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 84
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
by the Rev. W. F. Delap, in the presence of C. A. Benedict and a Miss Burbank. By the union there were eight children, six of whom are living-Charles E .; Ben- jamin W., Cora A., Florence D., Effie M. and Clarence G. Mr. and Mrs. Wallace are members of the Evangelical church.
Rev. Lemon Fitch came to Grant town- ship, on the 9th of May, 1870, and settled near Anita, where he still resides.
Lemon Fitch, an early settler of Cass county, was born in Washington county, New York, February 17, 1811. He was married May 22, 1834, to Ruth Morrison, a daughter of Alexander Morrison, who was born February 7, 1816. They have had fourteen children-Cordelia, Edward, Henry, Marietta, Millard, died in infancy; John T., died in May, 1882, aged thirty- eight; Julia E., Matilda, dead; Asa N., died when quite young; Ruth A., died in infancy; Flora, Lillie, Willie, Fred and Lora A. In 1835, they left New York and went to Jackson, Michigan, where he as- sisted in building up that city, and in the erection of the first court house. In 1837 they removed to Illinois, where he follow- ed preaching about ten years. In 1848 they went to Milwaukee, thence to Grand Rapids, where they spent fourteen years. In 1862 they removed to Steuben county, Indiana. May 9, 1870, they came to Anita, Grant township, where he now has eighty-three and one-half acres, valued at forty dollars per acre. Mr. Fitch has been a church member for fifty-two years.
OTHER PROMINENT CITIZENS.
D. C. Kellogg, one of the prominent citizens of Cass county, was born July 28, 1830, in Castleton, Vermont. He is a son of Charles C. and Abigial (Drake)
Kellogg, who were the parents of four child, two of whom are now living. In 1836 Mr. Kellogg senior left his native State for the west, traveling with teams. He stopped in Richwood township, Peoria county. In 1854 another move was made to Jasper county, Iowa, and a settlement made near Prairie City, where he died August 9, 1868. The mother of D. C. Kellogg died May 31, 1867. The parents of the subject of this sketch were very worthy people, the father having held various local offices of trust. D. C. Kel- logg left Vermont when a small boy, and spent his young days as a pioneer living in a small log cabin without the many conveniences now deemed indispensable. He was married March 4, 1852, to Sarah E. Graham. They are the parents of nine children, three of whom are now living. Mr. Kellogg has held the office of trustee for twenty-five years. In 1880 he was elected county supervisor, and was an efficient member of the court house build- ing committee. He is among the best class of Cass county's citizens, and to a considerable extent has been identified with public enterprises.
Alfred Bailey was born in Leicester, England, in the year 1847. His parents were John P. and Mary Bailey, who were natives of England. Alfred was reared and educated in his native country. At the age of twenty-two years, he came to America, and located in Pottawattamie county, Iowa, where he commenced the breeding of fine stock. In 1876 he came to Cass county, and formed the partner- ship of Bailey and Cadoux, and has since been largely engaged in breeding fine cattle, hogs and horses. He was married
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
in 1876 to Maria Cadoux, also a native of Leicester, England. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey have four children-John P., William A., George L. and Emily.
George McDermott was born in Benton township, Cass county, Iowa, November 15, 1862. He is a son of Henry and Eliz- abeth (Miller) McDermott, who were among the first settlers of Benton town- ship, and also of Johnson county, Iowa. George received his education in the common schools of the township. He was married, April 27, 1884, to Ella M. Van Slyke, a daughter of Horace Van Slyke, who resides in Audubon county. Although but a young man, he has lived to see what was once a wild, unbroken and uninhabited prairie in all directions, transformed into fertile and well culti- vated farms. Mr. McDermott is a young man of good character, and energetic, and owns one hundred and twenty acres of fine land in Grant township.
Solomon A. Shaw owns one hundred and sixty acres of fine, cultivated land on section 14, which he purchased in 1881 of Dr. W. Bradway. He was born in Pennsyl- vania on the 16th of January, 1846, and is the son of Solomon and Mary (Zieger) Shaw. His father is now living in Ma- haska county, Iowa, his mother having died in June, 1884. Our subject removed to Ohio when two years of age, and set- tled in Montgomery county, where he resided until eleven years of age, when he removed with his parents to Mahaska county, and there received his education. Then he attended the school at Ottumwa, and there graduated in May, 1874. He then came to Cass county, and while in Atlantic, was engaged as clerk for H. G.
Sharp. He remained in that employment about five years, when he settled north of Atlantic, and remaining there until 1881, when he removed to his present location. Mr. Shaw was married on the 17th of January, 1876, to Mattie Gillespie. They are the parents of four children-Frank- lin, Fred, Emma and Grace. Mr. Shaw has taught a number of terms of school in Jasper county, and is at present the sub-director of district No. 3, in this town- ship. Mr. Shaw and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Joshua Porch was born in Holmes county, Ohio, February 14, 1839. His parents, David and Catharine (Hess) Porch, reared a family of eight children, all of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Porch are now living in Mansfield, Rich- land county, Ohio. Joshua Porch, the subject of this sketch, received bis educa- ation in the schools of his native county. He was married to Maria Smith, a native of Ohio, by whom he has one son, Elmer C. Mr. Porch came to Cass county in 1874 and is one of the early settlers, and a worthy and respected citizen. He has a fine farm with two hundred acres of land under cultivation.
John C. Young is one of the early set- tlers of Grant township, where he located in the spring of 1874. He is a native of Pennsylvania and was born October 6, 1838. He was married May 14, 1860, to Elizabeth A. Brinckley, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1842. They are the pa- rents of four children-Fremont, now of Dakota; Pyra A., Etta May and James W. In 1872 he left Pennsylvania and came to Jasper county, Iowa, locating near Prairie City, where he was employed as a
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
laborer. As before stated, he came to this county in 1874, and purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land. He commenced a poor man, but by judicious management has accumulated a good prop- erty, and is now in the enjoyment of a competence honestly gained, and a home fairly won.
James F. Wells, farmer and stock- dealer, was born in Barbour county, West Virginia, May 14, 1851. He is a son of Jesse B. and Edith (Poling) Wells. The former died in July, 1851, In the fall of 1851, James F. Wells, in company with his mother and grandmother, went to Union county, Ohio, where his mother was married to E. F. Ryan, and by this union two daughters were born. In April, 1875, they removed to Mahaska county, Iowa, where Mrs. Ryan is still living. In March, 1877, Mr. Wells was married to Lizzie Libby, who was born in Mahaska county. They have one child -Maud. In 1878 he went to Adair county, Iowa, where he improved a farm. In the fall of 1878 he removed to Audu- bon, Audubon county, of the same State, and embarked in mercantile business. He was afterwards employed as clerk for the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific railroad company. In December, 1883, he pur- chased a farm consisting of one hundred and fifteen acres, in section 29, Grant township. He has eighty acres under cultivation. The farm is valued at thirty- five dollars per acre. Mr. Wells is a mem- ber of the Baptist church and Mrs. Wells of the Christian church.
Samuel Petty came to Cass county in 1871. He was born in Morris county, New Jersey, in 1851. He received his early edn-
cation in his native State. In 1868 be went to Bureau county, Illinois, remaining there until 1871, when he came to Cass county as before stated. He was married in this county to Ella Hubbell. They have two children-Charles D. and Addie May. Mr. Petty owns eighty acres of land in section 35, all under cultivation and valued at thirty-five dollars per acre. He is one of the early settlers of the township.
Louis Anderson is a native of Den- mark, born in 1856. In 1864 he emigra- ted to America and located in Marquette county, Michigan. He came to Cass county in June, 1869, accompanying his parents, who took land and opened a farm upon which they still reside. Louis was educated in this country and received a liberal education. He was married De- cember 25, 1878, to Rossetta Brown, and they have twochildren-Edith and Annie. Mr. Anderson owns a farm of eighty acres, all under cultivation. At the time he came to the county there was but one or two houses in Anita, and Atlantic was a small village.
George H. Petty is a son of John T. and Rebecca (Nixon) Petty, and was born in Warren county, New Jersey, May 7, 1850. When he was six years old his pa- rents emigrated to Bureau county, Illi- nois where he was brought up on a farm and received an academic education. He is one of a family of sixteen children, fourteen of whom are living. His father, John T. Petty, still resides in Bureau county where he has acquired a compe- tency. He is engaged in mercantile busi- ness. George H. Petty was married to Phena M. Newton, daughter of Sylvester
48
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
Newton of Bureau county, Illinois, for- merly of New York. They have one child-Avis A. Mr. Petty came to this county in October, 1881, and purchased a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres, all under a high state of cultivation and valued at thirty-five dollars per acre. He is engaged in farming and stock-raising. Mr. Petty is a member of the Iowa Knights of Honor.
James McMillin was born in Wayne county, Ohio, on the 28th of July, 1842, and is the son of David and Rachel (Welbans) McMillin. His mother died in 1880, and his father is now living in Knox county, Ohio. His boyhood days were spent in his native State until 1854, when he moved to Knox county, that State, and there followed farming. Not being satisfied with the country, he con- cluded to come to Iowa, where he could purchase and improve the wild land. Thus in 1876, he came to Cass county, Iowa, and in 1878, he purchased eighty acres of land, forty acres on section 5, and forty on section 6. He has since improv- ed his land, and has built a fine house, raises grain and stock. Mr. McMillan was married in 1872, to Eliza Hearsh, a native of Ohio. They have three chil- dren-Lena, born June 29, 1873; Isaiab, born October 2, 1875, and Sarah, born September 28, 1879. Mr. McMillin is a man of superior character, and is honored and respected by his many friends. Eliza, wife of James McMillin, was born May 26, 1850, and is the daughter of Peter and Sarah (Suigart) Hearsh. Her father and mother are now dead, her father died July 11, 1857; her mother, July 19, 1883. Mrs. McMillan was born in Richland
county, Ohio, and lived there until 1876, when she came with her husband, to Cass county, Iowa.
Charles Scholl, , was born in Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania, on the 7th of April, 1858, and is the son of Leo and Catha- rine Scholl, both of German descent. Charles lived in his native city until twelve years of age, when he came to Bu- reau county, Illinois, where he attended school in the winter terms and worked on a farm through the summer. He was so engaged several years, when he came to Cass county, Iowa, and settled in Lincoln township, where he operated a farm until 1881, when he removed to the farm he had purchased two years before. He fol- lows general farming, and makes a specialty of raising fine stock. He has made many improvements on his place and erected one of the finest houses in the township. Mr. Scholl was married on the 2d 'of September, 1881, to Maggie Keiner, a danghter of Frederick Keiner, and a native of Jefferson county, Wiscon- sin. They have had two children-Law- rence, born on the 26th of March, 1882, died on January 27th, 1883; and Grace M., born in 1883, and died on the 15th of June, 1884. Mr. Scholl is a member of the I. O. O. F., having joined that order in the fall of 1879.
A. Koob, one of the prominent men of Grant township, was born in Germany, in 1841, and when twelve years of age he moved with his parents to America, and settled in Jackson county, Iowa, where he remained until the breaking out of the war. He then enlisted in Company F, Fifth Iowa Volunteer Cavalry, and served in that capacity until 1863. He was in-
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
jured by a horse falling upon him and was taken to the hospital, where he remained some months. In 1863 he returned to Jackson county, and there remained until the spring of 1872, when he came to Cass county, and located in Grant township, where at that time no timber or any shrub- ery grew that could be used. He built a cabin on his farm, in which he lived a short time, when he erected a fine house. He now owns two hundred and forty acres of land on section 6, and is raising large numbers of fine stock. He was married in Jackson county, Iowa, to Mary Van Slike, a native of New York. They are the parents of four children- John, Wil- liam, Cynthia and Homer. Mr. Koob is a member of the I. O. O. F., and G. A. R. orders, and of the A. F. and A. M.
A. F. Brackman owns two hundred and fifty-five acres of land on section 33, where he now resides, and pays particular atten- tion to stock raising, such as high graded Short-horned cattle, Poland China hogs, etc. He has some valnable horses, but makes a specialty of raising the above. Mr. Brackman was born in Mason county, Kentucky, on the 8th of February, 1823, his parents being natives of Virginia. When two years of age, he removed with his parents to Montgomery county, Indiana, and there remained about eigh- teen years. He there received a common school education, and on coming to Linn county, Iowa, in 1842, commenced teach- ing school, and taught five terms. He then turned his attention to farming, and continued in that occupation. He moved to Cass county in March, 1882, and still makes a specialty of farming and stock raising. He was united in marriage in
1848, with Parenetta A. Gatt, who dled in 1853, leaving four children to battle alone in the world. Mr. Brackman was again married in 1855, to Sarah Carson, a native of Vermont. By their union ten children have been born. Mr. Brackman is a member of the United Brethren church, having joined several years ago.
Samuel Allen resides on section 19, Grant township, where he owns a farm of cultivated land, and raises fine stock. He was born in Nottingham, Nottingham- shire, England, in the month of Septem- ber, 1843. His father, John Allen, was a native of England, and died in that country. Samuel received a good school education, and as soon as he became old enough, he was an apprentice with his father, at the trade of wagou-making. He was thus engaged nntil 1869, when he came to Dane county, Wisconsin, and re- sided near Madison for one year, when he went into that city, and was engaged in making car trucks for the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad com- pany. He there remained some years, when he came to Cass county, and has since made it his home. He was married while in England, to Sarah A. Hartshorn, a daughter of Lawrence and Sarah (Morris) Hartshorn. They have been blessed with one child-John, who takes charge of the farm, and is working with his father. The family are members of the Episcopal church, and Mr. Allen is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge, in Mil- waukee, Wisconsin.
Charles Brown was born in England, on the 1st of July, 1849, and when four years of age, he came with his parents to America. They located in southern Wis-
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
consin, staying but a short time, and then removed to Juneau county, same State, where Charles remained until 1869, when he came to Cass county, Iowa, and made his home for over ten years with William Peters, one of the pioneers of this county. He purchased a farm in Grant township, and made many improvements, which has made his farm a beautiful place. His marriage occurred on the 26th of Decem- ber, 1880, to Euphemia Bangham, of Ohio, but when quite young, went to Powe- shiek county, Iowa, and was there reared. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have been blessed with two children-Bessie M., born Octo- ber 20, 1881, and Charles, born on Novem- ber 13, 1882, and died February 17, 1883. Mr. Brown was taken from his family on the 6th of February, 1883, after lying for seven months, a helpless invalid, owing to a stroke of paralysis. He was buried in the Evergreen cemetery of Anita. All who knew this bonorable and worthy gentleman, were grieved on hearing of his death, for he was always looked upon as one of their best friends and neigh- bors. His family mourn their loss, and are sympathized with by their many friends. Mr. Brown was a member of the Congre- gational church, and his generosity and faithful adherence to duty and justice, were marked features of his character.
Charles Baker was born June 26, 1830, in Green Island parish, Canada East. His grandfather immigrated to that country from France. Charles removed to Broome county, New York, in 1849, and there re- ceived bis education at Binghamton. He then went to Texas, prospecting, and worked in a saw-mill most of the time there until 1853, when he went to New
Orleans. He remained there but a short time, and continued his journey to Cin- cinnati, Ohio, where he was employed for a short time in the marble works. Dur- ing the war he was employed in the quar- termaster's department. After the close of hostilities, be settled in Northumber- land county, Virginia, where he was mar- ried, in 1866, to Sarah A. Denny. They removed to Iowa in the spring of 1839, and settled in Pottawattamie county, and purchased eighty acres of land four miles west of where Griswold now is. From there they removed to Grant township, Cass county, in the spring of 1878, where his wife died the following autumn. They had five children, two of whom, Charles W., the first, and Emma J., the fourth, are dead; the others are: Mary J., James F. and William H. In September, 1880, he was again united in marriage with Maria Harris, a native of Ohio, and daughter of Israel and Mary Ellen Har- ris. By this union there is one child, Mattie. In 1881 he bought eighty acres of land in section 3, and later, forty acres in section 23, all of which he still owns. The family are prominent members of the Co gregational church.
Stephen Beecher came to Cass county in the spring of 1882, and located on sec- tion 32. He raises a large number of sheep and other stock, and is known as one of the best stock-raisers in the town- ship. He was born on the 24th of July, 1817, and is the son of Joel and Rebecca (Hadsell) Beecher. He came west to Page county, Iowa, in 1873, where he was en- gaged in farming about ten years, when he came to Cass county and has since re- sided here. His wife's maiden name was
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
Phobe Tuttle, and by whom he has had six children, four of whom are now living: Francis, dead; Samuel, Harriet, dead; Sarah, Emily and Walter. Mr. Beecher is a member of the Congregational church.
RAILROAD COLLISION.
The westward bound express train col- lided with a freight at about half-past six o'clock, on the morning of June 21, 1876, about half a mile west of Anita, in Grant township. The collision is said to have been caused by a difference be- tween the conductors' watches. The two engines were badly wrecked. No one was hurt, but as several cars of stock were carried by the freight train, they suffered considerably, killing some out- right.
ORGANIC.
The territory now known as Grant township, constituted a part of what was called Lura township, in an early day. This county was organized by order of the county court, at the March term of 1858, in response to a petition which had been presented. The election warrant was issued to Dr. G. S. Morrison, as or- ganizing officer, and the first election for township officers took place at his house, on the 5th of April, 1858. The following were the first officers chosen: David Glas- gow, Meredith Rowland and Henry Mc- Dermott, trustee; J. B. McDermott, clerk. In the latter part of 1865, the name of the township was changed to Grant. In 1870 the board of supervisors reorganized the county, making the lines of the civil town- ship to conform to those of the congres- sional or survey ones, and Grant had an election at Morrison's school house, for
the election of township officers. Thomas Burns was the organizing constable. The following were chosen to fill the positions named: J. C. Morrison, Edward Griffith, William Peters, trustees; William L. Cole, clerk; A. J. Everett, assessor; R. W. Calkins and C. D. Bartlett, justices of the peace; I. A. Mckinley and P. Albee, con- stables; William Wallace, C. J. Decker and I. A. Mckinley, road supervisors.
The present officers are: H. O. Hull, I. A. Mckinley and A. G. Conley, trustees; J. E. Bruce, clerk; Henry Moore, assessor; L. P. Frost and O. D. Bartlett, justices; J. B. Turner and H. C. Lighter, consta- bles.
FIRST ITEM.
The first nursery in Grant township was set out by L. C. Frost.
EDUCATIONAL.
The first school house erected in Grant township was on section 8, near the old stage station kept by Dr. Morrison. In 1873, the building was removed to the town of Anita, where it was used as a saloon for some time. It is now occupied by C. E. Townsend as a lumber office. The first school in the township was also, undoubtedly, taught in this building. It was also used for a number of years in which to hold religious services, and the old Union Sunday School, now known as the Congregational Sunday School, of Anita, was organized therein at an early day.
The present school board of Grant township is composed of the following gentlemen: H. C. Bangham, president; W. J. Romick, secretary; A. Koob, treas- urer; E. G. Hepler, H. C. Bangham, S. A.
Q
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
Shaw, Benjamin Wagner, P. F. Ander- son, A. Koob and W. P. Main, directors.
School District No. 1, is comprised of sections 29, 30, 31 and 32. The school house is situated on the southeast corner of section 30, and on the main wagon road to the county seat of Cass, with the C. R. I. & P. railroad passing by the door. Carrie Mckinley teaches the winter term of 1884-5 in this building.
School district No. 2, embraces sections 25, 26, 35 and 36. The first school in the district was taught at the residence of D. C. Kellogg, on section 26, during the winter of 1876-7, by S. W. Scott. In the summer of 1877, a house was erected on the northeast corner of section 35, which cost about $400. The first teacher in this building was Maggie Harrison. Cora Dabney is the present teacher.
The school house in district No. 3 is sit- uated on the southeast corner of section 14. W. N. Doty is the present teacher in this building. The district is comprised of sections 13, 14, 23 and 24.
The house in district No. 4, is situated on the southeast quarter of section 2, was erected in the summer of 1879, at a cost of about $370. School was held in the district several years prior to this, in another building. G. W. Brady is the present teacher in this district, which is comprised of sections 1, 2, 11 and 12.
School district No. 5, was organized in December, 1876, and in the summer of 1877 a school house was erected on the northwest quarter of section 10, which cost about $400. The first school taught in this building was by Emina Smith, the present teacher being Nancy Kirkham. Before a school house was erected in this
district, Clara Smith taught a term of school in the fall of 1876, at the residence of A. B. McGrew, This district now em- braces sections 3, 4, 9 and 10.
The school house in district No. 6 was erected in the summer of 1875,on the south- east corner of the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 6, at a cost of $615. Mrs. S. Scott was the pioneer teacher in this building, while Dallas Reed is the present teacher. Prior to the erection of this house a school was taught in this district by Mr. S. N. Scott, at the house of Anthony Koob. At present the district comprises sections 5, 6, 7, and 8.
School district No. 7, embraces sections 17, 18, 19 and 20, and was organized in January, 1880. In the summer of this year a school house was erected on the southwest corner of section 17, with Anna C. Brown,, present teacher. The first term of school in the district was taught at the house of George Wainwright in the fall of 1879.
TOWN OF ANITA.
This place is pleasantly situated in the central part of the township, on sections 21 and 28. The town site was the proper- ty of Lewis Beason, who caused it to be surveyed and platted in 1869, but in 1870, he disposed of it to Frank H. Whitney, B. F. Allen and John P. Cook, by whom it was filed for record, on the 10th of November, 1870. To this original plat, two additions have been made, one, filed for record by F. H. Whitney, on the 24th of September, 1874, and, the other by Norman Haskins, on the 13th of March, 1879. The town came to be called Anita in this way: One day in the summer of
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