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 65

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 65

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home. He drove the stage from Atlantic to Lewis for one year, and was then en- gaged in a general store at Lewis, for about two years. Ile was then employed in a drug store about one year, when the store burned, and Frank was again out of employment. But being eager to make a living, he established a livery stable, and did a flourishing business until 1870, when he began farming in Wright township, Pottawattamie county. Ile returned to Cass county in 1873, and has ever since followed the occupation of farming. In the spring of 1877 he bought eighty acres of land on section 26, Cass township, and has improved and cultivated it until he has one of the finest farms in the town- ship. Mr. IIunt was married in December, 1870, to Miss Ellen L. Baxter, a daughter of C. and R. Baxter. They have been blessed with one child, Nathan Frank.

Thomas J. Likens was born in Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania, on the 26th day of November, 1847, being the son of Jesse and Rachel (McConnell) Likens. In 1848 his parents removed to Stark county, Illi- nois, where his father farmed and kept a meat market, and there Thomas was reared and educated. In the fall of 1857 he removed to Cass county, and located in Cass township, where he purchased bis present farm on section 13. IIe owns eighty acres of land, nearly all under cul- tivation, and raises large herds of cattle and hogs. Ile has a fine young orchard, which will, in the course of a few years, be one of the finest in the township. On the 8th of October, 1877, Thomas was united in marriage with Miss Elmaza Murnan, a native of Indiana. IIer par- ents, John and Sarah Ann Murnan, are

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IIISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

now residing in Lewis. Mr. and Mrs. Likens have one child, Myrtle, born on the 16th of December, 1882. Mr. Likens is an intelligent and successful man, and is honored and respected by all of his neighbors.

The early settlement of Cass township together with the carly events connected therewith, are in a manner, interwoven with the history of the villages of In- diantown, Iranistan and Lewis, and will necessitate to be related in connection with the annals of those places.

ORGANIZATION.

Cass township, which then composed the whole of the county, was first organ- ized as a township of Pottawattamie county in the fall of 1851, and an elec- tion held at that time, resulted in the choice of John Pettengill, as justice of the peace, and Elihu Pettengill as constable. Both of these parties were of the Mor- mon persuasion. Fifteen men voted at this election, and their names were as follows: Jeremiah Bradshaw, Victor M. Bradshaw, Jesse Hyatt, Lewis Ilyatt, John Pettengill, Elihu Pettengill, James Fer- ran, Joseph Ferran, Jacob Ferran, John D. Campbell, W. S. Townsend, A. J. Mil- schlagel, Weeks and Elliott. V. M. Brad- shaw was the clerk of the election. No record of this election exists as far as could be found, and the historians have had to depend upon the memories of those of the participants who are still living in the county. The election was held at the house of Jeremiah Bradshaw, in Indian- town. The vote stood fourteen Whigs and one Democrat, the latter party being represented by A. J. Milschlagel.

IRANISTAN.

This, the pioneer village of Cass county, was located on the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 8, about two miles west of the present site of the town of Lewis. From the time of its birth until the location of the future county seat it was the principal trading point for all the settlers in the neighbor- hood. This village and Indiantown were but a mile and a quarter apart, and there was considerable rivalry between them, but Iranistan, having been started first, held its own. F. E. Ball was the original owner of the site, but sold it to Stephen T. Carey, for $500. Carey laid out the town in the winter of 1852-3, and the plat was filed for record on the 1st of March, 1854. Carey was a resident of Council Bluffs, but when at Iranistan be boarded at the house of Nelson T. Spoor.

In 1854 Nelson T. Spoor bought an in- terest in the town site and the mill, but Mr. Carey dying the same year, the prop- erty passed into the hands of W. N. Dick- erson, a man by the name of Jones and others.

The construction of the saw mill was commenced in 1852, by F. E. Ball, but he shortly after sold it, with the town site, to S. T. Carey, who completed it in the spring of 1853. This was the first mill of any kind in the county, and was of great service in furnishing the settlers with what lumber they required.

The first building erected in the town after the saw mill was commenced, was W. C. Croft's house, a temporary struc- ture. He kept boarders, among whom were the Buckwalters.

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

The blacksmith shop was the next build- ing. It was built by George Shannon, who came from Ohio early in 1852, and c.une to Lewis in 1853. lIe was married while here, to Melinda Hedges, danghter of Peter Hedges, in the summer of 1854. Shannon went to California, by way of Pike's Peak in 1859.

Peter Hedges' small hotel, Leander Mc- Carty's dwelling, and MeCarty's store, were built soon afterward, and all three were building about the same time.

Taylor was the first school teacher in Iranistan; he taught a short time in 1853, and was drowned while bathing.

Leander McCarty carried a stock of gen- eral merchandise. He came from Win- terset early in 1853, with his family.

As has been stated, Jeremiah Bradshaw was one of the pioneer merchants, of this town, having moved into the village in 1853, and continued bere until 1861, when he sold out.

Eber and William Buckwalter came to Iranistan from Philadelphia early in 1853. Tley took up their quarters at the resi- dence of W. C. Croft, the blacksmith, they being both single men. They had no settled occupation, but kept hotel, farmed and carried passengers to Council Bluffs. They went to Nebraska in 1858.

O. O. Turner, came to Cass township in 1853, and settled on a farm near Iranis- tan. In 1855, he sold this place and mov- ing to Iranistan opened a saloon which he ran for two years. He removed to north- western Missouri about 1800.

Dave Cooper was the only man who claimed to be a professional gambler in the early days at Iranistan. He came in 1853, and although he at once commenced

an outlook for "greeneys" to practice his card-sharp arts upon, it is not recorded that he ever won any considerable amount of money, and, in fact, it is said he was nearly as often loser as winner. Ile was a single man, and boarded at W. C. Croft's and H. K. Cranney's while at Iranistan; he removed to Pymosa township, and died there, at Brinkerhoof's house, in 1857.

Dr. John Welch was the pioneer physi- cian of the county, and located at Iranis- tan during the year 1853, and remained one year, when he departed for other quarters, the country being to sparsely settled, as yet, for him to thrive at his profession.

Job Haworth kept a store at Iranistan in 1853-4, and in 1855 disposed of it to HI. B. Jolly, who shortly after departed suddenly.

William Cadwell, Samuel Peters and Caleb Brown, three carpenters, came to Iranistan in 1852 or 3, and are believed to be the first of that trade in the county. Peters and Brown were both violinists and furnished the music upon all festive occasions.

In 1853-5, a good sized hotel was kept in this village by the Buckwalter Bros. and did quite a flourishing business. An- other hotel was, also, well patronized.

John R. Kirk visited Iranistan in the summer of 1853, for the first time, having been in the country but a short time, and says he remarked to his brother-in-law, R. D. McGeehon, who was with him that if the rough element that he saw at play were a specimen of the civilization which prevailed in Cass county, he would have to go back to Illinois. He did not go back, however, but soon became convinced

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

that the Iranistan roughs were not fair specimens of the county's citizenship.

Iranistan was a live place before Lewis was started, and in its palmy days had its horse races, foot races, and all kinds of athletic sports. On Saturday the people would gather from all the surrounding country, and it was always a busy day, as well for those who came to trade, as those whose purpose was amusement. It was fondly hoped that the town would go forward in the march of improvement and attain eminence as a city, bnt, alas, for the hopes of its founder, as the busi- ness of the town was swallowed up by the large town of Lewis, in 1856, the buildings being mostly moved to the lat- ter place, and Iranistan has quietly died out, and is now numbered with the things of the past. Where its streets were laid out, now nods the bending corn, or golden grain, when the summers sun is high, and where its citizens trod, with the proud step of the metropolitan, now echoes only to the tread of lowing kine, or whistling ploughman.

INDIANTOWN.

The town with the above name was lo- cated on the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 9, near the spot where stood the collection of wig- wams of the Pottawattamie Indians, known to them as Mi-au- Mise, or Little Miami, and to the whites, as the Indian town. On account of its being, in a meas- ure, the successor of this Indian village, the new town was known by name far and wide, while its more important rival, Iranistan, had but a local celebrity. Travelers would begin to inquire, we are told, for the Indiantown by the Nishna-

botna, before they were within a hundred miles of the spot.

Indiantown stood within a mile of the present site of Lewis, on the west side of the river. The land was originally owned by V. M. Courad, but he sold it to W. N. Dickerson, who laid out the town, in the summer of 1853, filing the plat for record on the 10th of October, 1853. V. M. Conrad, shortly afterwards, laid out an addition to the town, which was placed upon the records of the county on the 27th of March, 1856. Mr. Conrad always took a great interest in the town, and felt aggrieved that the commissioners ap- pointed for the purpose did not select the embryo village for the county-seat, instead of locating it where there was no town or settlement.

V. M. Conrad opened the first store in the new town in 1854, and kept a general stock of dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, etc.

The next merchant was John Cooper. He came later in 1854, and started in business, keeping a general stock. He was not the sole proprietor of the store, the firm being Rudisell and Cooper. Mr. Rudisell remained at Rockport, Missouri, from which town Cooper had come. The latter remained about eight months, and then went back to Rockport. When last heard from, he was keeping a land office in a town north of Council Bluffs.

Horatio Ferrell came to Indiantown late in 1854, and put in a small general stock. Hle run the store but a short time, and sold out to Mr. Conrad. He still managed to keep in business for about a year, part of the time in partnership with Mr. Conrad. He then went to teaming,

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

and in 1859 went to Colorado. A short time after his return here he died at In- diantown. He had a wife and four chil- dren; the youngest, a boy, died at Indian- town; the rest were married.

The blacksmithing of the town was done by Jacob Seltzer, who came from Ohio in 1855. Ile was a German, and his family, which was very large, conversed mostly in that language among themselves. Ile remained in Indiantown about two year's, and then went to Nebraska.

Messrs. Brewster and Krewson kept a store at this place during a part of the year 1854.

Messrs. Cook, Sargent and Haycook had a real estate office at Indiantown in 1854, but did not continue for a very long time. These parties lived at Des Moines and Davenport.

A. J. Millschlagel made a settlement near the site of Indiantown as early as the summer of 1851. A sketch of this pioneer having already been given in the chapter on the early settlement of the county, the reader is referred to that, as space forbids repetition.

Philander and H. K. Cranny came to Indiantown in the first part of 1853. Philander was a shingle maker by trade, but devoted a good deal of his attention to dancing and giving lessons in the Terpsichorean art. He taught dancing in Mr. Conrad's house at first, and afterwards moved over to Iranistan, and taught danc- ing at Wilson Smith's house.

II. K. Cranny located, with his family, on a farm between Indiantown and Iran- istan, where he tilled the soil, doing very well. He was chosen clerk of the court in 1855, and held the position one term.

In 1859, he and his brother Philander started west. In Nebraska he deserted his wife and went to Logan, Utah, where he became thoroughly Mormonized, tak- ing unto himself three wives. IIe com- menced practicing medicine there, and is now a prominent "doctor."

R. C. Gordon came to Indiantown and bought a little house and lot, in the fall of 1855. He followed the occupation of freighting and teaming, and did a little farming. He removed, in the spring of 1871, to southern Kansas. He had a wife and family, and his daughter, Sarah, com- menced teaching school after they ar- rived in Kansas.

These were about all the residents, and all the merchants who did business in Indiantown, and none now remain to take their place. A short time after the county seat was located at Lewis, all of the busi- ness, and most of the buildings at Indian- town, as well as Iranistan, were removed to the new town.

LEWIS.

When the Fourth General Assembly of the State of Iowa ordered the organiza- tion of the county of Cass, on the 6th of December, 1852, Robert McGaven, of Pot- tawattamie county; Thomas G. Palmer, of Mills, and Milton Richards, of Fre- mont, were appointed as commissioners to locate the seat of justice of this county. They were ordered to meet on the first Monday in March, 1853, and transact this business, and to receive two dollars a day for the service, to be paid out of the pro- ceeds of lots in the said town.

Two of the commissioners accordingly met, in pursuance of this order, and lo- cated the county seat on the east half of

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

the southeast quarter of section 10, and the west half of the southwest quarter of section 11, in township 75 north, range 37 west.

The town site of Lewis belonged to the county, and the selling of lots in the town rested with the county judge. After the commissioners located the county seat, the settlement of the town began, and people began to remove from Iranistan to Lewis, even moving their buildings in most in- stances. Although the first house was built in Lewis by S. M. Tucker in 1853, the public sale of lots did not occur until October, 1855. At that sale the following were the buyers: S. M. Tucker, C. E. Woodward, J. E. Chapman, Moses Martin, Bevington and Hutchings, James Queen, Aaron Dolph, J. W. Benedict, J. M. Wat- son, Cornelius Soper, S. K. Shields, Joshua Bales, R. E. Gordon, David Hitchcock, S. Wilson, Bowater Bales, Barton Garvin, William S. Townsend, S. Mahan, S. K. Myers, Moses Shinn, W. B. Stone, the M. E. Church, J. S. Rand. The lots sold at from ten to seventy-six dollars apiece. The Methodist church and the pastor, Rev. J. S. Rand, paid ten dollars apiece for theirs. S. M. Tucker bought the first lot at fifty dollars and built the first house in the then new county seat, which house still stands. The lots were sold and the money handled by the county judge. O. O. Turner cried the sale, for which he was paid five dollars.

The town was surveyed prior to the sale, and the plat of the same filed for record on the 6th of February, 1854. An addi- tion to the town was surveyed, platted and filed for record by George M. Elsey, on the 9th of November, 1857. Dicker-

son's addition was filed for record Febru- aro 1, 1858, by C. Soper, Westley Spur- lock, W. N. Dickerson and J. F. Deaver, and on the 4th of May, 1858, Evans and Macon, also, filed an addition to the town which bears their names. In the fall of 1865, a resurvey of the town of Lewis was made by the connty and the plat filed on the 25th of February, 1866.

The town now, with its various addi- tions covers the west half of the south- west quarter of section 11, the southeast quarter, the southeast quarter of the south- west quarter, and the east half of the north- east quarter of the southwest quarter of section 11, and the east half of the north- west quarter of the northwest quarter of section 14, or nearly three hundred and twenty acres in all.

The business of Lewis, before the rail- road was built in, was done in what is now known as the "East End," about one-half mile from the present center of business. There are still standing there some eight or ten store buildings, as mementoes of the past. Some of these are now used for dwellings, while the remainder are going to decay. Many buildings were removed to the west end when the business went there, and now only one establishment, of any kind, remains. That is the tin-store of E. L. D. Mardin. It is in the old build- ing once used by Yetzer and Wright as a grocery and hardware store, and their sign still adorns its front.

The trade of Lewis is confined almost entirely to Main street, though some busi- ness is carried on on the side and cross streets. Main street is quite level from the rise above the depot for a considera ble distance towards the old town, though

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

it, as well as the other streets, are slightly rolling further east. Considering the popu- lation of the place, it has a very large pro- portion of elegant residences, and in that particular has the appearance of being in- habited largely by a class of citizens above the average in wealth. A number of re- tired farmers and land owners have locat- ed in the town. Perhaps the principal business of Lewis is in stock and grain, though the lumber interest is well repre- sented, and considerable mercantile trade is carried on, all the leading branches of trade having representatives.

There are two hotels, the Commercial Honse and Pennsylvania House.

The rink affords amusement to the young people, in the way of skating, and besides can be used for entertainments and dancing. Botna Hall is also devoted to the latter purposes. The railroad runs diagonally through the town from south- west to northeast, and in the north part is below the grade of the streets.

In 1853, S. M. Tucker built the first house in Lewis. It is a frame structure, about 16x24 feet in size, one story in height. It is still standing, in the south- east part of town, and is owned by J. N. Martin, but is unoccupied at present.

The first store Lewis had was that of Dr. Buckham. He came here from Rock- port, Missouri, in 1854, and put in what was then considered quite a large stock of general merchandise, three or four rods outside of the present limits of Lewis, just opposite where S. H. Tefft's residence now stands. He had a family but they remained in Missouri. While living here he was well liked, and was considered fair in his dealings. He sold out in 1856,

to Charles Woodward, and went back to Rockport, where he was living at last accounts.

Isaac Dickerson ran the next store, and the first one actually situated in Lewis. The building was about 20x30 feet, and had been moved over from Iran- istan, where it was known as the McCarty store. It was opened up in 1855, with a fair stock of dry goods, groceries, etc., and Mr. Dickerson was the proprietor un- til 1856, when James F. Deavers, who had come over from Oskaloosa, took control. Deavers kept the store about a year, then closed it out, and went to keeping res- taurant and saloon. This he continued one winter, and then went into the brick- making business. In 1859 he discontin- ued this to again start a saloon. This was in the east end of town. He went to Colorado during the mining excitement of 1860.

John M. Ripley came to Lewis in 1854, and the house which he then erected was the best in the place. He also put up a store, in which he placed a good line of tinware, in partnership with a man named Page. As he did not stay long, the peo- dle did not have much of an opportunity to get acquainted with him, and hence not much is remembered.

E. W. Bartlett was also among the first merchants of Lewis; he kept a general store; Joseph Warnock started in the gro- cery business; then George Elsey, general stock, commenced business. Keyes and Peck bought out Bartlett, and increased the stock largely; E. W. IIenderson and M. T. Jones each commenced business about the same time, both having general stocks;

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

these stores were all started in 1855 and early in 1856.

M. T. Jones afterwards bought the Lewis mill, and conducted its affairs and his mercantile business until bis death, which event occurred in Lewis in 1863. Childs and Chapel then took the mercan- tile business, and Keyes and Peck the mill.

E. W. and Daniel Bartlett were broth- ers. They came to Lewis in 1856, and E. W. started in the mercantile business soon after his arrival. This be carried on until the following year, when he erected a steam saw-mill on section 2, Cass township. Ile ran it a short time, and then sold it to E. W. Davenport.

E. W. Davenport came to Lewis in 1857, from Massachusetts. He and L. W. Ross bought the steam saw-mill which had been erected by E. W. Bartlett, and put it up in Pottawattamie county, about a half or three-quarters of a mile over the line, and ran it there till 1862. In the meantime Mr. Davenport had acquired sole proprie- torship of the mill. and in 1862 he remov- ed it to Lewis, and ran it one season. In the spring of 1864, he removed it to Eight- Mile Grove, and ran it a short time, and then sold it. He removed to Council Bluffs. Ile was a n.arried man, but had no children. He was county surveyor in 1861 and 1862, and was known as a good surveyor. Mrs. Davenport was a fine teacher, and taught in Lewis.

E. W. Henderson came to Lewis in 1858, and embarked in the dry goods and hardware trade, but failed in 1859, and re- moved to Colorado. A sketch of Mr. H. is given under the head of clerk of courts, in the Representative chapter, in a pre-

ceding part of this work, be having filled that office.

Among the arrivals of 1857, in the town of Lewis, was Samuel Disbrow, who open- ed a blacksmith shop, which he is still running. When he came here, be found two shops of this kind in operation, one kept by R. Temple, the pioneer black- smith, and the other by a man by the name of - Ford. The latter removed from this locality shortly after Mr. Dis- brow opened his forge, and Temple moved to Red Oak, Montgomery county, in 1861, where he now lives. Mr. Disbrow loca- ted at first in the west end of the town, where he remained eight years, then mov- ing to the east end, but in May, 1881, he again removed to the west end, removing the blacksmith and wagon shop adjoining. The former is 20x46 feet in ground area. Mr. Disbrow does horse-shoeing and gen- eral blacksmithing.

Samuel Disbrow is a native of Schoharie county, New York,-born June 21, 1822. His parents were James and Polly (Knapp) Disbrow, natives of Connecticut. They removed to Lorain county, Ohio, when Samuel was four years of age. There he was reared and educated, and . remained until 1854. He then went to Van Wirt county, of the same State, where he resided till 1857. In that year he came to Cass county, Iowa, and located at Lewis. He learned his trade at Wellington, Ohio. Mr. Disbrow was married in La Grange county, Ohio, April 27, 1844, to Miss Orilla Langdon, a native of Schoharie county, New York. They have four children-Levi E., IIelen A., Horace and Dellmer S. Mr. Disbrow is a member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

held all of the offices, except that of Mas- ter. Ilis parents both died in Ohio, his father in the fall of 1858, and his mother in 1850. Mr. Disbrow is much respected, as an old resident and a worthy citizen.

Levi E. Disbrow, son of Samuel, was born August 24, 1847, in Lorain county, Ohio, and was ten years old when his par- ents removed to Cass county. He learned the blacksmith's trade early from his father, and in 1868 commenced as a jour- neyman in his father's employ. He con- ducted a photograph gallery from 1874 to 1877, then closed out the business, and went again to blacksmithing. He was married in Lewis, June 26, 1870, to Nellie Grant, a native of Illinois. They have four children-Minnie, Roy, Lulu and Rachel. Their child Willie died at the age of one and one-half years.

Thomas A. Hardenbergh came to Lewis in 1859, and remained there till 1864, when he removed to his present location, in Atlantic township.

The Atlantic Southern Railroad was built through Lewis in 1880, the grading having been done in 1879. The depot is a nice frame structure.

E. S. Phillips is agent for the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad com- pany. He was born at Deerfield, Massa- chusetts, in November, 1854. His parents were S. C. and Rosie (Ballard) Phillips, the latter of English descent. S. C. Phillips was, by occupation, a contractor and builder. He now resides in Gill, Massachusetts. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood and obtained his educa- tion in his native State, attending Powers' institute at Bernardston. He subsequent- ly taught school and penmanship. He

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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