in the fall of 1883, and commenced his official duty, with the Ist of January, 1884.

Robert M. Murray, the present auditor of Cass county, was born in Knox county, Illinois, March 14, 1845, his parents being Alfred H. and Eliza (Miller) Murray. When Robert was two years old bis fa- ther died, aged forty-two years, and the family soon afterward moved to Bureau county, Illinois, in which county he was brought up and educated. In 1866, he came to Tama county, and remained four years engaged in farming. In 1870 he came to this county, locating in Massena township, where he owns a farm of three

hundred and twenty acres, upon which his mother lives. Ile was married May 17, 1873, to Mary Chambers, a native of Warren county, Illinois. They have five children-Estella, George II., Raymond C., Roscoe and Inez. Mr. Murray was township clerk of Massena township one year, school treasurer eight years, justice of the peace one year, and was elected to the office of county auditor in October, 1883, assuming charge the following Jan- nary. Mr. Murray responded to the call of his country, at the outbreak of the slave owners rebellion, and enlisted in the Eighty-ninth Illinois Infantry, in July, 1862, but npon going to Chicago to join his regiment was thrown out on account of his youth. This, however, did not dampen his ardor and patriotism, and in December of the year next following he again enlisted in Company H., Fifty- seventh Regiment, Illinois Infantry, un- der Colonel Hulbert and Captain William H. Gale. This regiment was assigned for duty in the Sixtieth Army Corps under General G. M. Dodge, but was subsequent- ly transferred to the Fifteenth Army Corps, Gen. John M. Cohse commanding. They were prevented from participating in the battle of "Alatoona Pass" by the tearing up of railroad track by "Bush- whackers." He continued to serve in that corps until the close of the war and was engaged in many battles and skirmishes, having been with Sherman's army from Chattanooga to Kingston, and during that memorable march to the sea, thence up through the Carolinas to Washington and there participated in the Grand Re- view. He was mustered out with the regiment at Louisville in July, 1865, Mr.

355

IIISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

Murray is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, belonging to Corinthian Lodge, No. 174, at Brooklyn, Iowa, and is a member of St John Chapter at Fontanelle. He is also a member of the G. A. R.

J. II. Vinson, the present deputy and- itor of Cass county, is a native of Dear- born county, Indiana, born April 22, 1843, and is a son of Jesse and Jane (Powell) Vinson, both from the same State, who were the parents of seven children, three sons and four daughters. Six of these children lived to a mature age and five are now living. The subject of this sketch was reared upon a farm, having moved with his parents to Peoria county, Illinois, when seven years old, and in that State received his education in the common schools. In 1861 he en- listed in the Fifty-third Regiment, Vol- unteer Infantry, Company H, and partici- pated in the following engagements: Shiloh, Hatchie River, siege and cap- ture of Vicksburg, and Jackson, Missis- sippi. In the winter of 1863, having re- enlisted, he received a furlough and sub- sequently joined the command at Resaca, Georgia. Then was with Sherman in his memorable march to the sea, and was en- . gaged in nearly every battle fought dur- ing the last months of the war, partici- pating in the Grand Review at Washing- ton. He was discharged in Kentucky and returned to Peoria county where he remained until 1867, when he came to Cass county and settled on section 34, Brighton township, engaged in farming and here remained until 1880. In 1881 he came to Atlantic and was appointed to his present position. He was married in Feb- ruary, 1871,to Ella A. IIay, daughter of Duf-

field and Sarah Hay, of Chicago, Illinois. They have one child-Jennie. In 1875 he was appointed to fill a vacancy in the board of supervisors. Mr. Vinson had the opportunity of receiving but a limited education, and is a self-made man of ability and integrity and has the respect of the people of the county.

RECORDER.

The first to fill the office of recorder was V. M. Conrad, who was elected at the time of the organization in the spring of 1853. He filed his bond for $2,500, in April, of that year, with Levi M. Mills and C. E. Woodward as sureties, and en- tered upon the duties of the office, but re- tired before the end of the year.

V. M. Conrad is a native of Tioga county, New York, born September 15, 1815. His parents, Joshua and Eva (Roth- fund) Conrad, had a family of nine chil- dren, of whom V. M. was the sixth. He was reared and educated in his native State, and on attaining manhood, followed clerking in a hotel and store. In 1831 he went to Cleveland, Ohio, where he was clerk in a hotel one year; then went to Detroit, Michigan, and there was alter- nately in the grocery business, for him- self, and clerk in a hotel, until 1840. He moved, in that year, to Hancock county, Illinois, where he remained till 1846; then removed to Van Buren county, Iowa, and, soon after, to Dubuque, and was there engaged in prospecting and lead- inining. In the spring of 1850 he left that city. with a team of horses and wagon, bringing his wife and one child, and household goods, to Cass county, where he settled with the intention of making a permanent home for himself

356

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

and family. He built a log cabin, fifteen by thirty-two feet, on the site of the pres- ent residence of Jacob Stevens. In the fall of 1850, their supply of provisions ran short, and they decided to re- turn to Dubuque for the winter. The following spring (1851) they made all pre- parations to return to their new home in Cass county, but on account of the unusu- ally high water that year, they were unable to carry out their intention until the spring following (1852). They then came back with an ox team. Mr. Conrad had left upon his place a man named Weeks, a Mormon, who left, shortly after the return of Mr. Conrad and family, go- ing farther west. In the early years of his residence here, Mr. Conrad engaged in farming; later, in the entertainment of emigrants and new-comers. In connec- tion with this business, he carried on merchandising. This was at Indiantown In 1859 he again engaged in farming, which occupation he followed until the fall of 1883. Since that time he has rented his farm, which is located in sec- tion 9, of Cass township. Mr. Conrad is an old member of Lewis Lodge No. 140, I. O. O. F., and a charter member of the Rebecca Degree Lodge of the same order, and has held all of the elective offices in both lodges. He was the first recorder in Cass county, and recorded the first deed. He held the office one term, and filled the office of justice of the peace several times in an early day. He at present holds the offices of justice of the peace and mayor of Lewis. The former he has held for many years. He has been sub-director, and for nine years has held the office of secretary, of the board of directors of

Cass township. Mr. Conrad was united in marriage, in VanBuren county, Iowa, in 1846, with Miss Mary J. Eighmey, a sister of C. II. Eighmey, cashier of the First National bank at Dubuque. Mr. and Mrs. Conrad have nine children living: Orson, Mary, Lemon, Nettie, Alice, Fred, Clara, Vincent M., Jr., and Laura. One daughter, Emeline, died at the age of twelve days, on September 2, 1854.

G. W. Shannon seems to have been recorder of the county in the fall of 1853, but when he succeeded Mr. Conrad does not appear upon the records.

In December, 1853, it is found that Bowater Bales was the incumbent of this office, but the exact date of the retirement of Mr. Shannon, or the installment of Mr. Bales has, like many other things, been lost in the dust of the past.

He was succeeded by S. K. Myers, who was elected to the office, in 1854. A sketch of Mr. Myers will be found in the account of the town of Lewis, in connection with the hotels of that place.

From this time out the duties of two offices was put upon the one man, who bore the title of

TREASURER AND RECORDER.

In 1855, G. I. Chizum acted as treasurer and recorder, to fill a vacancy, for a short time.

In 1856, E. W. Buckwalter became treasurer and recorder, and held it about a year. Ile is noticed elsewhere.

S. M. Tucker, was elected to this office in the fall of 1856, but after serving a couple of months, resigned the position on the 6th of March, 1857, on account of other business affairs that needed his at-

357

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

tention, and the vacancy so made was filled by appointment.

The vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. Tucker was filled by the appoint- ment of Isaac Dickerson, who performed the duties of the office, faithfully and con- seientiously for the balance of the term. In October, 1859, the people of the county appreciating these services, returned him to these same offices, which they did again in 1861 and 1863, thus making a contin- uous service by this worthy gentleman in this double office, of nine years.

One of the most prominent figures in the history of Cass county, is that of Isaac Dickerson, who came to this part of the State in 1856, and settling at Lewis, has made the county his home ever since. He was the postmaster in Lewis from 1856 to 1861, and was elected treasurer and re- corder in 1857, as above stated, and held that office consecutively for nine years. On retiring from this office, he embarked in the real estate busines, in Lewis, and was the first in that line in the county. When the town of Atlantic was laid out, he was one of the proprietors of the site, and has been largely instrumental in build- ing up the large and growing city of At- lantic. He has three times been the may- or of the city, and councilman two terms. Mr. Dickerson, is interested in the Cass county bank, and in the real estate busi- ness of Dickerson and Wood, besides sev- eral minor businesses. He is a native of the "Old Keystone" State, having been born near Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1831, on a farm, and where he remained until fourteen years of age. In 1845, he in company with his parents, came to Iowa, then a territory, locating in Davis coun-

ty, where the family settled upon a piece of land, but both parents died within the year. From there, Isaac went to Ottumwa, where he spent two years at school. In 1848, he went to Fairfield, where he en- tered into a dry goods store as clerk. In 1851, he removed to Oskaloosa, Iowa, and took charge of a store in that place. He was married, November 22, 1852, to Miss Olivia L. Wright, a native of Indiana. He continued to reside in Oskaloosa, until 1856,when removed to Lewis, where he ran a general merchandise store, acting as agent of Shoemaker and Wilson, of Oskaloosa. Ile was appointed postmaster under Pres- ident Pierce, and was the first to intro- duce pigeon holes in this office. Mr. Dickerson, although not very actively en- gaged in business life, still may be said to be one of the foremost business men of the county, and one of its most in- fluential citizens.

In the winter of 1863-4, the General Assembly of the State passed an act sep- erating the two branches of this office, and providing for the election of officers to each. By this same act, the incumbent at the time of its taking effect, had the privilege of retaining, for the balance of the term, either of the offices, and Isaac Dickerson, who then occupied this envia- ble official station, chose to enter that of the

COUNTY TREASURER

letting that of recorder go, thus becoming the first to fill the position of treasurer after the separation .

Wilkins Warwick was elected county treasurer in 1865, and successively re- elected in 1867, 1869, 1871, and 1873, serv- ing ten years in that capacity. Mr. War-

€

358

IIISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

wick was one of the popular men of the county. After his retirement from office, he was engaged in the real estate business in Atlantic, but is now a resident of the State capital, Des Moines.

John P. Gerberich, was the next to oc- cupy this responsible office, being elected thereto in the fall of 1875. He was re- elected in 1877, serving, in all, four years. Mr. Gerberich is now the cashier of the Cass county bank, of Atlantic.

John P. Gerberich came to Atlantic on the the 26th of April, 1871, and engaged in the First National bank, as cashier, but remained in that institution less than a year, when he left to accept the posi- tion of bookkeeper in the hardware es- tablishment of S. F. Martin. He re- mained in the latter position until he was elected to the office of county treasurer. He was born in Lebanon county, Penn- sylvania, on the 25th of March, 1832, and is the son of Henry and Margaret (Urhich) Gerberich, both of whom are dead. Jolin was brought up on a farm, where he lived until he was nineteen years old, when he commenced teaching school, in Lebanon and at Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania. He was married at Pottsville, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, on the 7th of Sep- tember, 1855, to Lizzie Shoener, a native of that county. After his marriage he removed to Ohio, and remained at Mon- roeville, until March, 1856, when he emi- grated to Putnam county, Illinois, where he taught school. In the fall of 1858 he was elected sheriff of tliat county and held the position two years. He then served four years as clerk of the courts, but on the expiration of his term in that office entered into the grain business,

which he carried on until coming to Cass county. He has had five children, two of whom, Charles and Cora, are dead, and Estelle, Nellie and Lulu are living. Mr. Gerberich is the present cashier of the Cass County bank, an institution he entered in January, 1880.

William Waddell was the next to oc- cupy the office of county treasurer, being elected thereto in the fall of 1879. He entered upon the duties of the office Jan- uary 1, 1880, and was re-elected in 1881, serving four years. A sketch of this gentleman is given under the head of clerk of courts, further on, an office which he filled for many years.

G. I. Chizum, the present treasurer, was elected in October, 1883, and commenced the labors of the office, January 1, 1884. Garrison I. Chizum, county treasurer, was born July 6, 1829, aud is is the oldest son of William J. and Mary (Mathews) Chizum. The former a native of Ohio, and the latter of Kentucky. Garrison spent the early part of bis life on a farm in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, where he remained until eighteen years old, receiv- ing meanwhile, a good common school education. He then engaged in teaching until twenty-four years of age, when he came to Iowa, first settling in Warren county, and in March, 1854 came to this couuty, locating in Cass township, where he pre-empted and entered several tracts of land. These lands he did not improve, but had his home in Indiantown for a short time. Mr. Chizum taught the first school in the county, and is therefore the pioneer teacher of Cass county. A young man by the name of Taylor commenced teaching in an old building on section 8,

359

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

in 1884, but was accidentally drowned, and Mr. Chizum took charge of the school. In 1878 he left his farm, moved to Lewis and engaged in the grocery business Then selling out, was in the real estate trade. Also had business in connection with the office of justice of the peace; and was mayor of the city. Ile remained in Lewis until his election to his present position, in the fall of 1883. IIe is an efficient and trustworthy officer, and the funds of the county are in honest hands. He was married August 23, 1854, to Hannah Bradshaw, a daughter of Jeremiah Brad- shaw, who was among the earliest settlers of the county. They have five children living -- John,'H. deputy in the treasurer's office; Carrie A., wife of J. P. Anderson, of Glenwood; Jennie M., William J. and Ella C. Mr. Chizum has always been prominently identified with this county, having held many offices of trust and honor and always proving himself a deserving man, worthy the respect and support of the people.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Author: Continental Historical Company, Springfield, Ill Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Co. Number of Pages: 918

Author: Continental Historical Company, Springfield, Ill
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 918