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 71
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District No. 9 .- This district has a neat school house which was built in the sum- mer of 1874, on the northeast corner of section 31. It is 22x30 feet in dimensions, and was built at a cost of $735. Florence Morris was the first teacher in this house. The present teacher is Florence Williams, and the sub-director is James Wilson.
The school board of the district town- ships of Pymosa is, therefore: District No. 1, J. H. Lepper; No. 2, G. C. Camp- bell; No. 3, Ulysses Joyce; No. 4, T. W. Gaddis; No. 5, J. S. Andrews; No. 6, H. M. Bourne; No. 7, B. B. Campbell; No. 8, W. S. Everett; No. 9, James Wilson. J. W. Butler is secretary; J. H. Lepper, president, W. S Everett, treasurer.
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IIISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
PYMOSA POSTOFFICE.
This postoffice was established in the spring of 1855, at the log cabin of James Brinkerhoff, on section 11, where David Greene's residence now stands, with the former named gentleman as postmaster. There was no mail pouch received at this office, but the mail was delivered from Cold Springs postoffice, at Iranistan, which was on the through stage route east and west, by whatever resident of Pymosa that might happen to be down there. This was probably the second post office established in the county, and was some time afterward discontinued.
HISTORIC.
The first term of school was taught by Tamar E. Lorah, in the summer of 1856, at her home on section 14.
The first religious services held in the township was in the winter of 1854-5, at the log cabin of a man by the name of James Kincaid.
The first law suit occurred in the fall of 1856, at the log cabin of 'Squire Brink- erhoff. Milton Wilson contracted to make some shingles for William Hamlin, and as they were not satisfactory, the job was not completed and Hamlin sued for damages. Edward Gingery was one of the jurors.
The first frame house was erected by Samuel Knepper, in the fall of 1855, on section 2. In the spring of 1855, Samuel Lorah built the second frame dwelling, on section 14.
Edward Gingery hauled a load of wheat to Council Bluffs in 1861, a distance of over sixty miles. He was gone four days and only received ten dollars for the en- tire load. During the war wheat sold as
low as twenty cents per bushel in Cass county. At an early day Mr. Gingery also took eggs to Grove City, for which he received but three cents per dozen.
Burr Mosier was a notorious rough and drinking character, who made his home some distance north of where Atlantic now stands. He made himself famous, as well as disliked by most of the people, in the days of the early settlement. He changed his place of residence to Indian- town in 1858, where his unsavory reputa- tion did not improve. He enlisted in Company I, Twenty-third Iowa Infantry, at its organization. He cooked for the officers' meses, principally for Col. Kins- man.' He left with R. C. Gordon, in the spring of 1871, for southern Kansas, and the next that was heard from him here was the report that he had been killed by Indians in Kansas; but he was seen the next year in Mexico, by N. L. Mills.
When Jeremiah Bradshaw and his party were in Audubon county, in the spring of 1851, they saw the grave of the old Pottawattamie chief, Pymosa: His grave was between Oakfield and the Cass county line. He was encircled by what was left of a mound, and had been placed in a sitting posture against the stump of a tree. The Mormons, who had seen the tomb before it had crumbled away, said that it was encircled by two fences, one inside the other, with openings on the west side corresponding with the one on that side of the mound. Only the posts of these fences were left standing. Victor Bradshaw, who had paid some attention to phrenology, took the skull from the skeleton, and, going back to camp, told the folks that he had found "an old-fash-
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
ioned gourd." His mother being dis- pleased with his keeping it, he threw it away, and on looking for it again, could not find it. It was said that when Pymosa was buried, his gun and other effects were placed in the mound by his side. But these had disappeared at the time of this inci- dent.
RESOLUTION BY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON RETIREMENT OF J. L. BYRD.
The October term of the county board, 1870, was the last as constituted with one member from each township. The sepa- ration of the board of that year seems to have been a sorrowful one. At the Octo- ber meeting a long series of resolutions expressive of their sentiments of regret were adopted. The members had served from one to five years together. The last one of the resolutions was of a personal nature, and was as follows :
"Resolved, That we regard our aged brother, J. L. Byrd, who has served us for five years as chairman, with veneration and esteem, and that his deportment to the members of this board has always been marked with dignity, courtesy and kindness, becoming his position, and that during his services as chairman, no appeal has been taken from his decisions, and in parting with our chairman, he takes with him to the end of life our heartfelt esteem for the many little kindnesses shown us during our association with him."
RELIGIOUS.
The class of the Buck Creek M. E. church was organized in 1861. The pres- ent building was erected in the summer of 1874, at a cost of about $3,000, and dedicated in October of that year by E. M. H. Fleming, presiding elder. It is lo- cated on the southeast corner of section 7. (See ecclesiastical chapter for full particu- lars).
The Five-Mile Grove Methodist Epis- copal church was organized in August, 1881, by Rev. L. M. Campbell. Their church building was erected in 1882. It cost $1,300. The present pastor is Rev. E. J. Brooker. (For further particulars, see ecclesiastical chapter).
The Five-Mile Grove Union Sunday -. school was organized in 1878, at the old school house in district No. 8. (See eccle- siastical chapter).
CEMETERY.
James Mahew and James Brinkerhoff deeded an acre of land situated on the northeast quarter of section 22, for ceme- tery purposes, about the year 1856. The first interment was a child of James Brinkerhoff, which was removed from his place to thecemetery. The next burial was that of the body of Charles Harris, a brother of James and Allen, who reside in Pymosa township.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
CHAPTER XXI.
VICTORIA TOWNSHIP.
This townsbip lies in the southeastern corner of Cass, and is bounded upon the north by Massena township, with Adair county on the east, Adams on the south, and Edna township on the west. It is a full congressional sub-division, known as township 74, range 34, comprising about 23,040 acres, which is well known through- out the county as rich and very produc- tive soil. The township is quite well watered by numerous small creeks and branches of the West Nodaway, which flows through sections 6 and 7, in the northwest corner of the township. There is but very little timber of natural growth found within the borders of Victoria, but a large number of artificial groves are be- ing developed by her citizens. The char- acter of the land is generally rolling. This territory, which, less than twenty years ago, not a house could be seen in all the vast expanse of prairie land, is at present a well-settled district, which can boast of as fine farms and spacious buildings, as any in the county.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
William E. Johnson, a native of Con- necticut, was the first to effect a settle- ment within the borders now known as Victoria township. At an early day he emigrated to Trumbull county, Ohio. His father, Henry, was also an early set-
tler of Trumbull county. In 1856, Wil- liam removed to Fayette county, "Wiscon- sin, and in the spring of 1857, came to Victoria township, settling on section 6. He remained here several years, when he disposed of his property and removed to Cloud county, Kansas, where he now re- sides, engaged in agriculture. Mr. John- son was born November 14, 1821, in the the State of New York, near the Hudson river, and was the son of Henry and Eliz- abeth (Holcomb) Johnson. He was mar- ried in 1846, in Ashtabula county, Ohio, to Catharine Walden, daughter of Rev. Asa Walden.
Rev. Asa Walden was born in Connec- ticut, in 1790. At the age of seventeen he removed with his parents to Trumbull county, Ohio, who were among the early settlers of that county. He was married in Bristol, Trumbull county, in 1813, to Mary Cline, who was born in Virginia in 1794. Her parents were also early set- tlers of Trumbull county. When a young man he united with the M. E. church, and later became a minister of the gospel of that denomination. In 1847, he removed to Ashtabula county, where he engaged in preaching and farming until 1856, when he went to Wisconsin. In the spring of 1857, he came to Victoria, effecting a set- tlement on section 6, and was probably
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
the second settler of that territory, as he come but a short time after his son-in-law, William Johnson. He here united with the Christian church, and for some time afterward preached for that denomination. His death occurred August 7, 1861, and in 1878, the demise of his wife took place. There were eleven children born to them, four of whom are still living-Philena, widow of Mr. Lidle, who resides at pres- ent in Harrison county, Iowa; Catherine, wife of William E. Johnson, living in Cloud county, Kansas; Sophronia, wife of Isaac Johnson, a resident of Edna town- ship; and Mary A., wife of Rufus L. Peasley, resident of Harrison county, Iowa.
The next settlement of Victoria was that of Frank H. Whitney, and his father, John. Frank came in January, 1858, and began the erection of a log cabin, which after its completion, was occupied for some time by his father. In March, of this year, he broke out some land and raised quite a fine crop of corn from the sod, which was undoubtedly the first grown in the township. Mr. Whitney is noticed at length in connection with the banking interests of Atlantic, where he now resides.
Another early settlement in the town- ship was made by Thomas Tate, in 1859. He is a native of England, and came from Adams county, Wisconsin, to Victoria, settling on section 1, where he still re- sides. He was married in 1838 to Eliza- beth Betts, also a native of England. They have seven children-John, George, Thomas, William, Eliza, Sarah and Alice. When he first settled in the township his market place was Council Bluffs.
Mathew Symons, an Englishman, came in 1869. He entered a rough tract of land on section 36, where he has since remained, engaged in agricultural pur- suits.
As early as 1871, settlements were made by R. Bell, J. G. Sholes, Joshua Devore, . H. P. Sweet, Lemuel Jones, A. L. Beadle and J. A. Hill.
Robert Bell was a native of Scotland, and settled on the northwest part of sec- tion 25, where he remained until his death.
J. G. Sholes, a native of Vermont, entered a homestead on section 35, where he remained until 1881, when he disposed of his property here, and removed to Nebraska.
H. P. Sweet came from New Hamp- shire, and settled upon section 27. He remained here but a short period, when he sold his property and removed to Woodbury county, from which place he subsequently went to Dakota, where he still resides.
Lemuel Jones settled on section 8, where he lived a few years, and disposed of the place to Alexander Dallas, who still resides there. Mr. Jones removed to Adams county, where he now lives.
Joshua Devore resides on section 28, having a farm of two hundred and fifteen acres of cultivated land. He was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, on the 1st of December, 1824, and when ten years of age went to Columbia county, Ohio, where he grew to manhood. He was married on the 2d of July, 1846, to Caroline Lacy, a native of Germany. They have been blessed with eight chil- dren -- Hannah C., Joshua P., Andrew,
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
Henry J., George L., Franklin E. and Elizabeth. Hannah died on the 14th of November, 1878. Mr. Devore came to Hardin county, Ohio, from Columbia county, and bought a farm in Jackson township, and there remained until the fall of 1870, when he came to Iowa, and spent the winter in Mt. Etna, Adams county, and settled on his present farm in the April following. He has planted a fine orchard, and has large numbers of stock, which are nicely sheltered. Mr. Devore was the first assessor elected in Victoria township. He has held the office of township trustee, and is at present jus- tice of the peace.
A. L. Beadle, a native of Illinois, set- tled upon section 27, purchasing some land of H. P. Sweet, and still occupies the place.
J. A. Hill, whose nativity is traced to Wayne county, New York, came from Jo Daviess county, Illinois, and settled upon section 14, bis present residence.
OTHER PROMINENT SETTLERS.
After this the settlers came in more rapidly, and it would be impossible, in this connection, to trace them with any degree of regularity. However, among those who came in since that time and are now prominent citizens, may be men- tioned the following, as representing the class of Victoria's inhabitants:
Julius Triplett is a native of Bureau county, Illinois, and was born on the 11th of June, 1844. He was there .educated, and in 1865 was engaged in the mercantile business in Illinois. In 1867 he sold out and resumed farming in Bureau county, where he remained until 1874, when he came to Cass county, and settled in Vic-
toria township, where he now owns two hundred and forty acres of improved land and a nice set of buildings. He was united in marriage in February, 1867, to Miss Ella Codington, a native of New York. They have five children living- Clate, Jennie, Bessie, Julia and Ned. Mr. Triplett is the present township clerk, having held that position seven years. He was elected in the fall of 1881, to rep- resent the fifth district.
William Holste was born in Germany in 1832, and in 1847 came to America with his parents, and located in Cook county, Illinois, where they were among the first settlers. He lived there until grown to manhood, assisting his father to improve the farm. He was married in 1855 to Miss Mary Tatge, a native of Germany. He and his wife went to Benton county, Iowa, and were there among the early set- tlers. They remained there eight years, when they returned to Cook county, buy- ing a farm near the old homestead. In 1881 he bought a farm in Victoria town- ship, Cass county, Iowa, of six hundred and forty acres, which is one of the largest farms in the township. He las improved his farm, and has set out a large orchard. Mr. and Mrs. Holste have been blessed with six children - William, George, Henry, Johnnie, Herman and Mary.
William Holste, Jr , son of William and Mary (Tatge) Holste, was born in Benton county, Iowa, on the 17th of October, 1855. He moved to Cook county, Illinois, at an early age, and was there educated in the common schools. He was united in marriage in 1877, to Emma Barnharelt, a native of Cook county. In 1880, Mr. Holste and his wife came to Cass county,
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
settling in Vietoria township, and bought a farm on section 27, of Charles Piekett. He has make many improvements, and it is now one of the best farms in the town- ship. They have been blessed with two children-Paulina and Alfred. Mr. Holste was elected township trustee in the fall of 1883.
Nathan Spier came to Cass county in February, 1880, having the January previ- ous, purchased a farm, which he now oc- cupies on section 22, Victoria township. He was born in Iowa county, Iowa, on the 19th of October, 1851. His father, Charles R. Spier, was born in New York, and was one of the early settlers of Iowa, coming there in 1847. His mother, Angeline (Hortwell) Spicer, was a native of Ohio, and died in 1853. Nathan .was reared to manhood in Iowa county, and in 1873 he was married to Sarah De Haven, a native of Virginia. They have four children living-Nellie R., Earl K., Nettie E. and Dora N. In 1872 Mr. Spier moved to Taylor county, and then to Adair county, but soon after came to Cass county. He now owns a large orchard, and has one of the finest houses in the township.
John Krouse was born in Germany, on the 26th of February, 1835. When about eleven years of age he left his native country, and emigrated to America, and first settled in New York. In a month or so he moved to Pennsylvania, and was there engaged in different occupations. He remained there eleven years, when he removed to Cook county, Illinois, where he was engaged in carpentering six years, when he came to Grundy county, Iowa, and there worked at his trade for one year. In 1875 he came to Cass county,
and rented a farm on section 7, Victoria township, and in the year 1882, he bought his present farm on section 10. It is now nicely improved, and he has erected a nice frame house and several granaries and stock barns. Mr. Krouse was married in 1875, to Louisa Snyder, also a native of Germany. They have seven children- Katie, Henry, Daniel, Louisa, Johnnie, Willie and David.
Richard Bell, born in Scotland, August 10, 1822, is a resident of section 26, Vic- toria township. He was a shepherd when only fourteen years of age, and was so employed until 1871, when he left his na- tive land and came to Quebec, and re- maining there a short time he went to Marshall county, Illinois, where he rented a farm for two years, when he came to Cass county, and settled on his present location, where he bought (two years pre- vious to this) a farm, planted a grove and began to cultivate his land. Since that time he has purchased other land, owning now about three hundred and sixty-three acres, and raises some fine stock. He was married in 1846, to Margaret Willy, who died in 1856, leaving three children- Agnes, Janet and William. His second wife's name before her marriage was Mar- garet Hall, by whom he has had two chil- dren-Thomas and Richard.
George N. Morse was born in Bedford, New Hampshire, on the 27th of June, 1842, and when twelve years of age he moved with his parents to Clinton county, Iowa, where he was educated in the pub- lic schools. He was married on the 2d of June, 1868, to Mattie Cornell, a native of New York State. Mrs. Morse died in September, 1873, leaving three children-
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
Hattie, Bertrand and Reginald. Mr. Morse was again married in 1881, to Mar- garet E. Hollen, and by whom he has had one child, Henry. In 1877, Mr. Morse came to Victoria township, Cass county, and purchased land on section 20, and has since planted shade and fruit trees, and has, since his settlement there, built a nice frame residence and other farm buildings. He has also purchased one hundred and twenty acres since first coming here, own- ing at present a farm of two hundred and eighty acres. Mr. Morse has been hon- ored with the office of justice of the peace, and still holds that position.
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J. O. H. Spinney came to Victoria town- ship, Cass county, in March, 1877, having previously bought the southwest quarter of section 14, which was at that time an unimproved prairie. Since his settlement he has purchased other land, and now owns 800 acres of land. He has planted a fine or- chard, built a dwelling house, and has erected necessary farm buildings for shel- tering stock and grain. Mr. Spinney was born in Freedom, Maine, on the 9th of November, 1837. He was there roared and educated in the public school. At the opening of the war he enlisted in the service, being in most of the principal battles. He was honored by several minor promotions, and in June, 1862, he was promoted to fourth duty sergeant, and so remained until 1864, when he was made first lieutenant. A few weeks later he was made captain of his company, and so remained until the close of the war. In the winter of 1865, he was detailed as clerk at the Brigade headquarters and in the spring was appointed marshal, at Iuka, Mississippi. He was
honorably discharged in November, 1865, and went to Stark county, Illinois, where he had moved before the war, and worked at the carpenter's trade until 1869, when he went to the Pacific coast, where he en- tered large tracts of timber land, and was engaged as depositor at the land office in Olympia, Washington Territory. In 1870, he concluded to return east, and traded the timber land which he had en- tered for the land which he now owns in Cass county. On his return home he re- sumed the management of the water cure at Davenport, for two years, when he re- turned to Stark county, and there remain- ed until coming to his present location, in 1877. Mr. Spinney was married on the 1st of January, 1866, to Julia H. Beville, a native of New York. They have been blessed with three sons-Burton A., Louis B. and Howard H.
Thomas Tabasinske came to Cass coun- ty in 1874, and settled in Lincoln town- ship, where he purchased eighty acres of land, which he sold in 1876, and settled in Victoria township, on the southwest quarter of section 16. When bis land was first settled it was nothing but a wild prairie, but he soon built a house, planted a grove, and improved his land, and at the present time his farm is one of the best in this part of the county. He was born in Milwaukee county, Wisconsin, in 1851, and when ten years of age he moved with his parents to Illinois, settling in Bu- reau county, where he grew to manhood and was educated in the public schools of that place. Mr. Tabasinske was married in 1877, to Electa Widner, also a native of Wisconsin. They have two children- Eddie and Frank.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
John Agnes was born in Scotland, in 1820. When three or four years of age he removed with his parents to the extreme northern part of Scotland, where he was reared to manhood. At an early age he became a shepherd, and watched his flocks on the mountain side until 1858, when he left his native land and came to America, and settled in Marshall county, Illinois and there remained until 1872, when he came to Cass county, Iowa, and settled in Victoria, where he built a nice house and planted a large grove. In 1848, he was married to Jane Burnett, a native of Scot- land. They were blessed with eleven children-Margaret, William, Isabella, Lizzie, James, Thomas, Robert, Adam, Jane, Alexander S., Violet and Johnnie. Mr. Agnes was carried by the angel of death, from his family and friends in April, 1882, and his departure was greatly mourned by all who knew him. He was a man of more than ordinary ability, and his substantial and prominent character was known to many of the citizens of Cass county.
Among the prominent and substantial citizens of Victoria township, we will mention Martin Dressler, who was born in Pennsylvania, on the 11th of Novem- ber, 1849. When about five years of age he moved with his parents to Indiana, set- ting in Elkhart county, and nine years later moved to Mahaska county, Iowa, where he was reared on a farm and re- ceived his education in the district school. He remained a resident of Mahaska coun- ty, engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1878, when he removed to Kansas, and took up a homestead in Graham county. Several years later he sold this claim and
came to Cass county, Iowa, settling in Victoria township, in 1881, on section 15, where he now has an improved farm.
Henry R. Moore is a native of Butler county, Ohio, born August 21, 1844. In 1851 he moved with his parents to Jeffer- son county, Iowa, where his father pur- chased a farm. Henry remained with his parents until seventeen years old, when he enlisted in company B, Nineteenth Iowa Infantry. He participated in the engage- ments of Prairie Grove, Van Buren, siege and capture of Vicksburg, capture of Yazoo City, Forts Gaines and Morgan, Spanish Fort, Mobile and Pierce's Point, Florida. He was one of our country's bravest soldiers, and it was one of his greatest ambitions to fight for our Union. He was discharged at the close of the war, and was nearly, and at times was entirely, blind, and did not regain his sight for over three years after the war. He re- turned to Jefferson county, and there re- mained until 1870, when he removed to Harrison county, Missouri, where he lived until 1878, when he came to Cass county, and located in Victoria township, and now occupies the south half of the south- east quarter of section 13. He was mar- ried in 1868, to Minerva E. Clemons, a native of Pennsylvania. They have five children-Eva B, Ida E., Etta M., Janey L. and Frank T.
In 1876, William H. Collman came to Victoria township, and settled on section 32, where he purchased a farm of his fa- ther, and began to cultivate his land. He was born in Kendall county, Illinois, on the 25th of July, 1853, and is the son of Henry and Sophia Collman, natives of Germany. William was reared on a farm,
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
and remained a resident of Kendall coun- ty until he came to Victoria township, Cass county, in 1876. He was united in marriage in 1877, to Emma Schumann, a native of Germany. They have one child -Henry L. Mr. Collman is one of the most successful men in the county, and is highly respected by his many friends.
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